LAUNDRY AT THE GOLD ROCK RANCH, FAILING MEMORY WOES, AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW

LATE THIS AFTERNOON WE SAW THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW I HAVE EVER SEEN AND I WILL HAVE MORE PHOTOS OF THIS RAINBOW IN MY NEXT POST OR TWO

As Jackie Gleason aka Ralph Kramden often said, “Oh how sweet it is” and that is exactly how I felt when we finally reached an area Thursday afternoon with a strong and speedy Verizon internet connection.  The past week in Borrego Springs with an internet connection slow enough for a sail to race away from was a real pain in the patooty.  It took me many long frustrating hours to do each of my posts then more agonizing hours waiting and waiting and waiting for it to publish.  Very much most frustrating blogging week I have ever encountered.

SUNRISE AT OUR HOUSE THIS MORNING

YUMA IS JUST THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT MOUNTAIN

It was our first night with new batteries and we noticed a big difference right off the bat.  Instead of constantly de-charging and causing us to run our generator on a lot we have remained at full battery power .  Glad we made the decision we did.  I’m still not happy with our T-Mobile phone coverage though.  Called Aunt Jean in Florida Thursday night and twice the call was dropped but we found out this morning after an ‘advisory’ text from T-Mobile that our cell phone signal was locked onto a Mexican phone tower and a $1.79 a minute rate was in effect.  Kelly quickly got onto that problem this afternoon finding out some info on-line then changing some settings on our cell phone.  Normal phone rates once again apply.  I don’t ever recall having these kinds of problems with my trusty old rotary phone when I once had one last Millennium. 

SUNRISE ON THE MUCHACHOS

DESERT DRIFTWOOD

A FEW OF OUR DISTANT NEIGHBORS TAKEN WITH MY TELEPHOTO LENS

OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBORS

IF WE WERE STAYING HERE FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME WE WOULD MOVE FURTHER BACK CLOSER TO THE MUCHACHOS WITH NOT SO MANY VISIBLE NEIGHBORS

Had us a great walk this morning and it’s the wide open spaces with it’s unlimited walking opportunities in all directions that is one of the many pluses of this area west of Yuma.  No people or traffic interruptions or congestion, just Mother Nature’s relaxing wonders.  In previous years we scouted out all the areas on Yuma Northeast side but none of them appealed to us simply because there are just waaaaaay too many people over there for us.  Can’t remember how many times over the years we’ve been here to this Ogilbe Road boon-docking location but I’m guessing easily half a dozen or more.  Have never stayed in the same spot twice though. 

A COOL MORNING BREEZE HAS KELLY SWINGING HER JACKET BACK ON

GOOD TO GO:))

    

KELLY FOUND THIS OLD RUSTY SPOON ON OUR MORNING WALK

First order of business this morning was laundry and luckily we knew exactly where to go.  No not to a busy crowded laundromat in Yuma but a quiet almost deserted little place called Gold Star Ranch just a few miles from where we are camped.  A long dusty road leads off Ogilby Road west into the desert just across from the old ghost town of Tumco in the Cargo Muchacho mountains.  Here’s my link to the day we hiked in and explored around the old mining site back on December 20th 2008.  The Old Tumco Mining Townsite.

Had been a long time since we had been into the Gold Star Ranch and RV Park to do laundry and everything looked pretty much the same this morning as it had years ago.  Maybe a little more dustier and tired looking.  As expected there was nobody doing laundry and as a matter of fact we didn’t really see anyone doing much of anything anywhere.  Of course we smiled knowing that’s exactly why we always like this quaint little still operating RV Park that has seen better days.  There are folks living here year round who are true desert dwellers.

The washing machines are only a dollar each and the 40 minute dryer is $1.75.  While clothes were being laundered we walked around and had us a look at things we had wandered around and had us a look at before.  I have taken photos of a few old trucks here several times before and this morning I took a few more pictures of those same old trucks all over again.

Waiting for clothes to dry Kelly and I sat on a green bench outside the door.  Sun was trying it’s best to make it’s way through a growing cloud cover as a slightly cool breeze raised up a little dust in the parking area.  Sitting quietly on that bench I said to Kelly, ‘you know I am happier sitting here right on this bench right now than I would be sitting in our Congress house’.  Kelly agreed and we both talked about how much better we both feel mentally and physically now that the house has been sold and we are free to travel again.

ON THE GREEN BENCH OUTSIDE THE GOLD ROCK RANCH LAUNDRY ROOM

We were back to our rig before noon and set up the satellite dish.  I pointed the dish 163 degrees into the southwest sky and nailed the bird right on.  We might not have set the dish up at all but with our weather sites predicting rain over the next few days we knew it would give us another entertainment option.  Within half an hour of setting up our dish the rains came and that was the end of our ourside afternoon being.  I was actually happy to see the rain because Libby was really needing to get some of that Borrego Badlands muddy sand washed off her.

THIS AFTERNOON’S STEADY BUT BRIEF RAINS BROUGHT US MORE THAN A MUDDY DESERT….IT BROUGHT US BEAUTIFUL RAINBOWS

IT WAS A COMPLETE RAINBOW FROM END TO END BUT EVEN MY WIDE 18mm LENS WAS NOT ABLE TO CAPTURE IT IN IT’S ENTIRETY

I WILL HAVE MORE PHOTOS OF IT IN MY NEXT COUPLE POSTS

I have an absolutely terrible time at remembering to answer reader’s questions when they come in either by comments on the blog, the Shout Box, or even emails.  It seems if I don’t answer a question immediately chances are it will slip away on me.  I keep thinking I will remember to do things later such as answering emails or questions, making a phone call, check the oil, close cupboard doors, leave comments on blogs, remember my clothes in either the washer or dryer, remember to turn things off at night, and the list goes endlessly on.  I have an impossible time remembering pin numbers, people’s names, and sometimes even if I have met someone before or not.  Meeting bobM in Borrego a week ago I couldn’t remember if I had met him before.  Bloggerfest 2016 maybe??  Ten seconds into somebody explaining something to me and I’ve already forgot what the first 5 seconds was about and that’s the reason Kelly has to pay such close attention to things like our solar installation for example.  Her mind for the most part is able to absorb the technical information where my mind seems to block it.  How many amps is our solar system??  Don’t know.  How many tires you got on your Motorhome??  Beats me.  Tell me what color your socks are??  What are socks:((  Yet my long term memory is generally very keen.  In our family here it is Kelly with the sharp short term memory and me with the better access to the cobwebs of the past.  What sparked this paragraph is when in Gmail this morning I noticed a 3 week old overlooked email (again) from a fella regarding crested Saguaros that I had totally forgot to answer.  He was waiting for me to respond to a few questions he needed answered about photo and name publication.   Some emails I have remembered to answer right away while others I can’t remember if I answered or not and some regrettably slip right through the cracks on me totally.  Each time I think to myself I have to try harder to remember things and each time I seem to forget and fall flat on my face.  It’s something I get down on myself about.  Can I blame this problem on aging?  Can I blame it on too much peanut butter and not enough broccoli?  Can I blame it on the bad old drinking days destroying brain cells or can I just blame it on my own inattention to things??  Now where in the hell did I leave my glasses again!!

AT THE GOLD ROCK RANCH THIS MORNING

GROANER’S CORNER:(( It seems a farm boy accidentally overturned his wagon-load of corn. The farmer who lived nearby heard the noise. "Hey Wilmer!" the farmer yelled. "Forget your troubles. Come in and have a bite with us. Then I'll help you get the wagon up."  "That's mighty nice of you," Wilmer answered. "But I don't think Pa would like me to."  "Aw, come on." the farmer insisted.  "Well okay," the boy finally agreed, and added, "But Pa won't like it."  After a hearty dinner, Wilmer thanked his host. "I feel a lot better now, but I know Pa is going to be real upset."  "Don't be foolish!" the neighbor said with a smile. "By the way, where is your Pa?" Wilmer replied, "Under the wagon."

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Shut Up and Trouble were walking down a path. Trouble got lost. So, Shut Up went to the police officer. The police officer asked, "What's your name?" He answered, "Shut Up."
He asked again "What's your name?"
"Shut Up." The police officer asked, "Are you looking for trouble?!"  "Yeah, I lost him down a path about two miles ago."