WE WOKE UP IN CALIFORNIA & WENT TO BED IN ARIZONA

CAMPFIRE COLORS

Another beautiful sunny California morning with a big fiery sunrise beaming through our windshield. Not sure exactly when the decision was made to pack up & head for Quartzite but I guess we just kind of hit on the idea about the same time this morning & before long we were in the process of putting solar panels down, awning up, ground mat & chairs away, etc. Planned to drive over & say good-bye to Butch but he beat us to it when we heard our dogs barking. There was Butch & Kapeesh coming over a rise to see how we were doing. Had us big chin wag for quite awhile & then it was good-bye. Always a sad time for me saying good-bye to people & leaving favorite campsites but soon we had the big wheels rolling & my focus was shifted forward to the new adventures ahead. SAYING GOOD-BYE TO BUTCH & KAPEESH

Dumped the tanks in Borrego & took on fresh water. Hitched the car up near the Kiwanis booth just off Christmas circle & headed out of town. Bye bye Borrego Springs & thanks once again for all the great memories over the past 18 days. Sure hope we get back to see you again.

We decided to take a different route to Quartzite & have us a look at some roads, mountains, & scenery we've never seen before. Down through Ocotillo Wells & on into Brawley. We were both needing a good Wal-Mart fix & we had heard there was a new 6 month old Wallyworld in town. What a great looking store because the outside is done in a southwest architecture theme. I did take a picture of the place, & by the way, we asked, & yes it is RV friendly so it's ok for an overnighter folks.

BRAWLEY'S NEW RV FRIENDLY WALLY WORLD

The scenery east of Brawley just kept getting better & better as we followed highway 78 northeast. Saw the kids on countless dune buggies, ATV's & dirt bikes as we drove through Glamis in the Imperial Sand Dunes. Looked like the Sahara desert with hundreds & hundreds of off road vehicles bouncing over the dunes in every imaginable direction. East of Glamis the highway narrows with no shoulders so you really have to keep your eyes on the road. One wheel off the pavement & your toast. No chance of putting the rig on Auto Pilot & slipping back to the washroom on this road. No sireeeeee!! The further we traveled, the greener the desert became & it was nice to see some actual trees beginning to appear. Soon we would be seeing Saguaro cactus in the landscape again. Really missed them in California. The many majestic mountain ranges along this road just added to the magic of the desert landscape. What a beautiful country this is. OFF ROADING IN GLAMIS

We climbed aboard Interstate 10 just west of Blyth & rolled right through town to the east side where we crossed the State Line into Arizona. We had half a tank of propane & were down to about a quarter tank of gas in the rig but wanted to wait until we crossed the State Line before filling up because of the much cheaper fuel prices in Az. Hadn't thought about the Flying J being the last gas station in Arizona before traffic headed into California where gas prices were much higher so the place was packed with vehicles. We had to get on the end of a long double line up for the pumps but surprisingly enough my impatience didn't get the best of me for a change & within about half an hour or so we were again back on I-10 & eastbound for Q. LONG LINE-UP AT THE GAS PUMPS & THERE'S KELLY UP THERE TELLING THE DRIVER'S TO SPEED IT UP:))

There's a point on the interstate when you come over a rise & Quartzite appears in the valley below. It's from here that you first see the vast spectacle of thousands & thousands of RV's spread out for miles in every direction across the desert floor. We've seen this before but it's always impressive. It was 5 P.M. when we rolled up to the main intersection of Quartzite & the traffic was surprisingly light. We figured it was because all the RV'ers were home strapping on the feed bags because if I remember correctly, the many vendors here close at 4 o'clock. Nice unexpected traffic break for us.

Figured we might as well head to the area that we had stayed at here the past couple of years simply because we know our way around the desert here. About 6 miles south of Quartzite on highway 95 is Roadrunner road & that was our exit off the road as we headed northwest out into the desert.......& hundreds & hundreds, & hundreds of RV's. But, like I said, this was familiar territory so we knew where to head so finally found us a reasonably quiet spot. Nobody near us on three sides but quite a few rigs to the northeast. Oh well, this is January in Q so that means people, people, people. Probably about 5000 people per square foot once you get right into Q itself so I'll be spending the majority of my time right here at the rig with the furry guys:)) Kelly can go into town & do battle with the crowds & go toe to toe with the vendors & merchants. She has a lot more patience for that sort of thing than I do & besides it's a very considerate thing for me to do by staying home. That way she doesn't have to worry about dragging a complaining husband around everywhere or seeing him reduced to a whimpering pile of mush in the crush of the milling hordes of humanoids.

We're able to pick up some television channels here but I'm not so sure that's a good thing. For the past 18 days we have been without television & it wasn't until we turned on our television to-night that I realized how great the past two & a half weeks have been. No gloom & doom news, no phony cop shows, no ram jam hokey local commercials, & no "happy gang" jokesters on the local news channels. I had really taken a liking to our nightly DVD movie nights, which brings me to last night's movie, "The Straight Story." It's the true story of Alvin Straight who drove his lawn mower, towing a trailer, all the way from Iowa to Wisconsin to visit his ailing brother Lyle. This is a simple movie with no Hollywood glitz & glitter. No overblown & over the top hero figures. No stupidity, no bad language, & no phony characters. Just a simple movie with a simple story. Can you tell I liked it:)) Especially loved the instrumental violin & guitar sound track.

I uploaded the Borrego Ranch photos from yesterday to the web album this afternoon & have also uploaded some photos from to-day. I took a series of pictures with a 135mm telephoto lens of our campfire last night & have decided to include them all in the album because of their colors. Ok Al, back yourself away from the computer & go to bed..................please!!

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IT'S KELLY SITTING ON THE ELEPHANT'S TRUNK

Just over a hill to our west is the RV area that a lot of Canadians frequent during the winter months. It is called Peg Leg Smiths & there is actually a monument there to the man himself. You can read about Pegleg's lost gold mine here...http://www.desertusa.com/magnov97/gold/nov_gold2.html

From our campsite to Peg Leg is only about a half mile or so & this morning we hiked up the hill that separates us. Nice view & I took some pictures for the web album from atop the rocky hill. A lot of Canadian RV'ers come to this spot each year & it was actually an RV'er from Peg Leg that told us about this area when we were in Slab City a year ago. Borrego Springs is only a short drive so it's an ideal spot for the Canadian snowbirds.

PEG LEG SMITH'S IN THE FOREGROUND

Kelly's ankle is getting stronger so we figured on a hike south of Ocotillo Wells. Book said an easy 1 mile loop trail leads to a rare elephant tree. We had been looking for elephant trees in the Mountain Palm Canyon area earlier & that was where Kelly originally hurt her ankle. We had heard of Ocotillo Wells before but had never been down around that area. Ocotillo Wells is only about a 25 minute drive & there really isn't a town of sorts there. It is known as a prime off road recreation area & each year hundreds of thousands of kids descend on this place with their dune buggies, dirt bikes, ATV's, Jeeps, & just about anything else that has a motor. RV's, tin shacks, adobe huts, some nice houses, & a lot of tumble down places are scattered for miles across the desert floor. Luckily for us everything was peaceful & quiet this morning. We headed south out of Ocotillo Wells for a few miles until we came across the turn off that lead to the Elephant Tree Trail. The sandy road started off ok but got very rock infested by the time we reached the trail head. Good thing we brought water because it was very, very, hot. We had been told that rattlesnakes will come out this time of year if the weather is hot to sun themselves, so that was foremost on our minds as we hiked up the sandy wash & onto the rocky trail. No snakes but I did see 3 small lizards skittering about. About 15 minutes of walking finally brought us to the elephant tree. Not a very big tree as far as trees go but when we looked at the trunk section it was easy to see why they are called Elephant Trees. It had a very sweet aroma to it as well. We took a few pictures & then headed back for the car. Just too hot to be out tramping around in the desert this morning & Kelly had a headache by the time we got back to the parking area. MAX, ON OUR MORNING WALK

We were hoping to drive to Split Mountain & hike to the Wind Caves a little further down the road as well but it was not to be. Turned off the highway at the marker for Split Mountain & headed up a sandy wash for about half a mile. Sign had said 3 miles to Split Mountain but I didn't like the feel of the soft sand grabbing at the tires. Our Hyundai Santa Fe is only a 2 wheel drive & the sand was definitely feeling like 4 wheel drive country to me. Didn't want to take the chance of getting stuck way back in there because not many vehicles pass this way, maybe no cell phone coverage in this remote area, & in the heat of to-day we just didn't want to make any wrong decisions. Turned around & headed back to the highway, back through Ocotillo Wells & eventually back to Borrego Springs. It had been a nice way to spend the morning because we got to see some new territory & it got us out doing something. My favorite days are out exploring new roads or trails. I don't mind sitting around the rig once & awhile but I sure get bored fast if I don't have something to do or a challenge in front of me. That's why I've never understood people who just spend the entire winter months in one place sitting in their rigs. And each year they go to the same place & do exactly the same thing every day that they did the day before & the year before that. But, it's different strokes for different folks & that's what makes this whole thing work.

Before we reached Borrego Springs we stopped at the Borrego Ranch (formally, La Casa Del Zorro) near the little community of Montesoro. We weren't sure what it was but there was a lot of greenery & palm trees so we drove in. Wow, what a swanky-do place. We ended up for nearly an hour in there driving & walking around looking at how the rich folks spend their time. I took a lot of pictures & will post them to the web album sometime Saturday but not to-night. To-nights pics will be from the Ocotillo Wells area. We couldn't help but notice the lack of people in this posh playground to-day & that's probably why we got away with taking so many photos of the place. Here is a link to the newly renovated & recently opened, Borrego Ranch.
http://www.borregoranch.com/ bet this place is going to attract movie stars, if already hasn't. I did get a long telephoto shot of the pool area with a blonde in a white bikini but the person was very far away so no positive ID on Britney Spears. Yep, could be Hollywood alright.

MOTORDOG & HER NEW FOUND DINOSAUR BONE

We had only been back to the rig about 5 minutes when a Class C rolled in & parked a short distance away. Acres & acres of room, countless campsites & this guy rolls in & sets up camp next to us. I call those types of people, "huddlers." As soon as they see another RV they feel compelled to come over & huddle. I don't mind friends parked nearby but we don't care for the those strange huddler types!! Anyway, that's all I'm going to say about that. We'll see how things go to-morrow.

We were going to try the earth oven to-night with a couple of small pizzas but when Kelly saw the price of them in the grocery store this afternoon, that was the end of that idea!! I suggested we try some ice cream in the earth oven but Kelly gave that idea two thumbs down. Women huh!!

Another totally beautiful star studded night with no wind. Kelly had a nice campfire going again & all was quiet in the neighborhood. Even the new neighbor's were keeping things quiet. Not sure what's on tap for to-morrow but as long as it's got something to do with something I've never done before or somewhere I've never been or seen before, I'll be a happy camper....................................

OK, WHICH ONE'S THE ELEPHANT TREE

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AT LAST, MY VERY OWN EGG POCKET

IT IS ANOTHER NICE SPOT WE HAVE

For the past 6 years we have lived in a pine forest back home in Bayfield Ontario & for somebody like myself with an interest in Astronomy, that doesn't make the night sky very accessible. Once again as I stepped out of the motorhome last night here in the desert I was greeted with an awesome canopy of stars from horizon to horizon. An unobstructed view across the great arc of the night sky. The diamond like stars were shimmering against the coal black heavens as the cooler desert air beckoned in the distant constellations & star formations. The Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebulae, the Pleiades, the Hyades, the bright star Betelgeuse & constellation Pegasus, the flying horse, just to mention a few. So nice to sit quietly & enjoy the peacefulness, the stillness, & overall serenity of another tranquil desert night.

As mentioned in last night's blog we have used up all our Verizon gigabytes for the month so this morning we drove into Borrego heading for the free wifi access at the library. Stopped at Calicos for coffee & egg pockets & the boss actually let me have my very own egg pocket this time. Didn't have to share one this morning. Men are not good at sharing stuff, especially when it comes to food. Always figure that whatever is on my plate is mine....MINE!! Walked over to the library with the laptop & got set up. Kelly was on one of the library's computer & I set up the laptop at a station by the window. But, no matter what I did I couldn't connect. Kelly had been having trouble accessing her webmail for the past week or so & made some changes to our connection settings yesterday & that seemed to affect our computer. She worked on that computer for the best part of half an hour or more before she finally figured out the problem. If I had been there alone I would have given up after about 2 minutes, thrown the computer in the car, & drove out of the parking lot madder than a hatter heading for home & complaining to myself all the way about the miserable world of rotten computers!!!!

BORREGO SPRINGS LIBRARY

We are still doing our DVD movie every night & to-night's movie will be "August Rush." Last night was, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore".....didn't care for it that much. Night before was a movie called, "The Hours." That was 2 days ago & I still don't have a clue what that movie was about!! Tuesday night we tried, "Kite Runner" but had trouble reading the subtitles so ditched it. Next, we tried a Will Smith movie about being the last man on earth......dumped it after about 15 minutes!! I thought "Atonement" was well done & had a quality about it. "Tsotsi" started out ok but by the end I didn't care for it. Kelly watched, "Breach" but I didn't. About 5 minutes into it I figured it was nothing more than one of those two bit boring run of the mill cheap cop shows that infest the television airwaves every night of the week. Don't get me started about the garbage on television these days!! Yes I know Rod, it's my post!! (thanks for the Shout)

Want to say thanks to everyone for all the nice emails we receive. The comments in the blog posts, the notes in our Guestbook, the comments in our Shoutbox, & the messages in our Facebook. The comments come from all across the country including some very nice emails from people back home in our own Bayfield area. As a result of our blog we have met some very nice people along the way & am sure we'll meet many more. I try to answer all questions people send in & enjoy the internet friendships that spring up. I worry that in the jumble of communications, sometimes I miss people or forget to return an email or a comment. Too many Senior moments, not enough Jube Jubes!!

And a word about to-night's DVD movie we just finished watching......"August Rush." This was one of those feeling good fairy tale ending type of movies. Inspirational & uplifting. It had to do with one of my most favorite things.....music. If someone were to ask me someday what one single thing has brought me more pleasure, joy, & entertainment in life, my simple answer would be.................................Music:)) HARK......HORSE & RIDER APPROACHING

No photos for the web album to-night.

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SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

CHECKING THE PORK CHOPS

Just got me a few things to straighten out first. Noticed last night that the date on my post was incorrect & looking back I see that other blog dates are incorrect as well. Checked the computer clock & date calendar & therein was the problem. Somewhere along the line Gremlins were at work in our laptop & the inboard calendar had leaped a day ahead making the dates on the blogs 1 day earlier than they occurred. Hopefully I've got the problem straightened out.

Secondly, we've been very pleased with our Verizon air card's ease & comfort of use. Reception has been reasonably good as well but with 3 days to go we are butted right up against our 5GB monthly limit. We don't download music, movies, or anything like that but something has really eaten up our Gigabytes this past month so we have had to stop using our Skype phone program for starters. Over the next 3 days I may not upload the blog or pictures at night. Might just drive into Borrego Springs in the morning & get all that done at the library. The monetary cost for going over the 5GB limit is grossly absurd!!!!

And thirdly.............Sometimes, because we are human beings we have a tendency to say some things, or in my case, write some things that are not always well thought out. I did that a few days ago at the end of my "Traveling With Our Best Pals" blog. I made a reference to liking my dogs better than people. Well, although there is an element of truth in that I should have explained myself or re-phrased that better. Sometimes if I'm little ticked off with the human element, whether it be inconsiderate RV'ers crowding our site, crooked Wall Street CEO's, shifty politicians, maniac drivers, or the all round human greed factor that pervades our society, I have a tendency to set my typing fingers in gear before engaging the brain matter sometimes. It's why I've been called, Mr. Blabberfingers of course. And so it was the other day as I was merrily blabbering my way along. Let me say that I have met & known many fine & wondrous people over the years. Have had lots of best friends & am enjoying meeting new people out here on the road all the time. Guess I just get myself into a snit at times with all the "goings on" in the world. No, I didn't receive any criticism about that statement except that it kinda kept eating away at me. Hmmmm, wonder if it's a sign of mellowing.

So, if you are a human being & you are reading this, then let it be known that Al still loves ya all, even if ya aren't furry critters:))

Oh, & by the way, there is often a good side to the bad side of things & in the case of the inconsiderate campers the other day I will say this.....Thanks. Thanks for ticking us off bad enough to move because we now have a much nicer site:))

Now, back to the enjoyment of the RV lifestyle. We sure had ourselves a rollicking dust up of doggy toy games this morning. Before the sun was even over the mountains, the toys were flying through the air, dogs were barking their heads off, & the kibitzing was in full swing. Didn't have to worry about waking up any neighbors, so me & the furry guys were really kicking us up a storm. And, we never even got yelled at once by the Momster who was diligently working away on her morning computer stuff. Great way to the start the day I'd say:)) Well, at least for us guys anyway.

Very happy with our new campsite & kicking ourselves that we didn't scout out the area better when we first rolled in here a couple weeks ago. Much better here where we are. Better hiking because there are hills, ravines, & gulleys. The landscape is far more interesting than the flat desert where we were. And I love the view of Borrego Springs at night with all it's little twinkling lights at the foot of the towering San Ysidro mountains. Found some other great sites nearby on our walk this morning so if we are ever back in this neighborhood again we'll definitely come to this area just off Rockhouse Road. It's just too bad there isn't a little more greenery but this area was bulldozed years ago for some kind of gravel pit operation. The desert is slowly regaining back it's rightful place but it will be years before the man made scars are gone. Ocotillos & some scrub grass are taking hold now. Sure would be nice to see Saguaro cactus here, but what the heck, stop your complaining Al & just get outside & enjoy the day with the rest of the lizards & fellow desert dwellers!!

We're still taking things easy & trying to give Kelly's ankle as much rest as possible. It has been steadily improving but she noticed some tingling in it this morning when we got back from our walk.

And an update to yesterday's blog about the earth oven. (not solar oven) Thanks to several other RV friends we found out who actually built this oven & that they have a website where you can actually see photos of them building it with a friend last year. They are Laurie & Odel & you can find them here...............http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com/

Just noticed a comment in the Shout Box on our website suggesting maybe my comment about older folks & loud music must be untrue. He/She has a good point there. Re-reading it, I said, "a loud radio station" & that was true but a little further on I said, "no point in asking them to turn the music down." That's a mistake on my part referring to the loud radio station as music because when I heard it they had a news cast on. Another RV'er camped nearby had 2 dogs outside at the time barking loudly & we have since wondered if the folks cranked their radio to drown out the barking dogs. And no, they were not our dogs. So, I understand the person in our shoutbox doubting my story, because for sure......older people & loud music just doesn't happen. Thanks to that sharp eyed reader for noticing the word "music" when I should have used the word "radio." Awwww, what a life, what a life, and don't ya just love it:)) No photos for the web album to-night.

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THE WINDS OF TRAVEL ARE STIRRING

MOVED TO OUR NEW DIGS THIS MORNING

Late Monday afternoon a truck camper rolled into the desert & parked in our back yard!! Acres & acres of room here but this fellow decided to set up shop about a hundred yards from our rig. Now, in an RV Park a space of a hundred yards between rigs would be pure heaven but out here in the desert, that's not only un-acceptable, it's downright rude & inconsiderate. Well, at least in my books anyway. The people had 2 dogs so that immediately presented a problem with our gang as the bunch ran over barking their tails off. I walked over to fetch our guys & the older couple did not seem friendly. It wasn't long after that I heard the loud radio station inside their camper. Very loud!!!! I have zero tolerance for people like that so the handwriting was on the wall. We were going to have to move. No point in asking them to turn the music down because by then the damage is already done. If someone is that inconsiderate & uncaring in the first place then I have no interest in talking to them at all for any reason. And I don't want to be camped near them!!!!

After a short dog walk this morning Kelly & I put the computer in the car & drove to another area west of us checking for a good Verizon signal. Just off Rockhouse Rd Kelly spotted what looked like a solar oven out in the desert. Doug & JoAnn had told us about an oven some friends of theirs had built out here somewhere so we're thinking this is it. We drove over to the pile of rocks & domed adobe oven & had a closer peek. Looked like a great camping spot plus we were able to pick up a good Verizon signal. The decision was made!! We zipped back to the rig & half an hour later we were all packed up & on the move to our new site.

Ever since setting up in the desert a couple of weeks ago our nearest neighbor was a 5th wheel just to the south of us. We never really got over to meet the people except one time at Butch's four o'clock fire ring. Yesterday morning I walked over & said good morning. As it turns out, Suzanne & Bob are a lot like us. A bit on the shy side when it comes to meeting people & not wanting to bother anyone. That happens a lot with boondockers. People tend to stick to themselves & I'm sure some great friendships are missed that way. Kelly came over & it wasn't long & we had all found some common ground to converse on. And, is so often the case these days, the main topic turned to computers & the cyber problems encountered on the road. Always nice to hear new ideas & learn new things. And meet some likeable people along the way.

Before we pulled out this morning Kelly went over & let Suzanne & Bob know our change of plans. They are heading for Mexico next week so hope we see them again before they leave. Stopped at Butch's for a minute & told him we'd just be down the road a bit.

We like our new spot because the closest rig is about a half or a mile away. No more worrying about the dogs bugging people or someone in the backyard with a loud radio!! And, we have a view of Borrego Springs down in the shallow valley to our southwest. Am looking forward to seeing the lights of Borrego shimmering in the night air to-night.

Kelly slipped into town for some groceries while I reversed the solar panels on the roof because we changed the direction of the coach in our new spot. Our door now opens to the south & we have put the awning out for the first time since putting it up in Truth or Consequences at the end of last February. STEAKS ON THE CHARCOAL COOKER

A month or so ago we had heard from another RV couple (Doug & JoAnn) about a possible ranch sitting job over in Arizona for the month of February. We have been in contact with the ranch people & to-day received an email saying they would like us to come over & take the job, so that's what we are going to do. The winds of travel are stirring & we've been putting to-gether some travel plans this afternoon. Will probably leave here around the end of the week heading over into the Quartzite area for a few days & then eventually working our way southeast through Gila Bend, Casa Grande, Tucson, Benson, & then on down into the Bisbee/Douglas area.

This is a good example of why we love this RV lifestyle so much. Nothing ever remains the same, change is always afoot. New adventures around every corner & over every hill. Hardly ever two days the same. Plans made, plans changed. Sometimes it's the weather that determines the destination & sometimes it's a comment from a fellow RV'er about a great place just over those mountains there. We ended up in Borrego Springs last year because of a chance encounter with another RV'er over in Slab City who said what a great place Borrego was. He was right:)) I like the friendships that are made out on the road as well. They are generally brief encounters with people you may or may not ever see again. And that's what makes the friendships special because there is an unwritten bond formed. We are all fellow travelers living a vagabond lifestyle helping each other along the way. Some full time & some part time. People never really get to know each other well enough to get on each other's nerves over a long period of time & I really like that. It's one of the true beauty's of the internet in how people remain in contact with each other over the years. You may never see them again but you follow their lives as they travel about over the land. Some, like us, have blogs & some can be found on RV Forums, Facebook or My Space. Many varied ways of keeping in touch with each other. You are only an email away from people at any time. It's a special kinship & it is our preferred style of life................................................

THE SOLAR OVEN BUILT BY A PREVIOUS RV PERSON CAMPED HERE

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TRAVELING WITH OUR BEST PALS

CARLSBAD  CAVERNS NEW MEXICO

I know it's hard for a lot of people to wrap their heads around the thought of traveling in a motorhome with 3 dogs. An even harder thought for me is the thought of traveling in a motorhome with 3 kids. Dogs I understand but kids I know absolutely nothing about.  I think they are totally from another planet somewhere. Relatives tell me I was a kid once, but I don't believe them!! Relatives can be wrong you know.

My Mother was an animal lover & fortunately that has been passed on to me. Had 18 hamsters, 2 guinea pigs, a bird & one cat living with me one time plus an aquarium full of guppies. When Kelly & I lived in an old farm house years ago we had 2 house cats, about a dozen barn cats outside at any one time, 3 birds, & another tank of guppies. Oh, & some more guinea pigs in the basement. Then we got Max.
PANCHO VILLA STATE PARK, COLUMBUS NEW MEXICO

Max was about 6 weeks old when we got him for $5 from a farm near Mitchell, Ontario. Just a little ball of puppy fur I could hold in one hand. Wasn't sure what he was but he's looking a lot like a blond border collie/lab now, 11 years later. Max won a 1rst place red ribbon at doggy obedience school when we took him. He was also the only dog in the class to poop on the floor twice too. But, no matter, I was proud of my boy:)) He used to fetch the newspaper from the end of our driveway too back then. His much most favoritist thing of ever to do is playing sticks. He just loves to chase sticks. SOMEWHERE IN THE GREAT AMERICAN SOUTHWEST:))

Cora, our little Motormouse was Kelly's daughter's dog after an original owner didn't have time for her. Her daughter lived in a big city & was busy with a new job as well so one day little Cora came out to our place for a holiday. That was about 4 years ago & she's still here. We're sure glad she is. Max was a little put out at first but they soon became bestest Pals. We think she is a cross between a Chihuahua & a Pug. She has a face like bat so I call her a Chipugamug. Chi for Chihuahua, Pug for a Pug, & boy, what a mug!! Chipugamug. I never cared for the name Cora so I nicknamed her Motormouse & call her Motor for short. She is the big Boss of the other 2 dogs in the house & she is just a little Sweetums.  In later years I called her 'Beans:))'  BORREGO SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Checkers came to us about 3 years ago. She was having a hard time fitting in at the place she was living. She had fallen on hard times at several points in her life. Kelly first met Checkers in an unusual way. On the beach one day where she worked she heard a dog barking way out in the waters of Lake Huron. It appeared to be in trouble & some boaters were trying to help by getting the big dog in the boat but things were not going well. Without a thought, Kelly, an avid swimmer in those days, went into the lake & swam out to the dog in distress. It was a beautiful black & white Border Collie & Kelly was able to get a hold of her collar & guide her back to the beach. People in the boat were clapping. Checkers went on her way that day but Kelly tried to keep an eye on her from then on.  Checkers would often wander away from her home at the beach & be gone for days. Sometimes people in Bayfield would bring her back. Sometimes the dog catcher would bring her back or lock her up for the night. Kelly worried that someday.......nobody would bring her back:((

And then one sunny summer afternoon I looked up as Kelly pulled in the driveway after work. And there in the front seat of the car was this big beautiful black & white Border Collie named Checkers. Sitting up as proudly as she could because her very best friend Kelly had just brought her home to stay. And Checkers has been with us ever since. Max & the Motor weren't too sure about this new intruder at first but with a lot of TLC on everybody's part, the bond between the 3 furry Musketeers was finally cemented & we all became one big happy family. We became, The Bayfield Bunch:)) The Bayfield part is named after the little town we live near. DEAD HORSE STATE PARK, COTTONWOOD ARIZONA

When we first began putting to-gether our plans for RVing someday we were concerned as to what we would do with the doggy guys if we go away. Didn't figure there was any way to travel with 3 dogs, but we had 2 priorities going for us that had to be worked out & number one on that list was the dogs. They are just an important part of the family as either Kelly or I so we decided wherever we go, the 3 Musketeers were going as well. Our second priority was a suitable RV & after a couple false starts & poor decisions on our part we finally decided on a Motorhome where we would all be to-gether in one big comfortable place while traveling.
DARBY WELL ROAD, AJO ARIZONA

We soon discovered that RV Parks were totally out of the question. No place for the dogs to run free in an RV Park & we do not believe in having them straining & choking on the ends of leashes or tied up to ropes & chains. Dogs are meant to be free, to run, to play, & to just be the fun loving critters they are. It was one of the many things that pointed us in the direction of the Boondocking lifestyle. It's not just the doggy guys who needed to be free of rules & regulations, leashes & chains. It was us too.

It's like a 3 ring circus here in the motorhome sometimes with dogs, rubber balls, & chew toys flying around all over the place. They are a constant source of entertainment for us & I love to watch them all playing to-gether. The personalities (or dogonalities) each one has is so uniquely individual & I just love watching them all interacting with each other. We have our morning routine of playtime that sometimes gets Mom a bit riled up when the barking gets a tad loud & the rubber toys are flying through the air but we somehow manage to get on Mom's good side again until the next time.

Like the old saying goes about a dog being man's best friend. It is true & I sure get a lot of people mad at me sometimes when I tell them I've never met a human being yet that I liked better than my dogs. But, that's the difference between people & animals. No matter what, your bestest pals are just going to love you forever, no matter what you say.........................and you, them:)) QUARTZSITE, ARIZONA


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ROCKHOUSE ROAD & COYOTE CANYON

Noticed the moon going down over Coyote Mountain this morning so started off the day in my pajamas outside the motorhome taking pictures. Another perk that comes with boondocking. No neighbors close by to complain about some guy running around in his PJ's. The area we are boondocking in was once an aerial gunnery range where fighter pilots were trained during & after the second world war. There is a large dry lake bed west of us called Clark Dry Lakebed & that's where the large concrete targets were placed for the pilots to shoot at. There are still bullets & shell casings to be found here in the desert. Last January we found the business end of a 50MM tracer bullet. A gravel road (Rockhouse) leads back to this dry lake bed & continues for miles beyond into what we hear is a beautiful area. To-day we followed that road along the east side of Coyote Mountain as far as we could before having to turn around. Just too rough for our 2 wheel drive car. COYOTE CANYON

On the other side of Coyote Mountain is Coyote Canyon (of course) so we slipped around over there where the road through the desert is all hard packed sand & much gentler for both vehicles & passengers. The road slowly climbs into a valley with an abundance of Ocotillo plants. Most we've ever seen in one place. Indians lived in this sheltered valley a couple of hundred years ago. It later became a main route for people making the trek to the west. Beautiful area surrounded by tall mountains on three sides. Drove in as far as a place called Desert Garden. Not much there except a few picnic tables & a bench but definitely a quiet shelter in the desert to sit & quietly imagine the life & times of the people who once lived here.Borrego Springs is only about 3 miles from Coyote Canyon so we drove back into town & split a fish taco at Jilbertos. I still prefer my hamburger but was told by the Boss we were going to share the taco so button it up. Parked by the library for a few minutes to check out their Wifi signal on our laptop. Kelly's having a few problems accessing her business email account so she was doing some troubleshooting. I took a few photos around the picturesque Borrego mall while she worked on the computer. BORREGO SPRINGS MALL

Back to the rig by 3. Another couple, Ken & Vicki walked over so we did a little tour of our renovated motorhome showing them the Ikea furniture we had put in after ripping out all the cheap RV stuff last year in Quartzite. I think they went back to their rig with a few new ideas:)) JUST OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY

The lack of wind made for a very warm day so we stayed outside & got a campfire going in the later afternoon. We haven't had many campfires so it was nice for a change to hear the crackling fire & get that great wood smell imbedded in our clothes. Watched the full moon slowly rise over the Santa Rosa mountains & enjoyed the sounds of our neighbors well played bongo drums wafting in on the still desert air. A nice way to end another fine day in the Borrego Valley................................................... SUNSET ON THE MOUNTAINS

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TO-DAY I DIPPED MY TOE INTO THE SALTON SEA

LOOKING NORTHWARD ALONG THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE SALTON SEA

We have been a couple of weeks now without any television channels & I'm surprised we have adapted so well. Routines & habits sometimes seem insurmountable & while home in Canada the thoughts of going without our daily television fix was unimaginable. First thing on in the morning & last thing off at night. CNN, Weather Channel, South Park, Local News, ABC, Oprah, CNN, Biographies, Nightime soap dramas, NBC, History Channel, CNN, PBS, Oprah, well, you get my drift. Did I mention CNN & Oprah!!!!

CNN news comes to us now via satellite radio but it's not the same as television & we are not drawn to it the same. Kind of drones on for a bit in the morning & generally leaves our memory banks before we are even back from our walk. Just not the same as at home...............and we like it this way.In an earlier blog last fall I wrote about our morning walks & morning talks. And so it was this morning. The changing economy, the future, the RV lifestyle, the uncertainty, our aging health, decisions, priorities, dreams, realities, mistakes & misfortunes. And talks of things to come. It was a good morning walk.

Kelly's ankle continues it's remarkable recovery. With the amount of pain she was in a couple of night's ago I figured she was going to be totally out of action for a couple of weeks for sure. She's walking on it ok now with no pain. Figured we better take it easy for awhile yet, so to-day we decided to take a drive over to Salton City located on the shores of the Salton Sea about 20 minutes east of us. We had seen the Salton Sea from a distance a few times before but had never drove to it's shores for a closer look.

NOT MUCH ACTIVITY HERE ANYMORE

Highway 86 runs north & south along the west side of the Salton Sea & at about the halfway point lies the raggly taggly community of Salton City. Salton City looks to me like it might have been a nice place at one time because of an area along the shore that had been landscaped nice with palms & plants. A paved drive with white curbs marked what might have once been a picnic area or a beach pavilion. Now, the palms are all but dead, the pavement is cracked & broken. The curbs have faded & broken glass & litter is everywhere. The salt encrusted poor smelling shoreline with it's brackish water was anything but appealing & in the end this is what may have finally spelled the demise of people's efforts years ago to have themselves a fine recreation area. I always find it sad when I see something that people have obviously worked hard to make nice, in such disarray. Somebody had a dream at one time & all that is left is the dead & dying palms, faded curbs & broken asphalt now.

We drove around the streets & houses & saw the for sale signs, the empty windows. Didn't appear to be any downtown area, just dusty & empty streets in many places. We drove into an RV Park near the water that didn't have a single sole in it. The lots were there, the water taps worked, saw electricity boxes, picnic tables, fire pits, some nicely planted greenery...........but nobody was there. No rigs, no people, no hope. We also saw nice homes, a couple of other RV Parks that appeared to be full & we drove past the brightest spot in town, the High School. It was painted a strong mustard yellow & trimmed in a hard dark blue. Couldn't resist a few photos. The town lies between highway 86 & the Salton Sea, about a distance of a mile or so. The west side of the highway is a totally different story. There is evidence of progress here. A huge gas station complex is under construction with about 10 gas pumps & as many or more diesel pumps. Dump station for RV's & the list goes on. The garage is looking like a mini-Casino. A new supermarket right beside the gas bar opened a year ago to-day & looks like another food eatery place nearby too. Subdivisions are also going up on the west side of the highway. It's as if the highway divides the dying past from the bustling future. Or, does it!! Nothing is for sure anymore in this economy:((
So, we wish you all the best Salton City & hope you can turn yourself around.

LOS ANGELES IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THOSE MOUNTAINS SOMEWHERE

We were home by 3 & both tired. I don't think rock scrambling in the canyons is as tiring as driving around looking at a crumbling lifestyle so with a bit of luck & Kelly's ankle on the mend we're hoping to go have us a look at a place nearby called Coyote Canyon shortly. Been reading about it in my new book lately. A lot of history here in this area.
SACK OF BIG CALIFORNIA ORANGES FOR A DOLLAR

The full moon rising over the Santa Rosa mountains to-night was nothing short of marvelous. As I sit here at the computer I can look out the big windshield to my left & the ground looks like it is covered with snow. The moon on the sand & gravel surface seems to illuminate the landscape while the dark shadowy mountains in the background lend there presence to give one an ominous feeling. There are legends in the desert & sometimes you can almost feel them............................................

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FILLED SOME UP & DUMPED SOME OTHERS

TARANTULA'S SIZE COMPARED TO MY CAMERA'S LENS CAP

Despite Kelly's ankle still being swollen, the pain has eased off considerably & she is now walking without JoAnn's cane. We'll just have to back off the strenuous hikes for a bit until her ankle returns to normal. She's able to drive the car ok & we did get a short doggy walk in this morning.

We had a quarter tank of propane left & about half a quarter tank of water so I slipped up on the roof this morning, put the solar panels down, & we headed into town to replenish some tanks & empty some others.
Forty minutes later we were back in our spot in the desert setting up again. Kelly slipped back into town later for some groceries & ended up finding her own adjustable cane at the Frugal Coyote for $3.

The rest of the day was spent outside lazing around reading & doing just about the total square root of nothing. A good day for resting Kelly's ankle.

We have Sirius satellite radio here in the motorhome so we have music playing all day long just like at home. Channel 073 The Spa plays ambient music & William Ackerman, my favorite acoustical guitar player is on a lot. His early album, Passage, is one of my all time favorites. http://www.williamackerman.com/
For those of you who have Sirius satellite radio, you probably have noticed the little dog emblem on the radio & in the literature. Sirius (the dog star) is a very bright star right now below the unmistakable constellation, Orion. (The Hunter) It is in the constellation, Canis Major. Sirius is one of Orion's hunting dogs.

You probably notice I don't have much to put in the blog to-night so on that note I'll turf myself out of the computer chair & take myself for a nice moonlit walk in the desert......................

No photos for the album to-night.

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RETURN TO GHOST MOUNTAIN

A VIEW FROM GHOST MOUNTAIN

Kelly's ankle is slowly on the mend (we hope) but she still has to use a borrowed cane from JoAnn to get around. She is able to hobble on the front end of her foot but the heel & ankle are still pretty sore. Had wrapped it last night for support so she has decided to leave the wrap on for a few days. We still have no idea what happened.

I remembered to put a photo in last night's blog of an egg pocket but forgot to put in a description. Kelly says it's puff pastry that is filled with a sliced ham, cheese, & egg combination. The corners of the pastry are then drawn up somehow & fastened into a pouch.....or pocket. I guess it is then baked or something. Anyway, sure tastes good:))

Another sunny start to the morning as we scurried around (well, I scurried & Kelly hobbled) getting things ready for our trip over to the Blair Valley & Ghost Mountain. We had seen a short 15 minute movie while here last year about the Marshal South family living atop Ghost Mountain back in the 40's. We knew that a full length 76 minute documentary called, The Ghost Mountain Experiment had also been completed but hadn't seen it. By co-incidence, the producer of that documentary movie, John McDonald had come across our website awhile back & noticed my interest in the Marshal South story. He noted that in my blog a few days ago I mentioned about coming out to Ghost Mountain one day this week. We received an email from John saying he was going to be in the area to-day (Thursday) & would we like to meet him out at Ghost Mountain. You betcha!!

It's about a 40 minute drive from Borrego Springs, through the Yaqui Pass & across the Blair Valley to the foot of Ghost Mountain. Ghost Mountain isn't really what you think of as a big mountain with a peak on it. The South family referred to it as the hill & the Indian legends referred to it as a mountain. Regardless, it's a mile from the parking lot to the ruins & a lot of that is going up on a very steep angle. Certainly a good rock scramble.

LOOKING AT THE LONG RUGGED PATH AHEAD

It was an absolutely beautiful morning as we turned off the highway into the desert & bumped along the long & winding dusty road leading to the foot of the mountain. To my relief, nobody was there. Just us, the birds, the desert, & the mountain. Kelly brought a comfy lounge chair along as well as her book because there was no way she could hike on her sore ankle. There was enough shade there from some shrubbery to put the chair under. I slipped on my photo vest, hung the cameras & binoculars on myself & started up the rugged trail for my second visit to Ghost Mountain & the ruins of Yaquitepec, the Marshal South home. Doesn't take long for the hill to get you puffing as you scramble upwards along the narrow rock strewn path. I was so happy to be once again returning to a place that I had found very special just over a year ago. With each step the view out over the Blair Valley just gets better & better. The trail has many switchbacks before reaching a level plateau. From this plateau you can see for miles to the southeast towards the Butterfield Ranch & Vallecito Stage Station & countless miles beyond that to another distant mountain range probably a hundred miles or more away. It was down this valley that the old Butterfield Stage used to run. The walk across the plateau brings you to what looks like an impossible steep boulder climb to another high ridge but the path weaves it's way though the rocks gently taking you ever higher. Some of the rocks look like large stepping stones as you scramble over the them, but the footing is solid & you just keep going. The scenery all around you is too beautiful to even think about not going any further. it's a rare beauty & one that you most often won't see anywhere else. Large smooth boulders, green Agaves, cactus, a fine sandy path, & huge blue mountains on the horizons. And soon........you are at the top, & the ruins of Yaquitepec slowly come into view. PART OF THE KITCHEN WALL

It's the old wooden framework that I saw first as I once again approached the home of the Marshal South family. The silence was broken only by the occasional bird as I stood there in the kitchen area of a story that has touched my heart ever since I first went there. Put my cameras down & just slowly let all the memories come into my mind from the book I was reading exactly one year ago at this time. I think it was the way Marshal South described the Christmas's they had on the mountain that touched me the most. He wrote in such a way as to paint pictures in one's mind & it was those pictures I was seeing as I stood there amidst the ruins to-day. SOMEDAY THE ONLY THING LEFT HERE WILL BE THE MEMORIES

I sat on a large rock that I knew the family must have sat on many times watching the sun rise over the long sweeping valley below. I walked among the rocks where I knew the family had lived & played. And I felt the sadness too. It's a very special place.............................

I heard some voices after awhile & noticed an elderly couple making their way up the path so I knew it was time for me to go. It was time for someone else to feel the happiness & the loneliness of Yaquitepec & I didn't want to spoil their special time. Glanced at my watch & realized I had been there with my memories for over an hour. Before starting down I walked over to the edge & noticed far below in the parking lot that John McDonald & his wife Lydia had arrived so I had to crack on some speed. Twenty minutes later I was shaking hands with the man who produced the documentary & the lady who wrote it. What a privilege that was for me. Another RV couple was there as well & we all had ourselves a good chin wag about the whole Ghost Mountain Experiment. Kelly was busy snapping pictures, sore ankle & all. John autographed a copy of the DVD for us & then we all took a tour of his Teardrop Camping Trailer. Check the photo album:)) Some more stories, some more questions, some more laughs, then it was time to go. It was a nice way to end the day for us & we met some charming people along the way. We all said our good-byes as John & Lydia headed off in their Honda Pilot with the Teardrop camping trailer in tow. The other couple headed for their RV in preparation for climbing Ghost Mountain.....and Kelly & I wended our way back through the Blair Valley, over the twisting Yaqui Pass, & through Borrego Springs to our temporary little home in the desert.

DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER JOHN MCDONALD & WIFE LYDIA WHO WROTE IT

As soon as we finished supper we sat down & watched John McDonald's production of, The Ghost Mountain Experiment. Having just walked through the ruins of Yaquitepec only hours before, the documentary came alive for me in a very special way. There on the screen was old movie footage of the Marshal South family as they were, over 60 years ago. And there was Rider South, now an older man, walking through the ruins of Yaquitepec for one last time. John interviewed Rider several times at his home in Silver City NM a few years ago & the documentary has Rider talking of his memories of those days growing up so long ago atop Ghost Mountain. This is a very well done documentary & both Kelly & I really enjoyed the whole movie. It will be the first DVD I play on our 42" screen when we get back to Canada too. TALKING ABOUT, THE GHOST MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENT

It is a beautiful night in the desert. It's unusually warm & the nearly full moon is flooding the desert floor with sparkling moonbeams. I can see other rigs scattered about with campfires going. What a peaceful way to end the day. This is such a beautiful country.......................................................

And late this afternoon I had my first encounter with a large Tarantula spider!!

THIS CHARMING LITTLE FELLOW WAS ABOUT 3 FEET FROM KELLY'S FOOT WHEN i SPOTTED HIM

I didn't spend a lot of time editing to-day's photos because it's nearly midnight right now & I'm about ready to fall off my chair. A lot of the Ghost Mountain pics won't mean much to a lot of people but for anyone who's been there, they will understand so I've just included them all. And I hope the other couple we met at the foot of Ghost Mountain can see the pics as well. And John & Lydia, thanks for taking the time out of your camping holiday to meet us this morning at Ghost Mountain. Really, really, appreciated that...............................................Take care guys:))

THE GHOST MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENT
John McDonald Productions Inc.
(626) 799-0500
http://www.ghostmountainmovie.com/

FINDING THE REAL MARSHAL SOUTH http://www.desertusa.com/mag05/jan/south.html

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MOUNTAIN PALM CANYON HIKE.....& AN INJURY!!

STANDING IN AWE OF THE PALMS

First order of business this morning was to get ourselves an egg pocket & photograph it, so by 9 a.m. we were on the road headed for Calicos. Egg pockets go fast so we were lucky they still had some left. A few free cookie samples first & then we purchased our egg pocket. Set it on the table, took a few photos, & then we ate it. Took some great photos of Kelly wolfing her half down but she wouldn't let me put them in the photo album. Grabbed a couple of coffees to go (plus some more cookie samples) & headed off out of town for place about an hour or so away called, Mountain Palm Canyon Campground. Not too far from San Diego. AND, THIS IS AN EGG POCKET:))

We had been told there is a whole herd of elephant trees in one of the canyon's there & the guide book we had said they were there too, so that's what we were looking for........but, we never did find them. I think they must have rumbled away when they heard us coming.

It was a beautiful mornings drive from Borrego Springs to Mountain Palms & once again we were just bowled over by the majestic mountains all around us, the winding roads twisting through the desert, the big blue sky & the many hues & colors in the air, the rocks, & the mountains themselves. This is such a beautiful land & if I thought it was hard to go home last year, I'm really going to have a hard time of it this year. We talk a lot about staying in the American Southwest but we know it's just not probable for us. Not impossible, just not probable!!

We reached Anza-Borrego's Mountain Palm Canyon campground shortly after 11 & already the mornings sun was heating up. From the parking lot we saw palm trees up 2 of the 3 canyons so headed off up the one to our right. The trail led up a wide sandy wash but soon narrowed into a rock strewn path that we had a hard time finding in a few spots. The rocks soon turned into boulders & we had some good rock scrambling ahead of us. Took us about 15 minutes to reach the small grove of palms & we could hear voices nearby. A couple of older fellow hikers were perched on a rock under the palms taking a break. They were very helpful in answering our questions about the area & the older fellow actually lives in Borrego Springs. They had some good guide books with them & that was helpful. Another group of hikers with dogs came by on their way up so we decided to follow them. They were younger folks & were soon out of site as they quickly clambered over the large topsy turvey boulders. We persevered though & soon reached a second stand of palm trees & large bowl like plateau. These towering fan palms are truly awe inspiring. We were just trying to figure out a secondary route back down the canyon when the dog hikers returned from over a ridge. They had been looking for a standing water source they knew was in the area but never did find it. We asked about the elephant trees but nobody knew where they were.

In the company of the dog hikers we all headed back down the jumble of rocks to the first palm trees which we learned was called Mary's Grove. Stopped for a short rest here & the hikers watered their dogs. As is quite often the case we all asked where each other was from & wouldn't you know it, one of the fellow's Mother lives in Spencerport, NY. That's where Kelly grew up & her Mom & Dad still live there. Small world once again. It was a short rocky drop to the parking lot about a quarter mile away as we said good-bye to the dog walkers & headed up another canyon.

SOME FELLOW HIKERS WATERING THEIR DOGS

The second canyon walk also had a grove of palm trees plus some running water trickling down a sandy wash. We reached those palms in about 10 minutes, but still nothing looking like a grove of elephant trees. Took a break here & ate our peanut butter sandwiches in the shade of the majestic palms. We headed back down the sandy wet wash to the parking lot & were heading to the car when Kelly spotted a third path leading up a rocky slope. So, off we went again climbing steeply up a dusty path that someone had spent a lot of time lining with stones. We climbed for about 15 minutes until we reached a plateau of sorts. We were really hoping to see some elephant trees somewhere up here but the path just wandered aimlessly through the rocks & off across the desert plateau. A decision was made to turn back once again because by this time we were beginning to get a little pooped under the heat of the relentless sun. Back down the narrow rocky path & headed once more for the car. We were nearly at the car walking across a flat stretch of sand when unbeknownst to me at the time, Kelly felt an unusual twinge in her right ankle. She didn't think much of it at the time so didn't say anything. EGG POCKET

From the Mountain Palm Canyon campground we drove south to the Carrizo badlands overlook. Had debated about going all the way to Ocotillo but decided it was time to head for home. Once again we marveled at the beauty surrounding us. Just over the mountains about 40 short miles west of us lay the city of San Diego, but here in the peaceful desert we were basically the only people on the road. Might have seen half a dozen vehicles in about 3 hours. That would never happen back home anywhere that close to a major city!! THE DESERT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE

Waved to Ghost Mountain as we went by again but we'll be heading back there in the morning. Took a slightly different route on our return to Borrego Springs this time. Instead of heading through Yaqui Pass we decided to come across the backside of the San Ysidro mountains & take the hair raising plunge down Montezuma's Grade which would land us right in Borrego Springs. It's an 8 to 9% grade for 11 miles all the way to the bottom. About half way down we came up behind a large Class C motorhome towing a fairly large trailer. it was about this time that we began smelling hot brake linings. Took me by surprise because I was staying off the brakes as much as possible & using the gears to keep my downward spiral in check. Thought occurred to me I might have a brake pad sticking but everything felt normal. The smell kept getting stronger. The Class C ahead slowed & moved to the right a bit & I was able to get around him on the left. Strangely enough, the hot brakes smell dissipated almost immediately. Only then did I realize it wasn't our brakes after all. It was the Class C & trailer's brakes we were smelling. The next thought that occurred to me was, if he loses his brakes he's going to come barreling down the mountain right behind us. After a few tight turns I never saw him again. He may still be on the side of that mountain somewhere white knuckled to his steering wheel forever. WE ATE OUR PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICHES IN THE SHADE OF THE PALMS

We were home by 3 & so far, all was well. Butch, Kapeesh, Doug, JoAnn, & Fillmore dropped by for a chat around 4. Talked about the day's hikes etc. Kelly went in & out of the motorhome a couple times to fetch a book & some maps & it was during one of these trips that her ankle let go but she hid the pain until everyone had headed back to their rigs. For Kelly to acknowledge or admit any kind of injury is a very rare thing. By the time I came into the motorhome her face was knotted in pain. She can't put any weight on her foot or turn it. Her toes felt numb & the pain was radiating up to her knee. I suggested we head for the medical clinic but she wouldn't have any part of that. And I thought I was the only stubborn one of the Bayfield Bunch. She iced her ankle & wrapped it but the pain didn't back off. Only thing that brought her some relief was a couple of aspirins later on. Right now she is using an old baseball bat as a cane to hobble around with & still cannot put any weight on the foot. We'll see what the morning brings. She's pretty darn stubborn you know....................................................

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