WE WAVED GOOD-BYE TO FILLMORE THIS MORNING

RAKING UP THE CAMPSITE THIS MORNING

To-day we had our best weather day since leaving Ontario back in mid November. The sun actually felt hot & a welcomed slight breeze made for a perfect day. At one point this afternoon we had to even close our side door because the sun shining in was just toooooo hot.

Fillmore was over early wanting the guys to come out & play so I had lots of help outside as I gathered up brush for a morning campfire. JoAnn & Doug walked over later & we sat around for quite awhile chit chatting & playing with the dogs. At one point I threw a tennis ball for Fillmore but it hit a log & bounced back into the hot embers of the firepit. Before any of us could react, Fillmore was into the pit after the ball with his right front paw landing right on the hot embers. Without a squeal he bounded out of the firepit & immediately began favoring his right paw. I quickly grabbed our dogs waterdish & I poured fresh water in it & Kelly got Fillmore to put his paw in the cold water. She kept Fillmore there for about 5 minutes & he was really good about it. Doug went back to their rig & got one of Fillmore's purple boots (yes, purple) & put it on the paw to keep the dirt out. Wasn't long & Fillmore was up & flying around again as if nothing had happened. I think we humanoids may have over reacted a bit to his firewalking episode. Fillmore sort of had a look on his face that said, "so, what's all the fuss about anyway!!"

THE AFTERMATH OF FILLMORE'S FIRE WALK EPISODE

Doug & JoAnn decided to pull up stakes & head over to Mitry Lake where they were expected at an Escapee's Rally to-day, so about 11:30 this morning we all said our good-byes & they headed on down the road. http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/ I always feel very sad to see people go because many times in this kind of lifestyle.......you never see them again:(( But, I like these kind of brief encounters because it seems when people are to-gether for tooooooooo long they have a tendency to get on each other's nerves. This way, everyone has their best foot forward while friendships are solidly cemented in place, and with the internet, blogs, emails, & forums, the friendships continue as we all follow each other's adventures across the land & if by chance you meet these people again somewhere, it just always seems be a very special kind of kinship:))

It was obvious by early afternoon that Max, Checkers, & the Motormouse were all depressed & missing their old pal, Fillmore, so the decision was made by Mom & Dad to pack up camp & roll out in the morning. Probably heading up to Slab City for a couple days & maybe have Solar Mike do a routine check of our Solar system just to make sure things are operating correctly.

SAYING OUR GOOD-BYES

Usually every afternoon around 4 as the sun is getting low on the horizon we have to retreat inside because of the cold that descends across the desert, but to-day that was not the case. The breeze subsided & we were able to leave our side door open until well after dark. As the sun slipped over the horizon we were treated to a beautiful crescent moon flanked by 3 planets. Venus was shining brightly high in the western sky followed by the moon a little further down. Below the moon was the planet Jupiter & below Jupiter to the left & close to the horizon was the planet Mercury. For me, with an interest in Astronomy, it was a real treat to see. Looking forward to seeing them again to-morrow night.........wherever we are. Got us roaring campfire going & sat outside for a long time & after supper I went out & sat by the campfire for nearly an hour under a beautiful canopy of stars & constellations from horizon to horizon. Tipped back in my lounge chair & with my binoculars I wistfully traveled the star trails of the heavens remembering old friends & old memories of days gone by.................... A NICE WAY TO END THE DAY

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

CRACKER BARREL, DOGS, DOGS, EVERYWHERE & CHILE TACO SOUP

NO WONDER I DON'T ALWAYS GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP!!

What a treat it was to step out of the motorhome this morning & feel the warming rays of the sun instead of an icy wind for a change. I really think the southwestern States should get their heads to-gether & do something about this cold air & wind problem they have down here.AND, THIS IS FILLMORE


Fillmore was at the door early this morning wanting Max, Checkers, & the Motormouse to come out & play. We opened the door & the circus began. Dogs, dogs, everywhere. In the house, out the house, round & round the firepit they went. Lots of barking, dust, & noise. Lots of peeing on everything. Aw yes, sure beats having a bunch of screaming kids running around.

TOBBOGANING DOWN A HILL OF GRAVEL ON A PLASTIC BIN LID

Groceries were getting a little low so we headed off to Yuma around 10. Sure are a lot more RV's parked out in the desert now than a few days ago. This is a real popular area for dune buggies & ATV's because of the Imperial Sand Dunes just a few miles to the west. We could see clouds of dust in the air over in that direction. Now that Christmas is over I'm sure there are a lot of snowbirds headed this way.

Traffic wasn't too bad this morning as we made our way into town. Kelly wanted to try out Cracker Barrel's Sunday only chicken special so that was our first stop. Had to tough out a 20 minute wait but I actually did it. I think Cracker Barrel is probably our favorite place to eat. I had my usual open face hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes & gravy. Love that stuff. We never get coffee or desert so we were able to hold the bill to under $20. Still seems like a lot of money to me though. Course I always figure anything over $5 is totally outrageous!!

20 MINUTE WAIT AT CRACKER BARREL

Yuma is a fairly easy city to get around in & we've only got lost 3 out of 4 times either coming from or going to Wally-World. Streets run one way & the avenues the other so any dummy should be able to figure it out ok. And let me remind you, I'm not just any dummy!!!! WW wasn't too crowded as we zipped up & down the grocery aisles. Headed for the hardware department & picked up some paint too. Yep, we're gonna do some more painting in the rig. Same flower pot adobe color as our living room but this time Al's gonna have a go at the bedroom. Be nervous Kelly, be very nervous:((
We left Wally-World & immediately ended up seeing some more parts of Yuma that we hadn't really intended on seeing, but finally found our way back out to Ogilby road & the rig around 2.

Fillmore popped over around 4 & the circus was on again. Dogs, dogs, everywhere:)) JoAnn walked over later all bundled up against the biting wind followed by Doug in a bundle as well. We sat around the fireless firepit for awhile & toughed it out like true RV'ers watching the dogs flying around all over the place upside down. The sun was just about to dip over the horizon when Doug made a dash for their rig followed by JoAnn. Don't want to get caught out in the open when the sun goes down out here. The cold desert night's start instantly!!

DOGS, DOGS, EVERYWHERE

5 o'clock rolled around as Kelly & I dressed up warm & made the fast 6.3 second dash over to Doug & JoAnn's for supper. Chile Taco Soup with corn meal muffins made for a great supper as we all got to know each other better. Always interesting to hear how people met & the events in their lives that eventually led them to the RV way of life. D & J do a trip journal as well & you can find them here....http://www.mytripjournal.com/ourdream STEP ASIDE......KANGAROO COMING THROUGH

Kelly & I are not late night people so by 7 o'clock we said our "good-nights" & retraced our 6.3 dash for home. Cranked up our blue flame heater & settled in for the night. Time to start on the blog, play with the dogs, grab a coffee, upload some photos to the web album, look up the word metaphysical, put to-gether a double whammy peanut butter & honey sandwich & contemplated the thought of why the little moron cut his toilet seat in half. Hmmmmmm, do you suppose he heard that his half assed brother was coming to town.....................

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

COMPANY'S A COMING:))

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

Because of our solar panels we always park our rig facing east or west. Usually east because that allows our door to open on the warmer sunny south side & it's a tad easier putting up the south facing panels as well. The advantage of facing the rig to the east is the sunrises. In our pine forested home back in Bayfield, Ontario we never get to see sunsets or sunrises but while in the southwest we get to see them everyday. And every morning the big sunrise comes beaming though our big motorhome windshield. What a great way to start the day......despite getting up every morning around 5:30 a.m. Don't ask me why we get up that early, we just do:((

We had a good excuse for some housecleaning this morning. Company was a comin:)) We had met JoAnn & Doug a few days ago in Yuma. They had been following our blog & sent us an email when they rolled into Yuma. We met at a Wally-World McDonalds & had us good chin wag. They were booked into an RV Park's overflow area & we suggested they come out to where we were after Christmas & try on a little boondocking for size. Lots of room out here in the desert & lots of peace & quiet.

Their Yuma departure was delayed a bit this morning with a truck battery problem but by 11:15 they were on their way. I drove out to Ogilby road & waited for a Montana 5th wheel. We're only 20 minutes out of Yuma so it didn't take them long to get here & we soon had them back to our area & setting up. And then they let Fillmore loose. Boy, talk about a dog with a lot of energy. Fillmore is a tall handsome 70 pound Standard Poodle. He even towers over our guys. Max's nose was a little out of joint when Fillmore barreled into the rig & right up onto Max's couch. Checkers didn't like Fillmore getting too close to her favorite stick, & the little Motormouse was busy trying not to get mowed down in the ensuing circus. It's always so nice to see dogs playing to-gether & getting to know each other. Great entertainment & that Fillmore is a gem:)) SETTING UP THE MONTANA WITH FILLMORE SUPERVISING

A bit later in the afternoon we all piled in our car & headed off down American Girl Road to the place we were rock scrambling a couple days ago. Had us look for some rocks but didn't find too much because the area was in shadow. Drove down the road another mile or so to the big open pit mine area & had a look at that too. Back out to Ogilby road & cruised through an Escapee Boondocker Rally about a half mile off the road. Continued up Ogilby another couple of miles & swung west down a gravel road to Gold Rock Ranch. Did a drive through there & then headed back to our site & dropped JoAnn & Doug off at their rig. Figured they were needing some good old R&R after being in RV Parks for quite awhile so we let them be & said good-night. Headed for our rig & finally got there about........... 4 seconds later. All & all, it was the end of another good day, & Gee, the sun hadn't even gone down yet....................... (no wonder we get up so early!!!!)JOANN & DOUG AT BLUEBIRD HILL

I posted some new photos to-night.

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/