SET UP IN A NEW SPOT, SCHMOOZING WITH NEIGHBORS & THE SASS DROPS BY & IS GONE AGAIN

CAN YOU FIND THE PHEEBS

Watched old Sol rise over yonder Cargo Muchacho Mountains this morning spilling it’s warming rays into our coach.  Just the other side of those mountains to the east lies the city of Yuma.  Everything east of the Colorado River running through Yuma is in Arizona & everything west of the Colorado is in California.  It is the Colorado River which divides the city of Yuma with the majority of Yuma being on Arizona’s side of the river.  At night we can see Yuma’s glow of lights over the Muchacho mountains & if we look slightly southward along the flat horizon we can a string of bright shimmering lights stretched across the horizon & I am guessing that is Algodones.

SUNRISE OVER THE CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS

After a nice walk our first order of business was to unhitch little Jeepers & set off to find us a better docking spot.  Too many rigs in the neighborhood we were were in.  Didn’t take us long to find Jean & Skip on the northwest fringe of the RV area alongside Ogilbe road.  Stopped in to say hello.  Sophie, Louie, & big Jake ran out to meet us.  Because we had our satellite dish in the back of the Jeep we didn’t have Pheebs with us.  We spotted an Okay area just north of Jean & Skip so drove back to our overnight spot & brought the rig over.  Our spot is out in the open more than we like but it will do for now.  We generally look for a clump of trees to park near but all the clumpy tree places have rigs parked next to them.  RV’s are actually spaced out further apart here than Borrego Springs.  No high areas nearby to climb up & get a better overall view though.  We can see California’s Imperial Sand Dunes just south of us.  That’s where all the Dune Buggy, ATV, & Dirt Bike kids hang out.  Fortunately they are far enough away not to be a bother.  Can’t even hear them.

It’s so nice for us out docking in the desert this time compared to the last 2 times a month ago when the only reason we were on the road was our troublesome inverter & both trips were to Niland/Slab City to deal with that problem.  All electrical things in the coach are working properly now making everything very much most less stressful.  This past week has been more reminiscent of our earlier years just wandering around for the winter months fancy free & footloose.  Except when we were ranch sitting near McNeal Az. for a few months each winter.  Our travel time was a little more tied down in those days for a few winters.

ALL SET UP IN OUR NEW SPOT COMPLETE WITH SATELLITE TV

Walked over to Jean & Skip’s place after lunch & had us a sit around for a couple hours.  Nice enough to be outside in the warm sun just enjoying all the fresh air.  Pheebs was happy to see Sophie, Louie, & big Jake.  I think best Pals often remember each other.

 

LOTS OF SMOOCHES GOING AROUND

 

OH THOSE LAZY HAZY CRAZY DAYS OF WINTER

Noticed the constellation Scorpios has cleared the horizon in our early morning skies.  Our season is marching on & here we are at the end of another year & for us that means we are now nearly half way through our winter stay in the southwest.  Seems like just a week ago we arrived here.  And we haven’t even got around to seeing some of our Congress area friends yet.  Oh Dear, we certainly will never win any awards for our social skills.

NORTHERN END OF THE CARGO MUCHACHOS MOUNTAINS LATE THIS AFTERNOON

Weather is looking pretty grouchy for the Congress area over the next few days.  Cold days & there is talk of snow.  Since being in Congress for a couple winters now we have been snowed on 3 times.  Hardly an inch & each time it was only on the ground a few hours & had melted away by noon.  Aunt Jean who loves her warm Florida weather flew out to see us 2 winters ago & wouldn’t you know it we woke up to snow on the ground the very next morning.  With over 60 northern winters under our belts we really do not have to or want to ever see cold blowing snow again.  Weather’s supposed to be back up in the mid to high 60’s next Sunday so I think we’ll wait for that warming trend before even thinking of heading back up that-a-way.

Heard a car horn….’Toot-Toot’.  A white Tracker rolled up to the door & we recognized the driver & passenger right away.  After all we did briefly meet once before on a highway north of Yuma last winter.  Check out 65mph Encounter With A Blue Harley-Davidson  Yep, it was SASSY her very self along with her little dog Bennie today.  Had just delivered some oranges over to Jean & Skips & dropped over for a quick hello before heading back into Yuma.  Sassy’s quick hellos are quick & 5 minutes later she was off in a big cloud of desert dust.  That lady is a one woman whirlwind.  Nice to see ya Sass:))

PHEEBS MEETS BENNIE

 

THAT ROADRUNNER ON SASSY’S DOOR SURE FITS THE BILL:))

Think this is maybe our 3rd or 4th time here just off Ogilby road northwest of Yuma so we are familiar with the area.  We spent a Christmas here years ago.  Those times were back in the days we still had Max, Checkers, & our little Motormouse Cora.  Happy times.  No idea how long we’ll stay here or where we will go next.  Kelly’s feeling good so we might just keep on going forever:))

Checking our computer weather late this afternoon we think it may have been raining in Borrego Springs.  We might have got out of town just in time.  Weather for Yuma over the next few days is not looking as bad as earlier predicted.  40% chance of rain Tuesday with a mixture of sun & cloud.  We are under an 80% cloud cover as I type this tonight…………………

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A little three-year-old boy is sitting on the toilet. His mother thinks he has been in there too long, so she goes in to see what's up.
The little boy is sitting on the toilet reading a book. But about every 10 seconds or so he puts the book down, grips onto the toilet seat with his left hand and hits himself on top of the head with his right hand.  His mother says, "Billy, are you all right? You've been in there for a while."  Billy says, "I'm fine, Mommy. I just haven't gone yet."  Mother says, "Okay, you can stay in there a few more minutes, but Billy, why are you hitting yourself on the head?"  Billy says, "Works for ketchup!"

BY GOLLY WE’RE JUST SOMEWHERE WEST OF YUMA TONIGHT

THIS EVENING’S GOLDEN TWILIGHT

Always keeping an eye on the weather we saw rains were predicted for Borrego Springs Tuesday & Wednesday.  In fact this whole southwest area is going for a bit of a weather schmaltz over the next few days.  Yuma’s forecast did look a little better than Borrego though.  Couple the weather with the fact our black tank was full & we needed to move the rig & dump anyway today we decided this morning to pull up stakes & head on down the road.  The big Arco station for dumping & taking on water was right on our way anyway so the decision was made.

THIS IS OLIVIA

AND THIS IS OLIVER

 

We still had not got around to see Nan & John from Trippin With The Talleys & Linda & Howard from stillhowlyntravels so we sent out a quick email to see if folks were up yet.  Nan was home & said “come on over”.  We secured our rig but before hooking up the Jeep we headed off to find Nan & John in the desert.  Fortunately Tom had pointed out their location Sunday so we knew where to look.  John was outside to greet us when we pulled up.  And so was the 2 little cutesy PA tootsie's Oliver & Olivia.  It was nice seeing Nan & John again.  It was 2 winter’s ago we last popped in on them.  That was the time we were heading back to Congress from Borrego Springs after a disappointing 2 day shake down cruise in our ‘too small’ Class C 23’ Chevy Sunseeker.  We all did a little catching up this morning & of course Pheebs had a blast with Oliver & Olivia.  Seeings how we were once again on our way somewhere we didn’t overstay our welcome.  Thanks for that jar of Trader Joe’s Cookie Butter Nan.  I’ll be hiding that away in a secret place :))

 

  

I’M NOT SURE WHICH LITTLE FUR BALL I HAVE ON MY LAP HERE:))

BUT I THINK THAT’S OLIVER STANDING ON THE PHEEBS

OH & JOHN & NAN WERE HOME TOO:))

Not far from where Nan & John were parked we knew about where Linda & Howard were & sure enough we managed to weave our way around through the Creosote shrubs on a sandy Jeep road & find them as well.  Howard was just making it back from his 5 mile morning jog & Linda wasn’t too far behind him.  They do this about 4 days a week.  That’s Howard you saw jogging by this morning Nan.  We had met Linda & Howard briefly at the bus tour gathering a few days ago so we wanted to stop by & get to know them better.  Again, nice folks for sure who have been living the full time RV life for 20 years now.  They have just about been everywhere where everywhere can be including places like Grenada, Nicaragua, & Mexico.  They’ve been stopping in Borrego Springs for years & years.  Like full timers Nan & John they too much prefer the boondocking lifestyle & the freedom that kind of life gives them.  So many nice nomadic RV folks out here.

THERE’S THAT PHEEBS SHOWBOATING AT LINDA & HOWARDS

 

THAT PHEEBS IS SUCH A SCHMOOZE

 

WE WERE DOING GOOD TILL SOMEBODY DROPPED A QUARTER:))

LINDA & HOWARD HAVE HAD THIS COUNTRY COACH 14 YEARS & IT’S ONLY THEIR 2ND RIG IN 20 YEARS UNLIKE SOME OF US WHO………WELL YOU KNOW

Within minutes of returning to our rig we had the Jeep hooked up & the big wheels rolling.  Always sad leaving Borrego Springs but for sure we will be back & I’m already looking forward to once more swinging down into that big sweeping majestic valley.  My main goal again this year was my annual trek up Ghost Mountain & Christmas morning that’s exactly where we were…………..

EASTBOUND ON S2 HEADING FOR THE ARCO STATION WEST OF SALTON CITY

Dumped our tanks & took on water at the big Arco station & headed south down to Brawley.  We were needing a grocery stop so Walmart in Brawley’s south end it was.  Grabbed ourselves a 12” sub at Subway & split it.  Rolling out of Walmart I hung a left & 86’d it south down to El Centro.  That was not the smartest move.  Traffic light alley getting through El Centro but we’ll know enough not to go that way again.  Picked up I-8 & headed east for Yuma.  Sun was getting low in the sky by the time we reached our boondocking destination.  We didn’t look hard for a sight, just pulled in off the road aways & shut er down for the night.  We’ll unhook Jeepers in the morning & drive us around the area a bit & see if we can find us a nice location for a few days.  Knowing it may be a rainy day here as well tomorrow we wanted to do our travel day while we had a nice warm sunshiny day.  With a little bit of luck maybe tomorrow I will remember to tell you just where we are……………..:))  

SUN GOING DOWN IN OUR I-8 EAST BOUND DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR

I especially liked Gaelyn’s post this morning about RV'ers Hide-Out in the desert.  We are indeed a curious mix of characters with our far from the maddening crowds boondocking ways.  Whether Fulltimers, Snow Birders, or Week-enders there are many of us who are drawn to the quieter side of RVing.  When I look out my window I see RV’s scattered solely about the desert floor without a lot of hoopla or fanfare going on.   With the exception of the RV groups of course which our out here with the emphasis on socializing in a desert setting.  For most of us though we all understand our fellow boondockers needs & desires for quiet privacy & we make sure not to park in each other’s space or face or hang out & bug each other.  Brief get togethers then we all scatter back like little rabbits to our hutches.  We’re quite a bunch but the friendships are special & they are lasting……and we wouldn’t have it any other way:)) 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A man, upon his release from prison, runs out the gates screaming, "I'M FREE! I'M FREE!"  A little girl standing nearby, looks at him and says, "I'm four."

---

I was in the band at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Our group was required to play for all generals who arrived on our base.  One morning, when our commanding officer heard on the radio that a General Frost was expected just after noon, he sent us scrambling to the flight line with instruments.  One of the musicians had also heard the radio announcement. He took the C.O. aside for a whispered conference. When they returned, the officer told us the performance was canceled. There was no arriving general.  We had almost played for the weather forecast.

A RETURN TO THE GREAT STONE SNAKE WITH FELLOW RV’ER TOM

Had to again dress very warm for our early morning walk.  Smart folks stay in their toasty warm RV’s until the morning sun has heated up the outside air enough for them to step out of their rigs.  Never once in any of my posts have I ever said we were smart folks so……….. we have an excuse:))

BULLDOZERS HAVE RE-LANDSCAPED THIS WHOLE AREA NEAR WHERE WE ARE PARKED & WE NOTICED IT HAS BEEN PLANTED WITH BRITTLE BUSHES

  

IN A FEW YEARS THIS WHOLE AREA SHOULD FILL IN WITH BRITTLE & CREOSOTE BUSHES GIVING THIS HILLSIDE A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW FLOWER LOOK IN THE SPRING OF EACH YEAR

I THINK THIS IS AN ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK PROJECT…BY THE WAY WITH OVER 600,000 ACRES, ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK IS THE LARGEST STATE PARK IN THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES & BORREGO SPRINGS ALTHOUGH NOT PART OF THE PARK LIES JUST ABOUT RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF IT

Here’s a little something we noticed written in the Borrego Springs Village Guide that sums up why we return here year after year.  Keep in mind I did not write this…(ok maybe a couple lines)….What’s So Special About Borrego Springs?  One visit will answer that question for you.  In driving distance, Borrego is two hours or less from any place in San Diego County.  In reality, Borrego is a world away from traffic, from chain stores, from commotion, from crowds, from deadlines, from the predicable, from the mundane.  A land for all seasons.  Borrego Springs is a year round destination that offers expansive desert vistas framed by stark ancient cliffs, miles of emptiness that are in fact teeming with wildlife, endlessly dramatic desert skies that at night offer a darkness that defies description, plus a peace & quiet that cannot be understood without first-hand experience.  Borrego offers you as little or as much to do as you are willing to contemplate.  Soaking up the magnificent scenery is an admirable full time occupation and can be accomplished on foot, by car, on horseback, in an off-road caravan or from the air.  If you are game for more there is tennis, golf, shopping, music, galleries, hiking cycling, photography, bird watching, sunning, swimming, star gazing, and even time travel when you include a visit to the sculptures of Ricardo Brecceda at Galleta Meadows.  However you chose to experience Borrego Springs we know for certain you will be amazed & whether here for a day or a week we know you will be back.

At the gathering Saturday afternoon I got to talking to a couple good friends of Jean & Skip.  Dianne & Tom from TD HOMESTEAD (you can find them on our sidebar) had not seen the great Stone Snake on Coyote mountain yet & Tom expressed an interest in having a look at it so this morning at 9 a.m. Tom drove over & him & I hiked ourselves over to Coyote Mountain & following a well worn path made our way up over a couple ridges to the wee valley of the snake.  Always impressive to see the serpent & the work that went into it’s construction.  Nice that someone took the time & had the creative thought to do it.  I’m suspecting an older person & fellow RV’er. 

  

TOM’S FIRST PHOTO OF THE SNAKE & MY HE’S A BRAVE SOUL STANDING SO CLOSE TO THE MIGHTY SERPENT

 

LOOKING OFF IN THE DIRECTION OF BORREGO SPRINGS & STANDING BESIDE A FLAG POLE CHATTING FOR AWHILE

It was a nice hike despite the high thin cloud cover.  Not often I go anywhere with anyone anymore except Kelly or Pheebs so it was nice to hike along with Tom this morning.  Easy fellow to talk to & we exercised our legs as much as our jaws.  Ok so it was me doing the most jaw exercising.  If I’m comfortable with someone I often have a habit of talking too much.  And yes it’s very possible for reclusive old grouchy me to actually talk too much.  By the time we got back to the rig I figure we had been gone an hour & a half.  An hour & a half well spent I may add.

 

THIS PHOTO IS KINDA UNIQUE IN THAT IT SHOWS 4 RIGS & THE OWNERS OF THESE 4 RIGS WERE ALL AT SATURDAY’S GATHERING…GAELYN IN THE TOP TRUCK CAMPER, TALKED TO THE LADY FROM THAT GREEN ‘LAZY DAYS’, MET THE LADY IN THAT ARCTIC FOX TRUCK CAMPER & OF COURSE THAT’S US AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT…LOOKS LIKE WE ARE CLOSE TOGETHER BUT ACTUALLY WE ARE NOT BECAUSE IT’S MY 300mm LENS THAT COMPACTS THE DISTANCE

GROUPS ARE BEGINNING TO GATHER

OUR RIG, OUR JEEP, & TOM’S CAR

Dianne had been baking muffins this morning & didn’t make the hike so her, Tom & their dog Nell dropped over after lunch.   Meeting people in large gatherings it is sometimes hard to really get to know anyone so we enjoyed getting to know Dianne & Tom better to day.  Really nice folks & our kind of people for sure.  And Pheebs was happy to meet Nell as well.  They had a look at our rig we had a look at theirs & both coaches have many similarities.  Both Newmar & Triple E are made by Amish folks & it especially shows in the nice woodworking.  Theirs is a Newmar Mountain Aire.  Dianne & Tom are off to Ogilbe Road west of Yuma in the morning.

DIANNE & TOM FROM ‘TDHOMESTEAD’

We still have some fellow RV Bloggers to get around & see yet so we’ll get in touch with a few folks shortly.  Didn’t have much time to talk to Linda & Howard from stillhowlintravels Saturday afternoon.  Tom showed us today where they are parked & I was able to find them later with my binoculars.  So Linda & Howard we’ll be over to see you folks.  And we had thought Nan & John from Trippin With The Talleys were still in San Diego until Tom told us no they are back here at Borrego again.  I was also able to find their location with my binoculars so Nan & John we’ll be looking you folks up as well.  Say, that Tom is a wealth of neighborhood information eh:))

DESPITE THE SHAKY LOOKS THESE TWO GIRLS GOT ALONG JUST FINE

 

Internet was very slow Saturday night & I fell asleep before I could finish my post.  Had my laptop in bed with me & luckily it was still there whirring away when I woke up this morning.  Finished up a few last minute edits & hit the ‘Publish’ button.  Over all though our internet connection has been very good compared to years ago here when it was spotty at best.  I think improvements have been made to Verizon cell towers in the area.

I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE FULL BODY PAINT ON DIANNE & TOM’S NEWMAR MOUNTAIN AIRE & THEY HAVE A CREDENZA IN THEIR DINING AREA THAT REALLY CAUGHT MY FANCY

Definitely a whole RV load of new excitement going on over at ON THE ROAD ABODE.  I won’t spoil the fun & tell you what just happened but these guys are over the Moon happy & many of we RV’ers have been in that happy place where they are right now.  Gol-eeeeeeee:))

More rigs have rolled into the area over the last couple days & especially Saturday.  More today as various RV groups are converging for their annual New Years Eve bash in the desert.  So far we have been lucky with nobody parking in our face & no noisy gatherings close by.  That could always change in the twinkling of an eye though. 

GROANER’S CORNER:(( My boss was complaining in our staff meeting the other day that he wasn't getting any respect. Later that morning he went to a local sign shop and bought a small sign that read, "I'm the Boss". He then taped it to his office door.  Later that day when he returned from lunch, he found that someone had taped a note to the sign that said. "Your wife called, she wants her sign back!"