GOT THE WHEELS BACK ON MY WAGON

WE WAVED GOOD-BYE TO BORREGO SPRINGS THIS MORNING

This narrow little world of mine is beginning to come back into focus.  I spent about an hour early this morning working with the Blogger format and have gained a better workable understanding of it.  So much so that I at least can use it for the time being.  (I seem to have more patience for learning things in the morning) A Guest in the Shout Box said, "The photos, when on, are much sharper using Blogger than Open Live Writer".  I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this.  From my seat here I can't tell the difference and I suspect that is some kind of a visual difficulty I must have. 

A big thanks to readers for their encouragement.  Those kind words go a long way with me and over the years have been instrumental in keeping my blogging head above water.  Kelly of course has been on this latest blogging ker-fuffle like a Bulldog on a bone.  She has spent hours trying to track down the problem and is currently on the Open Live Writer forum with others having this same problem.  She is also in email contact with one of the Open Live Writer founders.  I'm still trying to get in contact with where my heads been for the past couple days.

Even before pulling out of our site this morning I was already missing Borrego Springs.  Our 16 day stay was our longest and our best and and we give credit the fact it was the great boon-docking site we had this time.   Best site we’ve ever had since coming to Borrego since late 2007.  We’re both already looking forward to returning again next winter. 

ROLLING OUT OF THE DESERT TO HIGHWAY 78

We were packed up and had the big wheels rolling by 8:45 California time.  Headed east on highway 78 through Ocotillo Wells to highway 86.  Turned left and boogied north up to the big Arco station at Salton City and picked up some gas, filled up our fresh water tank and dumped our grey and black tanks.  How nice that we were the only ones there again at the dump.  It was 10 o’clock on the Schnauz when we rolled back out onto highway 86 and motored south.

AN 18 WHEELER ROLLED INTO ARCO WITH TWO TRAILERS LOADED WITH LEMONS AND SQUEEZED INTO A NARROW SPOT BETWEEN OTHER  BIG 18 WHEELERS.....IF THAT SPOT HAD BEEN ANY TIGHTER HE WOULD HAVE ENDED UP WITH A LOAD OF LEMON JUICE INSTEAD OF LEMONS

DEFINITELY A BIG AGRICULTURE AREA AROUND BRAWLEY CALIFORNIA

We prefer the route running through the Imperial Sand Dunes and Glammis to the north end of Ogilbe road as opposed to heading straight south to I-8 then east to Ogilbe.  Much less traffic and much nicer scenery using the Glammis route. 

COLORS ARE OFF A BIT WITH THESE SAND HILL PHOTOS DUE TO BEING TAKEN THROUGH OUR MOTORHOME'S WINDSHIELD

LOOKS LIKE A GANG  OF WEEK-DAY WARRIORS

THIS IS BUT A SMALL PART OF ONE OF THE LARGEST GOLD MINES IN AMERICA WHICH EXTRACTS OVER 100,000 MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD ANNUALLY VALUED AT OVER $100 MILLION  (2011)

We headed south on Ogilbe Road and weren’t long in reaching the boon-docking area preferred by many fellow boon-docking RV’ers.  Lots of room for everybody here at Ogilbe so there is no need for crowding.  We did notice there are more rigs here now than a month ago.

TRAVELING EAST ON HIGHWAY 78 AND ARE NEARLY AT THE OGILBE ROAD TURN OFF

Last two times here a month ago we had a couple good spots but where we are now is even a very much more gooder spot.  Great even.  We were all set up and in total relaxation mode by high noon California time.  Groovy:))

WE ARE BACK IN THE AREA OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD AND HERE IS AN AIR TO AIR REFUELING BETWEEN A TANKER PLANE AND A MARINES V-22 OSPREY TODAY

THIS IS A TYPICAL BAYFIELD BUNCH BOON-DOCKING SET-UP.....WE GENERALLY PLACE THE JEEP EITHER AHEAD OR BEHIND THE RIG GIVING US AN L-SHAPE FOR PRIVACY AND WIND PROTECTION.....WE ALWAYS TRY TO PLACE OUR SIDE DOOR FACING NATURE'S QUIET

DEPENDING ON AN AREAS PREVAILING WINDS I ALWAYS TUCK OUR SATELLITE DISH CLOSE IN TO THE RIG RIGHT NEXT TO A SLIDE TO GIVE IT AS MUCH WIND PROTECTION I CAN

Thanks Sue for your suggestion about going through Smug Mug to upload photos for my blog.  I had Smug Mug years ago and really liked it but I somehow let it lapse when they made a big format change and I got lost in my own impatient confusion trying to figure it out.  I will definitely keep your suggestion in mind and I may even have myself another look at Smug Mug.  And Jerry C thanks for the suggestion about going to 'Photos' and trying it that way.  I had done that but it didn't work.  I tried pulling some test pics off the web and not running them through Picasa but that didn't work either.  I did try publishing last Friday's post again earlier tonight but 'no go'.  Problem is not yet resolved.

THAT IS OUR NEAREST NEIGHBOR DOWN THERE ON THE RIGHT AND HEY THAT'S OK:))

A NICE EVENING FOR SITTING OUT

I used Blogger's format again tonight for this post and have to admit it went very smooth now that I have been forced to take the time to figure things out and work with it.  Comparing it to Open Live Writer there are pros and cons of course but I do now think I can work with this Blogger format.  The wheels are back on my wagon:))))

AN OGILBE SUNSET

AN OLD OGILBE OGRE PROWLS IN A WASH RIGHT BESIDE US

TALKED TO AUNT JEAN ON THE PHONE MONDAY NIGHT AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE SHE PLAYED A FULL 18 HOLES OF GOLF LAST TUESDAY.....AND SHE'S 89 YEARS OLD

GROANER'S CORNER:(( “In an effort to smooth things over and resolve their differences one gladiator said to the other, 'Let's bury the hatchet and go clubbing'.”

You have to stay in shape. My mother started walking five miles a day when she was 60.
She's 97 now and... we have no idea where she is.

An elementary school class goes on a field trip to the police station.  The Officer points to one of the 10 MOST WANTED men on a list and tells them that these are the most wanted fugitives in the USA. Little Boy says " He is the MOST WANTED in the USA?!"
Officer says "yes".  Little Boy asks "Why didn't you keep him when you took his picture?"

GOING TO HAVE TO REEL MYSELF IN AND STRAIGHTEN MYSELF OUT

Well I'm having a bit of angst with myself tonight folks.  The Live Writer/Picasa issue is not resolved and we're beginning to think it may not be resolvable.  We've determined it is not a problem at our end and has to do with a Picasa and Live Writer conflict somewhere.  I've been going around in circles trying to decide what is I should do.  Maybe switch my blog from Blogger to Word Press??  No!!  Should I be thinking of a new photo editing program that works with Live Writer??  Possibly.  Should I try and make do with the Blogger format or should I just wrap up this blog and call it a day.  Well that is an option but I am not really wanting to give up blogging just yet.  It is a hobby that has brought me a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction over the years and I like to think it has done the same for others as well despite my griping and grumbling way too much of the time.  And speaking of grumbling I've been feeling kinda bad about my 'over the top' grumbilating about a couple rigs parked near us a couple days ago.  They haven't been a bother at all and today I met one of the fellas and as usually is the case he was a nice fella.  I've said it before and I will say it again darn it.......it is not you people out there who are the problem it is me Oscar the Grouch who is the problem most of the time it seems.

I'm using the Blogger format for now until I can decide what it is I want to do.  I know this frustration is temporary and will pass but for right now and probably the next few days I'm just going to have to reel myself in and get myself straightened out.

Looks like a large rain front heading into southern California and Arizona Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so tonight we decided to pull up stakes here on the sandy soil near Borrego Springs and head back in the morning to Yuma where we can get our tires on a harder rocky surface.  Maybe catch some movies on those rainy days.  And besides we have something to pick up at Best Buy in the Yuma Palms Mall anyway..................

SURE ARE SOME NICE HOMES AROUND BORREGO SPRINGS

BORREGO SPRINGS IS ALSO HOME TO A NUMBER OF ORANGE AND LEMON ORCHARDS

HEY ANYBODY REMEMBER 'LEMONGATE' YEARS AGO

SPOTTED THIS MACHINE COMING OUT OF ONE OF THE ORCHARDS BUT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS OR DOES

THIS WHOLE AREA WAS ONCE AN ANCIENT SEA AND IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO FIND SEA SHELLS IN THE DESERT

I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THIS RUNNING WATER ON THE ROAD WHERE HENDERSON AND COYOTE CANYONS MEET.....THAT'S COYOTE MOUNTAIN IN THE BACKGROUND

ACRES AND ACRES OF ORCHARDS

PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER TO VIEW THE MANY METAL SCULPTURES AROUND BORREGO SPRINGS

CARFUL THERE PHEEBS THAT GUY IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE

HEY CLEM WAIT UP WILL YA

OH-OH THERE GOES THE JEEP

WHEN I SAW THIS GUY TODAY HE REMINDED ME OF MYSELF LATELY

LOOKS LIKE A JAMMIE SUNRISE

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Mr. Jones is driving past the state mental hospital when his left rear tire suffers a flat. While he is changing the tire, another car goes by, running over the hub cap in which he was keeping the lug nuts. The nuts are all knocked into a nearby storm drain.
He is at a loss for what to do and is about to go call a cab when he hears a shout from behind the hospital fence, where one of the inmates has been watching the whole thing.
"Hey, pal! Why don't you just take one lug nut off each of the other three wheels and use them to replace the missing ones? That'll hold your tires on until you can get to a garage or something."
Mr. Jones is startled by the patient's seeming rationality, but realizes the plan will work, and installs the spare tire without incident. Before he leaves, he calls back to the patient. "You know, that was pretty sharp thinking. Why do they have you in there?" The patient smiles and says, "I'm in here because I'm crazy, not because I'm stupid."

“Instead of being rewarded for his invention, Dr. Guillotine was charged with neckless endangerment.”

A religious education class was almost finished making their models of the nativity scene and one little boy had done a lovely job. Some animals, Mary, Joseph, three wise men, and shepherds were all there. However, the teacher noticed an extra, rather overweight man in the scene as well.  “Who is that person?” she asked.“Oh, that’s Round John Virgin.”

BLOG PROBLEM NOT SOLVED

KELLY AT CARLEES IN BORREGO SPRINGS

I have added an update to this earlier post today

We didn't have any luck publishing my Friday or Saturday night blog posts at the Borrego Springs library so that rules out a Verizon problem.  The 501 error message still comes up.  Kelly tried publishing from her computer and it was a no go so we know it's not my computer.  By the process of elimination we are trying to whittle things down.  I am using the 'Blogger' format right now as a test instead of Open Live Writer so let's see what happens.  I'll start by trying with just 1 photo.............

Okay the 'Blogger' format worked so now we suspect an 'Open Live Writer' problem because I tried 'Open Live Writer' with 1 photo as well and we still had a 501 error pop up.

As much as I dislike this 'Blogger' format I figured I had better try to at least do an update about our last two days so here goes.......

This was my Saturday night post which I am using the Blogger format to post right now 

I am soooooooooooooooooo frustrated with all this!!!!!!!!  We still have no idea why my Friday post would not publish despite Kelly working on the problem today trying to figure out what a 501 error meant.  Thanks for your test affirmations.  Rather than me pouring a big effort into my Saturday post tonight and have it not work I intend to make this short with fewer photos to see what happens.

HEADING INTO BORREGO SPRINGS SATURDAY MORNING

Winds returned and had us up early today.  Another nice sunrise.  Slipped into Borrego this morning to do laundry and after that we popped into a popular eatery here in town called Carlees.  After all these years of coming here we had never been in there before so today decided to check it out.  Really good food and lots of it.  In fact we had so much left over it made our supper tonight.

We hadn't seen George and Susie from Our Awesome Travels since Bloggerfest 2016 so we decided after Carlees to drive over to Peg Leg Smiths and look them up.  Yep they were home so we had ourselves a darn good chin wag catching up on things.

 

I have been in this unenviable position before where I have been temporarily forced to use this miserable 'Blogger' format and what an absolute pain in the you know what it is!!!!!!!!!!!  Trying to place and arrange photos the way I want them is just nuts!!!!  Now that we have our problem narrowed down to 'Open Live Writer' Kelly was able to get onto a Live Writer forum and we have found out we are not the only ones having the 501 error problem.  Since 2 days ago there has been some sort of problem going on between Open Live Writer and Picasa's photo editing program.  My question here for fellow Bloggers is, are you using the Live Writer and Picasa combination to publish your posts??  If so are you experiencing this 501 error problem??

Okay, now for today which happens to be Sunday February 12th.............We spent a sizeable time this morning at the Borrego Springs library trying to resolve our current blog problem but with no luck.

KELLY WORKS ON OUR COMPUTER PROBLEM AT THE BACK OF THE JEEP

OUT FRONT OF THE BORREGO SPRINGS LIBRARY THIS MORNING

Gave up, grabbed a couple coffees to go at Calicos and headed back to the rig but on the way decided to check out a few more desert roads for future boon-docking sites along the way.  And that's how we met Pam and Terry and no they weren't RV Bloggers.  I uploaded the following photos in the wrong place but to correct the problem here in the 'Blogger' format is way too much work so read on and the photos will tie in with Terry and Pam. 

The Borrego Air Park is a community of homes built around several runways and a lot of folks living there have their own airplanes parked in their garages alongside their cars.  One of the roads crosses the northwest end of a runway and one has to stop and check for incoming aircraft before crossing.  We drove around slowly to see if there were any Jeep roads leading off into the desert that might be suitable for a Motorhome.  Coming up a a street we saw a fellow ahead with his bicycle upside down on the road.  The bicycle was upside down not the fellow.  We drove by and waved.  Came to an east-west runway and turned around because the road ended there.  The fellow still with his bike downside up waved as we went by again.  We turned left at a corner there but that road too ended at the runway so we turned around again.  Coming up to a stop sign the bicycle fellow waved and walked over to us wondering if we needed help finding anything.  And that led to us meeting a couple really nice friendly people this afternoon.

ACTIVE RUNWAY

We told Terry we were scouting out future boon-docking sites and after talking by the car for a bit he said, "come on over to my place and we'll grab a map and talk to my wife".  And that's what we did.  Terry headed off on his bicycle with us following.  To get to his place we had to drive down one of two runways but he said that particular runway was inactive.  Just before it joined the 'active' runway he led us into his place. 
We went into the nice ranch style house and met Terry's wife Pam and boy this couple couldn't have been nicer and more helpful to us.  Terry is a very clever techie guy and in the course of our conversation he gave us reams of information on a lot of things.  Pam had a couple maps spread out on the table as they both suggested boon docking spots.  Pam was a wealth of knowledge in regards to shopping in Indio as well as where to stay if we go up that way.  Here's one of Terry's many tips......To update cell phones and computers etc while in Borrego Springs go to the east end of Christmas Circle to do that because it's a much stronger wifi signal there than at the library.  He also explained things to us about our Verizon Jet Pack, our cell phone, signal boosters, antennaes etc. etc.  A very clever fellow indeed.  What a nice couple these folks:))

Way toooooo frustrating to add any more photos!!!!


I've just finished putting this post together and it has been an aggravatingly long and frustrating process using this slow Blogger format.  I have my fingers crossed Open Live Writer and Picasa will quickly resolve their problems.  Blogging for me comes in 4 parts.  Writing, Photography, Photo Editing, and Blog Composition.  If any one of those 4 things is out of whack.....I am out of whack.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.............

GROANER'S CORNER:((  "Oh God," sighed the wife one morning, "I'm convinced my mind is almost completely gone!"
Her husband looked up from the newspaper and commented, "I'm not surprised: You've been giving me a piece of it every day for twenty years!"

SUNDAY MORNING…….STILL HAVING BLOG PROBLEMS:((

It’s Sunday morning and we are still having problems publishing either of my Friday or Saturday night blogs.  We are going to head for the Borrego Springs library in a few minutes to see if their stronger wifi signal will publish those 2 posts…………….