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…………….

BIG CITY TRAFFIC MADNESS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LANDS US ON INTERSTATE FIFTEEN NORTH THEN SOUTH

This is my Friday Feb. 10th post and if you are reading this the ‘Open Live Writer/Picasa problem must be solved:))

For the first time in a long time we were able to sleep with our windows open Thursday night and how nice to feel a soft desert night’s breeze fluffing in on me.  Our new neighbor’s have been respectively quiet and as long as that continues and nobody else shows up we will stay where we are for the time being.  The big moving panic has thankfully subsided.

MORNING’S SUNRISE DUSTS THE DESET FLOOR

Had the Jeep’s wheels rolling by 7:45 a.m. and a short 15 minutes later we swung ourselves around Borrego Spring’s Christmas Circle heading west up main street.  Minutes later we began the ascent of the San Ysidro mountains up Montezuma’s grade.   We had us a mission this morning and it had to do with Temecula California 66 miles to the west and about two thirds of the way to the Pacific coast.

HEADING WEST THROUGH BORREGO SPRINGS TO BEGIN OUR CLIMB UP THE SIDE OF THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS

A nice sun and cloud morning for a drive as we topped Montezuma’s Grade motoring ourselves along highway S22 through sleepy Ranchita to San Felipe Road and finally the T intersection at highway 79.  A right turn took us through Warner Springs where we remembered traveling through before in search of the Great Stone Eagle.  Oh how nice to see valleys and fields of green grass and grazing cattle.  Once out of Warner Springs we were finally on a stretch of road we had never been on before.  I expected there to be traffic on this road but was pleasantly surprised to almost have the whole two lane highway to ourselves.

What a nice change of pace to see a totally different landscape with grass and trees dominating the scenery.  Highway 79 is a typical winding road for these mountainous regions with lots of hills, grades and tight curves to keep a driver on his or her toes.

THIS IS VERY TYPICAL OF OUR MORNING’S DRIVE

STOPPED INTO THE OAK GROVE CAMPGROUND FOR A LEG STRETCH

PROBABLY A BUSY PLACE IN THE SUMMER

QUICK STOP AT AN OLD STAGECOACH STOP

Along the way we knew of an Escapees RV Club place called Jojoba Hills. (pronounced HoHoba)  We first heard of Jojoba Hills nearly 10 years ago from Butch a friend of ours originally from Riverside California.  He said someday when his traveling days were over there was only one Park he would be interested in and that was a place called Jojoba Hills.  Friday morning we took ourselves for a drive through Jojoba.  A couple RV Bloggers on my sidebar live here and we were able to locate their places and drive by.  It was way too early to be showing up and knocking on someone’s door unannounced so we just kind of tippy-toed by with a little smile and a wave.

LOCKED MAIN GATE AT THIS 55+ PARK

THIS IS ONE OF THE NICEST RV PARK RESORTS WE HAVE EVER SEEN….VERY IMPRESSIVE WITH ALL IT’S LOVELY DESERT LANDSCAPING AND SCENIC MOUNTAIN VIEWS

AM ONLY INCLUDING A FEW OF THE PHOTOS I TOOK HERE TODAY AND WILL ADD THE OTHERS IN ANOTHER POST

JUDY ‘THE BIRDLADY OF BLOGLAND’ LIVES HERE…..TRAVELS WITH EMMA

JUDY SITS UP HIGH AND HAS A GREAT VIEW

WE RECOGNIZED THIS WHITE JEEP AND ALPHA MOTORHOME RIGHT AWAY…..MERIKAY'S DREAM

A WAVE TO MERIKAY AND CRAIG

THEY CAME TO VISIT US IN BAYFIELD A COUPLE SUMMERS AGO

JOJOBA HILLS IS SOOOOOO NICELY LANDSCAPED

Just up the road we saw a bunch of familiar looking works of art.  It was the home of famed metal sculptor Ricardo Breceda who is the man responsible for all the amazing sculptures in and around Borrego Springs.

 

I WILL INCLUDE MORE OF RICARDO BRECEDA’S WORKS IN A LATER POST

Temecula was only another dozen miles up the road and traffic began picking up as we approached the east end of the city.  I had scouted out a ‘Best Buy’ store location on Google Earth beforehand so knew exactly where I was going.  Good thing as the two lane highway quickly turned into a 6 lane highway with lots of manic California 4 wheelers on it.

TEMECULA STRAIGHT AHEAD

We had spotted a certain computer on sale in the Best Buy weekly flyer and wanted to have a hands on look at it.  We arrived at the store just as they were opening at 10.  A nice young fellow answered all our questions.  Well, answered all of  Kelly’s questions that is.  The only question I was able to ask the techie smart guy was where the washroom was.  We waffled back and forth trying to make a decision and by golly we did a make decision.  We decided we had better go have us a burger and coffee and talk things over.

TEMECULA TRAFFIC WAS BIZARRE WITH SO MANY DRIVERS SPEEDING THROUGH YELLOW LIGHTS

We had seen a Carl's Jr near the Best Buy store so headed on over there for a western burger.  The coffee we got from a coffee shop near by.  Now normally we are pretty good at making decisions but not so much today it seemed.  Finished up our grub and went back to Best Buy.  I stayed in the Jeep with Pheebs with the A/C on.  Yes it was that hot!!  Kelly had a few more questions for the fella and had they had the particular model of laptop we were interested in stock she thinks she might have bought it.  The Best Buy fella said there was another Best Buy store that did have the computer and it was about 3 miles further west. 

HERE’S THE BAYFIELD BUMS SITTING ON A CURB OUTSIDE CARL JUNIORS TODAY EATING THEIR LUNCH

After several false starts to head east back home we finally decided to turn around and go back to find the other Best Buy store.  Huge mistake!!!!  It was shades of Sarasota Florida all over again as we dashed from traffic light to traffic light.  Green light, grip the steering wheel, close your eyes and shove the gas pedal through the floorboards.   He who reaches the next traffic light first and is still alive wins.  We never saw so many people running yellow lights with one truck roaring right past us running a red.  It was totally insanely nuts.  And then it got worse.

----------------

We could see a freeway ahead of us crossing overhead running north and south.  We knew that to be I-15 and intended to pass under it in our Best Buy store search.  That didn’t happen and before we knew it we were whisked up a two lane ramp right onto I-15 heading north at warp speed.  Awwwww Nuts!!!!  Now lucky for me I have a lot of heavy traffic experience from years ago and although I will go miles out of my way to avoid the damn stuff I can still mix it up with the best of them if I have to and today I had to.  Next exit we were off then on again heading back south to where we had mistakenly got on.  Exited the freeway there and whipped around a corner into a parking lot to ask somebody where the heck Best Buy was.  We were told it was back up I-15 north and that right there was the absolute end of our Best Buy search.  Time to get the hell out of town…… fast!!!!!

--------------------

Grabbed highway 79 heading east, dusted off a couple dozen locals and we were gone like a herd of turtles in a cloud of heifer dust.  What a huge relief it was to see Temecula quickly disappearing in the rear few.  A convoy of Temeculites tried to keep up to us all the way to the highway 371 turn off south of Jojoba Hills but we lost them when we headed straight through towards Warner Springs and they all headed north on highway 371.  Not much traffic from this point on and we were both so relieved about that.  How nice to be in the peaceful countryside once again enjoying the scenery.  How people can live in big cities and maintain their sanity is beyond me.  Never was a question years ago when I was one of them but soooooooooo glad to be out of all that big city chaos now.

SO NICE TO BE BACK IN THE SANITY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE

A quick stop in Santa Ysabel at the Julian Pie Company netted us 3 more jugs of soft apple cider.  Boy oh boy do we ever love that stuff.  Headed on down the road to Julian where Kelly picked up a few grocery items at Jack’s Market.  We were soon tumbling our way down the east side of the Vulcan Mountains towards the desert floor far below.  More sharp curves on this mountain road than a box of spilled noodles.

STOPPED AT THE JULIAN PIE COMPANY FOR A FEW MORE JUGS OF CIDER

JULIAN CALIFORNIA’S MAIN INTERSECTION

PHEEBS WAITS PATIENTLY FOR KELLY TO COME BACK OUT OF JACK’S MARKENT WITH SOME GOODIES

We were soon into more sharp curvy roads as we threaded our way through the Pinyon Mountains east of Scissors Crossing between Blair Canyon and the Borrego Valley.  We were finally back to our rig sometime around 2 California time. 

PICKING OUR WAY THROUGH THE PINION MOUNTAINS

Our day trip had lasted 7 hours.  Tired??  Ya darn right we were.  I’m beginning to think the only way we will ever get to see the Pacific coast will be on a bus……………..

At the time of publishing this late tonight we are yet again under the onslaught of big gusting Borrego winds trying their best to launch us into orbit again!!!!

DESPITE TONIGHT’S BLUSTERY CLOUD COVER I DID MANAGE ONE PHOTO OF THE FULL MOON

GROANER’S CORNER:))  A cowboy walks into a bar and orders a whisky. When the bartender delivers the drink, the cowboy asks, "Where is everybody?"  The bartender replies, "They've gone to the hanging."  "Hanging? Who are they hanging?"  "Brown Paper Pete," the bartender replied.  "What kind of a name is that?" the cowboy asked.  "Well," says the bartender. "He wears a brown paper hat, brown paper shirt, brown paper trousers and brown paper shoes."
"How bizarre," said the cowboy. "What are they hanging him for?"  "Rustling," said the bartender.