FRIENDS FROM FLESHERTON ONTARIO DROP BY AND I'M GETTING THE HANG OF THIS BLOGGER FORMAT

HAVING A NICE WARM SNOOZY DAY

Okay so here goes the first post from my new Dell laptop computer.  Most noticeable thing right off the bat is the much lighter weight.  This laptop is about 75 pounds lighter than my old Toshiba and it no longer feels like I have a cement block sitting on my lap.  No fan noises and no heat blowing out setting my pajamas on fire every morning.  It's a whisper quiet solid state machine so has no moving parts to be cooled down.  When starting up it is fast right off the line and I no longer have to drive around the block 3 times waiting for my old Toshiba to boot-up.  And finally after all these years a lighted keyboard.  I no longer require a ring of floodlights around my chair to see the keyboard at night.   And speaking of the keyboard I am so glad they did away with the numbered key pads on the right hand side.  In 20 years of knocking around computers I don't ever remember once using those numbers on the right.  In fact Dell has really cleaned up the whole surface eliminating a lot of other buttons making the typing surface very clean and clutter free.  And I like that.  Now here's a biggy for anyone like myself who edits a lot of photos.  No matter if I tilt the screen forward or back the density remains the same meaning the screen doesn't get lighter or darker when moving it forward or back.  It has always been difficult for me to get my head and my screen on the correct matching angle and if either one of them are too far back or ahead it effects the lightness and darkness of my finished photos.  That was always a big pain in the assparagus!!

MY NEW DELL KEYBOARD

MY OLD TOSHIBA KEYBOARD

Happy to see a slight high cloud cover coupled with a modest westerly breeze  working well together in keeping the day's heat down.  Warm and hot are slowly replacing cool and cold.

SPOTTED THIS LITTLE CHAP ON AN AFERNOON WALK

Kelly headed into Yuma around10 for some groceries while Pheebs and I stayed home.  Been having a little trouble with a 'critch' in my lower left back that began late Wednesday afternoon so I wasn't feeling like doing much today.  Kelly was needing a break from 'Oscar the Grouch' anyway.  She's lucky she can get away while I'm kinda stuck with myself.  Seems no matter where I go I somehow manage to end up with me following myself around.   It's the darndest thing!!

IT'S A DOGGIES LIFE:))

Skies cleared in the afternoon but luckily the breeze hung around and today's  mid 70+ temps felt mighty nice.....in the shade.  Kelly made it back from Yuma shortly after 2.  We have big winds coming up from the south Saturday along with rain so we might have to make it a movie day except I wasn't much impressed with any of the upcoming movies I saw.  Romance, drama, and the ever present growing usual fare of blood, guts, and great gobs and violent volumes of gory violence.  Where's Walt Disney when ya really need him eh. 

Friends of ours from Flesherton Ontario who we met last summer rolled into Yuma this afternoon after doing an overnighter on Darby Well Road in Ajo Arizona.  It was only a week ago they left Ontario but they were determined to get themselves west into some warm weather soon as they could.  Gord and Cathie drive a nice Mercedes Benz van Gord modified himself.  They basically followed our old route from earlier traveling days when they slipped down around Indianapolis to I-40 west of Memphis then slid across through Little Rock Arkansas picking up highway 380 west of Texarkana.  From there they journeyed through Roswell New Mexico, Alamogordo, Las Cruces, Tucson Arizona across to Why and Ajo landing themselves in Yuma.  They are hoping to make it onto Borrego Springs.

CHECKING OUT GORD AND CATHIE'S VAN

THERE'S PHEEBS DOING HER ATTENTION GETTING ROUTINE

CATHIE AND GORD TUCKED AWAY FOR THE NIGHT JUST UP FROM US

Despite all my grumbling, complaining, ranting and blustering about the Blogger format a few days ago I am going to have to eat some humble pie with a top dressing of crow on it.  This is my fourth post using Blogger and I must say I am getting quite used to it and even if they get the Open Live Writer/Picasa issued resolved I just may think very seriously about sticking with Blogger.  Definitely a few advantages for sure.  I always seem to get myself in such a snit most anytime things change in the computer techno world.  It's hard enough for me as it is to tie my shoes let alone upload this, download that, upgrade that thing over there and install this thing over here.  'Bah Jumblebug' I say!!

CALIFORNIA'S CARGO MUCHACHO MOUNTAINS WERE LOOKING MIGHTY PRETY THIS EVENING

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Worried that they hadn't heard anything for days from the widow in the apartment next door, the mother said to her son, "Tony, would you go next door and see how old Mrs. Pierpoint is?" A few minutes later, Tony returned.
"Well, is she all right?" asked the mother. "She's fine, but she's rather annoyed with you," remarked Tony. "At me?" the mother exclaimed. "Whatever for?" Tony replied, "Mrs. Pierpoint said it's none of your business how old she is."

A journalist assigned to the Jerusalem bureau takes an
apartment overlooking the Wailing Wall. Every day when she
looks out, she sees an old Jewish man praying vigorously. So,
the journalist goes down and introduces herself to the old
man.  She asks, "You come every day to the wall. How long have you done that and what are you praying for?" The old man
replies, "I have come here to pray every day for 25 years. In
the morning I pray for world peace and then for the
brotherhood of man. I go home have a cup of tea and I come
back and pray for the eradication of illness and disease from
the earth."  The journalist is amazed. "How does it make you feel to come here every day for 25 years and pray for these things?" she
asks.  The old man looks at her sadly. "Like I'm talking to a
wall."

IT WAS A TECHNO KIND OF DAY

KELLY HEADS INTO BEST BUY THIS MORNING

Standing under a clear canopy of bright twinkling stars Tuesday night I marveled at the glittering line of thin diamonds spread across low on the horizon south of us.  Checking my Benchmark California atlas and Google Earth this morning I determined that necklace of  shimmering pin point lights could quite possibly be that of Paredones and Cdad.Morelos Mexico as well as possibly San Luis in America.

A FEW WHIRLYBIRDS IN THE AIR THIS MORNING

Would you believe all this time and maybe for years I have been spelling Ogilbe Road wrong.  Yep I have and Kelly pointed that out to me this morning.  Should be Ogilby not Ogilbe.  I remember years ago when a reader finally wrote in to let me know I had been spelling Quartzsite wrong.  I had been spelling it without the 'Z'.  And I remember Janna writing in one time to inform me the Kofa Mountains were in Arizona not California.  Ed, a sharp eyed reader from the past often used to correct my mistakes and I always appreciated that. 

AGRICULTURE IS BIG BUSINESS AROUND YUMA

Knew it was going to be hot today when we stepped out into warm desert air this morning.  Thank heavens for the cooling breeze.  It was around 9:45 a.m, Arizona time when we all piled into the Jeep and headed for Yuma.  We were on a mission this morning with the Yuma Palms Mall and the Best Buy store being our destination.  We had us a new laptop computer to pick up.  After driving to Temecula California last Friday (this is the post I have been unable to publish in Live Writer) to check out some laptops at Best Buy we came home and ordered on-line a Dell Inspiron 2in1 156 TouchScreen Laptop Intel Core i7 12GB Memory 512GB Solid State Drive  Model: I7579-7171 Gray.  The computer was shipped to the Best Buy store in Yuma.  It was shortly after 10 and the day was already becoming hot and not wanting to leave Pheebs in the Jeep I took her for a walk in the parking lot while Kelly slipped in and picked up the computer. 

I LIKE YUMA'S TRANSPORTATION TROLLEYS

We knew we had to open the box and fire it up right there outside the door in hopes of using Best Buy's wifi signal to load all the necessary updates.  We made the mistake with the Asus computer last month of setting it up back at the rig and not thinking of the updates it immediately downloaded reams of updates using up our precious Verizon Gigs.  That cost us big time so we were sure not about to make that costly mistake again.  With our new Dell out of the box and powered up by a 75 watt inverter plugged into the Jeep's cigarette lighter (I think they call those plugs something else now) we soon discovered Best Buy's wifi signal was too weak for us to do all the updates.  With a Verizon store on the other side of the parking lot we headed over there and sure enough they had a wifi signal, but it was too weak as well.

IN FRONT OF BEST BUY KELLY OPENS THE NEW COMPUTER BOX

CHECKING WIFI SIGNAL STRENGTH IN FRONT OF THE VERIZON STORE

 Luckily Kelly remembered a Starbucks close by so away we went again and luckily found a parking spot right in front of the coffee shop's building.  They had a strong wifi signal so Kelly started the update process on my new Dell solid state laptop computer.  It was also a good opportunity to update her smaller Asus laptop and Blackberry phone as well and luckily she had remembered to bring them along.  And fortunately for me I was able to upgrade my impatience program from 2.5 to 3.9.  With a couple Starbuck coffees on the go and a hunk of lemon pound cake we sat there for over an hour with our 3 devices updating.  We were on the south side of the building and with sunshine pouring through the windshield Pheebs and I were getting pretty warm.  Kelly was in the shady backseat with all the electronic gizmos.  Fortunately it was a breezy day and with windows down it was not too bad.  I did have one slightly disconcerting moment while Kelly was inside getting the coffee though when I saw our Motorhome go by.  What!!  Well it had to be ours because what are the chances another Canadian made 37 foot 2002 Triple E Commander with the same dusty paint and decals as our coach would be in Yuma Arizona.  Yes I had locked the rig and yes the keys were in my pocket, but................what were the chances??

WHEN IS MOM GOING IN TO GET US SOME SNACKS DAD??

KELLY CHECKS HER BLACKBERRY >>>>>>
Soon as the updates were complete we tore out of that parking lot, raced across highway 195 and back into the Yuma Palms Mall on the other side of the road.  Minutes later Kelly was coming out of 'In-N-Out' Burger with a couple big double burgs and fries.  Sixty seconds after that we were sitting on a curb under the shade of a nice Poplar type tree ravenously eating our curds and whey.  Then along came a spider......wait a minute, that's somebody else's story!!  Suffice it to say we munched down our enjoyable burgs and fries.  Fifteen minutes later with all Libby's windows down and hair and fur blowing in the wind we were westbound on I-8 heading back to our rig on Ogilby road.  Kelly then spent an hour installing a bunch of my programs on the new laptop.  It's better that Kelly do those things now rather than me because this way we both know those installs will be done right.  There was a time a few years ago when I did that stuff but with my short term memory the way it is I simply get too frustrated with myself when I keep forgetting how to do stuff.  By the way.....our rig was waiting for us when we got back so that was not our Motorhome I saw in Yuma this morning. Whewwwwwwww:))

OUR FAVORITE BURGER JOINT NOW

Readers may remember all the trouble we had with our Motorhome engine cutting out on hills and grades last year and the year before.  Readers may also remember a couple by the name of Chris and Rosemary dropping around to our place in Congress earlier this year.  It is Chris we have to thank for finally solving our Motorhome's problem when Chris wedged himself into our rig's passenger side front end wheel well that morning and took apart and totally cleaned our mass air sensor.  Our Motorhome has run perfect ever since and this afternoon Chris and Rosemary dropped around to say Hello.  They are camped out in Yuma and how nice to see them again. I often think of how Chris helped us out whenever we get into any steep hills and mountain grades now.  We will always be thankful to 'Chris the Jeep Guy' for solving our Motorhome's problem:))

RELAXING IN THE SHADE WITH OUR BURGS AND FRIES

Be sure to read Doug's post over at Miss Adventure Travels to see how a good Samaritan was able to help fellow travelers Stuck In The Sand.  Good stuff Doug.  And a note to RV Sue.....Doug mentions you in his post:))

One of the greatest things about being back on the road traveling again is the freedom to change our scenic neighborhood whenever we feel the urge to do so.  Always something to look forward to, always somewhere to go.  I continually love that feeling when we decide to move knowing we are off to somewhere whether it be a new place for us or an old familiar spot.  I also love that feeling whenever we get to wherever it was we were going and shut things down for the day.  How nice to slip back into the coach and do a big old belly flop right into my comfy recliner and breath that huge sigh of relief I'm sure every fellow RV'er knows about at the end of any travel day.

WHAT A PATIENT LITTLE GIRL SHE IS

GROANER'S CORNER:(( During a performance for the high school talent show at the local theater, a hole was cracked in the stage floor. Subsequent acts managed to avoid the damaged area until little Freddy, juggling bowling pins, accidentally stepped through the hole up to his knee.  He apologized to the audience for his clumsiness. But a heckler in the back of the theater shouted:
"Don't worry, Freddy! It's just a stage you're going through!"

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?
A. Samson. He brought the house down.

An ant walks into a bar with his good friend Mister No, who is not an ant. The bartender says, "I'm sorry. We only serve ants here."
The ant says, "But this is my good friend Mister No."
The bartender says, "Sorry, but I don't take No for an ant, sir."

Knock Knock
Who's there?
Ya!
Ya who?
I didn't know you were a cowboy!
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Yacht!
Yacht who?
Yacht a know me by know!

“Whenever there is an earthquake the geologists are always quick to find fault.”

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?"