Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Everyone

Repairs are ongoing and I should be back on the road next year. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner at Cliff's sister Bonnie's home. Thank you Bonnie for a wonderful time. 

Fuel Pump

After arriving in Carson City Serenity would not start. Just crank and crank, but no go. Got her to Christensen Automotive and they determined the fuel pump was bad. That meant dropping the gas tank to replace the pump inside. They did a great job of turning it around in two days. I feel lucky that the pump did not fail on the way up here.

This delayed taking the rig up to Paramount RV until today. The initial estimate is two weeks to complete the body work. 

 

Cliff and I are going to LA tomorrow to see my sister and visit with friends. A smart move considering the weather that blew in last night. 

It’s Always Something

The dreaded de-lamination has reared its ugly head.  A de-lamination is moving toward a seam and if the seam opens up, water will get in. I decided come up to Carson City, NV where I can stay with my friend Cliff while repairs are being made. Easier to deal with it here and now than latter while traveling east. Hopefully I will rejoin the group before they leave Texas.

Painted Rock Campground

We are at Painted Rock Campground in Arizona. (33.02338, -113.05131) The campground is within a mile of the Gila River, a traditional travel route through this area since prehistoric times, 7500 BC. These early inhabitants chipped petroglyphs into the desert varnish on the basalt rock here at the campground. The Spanish followed the Gila River when traveling up from Mexico to the western US. Later, mid 1800s, John Butterfield opened a stage/mail service between Missouri and California, nearly 3,000 miles, that passed through here.  There were140 stations along the route and the trip lasted 23 days.

Our intrepid band.

Zig zag line represents a rattle snake

l-r  Ellie, Dennis, Gill, Garth, Adelle and Rose

 Rose is from Germany. She comes to the US every October and RVs with the WINs until April. Then stores her RV and goes home. In the late 60's, Gill and his wife lived above the Arctic Circle for a year in a 13 by 16 foot cabin they built.  They did not take enough food and had a hungry winter until spring when they could leave.

Got Solar

I was referred to a terrific solar installer in Yuma, AZ, Starlight Solar. I got two 260 panels, Blue Sky controller and monitor. Larry runs a top notch operation and the installation was impeccable. Clean, neat, all wires shielded, double aircraft nut on the panel mounts.

Jim walking me through the install he just finished 

Larry programing the monitor.

Solar $2,500

Not hearing the generator PRICELESS

The Great Excursion

I love the freedom and flexibility of RVing. It is so easy to change your plans when a great opportunity presents its self.  And one has. I am now headed east with a small group of WINs that I met at the Thanksgiving gathering in Borrego Springs, CA. We are going to traverse the southern US, eating all that good Bar-B-Que and gulf coast seafood. February we will be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Then up the East Coat, more seafood, to the Canadian Maritime Provinces by June. Then west across Canada. This will be a great trip with some wonderful people. 

Creatures Ancient, Contemporary, and Whimsical

Dennis Avery was a self-made man who happened to have been an heir to the Avery Label fortune. He moved to Borrego Springs in 1990 where he raised his family. In 2007 he commissioned artist Ricardo Brecceda to create 131 metal sculptures that are placed around the town. Many of these sculptures are creatures that roamed this valley millions of years ago, some are people of note, and others are imaginary creatures of pure whimsy. (more info)

Slot Canyon Hike

 limbo time

All sedimentary layers are deposited horizontally. Its a geology thing. Think about what this rock went through to bend all the thin black layers.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Diner for 70 and what a feast it was. 

  All the trimmings including dessert.

I am thankful for a loving family and good friends.

Graniteback Rattle Snake

We took a morning hike and found a really large rattlesnake.

A really stoned snake.

Spent the evening playing black jack. Lost $2. All in all a very nice day.

Headed for WIN Gathering

Stopped at Wynola Pizza and Bistro for lunch. A nice find.

I had the Thai Chicken, peanut sauce, nut topping, chicken, green onions, bean sprouts, carrots, mozzarella cheese & cilantro. Very good. 

Headed down into the desert again.

There are 131 animal scluptures around Borego Springs. 

The WIN gathering near Barego Springs. (33.29591, -116.29809)

Social time.

Heading West

Nice spot east of Yuma (32.72878, -113.75224)

Breakfast at Goldsboro Bakery in Yuma. (map)  I only had the sticky bun and cinnamon roll today. Both very tasty. 

Heading up out of the desert

Headed for Thousand Trails Oakzanita Springs Preserve. (32.88642, -116.57425) Dumping the holding tanks and filling the fresh water tank in preparation for boondocking with the WINs.