Campfire and Vets

Quartzsite, AZ  High 70  Low 42

The weather finally cooperated and we got to have our first campfire. By the time I’m getting around to posting this blog we have actually had three campfires.

Our group has grown to 17 rigs. Everyone has been busy wandering from vendor to vendor trying to help our the economy.

And the Dixon’s – well they’ve been busy learning new things. Jan is showing Jim where the hot water electric switch is located. Jan was very proud of herself that she knew something Jim didn’t know.

Karen came over to visit me and we ended up getting locked in the RV. Everyone else was outside working on Jan and Bill’s generator and couldn’t hear us screaming for help. Not that we were in danger, we just wanted to get out the door. I tried calling Jim but he couldn’t hear his phone. Thank goodness John heard Karen calling. The door would open from the outside but not from the inside. Jim had lots of help getting the door apart.

Jim is pointing at the piece that is broken. We were really lucky. There was a small RV parts store in town that had exactly what he needed and the door works once again.

Scooter’s ear was healing so nicely we decided not to take her to the vet. But Skittlez got sick. She started wheezing and sneezing and then acted like she was gasping for breath. We headed for the Vet’s yesterday morning. We got there at 8:45 because they are supposed to open at 9:00.There were already five other folks in front of us and the office didn’t open until 9:25. We had no choice but to wait.

Animal Clinic in Quartzsite

When we finally got in to see the Vet, he was really a nice guy. He had owned the Animal Hospital in Blythe, CA and opened the office here in Q two afternoons a week. When he retired he opened the clinic in Q during the mornings from 9:00 to 12:00.

He checked out our Skitz and determined that she has a respiratory infection. Gave her an anti-inflammatory and antibiotic shot and gave us some antibiotic  pills for her to take and we have to go back either Monday or Tuesday for another check up. She is doing better. She doesn’t wheeze as much and only acts like she can’t breath when she gets too excited or wound up.

Stay tuned for more adventures from the desert.

Introductions

Quartzsite, AZ  High 56  Low 34

Finally it’s starting to warm up a little bit. Supposed to be 70 by this week-end. That’s more like it.

Isn’t this the greatest potholder. Jeri made it for us to add to our fish cabin. I love it.

Went to dinner last night at Silly Al’s for pizza. So let me introduce you to some of the group.

Lee

Doug and Toni

Linda

Terry and Jeri

Deb and Mike (bet you can’t guess who’s the class clown)

Tina and Jeff

Denise and Jim

Diane and Mike (but they aren’t a couple). Look at the next picture to see their better halves.

Julie and Tom (the other halves)

 

We had seventeen for dinner. Nan and John got hung up in the dump line and weren’t able to join us. Another night guys.

Nan

 

We had two more rigs pull in while we were at dinner and I think we have four more coming in today. Hopefully we can have our first campfire tonight.

See how these flags are standing straight out? That’s why we haven’t yet had a campfire (besides the fact it has just been too cold).

Scooter’s ear is much better. After our unsuccessful trip to the Vet’s, we put Neosporin on the sore and it is healing nicely. It doesn’t bother her at all. Both the girls are really really looking forward to being able to lay on hot rocks. Hope that happens today.

Still Cold And Now the Wind is Blowing

I don’t even want to know how cold it is outside. There’s not much that is going to drag me out on a day like this.

However, taking one of the girls to the Vet would be that thing that would get me out the door. Scooter has a sore on her ear and it broke open. I want to have it looked at. We headed into the one and only Vet in Quartzsite and when we finally found it there wasn’t a parking spot to be had. The place was packed. We turned around and came home and we’ll try again tomorrow.

That was the extent of my adventuring outside today. The girls know they need to ask Jim if they want to go outside.

Jim did get the seal on the toilet changed. When you’re really trying to conserve water, having a leaking toilet seal is not wanted.

Denise posted this picture on her blog so I “borrowed” it to give you some idea of what our campsite looks like. The picture is missing Denise’s rig (she took the picture from her window) as well as Julie and Mike who pulled in later.

I know of at least two more rigs pulling in tomorrow and on Wednesday another three or four. Now for the weather to warm up so we can get outside and visit with folks around a campfire.

How Cold Is It?

Depends on who you talk to. Toni and Doug, parked just south of us, said it was 16 degrees. Our thermometer said it was 23. Weather Bug on my phone said it was 28. All I know is, it is cold. And today it is windy. But the good news is – it’s supposed to warm up by this week-end.

Jim and I rode into Quartzsite to check out the vendors and were really surprised at how empty the town is. Many of the vendors haven’t set up yet and the RV parks aren’t full. I’m sure that will all change by this week-end when the Big Tent opens.

Nan and I took a ride up to Parker and Lake Havasu yesterday and we passed RV after RV headed south towards Q.

Our group has now grown to 7 rigs with more coming in this week. When the winds die down we’ll have some great campfires and trade tall tales of life on the road.

Things Were Going So Well

Quartzsite, AZ  High 44  Low 25

Things went really well yesterday. We got everything done and were on the road by 10:00. We sailed through Phoenix with nary a slow down. Usually the mess where the 202 joins I 10 is stop and go but not yesterday. We stopped at the rest area to “rest” and also grab a sandwich for lunch. Easy going the rest of the way to Q. Sun was shining, it was beautiful. Took Exit 19 and all of a sudden, our perfect day wasn’t so perfect anymore.

We felt the trailer jerk really hard and heard a horrible clunking noise. Not a good thing. Luckily they are building a new Chevron station right there and the entrance to the station has a nice pull off because the road isn’t finished. Jim got out to take a look. Discovered that the bolts had been sheared off the capture plate on our hitch. That was letting the trailer move around freely all over the place.

Wish I knew how to put an arrow on a picture. Anyhow – that flat plate that’s hooked to the kingpin (supposed to be hooked) is what came loose.

Jim back the trailer into this spot which was safe from traffic. Had to get us unhitched and then figure out what he was going to do to fix things. And nothing goes smoothly.

In the meantime, I sent a text to Jeri to let her know what was happening. She contacted Toni and Doug  who were already camped at Q and they came running to our rescue. Sure am glad they did. Between Jim and Doug they were able to get the old bolts out of the holes, retap the holes and put in new bolts. Took about three hours and lots of Doug’s muscles.

 

Finally, hitch it up and get to the campsite. We were really tired by this time. Toni had fixed us a wonderful dinner of beef stew with dumplings followed by a chocolate lava cake with ice cream. And I’m still drooling. It was wonderful.

Nan and John arrived last night but we were so tired we told them we’d visit with them today. So nice that we get to make new friends.

Didn’t have any internet last night but was too tired to really care. We were in bed by 8:30.

Now let the fun begin.

Check, Check, Check, and a Slight Delay

Apache Junction, AZ  High 70,  Low 42

Tuesday morning we picked up my sister and headed out to the bread store. That’s where we were headed when we got our WARNING.

A couple of years ago we found the Alpine Valley bread outlet store at Country Club and Southern in Mesa. They have the best sunflower loaf I’ve ever eaten. And the best thing, it’s only $.50 a loaf. 

• Bread – check
• Said good-bye to Aunt Happy – check
• Went to Costco and filled the freezer with meat – check
• Jim packed everything away from outside – check
• Jim did other stuff outside – check
• Laundry – check
• Dog food – check
• Toe nails done – check
• A bunch of other stuff – check

Our buddy Paul is going to Australia and New Zealand for a couple of months and is leaving his rig and truck (MDT) in Mesa. The truck needs to be run occasionally so Jim had to learn how to start it. After the lesson, the three of us headed to Dianna’s for a fantastic ham dinner.

After dinner we decided to check out Rustler’s Rooste. Supposed to have good country music and we though we could do a little dancing. Wrong.

This guy greeted us as we walked up to the door.

The band and dance floor are down on the first level where you have to order food to sit down there. The bar area is on the second level, far away from the music. Very strange set up. The band sounded pretty good when we walked up to the railing.

They do have a slide from the second floor down to the dance floor and yes my dear hubby had to try it out. (notice all the children)

We sat in the bar and had one drink and then left. We also checked out the menu and it’s pretty pricey. Not sure we’ll be back.

Bobbie and Paul

Jim, Dianna, and Kathy

Not sure why there’s a nutcracker here but a good photo op.

When we got home we checked the weather. Oh no!! On Thursday they are showing wind gusts up to 50 mph in Quartzsite with lots of blowing dust. We do not move in that kind of weather so our trip to Q is being put off until Friday. Guess that means we get to relax on Thursday because everything is done.

Also, the temperatures are going down, down, down. Lows in the 20’s during the next five or so days while we’re in Q. Now isn’t that fun. But we’ll be with great friends and that will make up for it.

The View Through Our Rear Window

Apache Junction, AZ  High 70  Low 42

9:30 a.m. Yep, that’s a Mesa officer of the law behind us. Sure does make the heart beat faster and the blood pump a whole lot harder. Jim saw the lights in the rear view mirror and pulled over to let him go by. Gee – he pulled in right behind us. Oh goodie.

Officer: I’m Officer Talley. Do you know what you did wrong?

Jim: I have no idea.

Officer Talley: You made a right hand on red turn from Greenfield onto Broadway. Did you see the two signs posted there stating No Turn on Red.

Jim and Sandie: No sir, we had no idea we couldn’t turn there.

Officer Talley: May I please have your license and proof of insurance?

Jim: Yes sir.

Officer Talley goes back to his vehicle and in the meantime another police officer pulls in behind him. Now what? We need two officers to handle three old people? (We had picked up my sister.)

Second officer visits for a few minutes and then turns off his lights and drives off. (I think they are being extra cautious because there have been several police officers shot in this area in the last couple of weeks.)

Officer Talley: I am just going to give you a warning. There are only about four or five intersections in Mesa that do not allow you to turn right on red. So please pay more attention in the future.

Jim: Yes sir. Thank you sir. We certainly will.

All-in-all the experience wasn’t too bad and that is thanks to the attitude of Officer Talley. We have met law enforcement personnel that seem to have an arrogant, power hungry, bully type attitude. (Most of the Billings, MT police force.) But Officer Talley was polite and took the time to explain that intersection was the scene of several bad accidents and the signs were there to cut down on the number of accidents.

And we are really happy that he only gave us a warning and not a ticket. Needless to say, we are reading every sign at every intersection.