rvsue and her canine crew

Saturday, March 31 . . .

Last night Bill expressed an interest in seeing how my awning operates.  This morning he comes over and looks the awning over, extending it the full length.

It’s apparent the day is going to become hot very quickly.  The campground is on the east side of Burro Creek.  Therefore, if you have a view of the river and rock cliff, your refrigerator is on the western side and you sit in the afternoon sun.  That is, if you don’t have an awning.  I may not use the awning often, but when it’s needed, I’m glad I have it.

Bill, Nita, Beck, and Diane ask for a tour of the Best Little Trailer.

“Oh sure!  I’d love to show you!  First let me tidy it up, and then I’ll come get you.”

Kibble crumbs are on the floor because Spike refuses to eat out of a dish.  He always knocks it over and then eats off the floor.  I sweep that up.  I hide a few dirty dishes in the sink under the sink cover.  I wipe off the white surfaces and neaten the bed, placing the shammed pillows attractively at the end on either side of the table.

“Okay!  I’m ready to show off now!”

Everyone piles into the BLT. 

“Oh, it’s so cute! “ “It’s so light in here!” “I like your quilts!” The compliments wash over me to my delight.  I love to hear approval of my little home!  I show them my storage drawers, and how the cabinet latches work.  I point out that I didn’t get the microwave because a big kitchen cabinet is more important to me.  Ditto on the furnace.  I take the cover off the catalytic heater and boast how efficient it is.  Bill turns on the overhead Fantastic Fan and I turn on the Endless Breeze fan, also made by Fan-Tastic Vent.  Even though it’s getting hot outside, the BLT is very comfortable.

Before leaving for their campsites, we talk about my solar panel, batteries, and wiring.  Bill concludes, “You’ve got yourself set up real well here.”  I’m so proud. 

Beck and Diane break camp and we hug goodbye.

The afternoon is hot, hot, hot.

The crew and I stay inside most of the afternoon to escape the heat.  It must be in the mid-nineties.  Maybe it’s time to move to higher elevation.  But it’s only the start of April.  I don’t want to experience a spring snow shower.   The campground is nearly full with weekend campers.  In spite of that, it’s quiet except for the occasional squeals and baby talk trickling down the slope from a young family camped above us.

Once the sun dips behind the cliff, it’s cool again.

I join Nita and Bill around their campfire for a glass of wine and conversation. They’ve been here over the fourteen-day limit.  Tomorrow they leave for higher elevation near Prescott.  I tell them I may follow them in a few days.

Sunday, April 1 . . .

After a hike along the river with Bridget and Spike, I say goodbye to Nita and Bill.  While the crew sleeps, I write a blog entry using Word and prepare photos for a slideshow using Picasa.  This takes about two hours.  Before I know it, it’s lunchtime.

Since it’s cooler today, I relax outside with the crew, read, sip iced tea, and watch the heron gliding to and from her nest.  Cliff swallows swoop over the river, and pairs of raptors (?) play what I assume are love games high, high above the cliffs.  A tiny yellow verdin hops from branch to branch of a palo verde next to our picnic table, picking up small insects with its tiny beak.  My hummingbird feeder is a hub of activity.

Campers do a lot of hiking and a few even swim or wade in the river.

In the early evening I see bats coming out of their cliff dwellings, and at night I hear the strange, raspy voices of raccoons.  The campground sign says to leave shiny objects like eyeglasses inside so the pack rats don’t carry them off at night!

I’m disappointed that I haven’t seen any burros. 

The road to where they can be found leads to an isolated area, and a creek has to be forded by vehicle on the way.  There’s no cell phone coverage.  It wouldn’t be wise for the crew and me to drive out there alone and possibly be stranded in the desert if something went wrong.

By day’s end the campground is nearly empty.

The crew and I drive the PTV up out of the canyon in search of an internet signal.  Once found and the blog entry posted, the signal drops.  Bridget and Spike are restless.  As soon as I close up the laptop, we walk up the road.  It’s early evening, right after sunset.  Purple, orange, yellow, and white wildflowers line both sides of the road.  The crew is happy.

The blog is a lot of work.  It’s good for me though.  It gives me purpose and human contact, and always something to think about, photos to take.  When the readers are kind, it’s fun.  I wish I could have answered all those comments from people wishing us well.

rvsue

3/22/12 . . . $87.70 groceries, $12.74 sundries, $11.99 dog food

3/23/12 . . . $0

3/24/12 . . . $0

3/25/12 . . . $5.00 water, $3.00 laundry

3/26/12 . . . $30.07 for 7.34 gal. gas at $4.10 per gal.

3/27/12 . . . $69.18 for 17.3 gal. gas @ $3.99 per gal., $29.00 for 8.1 gal. propane plus tax and $7.84 lunch at Hidden Oasis RV Park

3/28/12 . . . $0

3/29/12 . . . $0

3/30/12 . . . $7 Burro Creek campground fee (Senior Pass – half price)

3/31/12 . . . $7 campground fee