The morning sun sprays diamond sparkles across the water.
Watching ducks dive for breakfast is a good way to start the first day of the new year.
Bridget, Spike and I got a good night’s sleep even though last night was New Year’s Eve, probably because fireworks are not allowed in this BLM area.
No prohibition against ATVs and dune buggies though.
I want everyone to have their fun.
However, the constant drone of combustion engines does get wearisome after a while. One child about eight years old drives his noisy vehicle around the pond constantly for about two hours. He’s driving right under everyone’s windows. After the first hour the evil thoughts begin in my head. I start to wish for a bucket of roofing nails to scatter like corn for the chickens across the roadway. I’m not proud to say I concoct schemes involving bodily harm to a child. Oddly, these dark thoughts help me tolerate the irritating sound.
At last, he turns the blasted thing off.
Two minutes pass during which I actually hear the chirp of a bird. Then an adult gets on an adult-size motorized vehicle and starts making his rounds.
People sit in lawn chairs at the pond’s edge holding fishing rods, watching and waiting for a tug on the line. Oh, isn’t it wonderful to get away from it all? It’s so peaceful here. Vroom, vroom, vroooooooom . . . .
The good news is tomorrow is Monday and not New Year’s Day!
On our morning walk the crew and I approach a man parking his pick-up truck. Three children jump out and run up to us. Two girls and a boy, all under the age of seven or so, want to pet Bridget and Spike. The littlest one shows off her brand new, pink, Barbie tackle box. Dad looks at me and smiles. He sets up little lawn chairs and a cooler at the edge of the pond. Next he hauls out a playpen from the back of the truck.
“You have a baby, too?” I ask, my eyes widening.
“Oh yeah, I’ve got my hands full today,” he replies.
Later in the day on our second walk I see him casting a line with the baby in a carrier on his back. The baby is reaching forward to play with his ear. A smile creeps across my face, and Dad sees and smiles back with a look that says, “Hey, whatever it takes in order to fish!”
A man stops by our campsite and asks about my Casita.
Actually he’s not the first to stop by here. I gave a Casita tour yesterday to a couple who want to upgrade from tenting.
This man here today has a Trillium. His first question is whether I have a bathroom, because his fiberglass trailer doesn’t. He gets on the ground and looks underneath. I get out my Casita notebook and show him the specs.
It’s true what I’ve been told. . . A Casita draws visitors!
Throughout the day I analyze the location of the sun on the campsites around the pond.
Although we’re in a picturesque spot, the afternoon sun is harsh and there’s very little shade. My neighbor has her awning out and I can see it isn’t helping at all, due to the low winter angle of the sun. The other side of the pond would put the sunshine on the back side of the Casita. However, there are lots of trees and shade on that side, not good for my solar panel.
The crew and I scout for a new campsite.
At last we find the perfect spot!
It’s where the man with four children is fishing.. Hmmm . . . As soon as they leave, I’ll zip right over there and set up a new camp!
This new campsite has its own little beach. Pretty sunset tonight. Gee, it’s nice sitting out next to the water.
Oh no! Dueling generators!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 