rvsue and her canine crew

The crew and I spend the night at Starlight Solar. 

Our work was not completed by quitting time.  The next morning we’re bumped out of line because a couple getting three panels put on their 40-foot motorhome have an 8 o’clock appointment.  We’re not leaving until our solar is in tip-top shape.  Larry tells me that his people probably won’t get back to my job until after 3 o’clock.

“That’s okay,” I tell him.  “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

I look online and find there’s a Walmart a few miles down 32^nd Street, so off we go, towing the Casita along with us.  It’s an easy trip and an easy park.  I stock up on lots of groceries because as soon as the solar is done, the crew and I are going to dry camp north of Yuma.

Finally, we get the signal to pull up to the concrete pad alongside the building.  That’s when I notice my propane tank cover.

The lid is gone!  Oh, no.  I must not have tightened it enough. 

Darn!  Where in the world will I find another one?  I’m going to have to call the factory in Rice, Texas, and arrange for it to be sent to a post office box.  That is, if I can order the part.  This is really depressing!  It looks awful without it.

By the time the solar work is done, the sun is setting.

Larry offers his parking lot for us to spend another night.  I take him up on it.  I’m not going to search for a dry camp location while racing against the setting sun.

I know that several readers are interested in my solar.

I promise to write about it.  Right now I’m weary of talking about and hearing about solar stuff.  Suffice it to say, I have 12 volt and 120 volt in the Casita and I’m getting the solar energy that my 200 watt panel is capable of.  Hooray!

First thing in the morning, I take the crew for a walk as usual.

Hmmm…. If we retrace part of the route I took to Walmart yesterday, maybe I’ll see the propane lid alongside the road.  Spike and Bridget are good sports.  We walk a long way, checking one side of the road going away and the other side coming back.  No luck, which isn’t surprising as we only walked a small fraction of the distance to Walmart.   I’m kicking myself for being so careless.

Oh well, we leave Starlight Solar to find a new camp!

On the way down 32^nd Street I notice an RV parts place. Maybe I can get LED lights here.  Then I won’t have to order them.   I park, get out and walk over to the entrance.  I see it’s a specialty store for RV water supplies.

A little cleaning and it’s good as new!

I turn to go back to the PTV and there it is. . .  the lid for my propane tank cover!

I can’t believe it! 

There’s about ten miles of road, if you consider both sides, that it could have landed along, and I pull over right where it rests.

Incredible!

I happily secure it in place, hop behind the wheel,  and go grinning on out of Yuma to our next camp.

Today is New Year’s Eve day and it’s a Saturday.

I’m not surprised to see campers around the pond, as well as people who came in their vehicles in order to picnic and fish.

It’s a beautiful day in the mid-seventies.   I drive us down one side of the lake but about halfway I see there are low, overhanging branches and the road turns to mud.  I back up about five trailer lengths to a place where I can back in to turn around.  I try the other side of the lake and find a sunny, level spot.  The crew is anxious to explore this new place.  I am, too!

Of course, Spike has to jump in, too!

Bridget and Spike meet a dog with only three legs, and politely pretend not to notice.

There’s a 14-day camping limit here.  Temperatures are predicted to stay in the upper seventies.  What a great way to start the new year!  And what a great year it has been!

Now that the sun has gone down, it’s cool.  The night sky is clear and many stars are in view.  Camp fires glow around the pond.  Bridget and Spike are ready for bed.  It’s time for me to send you this sincere wish  . . .

May you enjoy good health and safe travels in 2012!

rvsue