Monday, April 1
For those of you new to my blog, I met Rusty last spring when we both were boondocked near Ash Fork, Arizona.
You can get to know Rusty and Timber better by reading about his days as a mountain man walking with his donkeys.
You can also read and watch the television video about last year’s tragic loss of Timber followed by the amazing events that led to a heartwarming reunion.
“The Story of Rusty and Timber Makes National News!”
Rusty and I keep in touch by email.
I promised that the crew and I would visit him sometime this spring. That’s why we’ve been moving our camps northward in the general direction of Prescott National Forest where Rusty camps at this time of year.
As it turns out, Rusty needed to move in order to follow the 14-day limit rule, so he asked if he could join me and the crew at Juniper Hill Camp.
I emailed him back, “Sure, Rusty. Come on over!”
We have a lot of catching up to do, mainly me catching up on Rusty’s news, because my life is, well, an open blog, and Rusty follows this blog, commenting often.
Rusty went through a bad spell recently, which caused him to visit the VA hospital for tests. They discovered he has a leaky heart valve. He is carefully following doctor’s orders to maintain a low-fat, low-salt, heart-healthy diet, and to limit his caffeine intake.
Timber is excited to see Bridget and Spike again.
As for the crew seeing Timber, well . . . Spike is a little wary of Timber’s high energy, and Bridget would rather he stay at his own campsite, to put it bluntly. (Note the absence of photos with Timber and Bridget together.)
Maybe in a few days, all three will settle into a calm co-existence. Apparently the divide between rat terriers and a husky-malamute-german shepherd-mix is ver-r-ry wide. Plus there’s that male, terrritorial dynamic going on.
Tuesday, April 2
Bright and early this morning the crew and I motor down the highway to Many Trails RV in Prescott Valley, the PTV towing the BLT to have her toilet flush pedal fixed. We arrive ten minutes early for our 8 a.m. appointment, just enough time for me to walk the crew around the neighboring businesses and back.
While setting up the work order in the office, I notice the sign that says labor is $98 an hour. Gulp.
Yesterday Rusty suggested I have the power cord outlet moved to the bumper, instead of having the bracket replaced below the bumper. This would eliminate the potential for future damage and would prevent the cord from rubbing on the pavement.
I have that job added to the work order.
The labor for the toilet repair: $9.80.
The labor for moving the power cord outlet: $49.00.
The new 7-way plug end: $8.95.
Shop supplies: $5.00.
The total bill: $74.10 (inc. $1.35 sales tax)
I’m very pleased with the power cord raised up like this.
Bridget and Spike are exceptionally well-behaved in the waiting room. Other customers notice and compliment them. I make a mental note to reward them later.
Many Trails RV has a free dump station.
Not only is it free, but a man immediately appears and takes care of the dumping! He also helps me fill up the fresh water tank.
I take advantage of their dumpster, getting rid of my personal trash, as well as the trash picked up by Rusty and myself from the forest road where we’re camped.
I stop at Safeway on the way home.
I pick up a quarter-pound of roast turkey slices at the deli, a special reward for the crew. Once the groceries are stashed in the BLT, I join Bridget and Spike in the PTV and dole out bites of roast turkey until their happy, little faces have downed every bit of it. Bridget and Spike sleep all the way back to camp.
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 