What a way to start the day . . . 
This morning around 7:30 the crew and I are on our way back from a walk to the lake. We’re crossing a large, sandy area dotted with small clumps of grass when a dog starts barking off to our left. I look to see who’s over there. Wait a minute. That’s no dog. That’s a coyote!
He stops barking and stares right at us.
Bridget is off-leash ahead of Spike and me. I hurry us forward and grab her leash. Without looking over at the coyote again, I urge the crew to move into a brisk pace toward home. Not a good idea to run . . . Don’t want to look like prey. I have to stop to catch my breath, so I look back.
The coyote has moved forward after us!
He’s looking at us! Again I hurry us up the road toward the campground. The coyote again follows us. Then he stops and barks. Oh no. He’s calling for the pack to jump out of the bushes in front of us. The crew and I keep moving at a fast walk. Thank God, Spike isn’t making us stop every ten feet so he can sniff something, like he usually does.
At last the paved road to the campground comes into view. I glance back one more time and the coyote is sitting where I saw him the last time I looked. He’s still watching us. We keep a brisk pace all the way into the campground. What a scare! I hereby resolve the crew and I will do no more walking off the paved roads around here. Gee, it’s like I’m walking two little snack cakes . . . .
The crew meets Jimbo!
Why do I always look my worst when someone comes to the door, someone who’s meeting me for the first time? My hair is pulled back in a ponytail, no make-up, rumpled, old, dog-hair-covered tee-shirt and shorts, and who comes to my door? Jim of jimbosjourneys.com!
Jim recently had a hot air balloon land on his rv! You can see the photos on his blog.
If you keep up with the comments here, you know that Jim and I were going to meet somewhere in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Although we camp at a lot of the same places, we keep missing each other by a day or two. Then he invites me to the Balloon Fiesta which I take a raincheck on.
I think it is so nice of him to drive into the Elephant Butte campground on his way south, just to meet me and the crew.
We have a good chat. We laugh at the fact that Jim feels like he already knows me, the crew, the PTV, my Casita, from the blog (which is kind of weird). Jim travels a lot in New Mexico and is on his way south for a LazyDaze rally at Pancho Villa State Park near the border. Since I’ll be moving south also, I’m sure we’ll meet again.
I am so excited about tomorrow!
I call Chip at Baker RV about fixing me up with solar power. He asks me a few questions and immediately gets online, finds a 125 watt solar kit for me, and gives me a rough idea of what the entire set-up will cost along with his labor. He’s coming out to the campground tomorrow morning to see what it will take to equip the Casita.
I’ve seen an installation explained on the Casita Club forum that does not require drilling holes into the Casita’s fiberglass shell. I want to show that to Chip. I also want to discuss whether it would be better to put the panel or panels on the flat roof of the PTV.
Oh, I would LOVE to have solar power! To be able to camp in great locations without being dependent upon finding a campsite with electric hook-up . . . Free camping . . . Wow!
You know? It’s high time I reward the crew.
Of course, Bridget thinks Spike's bone is better than her bone, so she waits to grab his at the first opportunity.
Bridget and Spike are a great crew. They always do their best to do what I want them to do (or not to do!). Every day is enriched by their presence.
So while at Walmart I pick up a pack of chew bones, a rare treat. Once home, all I say is “I have a surprise for you” and they both jump up in anticipation.
Gosh, how I love these two!
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 