Saturday, March 10
After a day of stormy weather, the crew and I are in the mood to go somewhere.
I lock up the Best Little Trailer and toss Bridget and Spike into the Perfect Tow Vehicle. I want to see what lies to the west of us.
I turn onto Courthouse Road.
Soon we’re going past cultivated fields and prefab homes.
It looks like there’s a lot more of the same up ahead. I turn around and choose a new destination — Subway!
All of a sudden I’m hungry.
There’s a Subway at a gas station near I-10 in Tonopah. I eat half of my foot-long, Italian B.L.T. in the PTV with the crew. The other half I save for later.
On the way back to camp I spy a lone camper on another of the BLM roads near Saddle Mountain.
There are a few roads that I’d like to explore with the PTV, but I decide not to try them so soon after a heavy rain.
I drive up our lane and see we have neighbors!
The crew and I disembark at home. Some time that afternoon I hear, “Helloooo? Anybody home?”
“Are you Bob?” I ask as I step out of the BLT. Sure enough, he’s Bob of cheaprvliving.com.
Our paths almost crossed once before when we were in California.
We both looked forward to meeting each other as we’re fellow boondockers and fellow bloggers. Bob’s a quiet, steady sort of guy whom I can tell is a natural teacher, mentor, and encourager of others.
The man with him is Jeff from New Jersey.
Jeff camps in a camper van and is a comparative youngster in his forties with a great enthusiasm for the camping he can do during sojourns from his work back East. We relax in my camp chairs on the outdoor rug and set about getting acquainted with no shortage of topics to discuss.
Bridget and Spike make friends with Bob’s dog, Homer. Bridget is fascinated by this big, handsome guy (Homer, not Bob or Jeff, although one could describe either with that term!).
I’m too involved enjoying the company of my guests to take photos!
We realize the shadows are long and the sun will set soon.
“If we’re going for that walk, we’d better get going,” Bob says.
The six of us — three people and three canines — take off on a walk to the mountain. We find the canyon trail markers. That’s a hike for another time, earlier in the day. The sun sets behind a hill as we walk back to our campsites. A very enjoyable visit with two fellow nature-lovers!
Sunday, March 10
I’m in the process of adding some products to the Shopping Links pages when I hear a repeat of yesterday: “Hellooo? Anybody home?”
Again Bob, Jeff, and I set out on a hike with Spike, Bridget, and Homer.
This time we walk all the way to the saddle between two hills, the same saddle the crew and I attempted to reach on a previous day. Good conversation on a beautiful morning with perfect temperature.
Spike particularly enjoys having a guy-pal along.
Bridget walks alongside Jeff, Bob, and me. We pause in the shade of an ironwood tree, and Bridget fawns under the attentions of Jeff. She shoots me a quick glance while Jeff caresses her face. “See? You aren’t the only one who thinks I’m pretty!”
At the saddle, the crew and I turn toward home, while Bob and Jeff continue on.
Later I’m again at my laptop starting this blog entry when a pick-up stops outside my window.
A greeting of “Hello, Sue!” tells me this gentleman knows my blog. His name is Barry and his sister Barbara is a regular reader, sharing much of what she reads on my blog with Barry.
We talk a long time.
Barry is a great conversationalist with a warm personality. He’s camped in his fifth wheel at Saddle Mountain RV Park in Tonopah.
This is his go-to camp during the winter. He’s familiar with Saddle Mountain and the surrounding area as he’s come here six times for extended stays.
Barry shows me the weather app on his phone.
“It’s going to get up to 93 later next week,” and so he plans to leave soon for cooler weather in New Mexico.
“Goodbye, Barry! Say hello to Barbara for me!”
I’ve started reading Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley, which Jeff gave me earlier today. I gave him Bannack, Skye’s West by Richard S. Wheeler in return.
rvsue
rvsue and her canine crew 