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Saturday, November 29, 2025

A Friday Afternoon Ride

Saturday, November 29, 2025

As I sit writing this, this morning the sun is out and I can see blue sky out our windows. It will probably be a quite day for us. Tom will have the fun of going over to the laundry room to do a batch of jeans and I will probably do a couple of batches here in the Stinger "B" but that is probably as exciting as our day will be. Which is perfectly okay.


Friday, November 28, 2025

Since, I titled this blog a ride I probably should write about that. Though lets face it, usually the pictures tell the story and yet at the same time they never do the scenery justice. Today's ride took us through the LaPosa South LTVA to the power line. We followed that road over into the Kofa Wildlife Refuge and then turned onto the road that leads to the Crystal Hill Area. We went a little past there before turning around. We started later in the day and we didn't want to venture to far in. We have been on several rides back in this area and will probably head that way again but for today it was time to turn around and make our way to US-95.


Looking back at the Dome Rock Mountains.

I have searched the maps we have and done some googling
and cannot identify what mountain or hill this is. I think it may
be part of the Plomosa Mountains but I am just not sure.
It is behind the LaPosa South LTVA.

Looking back at the Dome Rock Mountains.

We went by several ocotillos today. Some filled with green leaves,
others turning brown, and several grey ones waiting for the rain
to come again. There were even some with red blossoms
decorating the top of their branches.

The pipeline road is wide and fairly smooth. 

Here and there it looked like a carpet of green on the desert floor.
This is one thing we never thought we would see in the desert.
I do have trouble telling the difference though Alligator or Crocodile?

Some Brittlebush in bloom. 

Sometimes I am curious so I look things up. Today's look up was about the Brittlebush and I found it amazing just how many things this simple bush has been used for. 
Bighorn sheep and mule deer feed on this bush along with rodents that eat the seeds. 

It also has a long history of uses by indigenous and pioneer peoples, including:
Glue: The resin collected from the base of the plant, yellowish to brown, can be heated and used as a glue. The O'odham and Seri use it for hafting, to hold points on arrows and harpoons.
Sealer: A different sort of resin collected from the upper stems is more gummy and generally a clear yellow. The Seri use this to seal pottery vessels.
Incense: Early Spanish friars learned that the resin made a highly fragrant incense, akin to frankincense in odor.
Gum: The Sells area Tohono O'odham children use upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum.
Toothbrush: Oldtime cowboys used brittlebush stem as a fine toothbrush.(I thought this was interesting.)
Medicinal: Seri use brittlebush to treat toothache; the bark is removed, the branch heated in ashes, and then placed in the mouth to "harden" a loose tooth. Cahuilla used brittlebush to treat toothaches as well, and used it as a chest pain reliever by heating the gum and applying it to the chest. Waterproofing: It has been used to waterproof containers.
Varnish: It has been melted then used as a varnish.

We saw several Saguaros, and they were all about the same size
propped up like this on our ride today.

I did do some research about these Saguaros and I could not find out anything specific about who was propping them up. My guess would be they were endanger of falling over but that would just be a guess. What I did find out is there are groups out there working to save these majestic giants. One article talked about the fact that it is not the older giants that we should worry about the article said they can be resilient. It is the younger ones, the baby ones, who are failing to root and thrive. These saguaros above are not those. A baby saguaro at ten years old is probably only going to be about an inch tall. So even though I could not find out any specific information about why and who is propping these up and several others we saw, I did find out that there is research being done and people doing what they can to make sure these beautiful cacti are here for the generations to come. 


Teddy Bear Chollas. We saw a lot of these guys, also, today. 

More Ocotillos 

A giant saguaro surrounded by Brittlebush
with the Dome Mountains in the far background.

I believe this is a Hedgehog Cactus.


Kofa Mountains

About a quarter of a mile from this windmill was this sign top
insert and about a quarter mile past it there was an identical sign.

More pictures of the mountains

and Saguaros

as we drove along.

One of the many washes out along the roads out here.
Insert is looking down this wash when we were at the bottom.

I would like to see how they erected these out here.

One last picture of the Dome Rock Mountains as we approached
the highway. You cannot really see it in the picture but the flat
area in front of the mountains was a lovely green.

We had plans for dinner but we knew the group was out at Kim and Ken's site for Happy Hour so we made a quick stop on our way back into Quartzsite.

Left to right: Patsy, Kim, Ken, and Bill

The plan was the 
Legendary Fish Fry at Mountain Quail Cafe.
Which we both enjoyed.


Thanksgiving, November 27, 2025

It is always nice to be inside an RV Park on a holiday and have the opportunity to enjoy a nice meal with fellow travelers. This year we enjoyed a delicious meal with friends. The park provided the turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing. Those who could brought a dish to contribute to the meal. If you couldn't bring a dish you could make a contribution which will be going to the local foodbank. We certainly had a wonderful variety of sides and desserts to choose from. They do an excellent job organizing the dinner here.


Left to right: Bill, Tom, Ken, Kim, Patsy and my plate waiting
to be filled with delicious food.

We ended the day sitting and visiting with our dinner companions
as the sun set leaving a beautiful afterglow behind.
It was a wonderful way to end a good day spent with friends.


Wednesday, November 26, 2025

We started our Happy Hour early. Melissa and Lyle joined us from Plomosa Road, Kim and Ken drove over from Roadrunner, and Patsy and Bill made the long trek over from their site which is one away from ours...lol It was a lovely few hours chatting away. This was the first time Melissa and Lyle and Patsy and Bill met but hopefully we will have several more opportunities to all get together over the next few months. It was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. 

 


Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Today I had my haircut at the Moon Dreams Mobile Hair Salon. I will definitely be back. This salon is full service and located on Kuehn Street. I was impressed with how cute it was. It is at the end of a small bus her and her husband made into a home and business. 


Moon Dreams Mobile Salon


Back to today, Saturday, November 29, 2025


Today's Sunset


As I finish writing this the sun has set on our day. I mentioned at the start of this blog it would probably be a quiet day and it was. Later in the afternoon we went outside and Tom brought out the container I store things in to put out on our patio tables. I have never before put out Christmas decorations this early but today that is just what I did. Then we sat and just relaxed while Tom grilled the meatloaf I had put together earlier. It was a special ending of a day one with just the two of us enjoying this time and place. 





 If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 
or the words I have added that makes me smile. 
If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 
No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 27, 2025


To All Our Family and Friends



 

Tom and I hope your day of Thanksgiving is filled with love, laughter, and good food as you reflect on all there is to be thankful surrounded by those you love.              


Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Moving Day and Back in Time

 Monday, November 24, 2025

The sun was up before us this morning but not by much. It was only 49 degrees when we first got up but when I opened the door to take this picture I could already feel the sun's warmth. It is a beautiful start to another day of living our dream.

\


Below are two of the Saguaros that have died in this area since we first started parking here. 

Both these pictures are of the same Saguaro.
I could not find the first picture I took of this guy. The one on the left
 I believe I took in either 2022 or 2023. The right is from today.
I could not find the original so no exact year.

The one on the bottom right I tool this past week.
The bottom left and top one were taken back in March 2019.

Saying goodbye to our spot. The place we have called home
for the last few weeks. It is always bittersweet leaving a place
we have enjoyed and we did enjoy this spot.

The good news is friends Kim and Ken have arrived safely and have parked within feet of the spot above we vacated. They said they could see where our carpet had been...lol We all agree this is a pretty good spot to spend some time relaxing and just enjoying the peacefulness of the desert.

We are now parked and calling Park Place RV home for the next month. Kim and Ken drove in for Happy Hour at Patsy and Bill's site and since we are two sites down we were able to just stroll over to join the group. It was nice to get together with everyone The conversation was as always lively and certainly not boring. 

Left to right: Tom, Bill, Ken, Kim, Patsy with Gibbs posing
nicely by her feet.

It is different for us to be in this area and in a RV Park but sometimes it is good to mix things up. We are looking forward to this time here and being near friends. 


A Little Trip Back in Time to Sunday, September 14th and Monday, September 15th.

After spending 9 nights at the UP Fairgrounds in Escanaba it was time pack up, pull in the slides, and get our wheels rolling. We arrived at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Monday and it was home for 2 weeks. This time was spent visiting with our grandkids and their parents.

Between Escanaba and the Bridge there are several opportunities to catch a glimpse of Lake Michigan as we drive through the forest which is a big part of the wonderful beauty of this place we call home. 

The sun was making the lake sparkle as we left today.
Escanaba is across the way.

There were a few times when the lake was so quiet it it almost 
looked like glass.

Honestly we expected to see more color today but there were
just a few touches here and there of reds, golds, and oranges

Lake Michigan sparkling in the sun.


The first sighting of the Bridge.

Then there is the Mackinac Bridge.
A sight we never get tired of seeing.

We have started across the bridge.
The Upper Peninsula is in our rear view mirror.
Then the Lower Peninsula comes into focus aswe reach the other end.
Lake Michigan in on our right  and Lake Huron on our left.

I do not think I have ever shared any information about this beautiful bridge. What can I say today is your lucky day😎.

The Mackinac Bridge is currently the seventh-longest suspension bridge in the world by total suspended length, and the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere.  The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957, connecting two peninsulas linked for decades by ferries. At the time, the bridge was formally dedicated as the "world's longest suspension bridge between anchorages". It remains the longest suspension bridge between to anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. The length of the bridge's main span is 3,800 feet (1,158 m), which makes it the third-longest suspension span in the United States and 29th longest suspension span worldwide. It is also one of the world's longest bridges overall.
(I will save more information for the next time I post its picture.)

Tom and I both remember when the "Mighty Mac" opened. As a family my mom packed a picnic lunch and we made a day trip to see it. Tom remembers his family doing the same thing. It was a big deal and many of our friend's made that trip, also.

On I-75 heading South.
We spent the night at the Walmart in Gaylord, MI.
It is a familiar stop for us.

Leaving in the morning a few miles down the road a familiar
sign. One I have taken and posted more than once.

We are seeing a little more color in this area.

Still not a lot color. Just a few spots here and there.



A Little Farther Back in Time
Sometimes everything lines up and you get a lucky shot. This for me was one of those moments. When heading back to Escanaba after crossing the Mackinac Bridge we make a left turn and head west on US-2. After not that many miles we drive along a beautiful stretch of sand beach along Lake Michigan. We were in the Jeep, Tom pulled over, and I got out to take a couple of pictures as the sun was heading down. This is one of them. 

July 2024








If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 
or the words I have added that makes me smile. 
If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 
No matter what I am glad you stopped by!

Monday, November 24, 2025

Blue Skies Are Back

 Sunday, November 23, 2025 (continued)

When I woke up this morning and opened my shade I could see a space between the mountain tops and the clouds in the distance where the sun would shortly appear. I opened the door and took the picture I shared in yesterday's blog.


While the sun was still shining in that space I took these
of the early morning light on the desert in our view.
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Then it slipped behind the clouds.

While I was taking pictures and adding the sunrise picture to the blog Tom was busy getting our coffee ready. It is how we start our day. Coffee in the quiet of this lovely place we are presently parked in, in our home. Today is Sunday and it was not long and we were getting ready to drive into Quartzsite for Mass. 


By the time we stepped out the clouds covering the sun had 
moved on and the desert was covered in bright sunslight.

There were clouds in the sky making shadows
on the mountains. When I saw this one I thought
spider with a hat..😊.

Big white fluffy clouds

against a blue sky as we made our way to church.

Back home after Mass and breakfast the clouds where 
beautiful over the mountains to the east of us.

Once home it was time to start packing up our site. Tomorrow we will be moving into the Park Place RV for a month. It will be something different and it will be nice to be parked near friends Patsy and Bill during this time. We are going to be flying home to Michigan to spend Christmas with our Grandchildren and their parents and we wanted to spend a week inside a park with full hookups to get wash done and pack. When we checked the prices at Park Place, which in our opinion are very reasonable, staying a month just made sense. As much as we love boondocking out in the desert we are looking forward to this time.


Packing up meant Tom needed to take the Hummingbird
Feeder off its Shepard Hook this afternoon. He did leave the
feeder out on the ground. The colorful one just stared down
from his perch. The other one did stop by for some sips,

Going, going gone. The sun has left our day.

The mountains around us in the last of the sun's light.

It was one of those days when we look back we will remember as a good day. 





If you have enjoyed the pictures I have put out there 
or the words I have added that makes me smile. 
If you have time to leave a comment they are always special to read. 
No matter what I am glad you stopped by!