Rainy Day and visit to Quartzsite

Monday, February 27, 2017

My location: Eight miles West of Bouse, Arizona just off Plomosa Drive

When I woke up this morning, it was overcast and windy.  Forecast calls for rain this afternoon.

The clouds were dark when I took Yuma for a walk.   Read my blogs, had breakfast and at 9 a.m. I called Bob Drummer of Bob’s Generator in Quartzsite.  I gave him the symptoms and he said he could get me in at 2:30 to determine the problem.

When I got the RV stuck in the ditch a few days ago, I cracked the long wooden pole that I had attached to the the hitch insert at the rear of the MH.  This wooden pole is used to attach the netting from the Jeep to the MH to keep rocks from bouncing up and hitting the Jeep.

That wooden pole was originally a MacGyver job, so my fix should be a MacGyver fix.  The other day, I found a piece of wood exactly the same size.   I cut a couple of short lengths and then pulled out my trusty duct tape and sandwiched the cracked piece with the two short pieces and Voila!  Repaired and ready to be used for another 6000 miles.

Soon after completing my work, it started to rain.  It was still raining when I left for Quartzsite at 1:30.  I left the Jeep at the site with all the other stuff I had outside.

Bob was waiting when I got there and he opened up the door to the generator and pushed the button.  Darn if it didn’t start.  Did this several times and it started each time.   A little strained, but started. 

He said because of its age I should continue to use it till it stops starting and then bring it back.  He said, it is probably the starter but can’t be sure as long as it starts and to get to the starter he would have to take the generator out.  Big bucks! 

He did adjust the carburetor because it was running a little lean.  Said that had nothing to do with starting though.  He didn't charge me anything.  That was nice.

Came back to the site and it was still raining.  Put my TV Dish out and my Internet booster antenna out – all this in the rain.

Got the TV going, dinner done and now it is time to watch Bates Motel.  Another of Dolly’s favorite shows that just started up for the Spring season.  Good night to watch TV.

See you later.

Short Jeep Ride and Visitors

Sunday, February 26, 2017

My location:  Eight miles West of Bouse, Arizona just off Plomosa Drive

Much warmer this morning, but more clouds than previous mornings.  Did catch the sun before the heavier clouds from the West covered the area. 

This morning first thing, I decided to try the big generator one more time.  Pushed the button and it started right up.  I’ll be darn.  Then I noticed I had the RV engine running and did not have the converter plugged in.  I had unplugged it to run my inverter the other night and hadn’t plugged it back in yet.  Maybe, the converter  is drawing too much power when it first tries to start.  Just glad it started.  Now I can charge my five  AGM batteries today.  Was getting down to 12.2 volts.

We went on our morning walk and I got breakfast done and my blogs read.  It was still cloudy and cool and we had a little sprinkle, so we just relaxed indoors for awhile. 

Ain’t he sweet!

While reading my blogs, I happened to notice Barbara of Me and My Dog …and My RV was giving praises to a generator repairman in Quartzsite.   I need generator repair or maintenance, so I am going to give Bob Drummer of Drummer’s Generator a visit tomorrow morning.  Thanks Barbara!  Very timely.

About noon, the sun came out and we were ready to go somewhere.  After our long ride yesterday, Yuma didn’t want to go on a long one again today.

Al, of Travel with the Bayfield Bunch had mentioned that Yellowbird Road out of Bouse might be interesting, so that’s where we went.  However, the road quickly turned into an ATV trail and got pretty rough.  Yuma wasn’t up for that.

We crossed this beautiful wash full of red rock.

Looks like a cascading red rock waterfall.

It was a beautiful drive.

Before we turned around we did find a mine.  This one went straight into the hillside about 30 feet.

 

Isn’t that Yuma something?

On our way back down, we could see Bouse off in the distance.  It is a pretty location.

Came home and had a sandwich for lunch and rested in the nice warm sunlight.

It was around 4:30 when Yuma started to bark.  A car was coming onto our site and being a good watchdog, Yuma lets me know when someone is coming.

It was Tom and Deb of Celebrating the Dance stopping by on their way to church in Quartzsite.  We follow each other’s blog and I met them just for a few minutes in Borrego Springs, the morning I was leaving.  They are staying at the Salome KOA Southeast of here, and are moving over this way tomorrow.  Hope to see them again later this week.  Maybe we can make it a longer visit.

Tried the generator again this evening, and by darn, it started again!  Now it is time to watch The Walking Dead.  My wife loves this show and got me hooked on it.  Recently started their Spring season.

See you later.

Back Roads and Abandoned Mines

Saturday, February, 25, 2017

My location:  Eight miles West of Bouse, Arizona just off Plomosa Drive

It was rather cool last night.  Got down to the upper thirties, but Yuma and I were comfortable under our sleeping bags over our covers. 

We took our walk and then had a leisurely breakfast.  At about eleven, we decided to drive down to Bouse and take a right on hwy 72 and drive the twenty miles to see if we could find some gas in the small towns near I-10.   The gas gauge  indicates a little over an eighth of a tank near the red zone.

I guess I didn’t realize how small they were.  I should have known that towns with names like Bush Pit, Vicksburg Junction, Desert Wells and Pioneer would be too small to have a gas station.   Here’s the KOFA Café at Vicksburg Junction.  It is a beautiful old building of the western style, but out of business.

Decided to take I-10 West twenty miles to Quartzsite where I should have gone  in the first place. 

 
It was a nice drive, but didn’t like the drama of not knowing if I had enough gas to get there.  Had a five gallon gas can full of gas, but it was sitting next to the RV.  Not very bright.

Well, we got gas and drove around Quartzsite a little bit, but wasn’t interested in anything, so we headed back towards Plomosa Drive and home.  As we got close to the KOFA  Mountains, I saw a dirt road leading up into the mountains and decided to do a little Jeepin’.

If you have ever driven past the long-term sites and into the mountains on Plomosa Drive heading toward Bouse, you have seen this road going up a steep hill to the right of the blacktop.

Up we went towards the sky, wondering what was on the other side.

We see beautiful mountains off in the distance.

We drive into them and every so often stop to look around and take photos.  It is beautiful and quiet back in here.  I take a photo of Yuma and he takes one of me.

We soon start running into old abandoned mines along the mountain sides.

Looks like the foundation to a home or building and across the way was another mine with slabs everywhere.  This must have been a big operation.

I just couldn’t stop taking pictures of everything around me.  I wish I could make these photos show you what my eye sees, but just can’t.

There is Bouse in the desert below off in the distance.  Not wanting to turn around, I just keep following the dirt road hoping it will end up somewhere near Bouse. 

We’re tired of bumping around and Yuma wants to go home.  We follow this road for another six grueling miles through rocks, washes and bushes wondering if we would ever get out.  I could see Bouse at times, but the bushes in the desert kept me in the dark most of the time.

Finally, I spot an ATV coming out of the bushes ahead and I run him down.  Turns out to be some Bouse residents showing an Aunt from Michigan the desert country.

Asked him if I was close to Bouse.  With a laugh, he said I was only about a mile and to keep following the road. 

Never lost, but I was wondering when it would ever end.  Soon, the trail turns into a nice flat dirt road and then to the blacktop. 

Didn’t expect such a long drive on the back roads, but it was beautiful.  My resistance to turning around and backtracking keeps getting me in hot water.

See you later.