Blowin' in the Wind

Well, we have survived the wind. Man, oh man. Sunday the wind started blowing and it got downright nasty. Just straight wind, but as nightfall approached, we started getting a little anxious about stuff blowing around. So we went out and laid down the bikes and the lawn chairs and eventually the dog pen. And poor little Phaeton the Pink Pig (windsock) was just getting bounced around so badly we were afraid we would lose him. So up the ladder I went to take off the bungie cords and we brought him in to safety.


Later on after we went to bed we kept hearing more banging around outside and so we decided to pull the slides in on the windward side. It would make it less area to heat anyway and the slide toppers would get a rest from the wind. I eventually discovered the source of the banging was the dryer vent on the back end of the coach, so there was nothing to hurt there anyway.

The wind continued until Monday evening and then it subsided. Yesterday we went into Blythe, California, to the drugstore so Terry could get a prescription and to get a few groceries at Albertson's. The groceries in Quartzsite are a little lacking and very high prices.

We have spent a lot of time looking at the wind chargers. We had planned to add solar, but with 2 generators, we don't think we need the panels. The generators do fine and are easy to deal with. The wind charger would be simple as well, but we just aren't sure we even need it. We do like boondocking. It is fun and goes quite smoothly. Terry did spend an afternoon getting our catalytic heater going. We don't have a place to mount it in this coach, so it is on legs and we can move it around. I don't like that as well, but I sure do like the heater. It heats up the coach, uses no electricity and much less propane than the furnaces. We have been closing off the front of the coach at night and putting the dogs in the bathroom. They have more room there and then we have a gate we put across the bedroom to keep them contained. They can see us, but have their own space. It is working very well. That way we only run the back furnace at night. We don't run the catalytic heater during the night.

Neal had another round of seizures Monday, but we managed to get through with just 3 in 12 hours and that was it. Hope they stay away. Pretty tough ones, but he seems fine. I am boosting his one med just a little. Makes it harder for him to walk, but he should get used to it and do fine. Certainly don't want him having those seizures.

We are gaining a few more members every day. We are up to 14 rigs I think right now. It is good to see people we haven't seen for awhile. So far the 5-er's are ahead of the motorhomes in the count, but we shall see if that holds. :-)

We have done some walking around at the flea markets and while they are fun, they aren't as good as what I expected. But I guess the Shipshewana flea market has just spoiled me. And when you are confined to 300 sq. ft. of living space, you don't buy a lot of knick knacks, that's for sure. But that's okay. Most of what I have bought so far has been shirts. Terry bought a hat the other day and it looks good on him.

We have a bunch more rigs due in here by the weekend. The rally actually starts the 21st, I think, so most everyone should be in place by then. This place called Quartzsite is really beginning to hop. The desert where we are parked is getting much more crowded, although there is no shortage of space. It's just that there are more rigs filling in the spaces which were empty.

Stopped to talk to a lady today as we had noticed they had Elkhart County plates on their car. Turns out they are from Goshen and live on Greene Road, where we lived for several years. Their last name is Essig and her husband is a cousin to a man I graduated with from high school. Oh my, what a small world it is.

Till next time. . .

Dale