A Super Day (Or Three)

Since yesterday’s blog concentrated on our notes about this boondocking experiment, I’m behind on sharing our activities for the past few days. 

Friday morning we got up early so we could go to Yuma with Janna and Mike.  They needed new tires for their car, and needed to get them in Yuma, about 100 miles south of here.  We followed them in the Saturn.  They left their car at the tire shop and we all went in the Saturn to do some shopping.  Janna decided to look for a GPS, so we stopped at Best Buy and Sports Authority, but neither one had what she wanted.  A run through Sam’s Club was next, and we each got a few items – couldn’t buy too much since we didn’t have a lot of carrying capacity in the cars.

All the shopping worked up our appetites, so we headed over to Famous Dave’s BBQ for some lunch.  Janna and I enjoyed salads and the men enjoyed burgers.  After lunch, Janna & I suggested the guys might enjoy a trip to Harbor Freight while she and I shopped at Dillards for a little while.  She and I both found a few shirts that we needed, and the guys did enjoy being out of our sight for a while.

By this time their car was ready, so we took them back to the tire shop and we all headed back to our desert neighborhood.

Yesterday morning, we had some beautiful light playing in the desert hills which comprise our yard:

When I step outside the door each morning, this is the view I see:

I think it will be hard to return to “civilization” after experiencing this place.

Janna and I needed to pick up a few more groceries that we couldn’t get at Sam’s Club on Friday, so after breakfast, we grabbed our trash to dump and went off by the Bouse transfer station, left our trash there and went on to the little town of Parker, another 26 miles away and shopped both the Walmart and Safeway, with a latte to go for on the way home.

When we got back, we discovered we’d missed a visit by Al and Kelly, of “The Bayfield Bunch”.  These fulltimers are boondocking at a spot south of Quartzsite, and had come north to check out this area and meet us.  I’m sorry I missed meeting them, but in this lifestyle, I’m sure our paths will cross again one day.  Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy reading their blog and looking at their beautiful pictures.

Al, Mike, and Kelly visiting outside the Castle:

By the time Janna and I got back, it had started raining, and it rained off and on most of the rest of the afternoon.  There was enough of a break in the rain so I could take the dogs and walk for a bit.  We pooled resources for dinner, Janna made a potato salad and I heated up some pulled pork for BBQ sandwiches.  Janna brought over angel food cake and strawberries and we had a wonderful dinner.

Of course today was the crowning glory of the professional football season, and we had a party planned.  But first, our morning walk.  Mr. Bo Jangles is on the far left, then Jim, Janna, Mike and Emmi as we walked through the wash:

Emmi was intent on chasing Jasmine most of the time:

After the walk, I got busy in the kitchen:

Where I made another batch of S’mores Brownies, a lemon coconut pie, a batch of guacamole, and mixed up the buffalo burger meat with my special spice mix.  Jim grilled a couple of different types of sausage along with the buffalo burgers, and he also made a batch of “Clayton’s Beans” – one of his specialties.  Around 3 this afternoon, Janna, Mike, Emmi and neighbor Dave arrived for our Superbowl party.  Dave brought a bottle of wine, Janna brought a fabulous broccoli salad and her homemade salsa and another bottle of wine.  We were set.

Hours later, the New Orleans Saints had become world champs, and we were treated to yet another amazing Arizona sunset:

 

Yes, it will be very hard to leave this place.