Because We Can

While Linda has hopes to see a certain animal while we are here at Imperial Dam, this animal is far to small to be one of those wild burros. I thought I could see puffs of dust across the ravine, but Linda said she didn't see anything. Finally I took an photo of the area and enlarged it to reveal what looked like a dachshund digging and digging at a patch of exposed dirt. We never did see it dig anything up, but it sure got a lot of exercise in. In the afternoon we had Leonard and Val over to the coach, during which time Linda got to serve some goodies on her Pink Store plates and bowls. Leonard, who reads the Daily Journal loves to fly RC planes, unfortunately the winds here were making that nearly impossible. I could understand, as all the rocks here make it difficult to play with my RC off road truck. Leonard and Val are leaving tomorrow to head back to Idaho, which makes my having to move rocks to play with my truck sound not nearly so bad in comparison. Still, the mo

This morning, Mike, who also goes by Mr. Fixit, was back working on the door that Linda just can't seem to open. I admit I can't fix it, but then since I can open it, it isn't really necessary. Linda, sporting three broken nails and threatening to break something of mine and she's not talking about nails, thought it should be fixed. For all his work, and he tried almost everything under the sun, he never could solve the problem. By the end, quite a group had gathered around the door that didn't open at least for Linda, and they were offering all sorts of advice. The consensus was that I should take a Dremel tool to a bit of metal extending from the door frame, and that would fix it. We shall see, we shall see. For his trouble, Linda presented Mike with a big bowl of smoked trout spread and the last of our crackers. I could only shake my head in wonder, thinking it had been me working on the door instead of Mike my reward would have more likely been a crack alon

It began with a discussion about the potential possibility of perhaps replacing the bulbs in our wall sconce with LED bulbs. During that discussion, thankfully for which no record exists, concern was expressed as to whether the replacement bulbs would fit in the small space available. This photo was Linda's way solving the problem. Let's just say that during this entire enterprise, from original idea to not buying any of the bulbs, I toed the mark once I realized what my role was and from that point on which was nothing but a Good Bob. Maybe when the price comes down there will be LED bulbs in our future, but for now Bob's Bulb Ball is good enough. Back from our non-buying shopping trip, we decided we needed a walk and set out into a rather stiff wind only to discover this. I know I've read about this on other blogs, but it was still a surprise when we stumbled upon it. At first Linda thought all those rocks were a sort of maze, which was partly right. Add an &q

Many photos, not many words today. So you thought we celebrated too much last night and had a tough time getting going today? How wrong you were, at least about the getting going part. For 18 long years our Explorer has been our faithful trusty servant, taking us to where ever we wanted to go, but not this morning. All it would do was click, and I guess we were lucky to get even that out of it. The best minds in the IRV2 Monaco forum Quartzsite group put there heads together and pronounced our starter toast. The suggestion was made that sometimes pounding on the starter with a hammer will get it to work. When you can barely see the starter, let alone hit it with any kind of power, it isn't likely to start. The IRV2 group not only has brains, they also have brawn, and with a mighty push and the fact the Explorer has a standard transmission, it was started. Then we were off to find someone who could repair it. Years ago I'd replaced starters without a second though

At the west end of the Big Tent is this interesting display of the wiles of womanhood. Today as we passed by I couldn't resist and said, "Nice." "Oh, so you like them do you?" Silence on my part. "Would like to take my picture beside them?" This time there was no hesitation and ensuing silence, "Sure." "Where do you want me to stand?" "Over at the end would be fine." "Which way do you want me to face?" You know the saying, Don't sweat the small stuff? Well there I was sweat pouring off me in rivers because a man very seldom, if ever gets asked a question of such great importance. It was one of those, Life will be great or into the doghouse for years, moments. This was where the rubber would meet the road. When the years of living with woman but never understanding would be put to the ultimate test. Maybe it was a natural instinct instilled in man over the eons, or was it just dumb stupid luck? I

Interesting start to the day after the non-naked naked bookseller's concert, what with the glorious sunrise that met us this morning. As much as I hate to admit it, it wasn't I that was up at an early hour to see the sun reflected on the eastern mountains, it was Linda!! Yes, for the first time in eons the Grizzly was up at dawns early light. Though I must admit she said the reason for it was that I was breathing in her face and woke her up. I will go out on a limb here and say that was a Good Bob. What can I say, I know I'm good, it's Linda who expresses the occasional doubt. Part of the reason for being up so early was we had an appointment to have a few things done to the coach. This is the old one, and to clarify, it is the muffler I am referring to. The new one which is quite a bit slimmer and should perform much better, again referring to the muffler. This, along with a new air filter and chip should give us improved fuel mileage. Only time and miles

The RV's are massed at Quartzsite, with more seeming to come everyday. Of course what comes in must come out, and the long lines at the dump station offer testimony to the fact that there is an awful lot going in. We smile as we walk past, happy in our knowledge that when we arrive at Imperial Dam on Sunday morning we won't be seeing this scene repeated there. Smart Bob. Smart Linda. One thing for certain, when someone who is known as the naked bookseller gives a concert, you know what all the women are going to do. But when the concert is billed as" the naked bookseller as you've never seen him before, it shouldn't come as surprise that he isn't in the state of undress that he usually is. What am I doing wrong, heck, I'm two years younger than this guy and better looking even if I do have less hair, yet all these gray haired old ladies are practically swooning over him and not giving me a second look. Sad Bob Speaking looks, and it's this

We had thought the crowds would not be as large in the Big Tent today, but it turned out that yesterday was the time to have gone as the crowds were much smaller than expected. Since we usually don't buy anything during our first time walking through, it was okay that it was crowded, but it was still hard to get to some of the booths. There appears to be tire pressure monitors in the offing this year, as well as some new outside chairs. It's likely that when we go back later in the week additional items will get added to the list. It has something to do with the cost of "my" tire pressure monitors being much more than "her" chairs. Maybe we really don't need those monitors after all. You can say what you want about the crowds in the Big Tent, but when it comes to porta potty cleanliness they are in a league of their own. Linda just couldn't resist taking a photo of the Quartzsite Big Tent Porta Potty Gang doing their thing. Earlier due to an

Another pot luck tonight, but this one was for a very distinguished group of adults who are collectively known as The Quartzsite Trailer Trash Gang, (QTTG for short). As you can see from the photo of two of the members, the only apparent qualification to be a member is to be breathing, brains are certainly not part of the test for membership. Great food was on the menu, even if there really wasn't a menu. Ribs, western beans, and all the fixings that go along with them made for a group of happy campers. Confession time here. Last night I had trouble sleeping and this morning Linda diagnosed the cause as too much dessert on my part. I was on my best behavior tonight, only taking one helping of each dessert, and guess what, I actually slept the whole night without getting up once, and I even felt great this morning. I think the moral of that is I can probably take one and half helpings of every dessert and still feel okay. Next potluck I'll have to try it and see. Th

Except for our usual long morning walk we never left the IRV2 circle of motohomes today, which is a first since our arrival in Quartzsite. The Big Tent RV Show started today and for the first time ever we weren't one of the early attendees. Those that did go to the show said it was more like four or five years ago with the aisles were completely jammed. That is good for the exhibitors and also good for us. Hopefully the crowds will have thinned out in a couple of days when it is our turn to attend. The other thing that happened today was the wind, and with the wind was the normal Quartzsite dust. Our wind gauge was showing gusts of 36 mph, which meant dust everywhere. Even the sign marking our group site was suffering, losing a bungie cord and threatening to fly away. It was also the afternoon of the pot luck meal, and we watched as the wind upset lawn chair after lawn chair, and it looked like it might be more a little interesting come pot luck time if the winds didn't q

I was remiss in not posting a photo of the petroglyph painting rubbings we bought yesterday, though the fact we didn't take any photos until this morning probably had a lot to do with it. We love the two images, but as to what they are, who knows for sure, but they should definitely be conversation pieces. They are from the Pacific Northwest and the actual petroglyphs are now covered by the waters backed up from a dam. In Quartzsite RV's come in all shapes and sizes, as this setup shows. The plates on the Super B were "DA HIVE" and the plates on the Smart car were "A BZZY B". Who says RVers don't have a great sense of humor? Now if I can just get a photo of the huge tandem axle semi truck that pulls the tiny little 5th wheel, the picture will be complete. Most of our day was taken up with visiting. In the early afternoon we attended the Datastorm users get together, where 90% of what was said went over my head and I didn't hear the othe

Flowers in the desert as one of our Narcissus bulbs shows its first bloom. We may not have a flower garden on the scale we did in our other life, but Linda does her best to provide a little color, even if as in this case the color is white. This is her first attempt with Narcissus and it looks like they may be something we will be seeing again and again in the coming years. In the afternoon we drove up to La Posa North, parked near where we had been staying the past week and walked to the QIA were the Pow Wow was being held. As we walked up and over the I-10 bridge we counted 58 buses in this group that was parked across from Rice Ranch. At the Pow Wow there were so many vendors it was impossible to check out every booth, and while the show was all about rocks and minerals, we avoided the temptations all around us and didn't buy any. There was one thing that we could pass by, and they were so unique and dear to our hearts that we ended up with two of them. Many, many d