Peregrinating
2010

June

1 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

The weather this morning was perfect for my more active day. There were high clouds and a modest wind that offered a great opportunity for walking.

It was good that I had such a morning because I went to the UPS Store. I knew that I had a package waiting for me because I had a tracking number. What I didn't know was the Surge Protector and Locking Hasp had also arrived – I had 3 packages.

It is about 1 ½ miles from the UPS Store and the more cumbersome package weighed around 12 lbs making it seem a longer trek than that.

Once I got everything home and put away I walked to La Piedad once again. Yes, they had no tamales!

There was a dental office almost directly across the street from La Piedad that I had found on the Internet. One of the dentist in the office is a Periodontist so I wanted to stop and inquire about getting periodontal cleanings at the office. They are closed Sun – Tue so I'll try again later in the week.

It got much hotter by late in the afternoon so I was happy to be lounging in Desperado with the A/C on.

With the British Petroleum (a BIG 'green energy' company per their advertising) oil spill and Cap and Trade making news I thought I would comment.

The solar/wind advocates in the United States keep saying that we need to emulate Spain and the Netherlands in the production of 'green energy'. President Obama has climbed on the 'green energy' bandwagon also. However, both the advocates and Obama have ignored the whole story in Spain and the Netherlands. This is what they are not telling the American Public.

Last week (November, 2009), Spain made headlines around the world with the news that it generated over 53 percent of its electricity by wind power alone, be it during an extremely windy night and only for some hours. There is no denying that the development of wind power in Spain is impressive. Electricity generated by wind power grew with 8,000 percent between 1996 and 2007, from 338 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 1996 to 27,509 GWh in 2007. With it, the share of wind power in electricity production grew from 0.2 to 9 percent. In the Netherlands, the amount of "green" electricity increased by 400 percent between 1998 and 2008, from 2,300 GWh to 9,500 GWh. With it, the share of renewable energy (mostly biomass and wind) in electricity production grew from 2.5 percent to 9 percent.

This sounds great, especially when you compare it to the situation in the United States, where the share of renewable energy in electricity production (excluding hydro-power) rose from 1.4 percent to 2.3 percent during the same period (1998-2008). Or, on a global scale, where the share of renewables rose from 1.12 percent in 1990 to 2.3 percent in 2006. Yet, just like the Americans and the rest of the world, the Spanish and the Dutch are now MORE dependent on fossil fuels than a decade ago, not less.

2 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

It got hot sooner today than it has been but I avoided most of the heat by doing my shopping early. I then turned on the A/C earlier today and have stayed cool.

The major accomplishments for the day were to catch up to current posting with 2 of the 3 blogs that I have been working on. I should become current on the 3rd one tomorrow.

I will then have 6 blogs that I'll be following on a current basis and probably start the catch up process for 2 more. Then as I add more new bloggers I'll probably start dropping off some that I now am following.

I also prepared 'linner' today in my Thermal Cooker that I lugged home from the UPS Store yesterday. I made pinto beans with ham shanks and green chili. I'm going to love this Cooker!

At 8:00 am I put the ingredients in the pot with water and boiled them for 10 minutes. Then that inner pot went into the Thermal part and I let it sit until about 4:00. It was great – beans were done with the shank meat falling off the bone.

My kind of cooking – one pot, heat up and forget it until time to eat!

3 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

There was nothing happening today that was different – just another day of living.

I will say that just another day of living in Desperado is much more enjoyable that the last 'sticks and bricks' I was in. It is much cheaper and I know that I can move within minutes or a few days at the most.

I'll also say that my RV neighbors are much nicer, I have had NO problems while here – NONE. Everyone has been very friendly and they leave you to enjoy your own peace.

There is one other thing. The beans that I cooked up yesterday were even better today after blending flavors overnight in the refrigerator!

4 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

Today was a bit more active but not by much.

The days are heating up so anything to be done outside needs to be done early. With that in mind I walked up to a small Diner next to the dental office I stopped at a couple of days ago. After breakfast at the Diner I stepped next door to inquire about teeth cleaning. The office does not have a periodontist but they believed that their hygienists could take care of my cleanings.

I picked up the paperwork to be filled out as a new patient and will use this office for cleanings when I'm here in Pahrump for my VA appointments (about ever 6 months).

From there I went to the library where I had about a 15 minute wait. When they opened I had one book to return and one to renew – too much blog reading to make it through an 800 page book in two weeks.

It was then a short walk across some undeveloped lots to Smith's market and then home. Home, is now having some difficulty staying cool when the outside temperatures go over 95. I have a couple of more weeks here but then definitely need to seek cooler climes.

5 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

It is HOT!

The forecast for today was 102F with 104 tomorrow and then two lesser 100+ days to follow. At 5:00 pm today it was 104; I'm not looking forward to the next 3-4 days.

the only thing that I did today was dump tanks and then un-hook to go to Tropical RV. I got there at about 8:50 and the 'tech' was just unlocking the gates.

I pulled into the service bay and by 9:30 he had the forced air furnace out of Desperado. He then went to a parts store to buy a cap for the gas line and even with some time taken to fix a storage bay light he was finished by 10:00.

I was back to Saddle West and re-hooked, had my A/C turned on high but sweating by 10:30.

I made a poor decision to stay here for a month but did not know how long it was going to take me to get everything arranged. I still have a couple of things coming in to the UPS Store here but I could have accelerated them.

I'm living n learning - the full timers definition of climate control – wheels!

6 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

It continues to be HOT!

Todays forecast was revised downward from 104 to 103. It needed to be revised but the downward revision was simply offering false hope. At 5:00 pm it was 107 and that may increase before it starts to cool down.

The only things that I did today were my laundry and a trip to the convenience store for water and a 'heavyweight coffee'. I did both of those before 7:30 when it was still only around 78.

At these temperatures my A/C is working hard to keep Desperado near 80. If I don't move around much or very fast I can usually keep from breaking into a sweat. LOL

7 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

The 107 degree temperature I was seeing yesterday was being reported on my computer by Yahoo. The 'official' high yesterday was only 105 but Las Vegas set a new high for June 6th at 110.

Today's forecast here in Pahrump is 104, that is what Yahoo says it is at 5:00, then 101 tomorrow but will drop into the 80s by this weekend.

The low temperatures have also remained high; I'm really looking forward to the forecast lows to be in the 60s.

I walked up to Smith's in the early morning coolness of high 70s with a 5-10 mph wind blowing that made it feel very refreshing after the past couple of days.

That was it for the day with regard to outside activity. It warmed up rather quickly and I collapsed inside with my A/C.

8 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

My only excursion outside today was an early morning walk to the convenience store for a cup of 'heavyweight coffee'. I'm going to miss that stuff!

Most of the day was spent in front of my laptop reading blogs or on the couch. I think I'll get through The Creators before I leave on 6/18.

What I don't know yet is the answer to the question – Do I pick up another book? I'm thinking hard about a Sony Book Reader also but not in the next few weeks/months.

I have decided (maybe) to make my next camp in a National Forest campground near Mt Charleston (close to Las Vegas). This will be about a 100 mile drive from here and then another 100 to return the book.

Another unanswered question is where from there? If I arrive at an answer to that question then I'll probably know the answer to the one about the book.

This fulltiming life is sure complicated and stressful. LOL

9 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

The weather has cooled down as the forecast promised but I did even less outside today than on the hotter days. I did treat myself to breakfast at the Casino restaurant and the very short walk to it was very nice in the low 70s temperatures.

I continue to think about where my next camps are going to be. One of the considerations is the receipt of my NV license plates from NV DMV.

I hope they come in before 6/18 but that probably will not happen. My next hope is they will come in before 7/2 – that is a maybe. If they don't make it by then I need to arrange to have them sent to my undetermined campground after that. Complicated.

I did complete another blog/web site of a fulltimer that has spent a lot of the last couple of years in NM.

I'm planning on attending my 50th High School Reunion in Douglas, AZ in mid-October. I had been thinking about going from there to NM and his site has almost convinced me that I will. As he says "fulltimer plans are cast in Jello".

The NM State parks are a real camping bargain. I'm hoping I can move around enough in the southern part of the state (3 weeks per Park) to 'winter over' there. We will see.

10 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

The weather has cooled down wonderfully! I walked to Smith's again for groceries this morning in the low 70s.

After putting everything away I lounged around until noon with the windows open to a cool breeze. Then thinking it would soon warm up I got busy in the kitchen making Avocado Soup (it wasn't until after 1:00 that I turned on the A/C).

I had read about the soup in some blog and looked up the recipe on-line. There seemed to be a number of them to chose from and all seemed to want more ingredients than I usually deal with.

Therefore, I simplified. The basic idea is to puree the avocado(s) with chicken broth, or soy milk, and add a lot of spices. Since I have nothing to puree with I substituted a potato masher and a small whisk.

I then skipped the part about adding a lot of spices and settled for a sprinkling of crushed red pepper on top. It was then placed in the refrigerator for about 3 hours to chill. I have to admit that the soup was a bit bland – perhaps some of those spices are necessary. But, as a cold soup on a hot day it is pretty good.

I have spoken of doing nothing on many occasions since I left Reno on November 30, 2009. Today I took action, I joined the International Institute of Not Doing Much (IINDM). Although I have always been hesitant to join any organization that will accept me as a member; this organization seems to match my current life-style and goals in life.

All members are committed to attaining minimal effort (ME) and ME is something that only comes with years of practice (this I have been doing now since 2005). As in any organization, the IINDM confers rights upon its members (these are minimal and may be delayed). But those rights come with responsibilities.

Here is a partial list of rules that must be agreed to.

1. Members must unswervingly commit themselves to inaction.
2. Members while not actively ruminating, or considering things, should rest.
3. New members should not ask when the next meeting is going to be. The last one was on June 2, 1929. It was agreed, at that time, that there be a break in the meetings of the IINDM.
4. New members shall confine themselves to libraries, sofas and armchairs on the first floor, the dining room, and all bathtubs on the lower level.
5. Members shall take every opportunity to slow down and adopt the Slow Lifestyle Manifesto at our official website Slow Down Now.

11 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

It is a relief to say that I did something today. I worked on upholding the Manifesto of the IINDM. This organization is going to be my salvation in avoiding having to say that I didn't do anything.

The one outside effort that I made was a trip to the convenience store for drinking water and a cup of 'heavyweight coffee'. My last two purchases of water have been ½ gallon jugs for they have been out of the 1 gallon.

They only had a couple of ½ gallons left after my purchase today. The heat wave of last week almost depleted their stock. Today was nearly cold in comparison; less than 80 degrees at 5:00 pm with a wind blowing.

The other accomplishment of the day was to read current another blog. This one was written by a Canadian that has traveled into Mexico for 6 months each year for the past three.

I have very little in common with him, his life style or where he likes to go and/or stay. He spends almost as much during the 6 months in Mexico as I receive for an entire year. He also has a rather low opinion of Americans in general (excepting those that agree with his Leftist/Socialist views).

He is a VERY vocal activist for homosexual rights which I have very little opinion on either way. I do resent his bombastic lectures on a blog that is ostensibly about travel in Mexico.

One of my good friends in Bulgaria was also an activist; and now works in that capacity upon returning to the USA as a 'gay rights consultant/lecturer', but she never spoke as he does.

12 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

A great day was today. I had Desperado's door and 3 of 5 windows open all day with a nice cool breeze gently blowing.

I was thinking, why do I want to move? It was then that I became rational once again and looked at the 10 day forecast which is calling for mid-90s by 6/18. I'm moving.

Earlier in the morning I walked up to the Pahrump Diner for breakfast. From there it was to Wal*Mart to pick up a 15 amp to 30 amp adapter plug – they had none.

Then it was on to the UPS Store where I knew that my magnetic knife holder had been delivered. What I did not know was my NV title and license plates had also come in.

This changes most of my planning for when I leave here on 6/18. I no longer have to worry about how I''m going to get my license plates. My decision to stay here for a month was right after all.

While I'm on the subject of license plates, I should tell you that I got personalized plates once again (I have had NV personalized plates on all my vehicles since 2003). Desperado will be sporting GRABERD to compliment my Peregrinating Graybeard blog effort.

I did affix my magnetic knife holder to the wall in the kitchen this afternoon. I even thought about putting the license plates on but it seemed to be in conflict with my ambition and the IINDM Manifesto. I'll do it tomorrow.

The only other effort I made was to think some more about where my next 1,2,3 campsites will be. I have a dental appointment in Reno on August 9th. I can go and stay where I want on the way to getting there!

13 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

A very quiet day. Mostly reading my new book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig that I picked up at the library yesterday. I need to finish it before I leave town on 6/18.

That did not keep me from also reading (to become current) two more blogs. One of them is by a resident of Pahrump, NV although the blog starts in FL. The other is by an older gut (70+) that lives near New Orleans, LA.

He is simply a joy to read; his writing, and more importantly, his view of life is GREAT. He is probably as unconventional as anyone that I have read so far and sometimes is Laugh Out Loud funny.

My outside efforts were affixing the license plates to Desperado early this morning. That was upon my return from picking up 'heavyweight coffee' at the convenience store. I made a second trip for snacks after preparing 'linner' in my Thermal Cooker.

Today I made a shrimp soup with shrimp, savoy cabbage and powdered miso soup mix. I brought everything to a boil and then into the Cooker for 3 hours (two hours would have been plenty). It was quite good and still piping hot when I dished up a bowel full.

14 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

The days are beginning to heat up again. I have turned on the A/C a little earlier starting yesterday and today and turned it off later.

I went to Smith's for my grocery walk early enough to still be in the coolness of morning. Then after a stop for some 'heavyweight coffee' on the way home I noticed a man walking on NV 160 carrying a large US flag.

He would stop after every 10-15 paces and seemed to rest a moment and then continue on. I was walking parallel to him on a frontage road and soon caught up to him and was about 50 yards west.

It was then that I realized that today was Flag Day. He was carrying the flag in honor of our country; so I did the only thing I could to honor him and the flag he carried – I stopped, came to attention and saluted.

It is a Grand Old Flag and deserves some respect!

The remainder of the day was devoted to reading and staying cool. I found the following in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and it was too good not to share.

You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in...When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt.

15 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

This was a stay inside and read day. It got hotter with a wind that was blowing hot air rather than cool.

I did walk over to the VA Clinic early this morning. I checked their opening hours on the Internet and found that they opened at 7:00 am. I arrived at about 7:15 to discover that their hours were now 7:30 – Internet needs to be corrected.

The reason for the trip was to make sure that my address had been changed to Pahrump. I was reasonably sure that they had not changed it because my last prescription re-fill had been sent to Reno.

My suspicion was correct and they changed the address to Pahrump. I will test the change with my next re-fill in a couple of weeks. I hope that it is here when I come back in Aug/Sep.

16 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

Today didn't work out quite like I had planned. It started out well enough with me getting my laundry started very early. While it was in the wash cycle I dumped my black/gray water tanks (the gray tank was being reported as full).

To dump them I decided to use a dump hose rather than my macerator. This required me to move Desperado forward about 8'. After the dumping was finished and everything put away I backed up onto the leveling blocks.

This was when things started to go wrong, there was water shooting out from under the coach. I saw that the rear wheels had run up onto the water hose and then as I continued back it ripped the hose out of the 'house' fill connection.

I quickly shut the water off and did a damage check – it could have been a lot worse. However, it did require another trip to Tropical RV after breakfast at the Casino (just couldn't cook after that LOL).

I got to Tropical at about 8:00 but the 'tech' could not get the parts he needed until after 9:00 so I went and filled up with gas. Then I stopped at Big O Tire and asked them to install valve stem extenders on the dullies on Desperado (very had to check or add air without them).

They said it would be about 1 ½ hours before they could get to the job so I told them I would return and went back to Tropical. After finishing up at both places I was lighter in the wallet, had a new 'house' water fill connector and valve extenders.

All this waiting around also gave me most of the morning to read. In so doing I found another quote from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance which I want to preserve in my blog and also share.

I think if we are going to reform the world, and make it a better place to live in, the way to do it is not with talk about relationships of a political nature, which are inevitably dualistic, full of subjects and objects and their relationships to one another; or with programs full of things for other people to do.
I think that kind of approach starts it at the end and presumes the end is to be the beginning. Programs of a political nature are important end productsof social quality that can be effective only if the underlying structure of social value is right.
The social values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to improve the world is first in one's heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.

17 June
Saddle West RV Park
Pahrump, NV

I was up even earlier than usual today 5:30 rather than my usual 6:00. I didn't have anything special to do except finish the book I have been reading and take it back to the library.

I read until around 7:00 and then did not want to take the time to cook breakfast so I gave the nearby Mexican restaurant another try. When I got there it was open but only the cook was there; he did take my order and waited on me. The waitress came in about 8:00.

I didn't finish my book during breakfast but it only took me another ½ hour after I got back home. I have one final quote from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance that I want in my blog and to give you something more to think about.

Phaedrus remembered a line from Thoreau: “You never gain something but that you lose something.” And now he began to see for the first time the unbelievable magnitude of what man, when he gained power to understand and rule the world in terms of dialectic truth, had lost. He had built empires of scientific capability to manipulate the phenomena of nature into enormous manifestations of his own dreams of power and wealth – but had exchanged an empire of understanding of equal magnitude: an understanding of what it is to be a part of the world, and not and enemy of it.

18 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

I was away this morning by about 6:30. There was a stop in north Las Vegas for about ½ hour to pick up groceries but I arrived at my choice of campgrounds by 9:15. That was not early enough – both of the closest campgrounds were FULL.

I got here by driving about 90 miles on NV160, NV159/Blue Diamond Rd, CR-215, Durango DR (exit 37), US95 & NV157.

I talked to the Camp Host of the non-electric camp and she said that there were 3 sites that were paid through last night. She was going to check on them and see if they were staying.

I waited until a few minutes before 10:00 to see if one of them would open up. The Camp Host drove her scooter up to the camp entrance where I was parked to tell me that space #4 was open and the guy had not told her he was leaving. I got VERY lucky, there was a 5th wheel trailer also looking for a space but he left and I got it.

This campground has no electric but I can make it for the 2 nights that I have paid for. The Camp Host told me that I should have no problem getting a full hook-up site in Fletcher View (about ½ mile up canyon) on Sunday. I will walk up there tomorrow and verify that I can get a space and then move Sunday morning.

The site here is very narrow but when I parked it was spot on level, no leveling blocks needed. Backing into the site was a little bit of a trial but I'll get better with practice. There is a nice breeze blowing through the oak and pine trees and I can still see snow on the north side of the mountain canyons above me.

I also have a Verizon Air Card connection so I'll be on-line sparingly for 2 days and then anytime with the full hook-up. It is VERY NICE!

I sat and chatted with the Camp Host for a few minutes. She is a widow that is also fulltiming. Her Class A is powered by a Ford V10 also and she says that her MPG is about 7.5 which reduces her travels.

The first full tank that I have a record of is the fill in Sparks and then in Pahrump. For that rank I got 9.7 MPG and let me tell ya 49+ gallons is a lot of money. I knew that my travels were going to be reduced also from what I was doing with the Teardrops.

19 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

This was a lounging around kind of a day. Very much enjoying the coolness of the mountains at about 6,800'. I have the windows and door open all day and never hot enough to even think about A/C.

I walked up to fletcher View and inquired about a space for tomorrow. The Host there said he had 3 spaces paid up for tonight in the first-come area, all the reserved spaces all full for a long time into the future.

I'll go back tomorrow around 10:00 and see if I can get in. If I can not I will stay here for another day and try again on Monday.

I spent some time with the camp Host here talking about her solar system. She has 390 Watts of panels and 4 Trojan 105 6V batteries for her bank. At this location she is able to recharge the battery bank before noon everyday.

She winters over in Why, AZ and thinks that she will be able to recharge there also without tilting the panels. She can tilt but just added 125 Watts and thinks that this next winter she may not have to.

I cooked some pork stew meat with red potatoes yesterday in my Thermal Cooker (about four hours). I then served it with some sauerkraut and found it to be rather good.

I threw the remainder of the can of kraut into the mix and refrigerated it overnight. I think everything that I have made in the Thermal Cooker is better the second day. I also notice that everything is 'soupier' than when made on the stove top; I need to cut down on the water by 10-20% because none of it boils off.

20 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

I went up to Fletcher View at about 9:45 and asked again about a site. The Host told me that #4 was leaving and it was OK for me to go ask them at what time.

They said it would be close to noon so I told the Host I would be back at 11:30. He gave me the space and put my paid card on the site post.

I told my Host at Kyle that I would be leaving at 11:30 but would probably be back for 2 days. I was thinking to return on July 4th and she said that it was a maybe but would make me #1 on the waiting list for that day.

I got backed in to the new space, again with some difficulty, and hooked up to 30 AMP service. I was pleasantly surprised by this because the on-line description for the campground said 15 AMP (they have 50/30/20).

I knew that they had showers but I did not know that they are $1 and the fee to a Golden Age Card holder is ½ + $3 for the electric. I was also wrong in my previous posting that it was full hook-up; there is no sewer, you have to go into Las Vegas to dump.

Everything set up very easy and quickly (I just plugged in electric) but at 'linner' time I discovered that my microwave is not working. It worked in Pahrump, there is power to the outlet where it is plugged in but does not work.

I have paid for one week and will make my decision about what to do next during that time. I will probably go back to Kyle on 6/27 for two days (if possible) then return here on 6/29 (if possible) for another week. I can not stay here for more than 14 continuous days and that would have me leaving on 7/4.

It is not a good time to try and stay in public campgrounds they start to fill up on Wednesday prior to a Holiday Weekend.

21 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

I devoted most of today toward catching up on those blogs that I was current with until I left Pahrump; I used my computer sparingly while at Kyle. Also continuing to catch up on the other three that I'm getting current on.

I am letting one of those that I had read to current slide, I may go back to it from time to time but will not read it on a daily basis.

The only other excitement for the day was my CO detector going off. I thought it was the smoke alarm which is very sensitive. I was doing everything I could to make the smoke detector shut up until I finally realized it was the CO alarm. I'll buy batteries for both of them when I go to town in a couple of days.

My cooking, other than breakfast, today was to use the other ½ pound of pork stew meat. I added a small can of red chili sauce, two small cans of water, boiled and put into my Thermal Cooker for about 5 hours. I then added a large can of white hominy and brought to a boil once more. VOILA! I have a tasty pozole for three meals.

I had two does and a spike buck (antlers still in velvet) mule deer join me for breakfast. One of the does was about 10' from my front bumper as I sat at the dinette table eating. I don't know why she thought the grass was greener than on the other side of the road but soon the other two came over to join her.

22 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

I did a lot to uphold the Manifesto of the IINDM today. More blog reading and Internet surfing.

I was looking for alternative camps if I can not get back into Fletcher View on 6/29. In my search I have taken into consideration where Verizion Broadband coverage is available.

By doing that I excluded almost all of the central part of the state of NV. There is not much in Central NV and Verizion does not cover it.

Maybe I''ll get lucky and get back into Fletcher View on 6/29 and I'll then stay two weeks. I would like to stay here for the wonderful weather – cool, almost cold, mornings and perfect day temperatures.

Wherever and whenever I leave here I will need A/C at this time of the year.

23 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

I did a little more today than yesterday. Walked down to Kyle Campground and told the Host that I would not be coming on July 4th. However, I would be staying, if possible, on Jun 27 & 28.

Then I told my Host here at Fletcher View that I was going into town tomorrow for groceries and asked him for a traffic cone. I'll put that in my space when I leave and maybe no one will pull in and park.

I did some more on-line RV Park searching. If I can not get back into Fletcher View on 6/29 I'll probably go to Saint George, UT.

I found a park nearby that gives a discount to Escapee Club members so joined today. I was going to join later in the year but now is as good as then.

If I am able to get get back into Fletcher I'll most likely stay for two weeks, the weather is too good versus anywhere else nearby. Then I might go to Saint George, or maybe not, I'll study on that more when the time comes.

24 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

Today was relatively exciting compared to my normal days. I went into Las Vegas to get groceries.

But that was not all, I stopped at Mimi's for breakfast first (tired of my own cooking). I had to wait for about 20 minutes until they opened at 7:00 am. It was already as warm then as most of the days have been in the afternoon at Fletcher View.

After breakfast it was groceries at Smith's again (picked up their discount card which is also good at Kroger) and then headed 'home'.

The approximate 18 miles from US95 to the campground climbs about 5,000'. Desperado does this without sounding (still wish I had a tachometer) like it is working overly hard. It does it in 3rd gear (I turn off overdrive when it shifts down the first time) and a few short stretches in 2nd. This is while maintaining a speed of between 40 & 50 mph.

I put everything away at the store before leaving so I only had to back in once more and plug into electric.

I was back by 9:00 and started 'linner' preparation at 10:00 with some red potatoes in the Thermal Cooker. At 2:00 it was time to throw in some kielbasa and onion – 'linner' was at 3:30 and it was good with a BIG salad (always).

It was quite a bit hotter here this afternoon but I don't know how hot, maybe mid 80s. At 5:00 Las Vegas was 105, Pahrump was 101 and Saint George was 102. Which ever way I go from here when I leave it is going to be HOTTER.

25 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

Nothing much going on today, I did find a quote that I enjoy a lot: “So what's worse: to realize that you are wasting your life, or to waste your life and not know it?”

I finished catching up to current on the two blogs that I have been working on. I'll continue to follow the one from LA that posts almost everyday. The other one, that posts about once a week, I'll probably read on a catch up basis after one or two months.

I then started three more but quickly quit on one of them. So I now have two more that I'm reading from their start (one started in 2006).

It is cooler here today than it was yesterday when I ran the fan for about an hour before sun down. It was very still with no breeze blowing at all, I have a good breeze today that I hope continues. It has also cooled some in Las Vegas, Pahrump & Saint George but all three are still over 100.

I'm here at Fletcher View for one more day and then I start the campground shuffle – will see where I end up.

26 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

Another nice day, they seem to just keep coming.

I walked down to Kyle campground and verified that I would be able to get a space tomorrow morning. The Host there said that most of the spaces will open up tomorrow. I may get back into the one that I had before.

There is nothing much else to say about this last day in Fletcher View. I say last because I have my doubts that I'll be able to get back in on 6/29. There are just too many people driving through the campgrounds everyday looking at sites.

It is rather ironic that in all my Teardrop traveling I saw very few other Teardrops. This week I have seen 2 come into the camp looking at spaces. They knew the camp was full so they had to be looking for when a space would open up.

27 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

A successful moving day from Fletcher View to Kyle.

Before leaving Fletcher I talked to the Host and I will not be able to get back in unless someone where to leave early. That is very unlikely and more than I can wish for so I will be leaving these campgrounds early on 6/29.

It was hotter in the afternoon again today with very little breeze. My next stop will probably be near Saint George, UT where it was 106 today.

When I pulled into my space at Kyle on 6/18 and Fletcher on 6/20 & 6/24 I was level without any blocks. This morning I tried 4-5 different positions in the same space I had before at Kyle and could not get level. Finally gave up and added one layer of blocks, probably could have added two.

I am back to using battery power sparingly without electric hook-up, I will be on full hook-up in Saint George – can not go there without A/C. I'll probably stay in that area for 7-12 days and then move north looking for cooler climes.

28 June
Kyle Canyon & Fletcher View Campgrounds
Near Las Vegas, NV

Most of today was spent reading in the old fashioned way; from the printed page in a book. I borrowed a couple of books from the Camp Host here at Kyle yesterday.

She is a Western fan with a large collection of Louis L'Amour. I finished a non- Louis L. yesterday late in the day. It was another warm afternoon so I found it cooler to sit outside and read; it was also too dark to read inside.

I finished the Louis L'Amour ( one of the Sackett Series) this mid-day and traded it for another skinny Western (that is not a sexual reference but rather the number of pages).

29 June
Leeds RV Park & Motel
Leeds, UT

Today was a travel day of only 160 miles but it took me about 6 ½ hours.

I left Kyle a few minutes before 6:00 am and had filled up with gas at Petro on I-15 near the Las Vegas Speedway before 7:00. I then had breakfast at their restaurant (The Iron Skillet) and was back on the road before 8:00.

About 30 miles from there and some 40 miles from Mesquite, NV I heard and felt a rear tire blow out on the right rear. I pulled off at the first off ramp that I came to and check the damages. It was the inside dulie which I had never taken a real good look at. I knew that both tires on the right rear were in poor condition, approaching BAD, but hoped to get 1,500 more miles from them. Didn't happen!

I fired up my computer and checked for tire shops in Mesquite and found a Big O Tire store. So it was a slow, emergency flashers going, white knuckle 40 mile drive into Mesquite.

I was lucky that they had a couple of tires that fit and also that I got $50 off each one because of a Sale. Also lucky that they could get right to work and I was back on the road within and hour.

I had never been on this part of I-15 before and Virgin Gorge/Canyon is worth taking this stretch of Interstate. When I got to Saint George, UT I stopped at Wal*Mart and pick up groceries for the week.

Utah has really changed from the first time I was in the state back in 1980 something. I was in Park City for a meeting and to get an alcohol drink, including beer, was a bureaucratic nightmare. Today I picked up a case in Wal*Mart just like anyplace else in the Western States.

I then arrived here at my new home in Leeds for a week. I have a full hook-up site with good shade but it is HOT. At about 3:00 this afternoon we had a cloud drop some dozen raindrops and then move on, it could not be called rain. However, I would not be surprised to see a big thunder storm before I leave.

There is a Club House with a good library and I have nice clean showers available. The only downside that I have found so far is very slow Verizon Air Card connection. I have a strong signal but there must be a LOT of people using up the Bandwidth.

30 June
Leeds RV Park & Motel
Leeds, UT

I had a busy morning before it got HOT once again.

First on the list was to get my laundry done. I waited for the wash cycle to finish and then while the dryer was doing it's thing I cooked breakfast. Folded and put away clothes.

Then the bigger and more important chore of the day was to dump my holding tanks. The 'meter' that I have inside the coach that tells my how full my tanks are is not accurate. When I left Pahrump, after dumping, I was getting readings that both tanks were over ¼ full.

Then while I was in Kyle & Fletcher the black tank showed over ½ full then went back to over ¼. I just need to 'best guess' what the levels are and then dump when I can. I'll have a much better idea of when to dump after I guess wrong a couple of times. HA HA

The only other excitement for the day was when an Airstream Trailer pulled out from it's space across from my. I saw the trailer door flopping open and ran after it trying to get the drivers attention.

He finally saw me flailing my arms and stopped. I hope I get a pay-back someday and someone stops me from doing something stupid.

It was then time to cook. Today I took a pound of Navy Beans that had soaked all night, added ½ pound of pork stew meat and a small can of jalapeño w/carrots; brought to a boil and into the Thermal Cooker.

At 2:00 I added a sliced yellow onion and brought back to a boil and into the Cooker again. “Linner' was ready for me at about 3:30 with my large salad. YUM