Month: February 2018

On February 12th I decide it’s time to move on and leave our Parker boondock.  Our last day here it is absolutely delightful. We take a long morning walk and another during the early evening.

And of course Charlie is on lizard patrol ….

Around noon I set up my SunFlair solar oven and put together a Spanish rice mix to which I add onions, olives, and a bit of broccoli, and put it in the oven to cook.  It will take a couple of hours, but the nice thing about cooking with solar is you don’t have to watch it and it won’t burn anything.  It’s very much like a crockpot, but you can also bake in it with an easy adjustment to the front flap to allow moisture to escape.

Sitting back in my chair reading I hear planes, and I look up to see these interesting aircraft ….

During our evening walk we find what is probably a deer bed, although I haven’t seen any deer.  Coyote maybe?  I would think they den up, but who knows.  The boys have to check it out.

I love this barren old ironwood snag ..

The sky above this tree is looking odd. It’s a bit of time before sunset, so I begin looking around.  It’s the sun reflecting through smoke. There is a fire across the highway and over a small ridge.

Creosote bushes are plentiful and they burn hot and fast. No one comes around to roust us out so we stay put.  It is out in the morning, and I begin the morning routine of making coffee and fixing the boys their breakfast.  This morning we will pack up and head out so there’s no going back to bed to read while I enjoy my small pot of coffee.  Bitty Boy Fries isn’t too interested in getting up either. He is enjoying his new bed.

The boys don’t know it, but we are headed to Bouse and an afternoon at the dog park there.  Thanks for stopping by 2DogsTravel! Hugs, Shawna

CURRENT READ:  Beneath a Scarlett Sky

February 9, 2018. We’ve been camped on BLM land (boondocking)off Hwy 62 west of Parker for a little over a week now.  We’ve made a few trips into town and dropped a bit of cash at Wally to stock up on food items.

Fries also got a doggie bed that he absolutely loves. Charlie is miffed that he didn’t get a bed … yet.  Charlie will not be left out, don’t’ worry. They didn’t have one his size so as soon as they get one that will fit him he, too, will have a nice new bed.  This has been Chiweenie Brother Approved!  Bark, woof, howl.

Our view       

It’s our 9th day here. It is very warm as late afternoon turns to evening, and the windows are open along with the side doors and the back door to cool the van down before we turn in.

I must have dozed off, because it’s dark when I am pulled out of a fitful sleep by the sound of a coyote close by. Really close. I can tell Fries is getting ready to give ’em hell, but I can’t allow that. I am also fearful that Charlie will launch himself out an open window.

Instinct some how kicks in and my gentle pressure on the backs of the boys’ necks keep them quiet and immobile by my side on the bed.  If I get up to close windows/doors there’s the real chance one of them will jump out of the van. Keeping that firm pressure on them and not speaking a word I pray they will continue to just stay immobile and quiet. Thankfully they do.

It’s unnerving, but fascinating to hear the different calls the coyotes make.  Many yips with several different endings to some of them. I wonder what they are saying to each other, and what comes to mind is “Come out, come out wherever you are! I smell chiweenie on the menu.” In my mind I am laughing hysterically. With fear. No, they cannot get inside the van, but a wild wiener dog could get out of the van. After what seems like an eternity, they give up and move on, and I breathe a sigh of profound relief.

The next morning the boys are rewarded with a sniff-fest around camp.  I give thanks that this had a happy ending, and there were no escaping chiweenies to become a coyote’s next meal.

The next night, windows in the “keep that Charles Barkly inside” position, side door curtains adjusted to keep chiweenies from sticking their heads out, but let air in, and the back doors resting against each other with a tarp over that to allow just a bit of air in we settle down for the night. All this done prior to lying down to read lest I unintentionally fall asleep.

The wind kicks up.  The wind gets stronger.  The wind blows the tarps off and the windshield cover goes flying. Well, at least the coyotes won’t be skulking around tonight.

I proceed to get out and rescue it all ending up with the front of the van packed with all the outside stuff:  tarps, windshield cover, my solar oven full of drying broccoli, half of my space blanket that was on the side of the van providing shade.  I say half because the other half has been torn off and blown to who-knows-where. I’ll look tomorrow.

The wind proceeds to howl all night and finally abates mid-morning.  The boys and I take a walk to gather up the things flung here and there. We are fortunate to find a missing window shade and the torn off half of the space blanket.  Now it’s time to dust and sweep and try to rid our vome of the grit and dust. My eyelashes are gritty and I find a few grains of sand irritating my belly button—sands gets everywhere when a wind storm blows through.

The next night we are dazzled with this gorgeous sunset.

Thanks for stopping by 2Dogs Travel! Hugs, Shawna

January 31st, late morning, we say goodbye to the Salton Sea and head toward Joshua Tree National Park.  A stop in Mecca, California for a bit of gas and a bite to eat, then it’s onward on Box Canyon Road.  The scenery is marvelous if you like rock formations (and we do!) and if we could have found a shady spot to camp sans sand we would have spent a night here.  It appeared all spots with a firm foundation were taken so we motored on.

Arriving at the park entrance rather late in the day we camp for the night just outside the south park entrance on BLM land; boondocking.

Joshua Tree National Park is huge, and half of it is a vast expanse of creosote covered valley with the desert’s bald mountains in the distance. This is desert tortoise territory and it’s heart warming to know they are safe out here to live out their long lives. You can read about the desert tortoise HERE. Oh how I would love to see one!!

Spotted at the Cottonwood trail head near the park entrance is a phainopepla, a small black bird that looks like a tiny black version of a mountain jay, but in fact is part of the waxwing family.

Dogs aren’t allowed on the trails so I wait for Jan to take a short hike back into the palm tree area and was rewarded with a glimpse of this small bird, and enjoy the scenery here at Cottonwood Springs. 

Miles and miles into the park we come to the cholla garden and a small patch of ocotillo.

I would guess it’s about 30-35 miles into the park before we begin to see the Joshua trees .  They are so unique and absolutely beautiful.  Now it’s “miles and miles ” of  these beautiful trees and we begin to get into the “big rocks”, too.

We make a quick potty stop at what will be our last stop in the park. As we are pulling out of our parking space and I am in the process of changing from reverse to drive when Charlie begins to bark his head off.  I glance in the mirror to see a guy pulling out of his parking spot. He’s going to ram us, and I honk the horn!  He abruptly stops thank goodness, and we get the heck out of his way.  Thank you Charles Barkly for saving us from being T-boned in the parking lot!  That little boy does NOT like anyone near our home, and today he proves he is serious about his job!

As all things do, we come to the end —the  north entrance and our exit— of the park. Its been a long, day, but so worth it. The Chiweenie Brothers might not think that, but I certainly do.   Tired and hungry, it’s time to find a spot to park for the night.

Barrel Cactus nestled on the hillside

Thanks for stopping by 2Dogs. Hugs, Shawna