My “Stagnant Mode” Has Come To An End…

“Stagnant Mode” is the best phrase that I could think of to describe the time when I’m not out seeing and doing new things.

Mary and I arrived back at her home in California on October 10, 2011 where I spent the about next seven weeks cleaning and doing preventative maintenance on the motorhome and towed Ford Bronco II. After Thanksgiving I headed out for the warmer weather. On to Palm Springs and Slab City, California and then to the Yuma, Arizona area where I hung-out for about one month while waiting for Mary to rejoin me. All places I been to numerous times before…mostly dictated by good weather.

Mary re-joined me on January 18th and after taking care of her dental needs in Los Algodones, Mexico the day before yesterday…my “Stagnant Mode” has finally come to an end! It’s time to get out on the road and returning to seeing and doing once again!

After a few miscellaneous stops in Yuma, Arizona yesterday morning…we finally got out of Dodge! We only drove about 30 miles and ended up spending the night in the small town of Wellton, Arizona. We parked at the VFW Post #6790.

As always you may click upon a photo to see and enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

About one small block away the VFW has a courtesy RV site with electric and water. That’s where we actually spent the night.

No matter it’s along the road…wasn’t that much traffic!

For everything you could ever want to know about Wellton, click this Wikipedia link…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellton,_Arizona

No…it’s not quite the Grand Canyon…but at least we’re seeing and doing new stuff once again.

Today’s planned destination is the Painted Rocks Petroglyphs…about 80 miles distant. In the next few coming days we will kind of be out in the toolies and may not be able to pull in an Internet signal. So if you do not see a daily Blog from us…don’t worry. We’ll be back with a new entry soon.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Pilot Knob, California

Waaay down in the southeast corner of the State of California, the land is flat except for a rise of land called Pilot Knob. This is what it looks like on Interstate Highway 8 heading east approaching Yuma, Arizona…

As always you may click upon a photo to see and enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

The campground I’m heading for is located at the horizon at the very far right in the above photo…about one mile from the highway. Why is it called Pilot Knob? I’m glad you asked! You can find out all about Pilot Knob by clicking this link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilot_Knob_%28Imperial_County,_California%29

I’m headed for this 14 day limit BLM campground. It’s called a campground…but there are no amenities here. But it’s convenient and free…so the price is right!

I parked next to my friend Leo Perth from Slab City. He was in the Yuma, Arizona area to take care of some business for a couple of days. He headed back to Slab City yesterday afternoon…

This is only the second time I have ever parked at this location…the other time was when I had just started full-time RVing back in January, 1996. I remember that time vividly because a violent wind of about 60 miles an hour created an awesome dust storm…my first experience with that kind of activity. The sand blasted the side of my then travel trailer and I thought it was going to blast the decals off! I remember looking out of the window expecting Lawrence of Arabia to come riding by! Fortunately…no sand storm this time.

Here’s a panorama looking due West…

Here’s another panorama looking due East with Pilot Knob in the background…

Finally here’s a fun perspective photo…

I spent only one night here as this morning at 9:00 AM I’ll be entering a nearby RV park for a four night stay. I’ll meet Mary at the Yuma, Arizona Airport about 12 miles distant this afternoon.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Whaaack!!!

It sounded much like a very loud crack of a bullwhip. It happened a week ago today while I was on my way to Slab City. I purposely took the shortest route…California Highway 115 through the middle of the lettuce fields. Nice long straight paved roads with little to no traffic. When it happen I could see for several miles ahead, there were no other vehicles in sight except for a farm truck passing me headed in the opposite direction. That’s when it happened!

I knew immediately the windshield had taken a hit…but where? I pulled over to the side of the road to look. Glancing around…I finally saw it. On the driver’s side…eye level and about 15 inches to the left of my direct line of sight…

Here’s a little closer view…

And a really closer view…

When I arrived at Slab City I took this photo of the outside of the window…

This really nasty rock chip is about 1.25 inches long. Fortunately our insurance company paid the $65 to have it repaired. Safelite Glass did the repair. They are located in El Centro…about 35 miles south of Slab City. With poor cell phone service at Slab City, I felt it would be difficult at best for the repairman to find me. So, I decided to postpone the repair until I arrived at El Centro yesterday since I had already had plans to come here for a Costco food stop. The next Costco we will come across is more than 300 miles and we will not be there until about two weeks from now.

The glass repairman came yesterday and all appears well once again. He did a good job and the repair is barely visible to the eye. I tried to take a photo of the repair but it refuses to be seen by the camera.

I spent the night in the Moose Lodge #1033 parking lot.

Today I’ll head back towards Yuma, Arizona to meet Mary who will arrive on a flight tomorrow afternoon.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

The Last Sunset…

for me…at least for this visit to Slab City deep in the Southern California desert…

As always you may click upon a photo to see and enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Here’s a180 degree panorama showing where I’ve been parked. My rig is the furthest left…

This morning I’ll move on to El Centro…the largest city in the Southern California desert about 35 miles south of Slab City and only about six miles north of the Mexico border.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Unusual Sights At An Unusual Place…

I’m still at Slab City deep in the Southern California desert. It is one of the most unusual places in the United States. I’ve been here numerous times and written a number of Blog entries about this place. If interested you can look in my archives in December of past years. You can also enter Slab City in your Internet Search Box to get a feel for this place. As always you may click upon a photo to see and enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Unusual is usual for Slab City. Today’s Blog entry is a small example. While on a short walk yesterday I saw…

A large boat for sale in the middle of the desert…

This pontoon boat had a large for sale by owner sign on the other (shady) side. If you enlarge this above photo you will see a for sale by owner sign in the window. It’s literally an RV on pontoons and someone was living in it. I wonder if he’s had any prospective buyers look at it here?

Here’s another unusual sight. I’ve never in my life seen an un-welcome mat…

More unusual sights include the day before yesterday’s sunset…

And yesterday morning’s sunrise…

and last night’s sunset…

Yes indeed, Slab City is a most unusual place.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

What A Hoot!!! (Pun Intended)

I’m still at Slab City deep in the Southern California desert. While here, every morning at sunrise I go for about a 45 minute walk with my long-time friend Leo Perth and his Doberman Dog Deja’. Leo has had Dobermans since the age of 14. As always you may click upon a photo to see and enlarged view and then click once again to see an even larger view…

Yesterday’s sunrise was cloudless. Not as dramatic as when there are some clouds around…but still awesome nonetheless…

As we walk about 100 feet out on the desert floor, Leo has commanded Deja’ to “heel” which she obediently obeys. We stop and Leo commands…”Deja’ sit” and Deja’ sits. After a few seconds Leo yells…”Deja…Break!” and Deja’ heads out on to the desert at a furious full-speed rate. During our walk Leo and I walk about two miles and Deja’ covers about ten miles ranging far and wide. However shortly after breaking…she will stop and stick her nose into a hole in the ground. What’s she looking for???

She has detected…either past or present…the scent of the California Burrowing Owl. There are hundreds of the holes in the ground and one must watch where they walk as it’s really to break through the soil and break an ankle or leg…

A scent…real or imagined…sets Deja’ digging a furious pace…

After a few seconds…she will stop and smell some more…

Nope…guess there’s no one home and she then moves on…repeating the process over and over. Leo says he’s never seen an Owl fly from one on the holes in all the years he’s been coming to the desert. The only thing Deja’ gets from her efforts is a dusty snout!!!

Fortunately and apparently…no harm done!

If you are interested in reading about, seeing photos and hearing the California Burrowing Owl…click this link…
http://owling.com/Burrowing.htm

Did you catch the pun? Hoot Owl! 

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Another Glorious Sunrise!!!

I’m still at Slab city deep in the desert of Southern California. I love spending my Summers in the beautiful State of Washington, but with all the magnificent Evergreen Trees in the way you usually do not get to see a sight such as this. As always you may click upon a photo to see an enlarged view then click on it once again to see an even larger view…

Here’s a panorama starting in the East and looking to the right to the South and to the West…

If you enjoy photos like these, you may want to look at my other recent Blog entry at this link…
http://wp.me/pDCku-3i4

In other news…

Mary is scheduled to fly into Yuma, Arizona on January 18th so that we can continue on our almost two-year circumnavigation trip around the united States. If you want to read more information about that upcoming adventure, click this link…
http://wp.me/pDCku-2W9

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

The Sun Works!!!

I’m at Slab City deep in the desert of Southern California. Yesterday I got our solar system upgraded at a company called The Sun Works.

In my 17 years of full-time RVing I have bought all of my solar components for three different RV’s here because of this guy…

“Solar Mike” Kohl is the owner and he has been installing components on RV’s here for 23 years. I knew his father John, before I met Mike for the first time in January, 1996. The reasons I buy only from Mike is because he is honest, very knowledgeable and stands behinds his products and installations. Our solar system needed to be upgraded, so I naturally returned to Mike. He is the only person from whom I have ever bought solar components.

In the next photo, his assistant Christopher is installing our new and second Kyocera KD135 solar panel…

In this photo, Mike is installing our new Go Power! GP-PWM-25 Solar Regulator…

And finally here’s a photo of our two new Trojan T-105RE batteries where the electrical charge from the solar panels is stored…

The batteries have an eight-year design life and all of our new solar components have a five-year warranty. Hopefully we will now have at least eight years of solar electricity with no problems!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

An Early Morning Walk In The Desert…

I’m currently parked at Slab City, an old deserted military base deep in the deserts of Southeastern California. I’ve been here numerous times and have written many Blog entries about Slab City. If you want to see some of them…look in the past years archives in December. For a general understanding of Slab City…just enter those two words in your Internet Search Box and you’ll find several sites describing this most unusual place. I’m here to upgrade our solar system on the motorhome, for which I have an 8:30 AM appointment this morning.

While here I’m parked directly in front of my friend Leo’s motorhome. I thought you might enjoy to see some of the photos during our about 45 minute walk yesterday morning. As always, you may click on the photos to see them in an enlarged view and then click on them once again to see an even larger view.

About one-half hour before sunrise I stuck my head out of the driver’s side motorhome window and took this photo of Leo’s front yard under a full moon…

We left right at sunrise  and shortly thereafter cast long early morning shadows upon the desert floor…

Two of the motorhomes in the distance are ours…

Leo’s is center left and mine is center right in this zoom shot…

A graded road makes for easier walking…

Leo’s Doberman Deja’ can be seen in this photo of a gaily painted deserted military base water tank…

The Slabs has quite a nice pet cemetery…

A close-up of one of the graves…

Oh, I almost forgot to show you last night’s sunset…

And a few minutes later…

It’s really peaceful and quiet here miles away from any city. During the night one can only occasionally hear the long mournful sound of a diesel train passing about three miles away…and the beautiful sounds of the coyotes howling at the Moon!

And speaking of the Moon…how about a full Moon rising photo…

Now…that’s something to howl about!!!

It’s a lousy job…but someone’s got to do it! 

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust

Why Would I Back-Track 85 Miles???

In just one word…TRUST!

Yesterday I back-tracked 85 miles from Winterhaven (across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona) to Slab City at Niland California. My solar power system is not getting the job done and I’ve returned to Solar Mike to fix my problems…because I trust him.

Here’s a Google Earth view showing my back-track. Yuma is identified with a Y and Slab City with an S. You can click on the image to enlarge it and click on it once again to make it even larger…

Yes, I could have bought new solar stuff from someone I do not know in Yuma. I used to work with Solar Mike’s father before I met Mike for the first time in January, 1996. Here’s the link to the Blog entry when I had our current solar panel and inverter installed on our current motorhome in December, 2009…
http://wp.me/pDCku-6Q

He is the only person I have ever bought solar items from for my three different rigs in my 17 years as a full-time RVer. I trust him not to try to sell me expensive and un-needed solar components. I know he will do right by me for both the right equipment and prices.

When I had the one solar panel put on in 2009, I knew at that time it was marginal. But we figured we try it and see how it worked out. Solar items can be pricey and we could always add more. In the last two years we’ve been plugged into electrical shore-power a lot and have managed to get by when on solar power.

However…now to my problem. In the next two years we will see very little time plugged into shore-power as we begin an almost two-year circumnavigation around the United States. Click this link to read about that upcoming adventure… http://wp.me/pDCku-2W9

In addition to little plugged-in time…our storage batteries from which we get all of our living electrical power are approaching the end of their useful life span. I had Mike test them about a month ago and for their age were just okay. So I decided to test them. I’ve not had shore power in the last month…which mean I’ve been operating just on our coach storage batteries.

Low night-time temperatures have a negative effect on battery power and I’ve finally decided this problem needs to be rectified before heading out on our circumnavigation. So yesterday I drove back to Slab City to have Solar Mike fix our problem. I have an 8:30 AM appointment with Solar Mike for tomorrow morning. Like most RVer’s problems…it will be fixed by a little bit of time and a some $$$’s.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2012
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/panamaorbust