Day 4

This morning I went for a walk out across the desert.  

After nearly a mile away from nothing I came across this "retreat".

That is one large metal storage container made into what looks like two separate living quarters.

To the right you can see seating for meetings.  Hmm...

There was a "bar" and bar-b-que set up off to the side from the above photo.

You can see much more attention to detail was made in the building of the patio entertainment portion of this encampment.  They do have their priorities it appears. 

There is another storage container behind, locked up very securely.

This was no ordinary desert dwelling for it came with three bedrooms. 

The winds can get so fierce out here that they can blow down the walls of your bedroom

not even to mention what they do to your roof.

Upon closer inspection I saw this sign in the window.  The bar, meeting area and heavily secured storage in such a remote area all made more sense now.

 Time for this boy to be moving on back to his own camp.

Day 3

Finally, I arrived at my home for the next week or so.

I wish there was a little orange cat on a long lead in this photo.

There are four other RVers here also. 

We leave a lot of space between each other.

I mean a lot!

Day 2

After posting yesterday I noticed my laptop was not being charged by the plug-in cigarette light power supply.  The plug-in was super hot.  Must be fried inside.  So that's not working.  I searched out a Best Buy and a Radio Shack today and neither had a unit that would work with my laptop.  This is good.  Get all  these problems out of the way in the first few days then I can relax for the winter.  Fortunately I have my old laptop with me for a back-up.

This evening's overnight scenic view.

Day 1

I pack the RV putting the cold things into the refrigerator last.  I go to start up the refrigerator and it wouldn't keep going.  Standing in the rain I fiddle with it for nearly an hour and was about ready to give up and unpack the frig when it finely stays lit.  Whew.

After only 4 hours of driving I was done.  Usually I'm good for twice that much.  Old age?  Also, not having Sinbad with me I had to do all the driving.  Yeah, I miss him.  Whenever the RV slowed down after hours of highway driving he would come up front and jump into my lap to see where we were.   No more.

So this is home for the night - back behind a Carl's Jr. hamburger place.  Scenic huh?  One good thing is that I got this new wifi extender antenna.  I am tapped into some hotel that I cannot even see from where I am parked and getting free wifi.  Yippee!  Nice to buy a gadget that really works.

Winter Road Trip

I had been planning all year a trip down south for the winter where Sinbad and I could be warm and comfortable until spring.  Now I will be going it alone.

After he passed away I didn't know what to do with the blog.  Do I change the name?  And to what would I change it?  Well I have had a few weeks now to think about it and have decided to just leave as it is for now.  Sinbad will always be with me in spirit wherever I go.  I miss him terribly.
I was exceptionally lucky to have Sinbad as a part of my life.  We sure did have a lot of great adventures together. 

Some might have wondered if I will get another cat.  I have had cats all my life.  There's no stopping me now.  All the cats I have had have all adopted me, coming into my life by their own means.  Sinbad was the only cat I actively went out and adopted which is another story in itself.  I plan to give it a year of being catless.  If one wanders into my life during that period then it was meant to be. Otherwise, after a year I'll get another cat, mostly probably a Sinbad clone in appearance.
Then the blog will get a name change.

I will be without Internet for most of the time but when I can I will post whatever I am doing and hopefully bring this blog back up to its usual level of interest whenever we I am away from home exploring and traveling the roads of America.

The Gates of Eden

The title is a nod to a Bob Dylan song from the mid- sixties but yes, whenever I go to my artists supply store it is like walking through the Gates of Eden for me.

Oh my, look at all those lovely ink pens!
 There are many more pens to the left and right but the aisle is so narrow where all the pen and ink materials are on display this is all I could get in.  

The painter people with their watercolors, oils and acrylics take up the bulk of the store property.
Us ink people just get this little corner of the store.

Good that I like black ink only and am not interested in all the colors that are available.
All sizes in colors are not availible, only in black can you have every size of pen.  

I went in to get one specific pen and then wandered around the store 

admiring all the paints, brushes, papers, canvas and more.
The only store I could spend even more time in is a bookstore.  That can get expensive.
In the art store I can walk out with a new pen for $3.14.

Sinbad's Ship

I worked on this piece throughout those dark days that Sinbad was in the process of dying.  

My art helped me greatly to get through that difficult time while I cared for him.
It's been a week now and I know the hole in my heart will eventually heal in time.
I wish to thank everyone who sent their kind words of thought and support my way.

May you have eternally calm seas and gentle breezes in your journey 

through the hereafter my dear Sinbad.

Good-bye my Friend

1999 - October  6, 2016

Sinbad passed away peacefully at home last night by my side.

You were my most faithful and trusting companion ever in everything we did.

I don't have the words to express how much I will miss you.

Tree Lady

I saw something similar to this online which inspired me to draw one.