A Diamond Back Lizard?

Quartzite, Arizona

I first thought this was a snake, diamond back rattlesnake, but then found the legs.  

I think a snake would have been better.

Nearby was a small maze. 

I wonder how they get it so exact.

Being Thankful

Quartzite, Arizona

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American followers and Happy Day to all our foreign followers.

Beans and I are thankful we get to live the life we do on the road and free.

We're also thankful we are where we are right now 

and not elsewhere in the country freezing and snowbound.

Thank you all for following along with us on our journey.

Enjoy your day however you choose to enjoy it.

  

S K P (escapee)

Quartzite, Arizona

It is safe enough (during the day) to let Beans roam around outside on her long lead unsupervised.  One afternoon I was inside making a sandwich while she was inspecting her rodent holes.  Eventually she came knocking on the screen door wanting in.  "Hold on, I'm coming."  I opened the screen door and in she came...minus her harness.

She had gotten hung up around the front wheel and slipped out of her harness.  

With her newfound freedom she didn't wander off but came to the door instead.  

"Dad, let me in."

She's such a good cat.

Global Cooling

Quartzite, Arizona

Early this past week it was in the mid 80's and I was running around in short pants.  Then the weather forecast called for rain off and on for two days mid week.  The temperatures dropped to the mid 60's with no sign of it ever getting any warmer than that in the future.  Daily winds of varying velocities makes it seem much colder.  I don't like it.  Those from the upper northern states and Canada are still going about their business wearing shorts and t-shirts. Show-offs!  When I saw more rain forecasted for Thanksgiving day and the high temperatures dropping to the low 50's from then on, I gave up. 

 I finally dug out all my cold weather gear (flannel lined jeans, sweatshirts, long underwear, gloves of all types of material and thickness, knit caps, etc.) then packed all my regular clothing away until sometime next year if I survive this winter that is.  I didn't sign on for this!

Yes, I know it is worse everywhere else in the nation and I try to keep that in mind.

Just Give it More Gas

Quartzite, Arizona

I had to go into town to fill up the propane tank in the RV.  While waiting for the guy to come out and pump the propane I watched this guy in a big Class A RV (the black and white RV to the right at the gas pumps) pull away from in front of the Jeep parked at the left.  I immediately saw some damage to his RV then noticed how he was pulling forward, backing up, pulling forward again...Well this will be interesting to watch as he doesn't seem too good at driving that beast.

The propane kid came and I pointed out the damage on the RV and how he seemed to have trouble pulling in.  The kid tells me "He just did that. He turned in up against one of the red pipe barriers (situated at each end of the gas fill-up island) and I heard this crunching sound.  I looked up and the guy just stepped on the gas and continued forward ripping off the compartment doors. You can still see the insulation foam lying on the ground."  

I couldn't believe this and told the kid how I wished I had come here first. "I missed the whole thing!"

I guess he still had the Jeep hooked up in back, pulled on out, went over and unhooked the Jeep, removed the dangling doors, threw on some white tape on the remaining door to hold it in place then proceeded to get his fuel, which is when I arrived.

Now get this: The kid tells me they had just bought the RV.

Yep, people like this are driving these monsters everywhere Beans and I go.

It's a dangerous life we live out here on the road.

An Altogether Different Style of Desert Art

Quartzite, Arizona

This is impressive.  

If I had a drone a view from directly above would be great.

Compared to the previous post

this is much more what Kokopelli looks like in souvenir shops.

I didn't walk the maze.

I could already see where it was taking me.

Kokopelli

Quartzite, Arizona

I don't understand why this image is so popular in southwestern art.

Nevertheless the next post will have a very good rendition of this figure.

Home

Quartzite, Arizona

One of many of our sunsets at camp.

Beans likes to go outside each late afternoon to just hang out in our front yard. 

 She'll spend a couple hours out there just watching, looking around. 

One very happy cat.

 

That is a five pound lead weight her cord is attached to.  Also there is about a pound or more of heavy chain.  Still, she is able to drag it about (strong cat) hence the big rock in the foreground which I'll place on the chain.  But for the most part she's just content to lie there.

Peace Elevated

Quartzite, Arizona

This was unique in how it was three dimensional.  It's a bit hard to see but each section is paved with a different type and color of rock.  Where they found it I don't know.  They must have hauled it in from some washes elsewhere.

The Serpent

Quartzite, Arizona

This is near our new homesite.

I first thought it was just a rock wall but then realized it was a snake.

That is a lot of rock moved and used to create this. 

 One of the more art impressive pieces I have found.

HELP!

Quartzite, Arizona

While we were out of service we moved a mile further down the road.

Generators and barking dogs were the issue  It was okay as I needed a change of scenery.  

This is a nice spot and someone had done some attractive landscaping.

Beans is very happy here.

Here's the 'HELP" part.  

This rock art is here and I set about restoring it but for the life of me I cannot figure out what it was supposed to be.  It looks better now as I cleared out the weeds that had grown in over the last couple of years (I found receipts in the fire ring that dated it to 2017).  I also put back some of the rock that had gotten scattered about.  I first thought it was a bird, then a Viking sail boat, then a flying dragon but I just don't know.  You have any idea?

I thought the black rock was a stick man but what would be the "hands" are not connected to the "body".  The lower part or "legs" are connected.  

The portion to the right is something altogether different.  The tips of the three extensions have black rock and the base where it connects to the "body" is of green rock, the only green rock on the figure.  The artist was trying to distinguish something here by using green rock.

Once I got into restoring it I can better understand how people get wrapped up in making rock art out here in the desert.  It's peaceful, meditative and fun.

Out of Order

I ran out of data and the Internet is running at slower than dial-up speed if you can imagine that.  So I cannot do any posting until later this week when AT&T gives me my new allotment.  Can't figure out how I burned through all that data as I did.  Something to contemplate.  Be back in several days. 

Easy to Move

Quartzite, Arizona

Our spot before was back to the left at the edge of the photo.  When the music started I walked ahead and this spot seemed far enough away.  I walked back, put the table, and chair inside, removed the step support tossing it inside too and made sure the motorcycle straps were okay in the back.  I have a shade cloth on the other side.  It was no problem to pull the two stakes out of the ground and leave the cloth hanging from the RV.  I drove slowly forward the few hundred yards and parked.  Then I walked back to get Gracie and rode her to the RV.  Table, chairs, step support and welcome mat in place I drove the two stakes into the ground on the other side and stretched the shade cloth out.

All done in 15 to 20 minutes having a simple camp set-up.

If you don't like your neighbors you just turn the key and move.  Easy peasy.