Nature Lover and friends keep in touch

[maki2]

Hanging out with the big boys at a rest stop heading east along I-40 on the way to high country in Northern AZ. The Lake Havasu City area where I had been doing dispersed BLM camping was predicted to head into triple digit temperature this next Monday.

I am now settled in for a little while at a new camp at 6830’ elevation near Eilliams, AZ. I had to get my sleeping bag out of storage as the nights are not literally freezing but still cold enough to give me popsicle toes even with three blankets on the bed. I tried to start my diesel heater this morning but the control panel was not getting power. Fortunately I found the electrical gremlin in less than a minute. The road vibrations during the move had backed off a spade connector. It was not totally disconnected but had backed off enough to lose good connectivity. I will give that connector a gentle squeeze with pliers and that should be all it takes to give it a stronger grip. I like easy fixes.
Another case of following the instructions given by my instructor in the computer repair class I took at University, always check the physical connections first. This one was the third connection I tested! So an easy find and an easy fix!

 

[NctryBen]

Ben glad to see you posting that the surgery seems to have gone OK. Debbie and Hank driving you craz…ear plugs!

No worries about getting fixing the furnace fixed. Within a couple of weeks Mother Nature will turn a big furnace on high for you.

It wasn’t so much the need for a furnace but the use of my other gas appliances…
Deb and Hank are a lot of fun to have around. It’s more her that has to put up with crazy me. As I wrap up the third week my patience is growing thin…

But… I’m hoping we get an update on nature lover and how he’s doing with his situation. I’m always hoping for that miracle like that of tiny Tim where he can toss his scooter aside and hop on his Harley and ride!

 

[maki2]

Ben, I do have Nature Lover’s regular email address. He gave it to me when his cell service was unreliable. I am not going to post it publicly but if you really want it out of concern contact me by private message.

 

[maki2]

The pitter patter of little birds feet on my roof is back! I never hear it during the winter in the desert as there are very few small birds around. The ones that do show up stay in the bushes along the washes. But now I am back in the forest areas again where there is more water and plenty of grass seeds and berries. No rain this week but during monsoon season standing water on my flat solar panel and water in the small puddles on my trailer roof become bird baths and drinking water sources. For the past 4 years I keep thinking about getting a small plastic hummingbird feeder. But then I remind myself it is another expense and yet another chore and another item to empty and store for moving camp and then set back up. So I continue to resist temptation but I still keep right on looking at them in the stores. One of those mental battles I will have to keep right on fighting due to a real need to minimize what I can travel with. But I do have a life sized glass bead hummingbird figure I purchased in Los Algodones, Mexico. My 3rd winter of going there and resisting pesky vendors I finally said yes to one last year.

 

[maki2]

I “bumped” Naturelover on his gmail address today as it has been a couple of months since he logged into the forum. While as we know he does have significant health problems he also has previously has had trouble getting logged into the forum. The last time that happened I had reached out to him to get his regular email address just in case that scenario ever happened again that at least I had another way to contact him.

 

[rruff]

The pitter patter of little birds feet on my roof is back!

No pitter patter of little packrat feet?

 

[VanFan]

...I keep thinking about getting a small plastic hummingbird feeder. But then I remind myself it is another expense and yet another chore and another item to empty and store for moving camp and then set back up.

A version based on a short, squat mason jar caught my eye the other day (Lowes). Small and packable. I did manage to resist, however.

 

[rruff]

The Lake Havasu City area where I had been doing dispersed BLM camping was predicted to head into triple digit temperature this next Monday.

I checked out that area for the first time in March... usually camp north of Yuma or NW of Tucson (Ragged Top Mtn) in the past. I didn't get a very good look since I only spent a couple days, but the places I checked out were pretty overrun. Craggy Wash was packed and a mess, the Bunker Bar loop didn't seem appealing, and the route into the mountains from the SE side of town was a SxS playground. Nice area though. Probably just need to scout further from town... usually for a popular "full service" place like that I need to drive about 1.5 hrs on crappy roads to find peace and quiet...

 

[maki2]

No pitter patter of little packrat feet?

Fortunately no rodents at my last campsite near Williams AZ or at this one a little ways east of Flagstaff. Both sites have soils with a lot of rocks so they are not great for making burrows.

There are mule deer here. But they would be breakfasting while I am still sleeping so I have not yet seen any of them. But I see the evidence of their scat. My friend who came to camp next to me has a dog so that scent will likely keep them moving towards higher elevation meadows that are also further away from people.

 

[maki2]

Lake Havasu City for me is just a convenient stop off place for a week or two to restock some supplies and run errands. The easily accessible BLM camping is pretty crowded as it is a good place to take a break while making the seasonal changes for summer and winter camping. I love the high rock wall
terrain inside of Craggy Wash but that packs people close in together as it is a narrow canyon and it is very close for Walmart and Home Depot shopping so a second reason it gets so crowded.

I did get a chance to see some big horn sheep on the hillside at the Lone Tree BLM area just north of the town. But it took using a friend’s binoculars to see them.

 

[rruff]

There are mule deer here. But they would be breakfasting while I am still sleeping so I have not yet seen any of them. But I see the evidence of their scat. My friend who came to camp next to me has a dog so that scent will likely keep them moving towards higher elevation meadows that are also further away from people.

We have hundreds of deer and elk living in town (Ruidoso, NM), along with a herd of wild horses! None are afraid of the dogs. But when you get out of town where they are actually wild, they act very differently! It's also amazing how few there are, relatively...

 

[maki2]

Naturelover update!
Just got a reply to the email I sent him a few days ago. He was doing poorly but was also having computer issues. He sends his greetings to everyone. Copy of his reply is in the attached photo.

 

[NctryBen]

Kira is having some issues… I had shoulder issues…. So as you can see April cost us an arm and a leg. I’m at daughters and Kira is starting to be herself again.

 

[VanFan]

Kira is having some issues… I had shoulder issues…. So as you can see April cost us an arm and a leg. I’m at daughters and Kira is starting to be herself again.

Wishing the best possible recoveries for you both! Sadly, the prognosis for your sense of humor could be grim. Groan.

 

[maki2]

Glad to see that Kira was finally able to get treatment from a veterinary surgeon.
May you both have a successful outcome. It is good that you are at your daughters for some TLC time!

 

[NctryBen]

Glad to see that Kira was finally able to get treatment from a veterinary surgeon.
May you both have a successful outcome. It is good that you are at your daughters for some TLC time!

Thanks… sorry van fan… I’m a dad, dads are notorious for making people groan with our “jokes”.
Started my three weeks of physical therapy in Utah. They are a little more aggressive here. Ouchie ma ma!!!
Kira on the other hand is doing well and her walking is getting smoother… she can run very well.

 

[abnorm]

NICE !

 

[bullfrog !]

That what happens when you get therapy where everyone is young! Lol!!!

 

[VanFan]

Thanks… sorry van fan… I’m a dad, dads are notorious for making people groan with our “jokes”.

You know how to tell if it's a dad joke? Well... it's a parent.

PT = worth it, IMO.

 

[maki2]

I saw my first Raven of the summer in Northern AZ! It was scavenging the ground next to a fast foods restaurant. Like looking for some breakfast snacks the early birds had missed.