Month: March 2021

More Wanderlust Adventure

~ judyrutrider ~ 8 Comments

It was a dark and stormy night…well, maybe not. But seriously, the weather forecast for the long-awaited camping trip to Valley of Fire was dire. Wind, gusting wind up to 50 mph, and possible rain showers were predicted for most of the time that we had reserved a camp site. Naturally, the weather was expected to improve on the day we were to leave for home. Considering how uncomfortable camping in the wind is, a few of the less enthusiastic tent campers bowed out. But My Favorite Niece (MFN) Tara, sister Babs, and nine of Tara’s more intrepid hiker friends girded their loins for the epic adventure.

The Wanderlust, being a fold-down trailer, is not affected much by wind and my SUV is stable and aerodynamic, so the six-hour drive across the Mojave Desert was comfortable but I was still concerned about conditions at Valley of Fire. By the time I reached our camp site, the wind had died to a comfortable 7-10 mph and I was able to set up my trailer without assistance.

MFN Tara had invited several members of her hiking group, most of whom I didn’t know, and they began arriving shortly after I had set up. Introductions were made and the revelry began.

Dinner preparations were made more or less independently but the theme was chili. I heated vegetarian chili and green chili/cheese corn bread for Babs, Tara and me. Our diverse group consisted of omnivores, vegetarians, vegans and carnivores all of whom agreed that good food was essential to a successful outdoor experience. Similarly, a respectable amount of socially lubricating libation added to the good vibrations.

If memory serves, there was a bit of gusty wind during the night but nobody complained in the morning. At any rate, we were happy to set out for a day of hiking with a mild breeze and perfect 60 something temperatures.

Description of the Valley of Fire defies my feeble abilities, so I will allow the following images to speak for me.

Gisela with her terrier, Bindi, and me with Molly & Sadie – the intrepid rock climbers.
Scrambling down a small slot.
Browsing Big Horned Sheep obligingly posed for our cameras.

The morning breeze made the confines of my little trailer the perfect place for the tent campers to gather for hot tea and coffee.

Sister Babs joined the morning coffee club.
MFN Tara and Pseudo Sister Kristy studiously ignored my dirty dishes sitting in the sink.
Jamison, Jean Paul, Cindy and Babs enjoying a break from the chilly breeze.

After a day of hiking, we visited the showers. There was no waiting and plenty of hot water, no quarters needed as they were included in the camping fees (which were quite reasonable considering how lovely the campground was).

Gisela, the woman of the lovely skin, kindly posed for this image.

The evening was passed pleasantly around a campfire, nestled against the cliff wall, and sheltered from the breeze. Craig provided music of professional quality with his guitar and beautiful singing, which went almost ignored as the conversation became rapid-fire and ribald and everyone relaxed.

After two days of hiking, it was time to head home. I was loathe to leave and lingered after my fellow campers had gone their separate ways. But the long drive home weighed heavily on my mind, so after double checking the trailer connections, we hit the road. The girls weren’t much for conversation and slept most of the way, waking only to sniff the recent history at the pit stop we made at a remote freeway off-ramp. We were back home long before dark and had time to unload the trailer before dinner.

All tucked away and ready for the next adventure.

Making a List and Checking it Twice

~ judyrutrider ~ 7 Comments

You would think that every camping trip would pretty much entail the same thing and therefore require the same preparation. But you would be wrong. Well, maybe you’re right, but I can still make a four day trip into a week of planning. Believing that anticipation is half the fun, I start making lists of meals to make and the requisite grocery lists (Yvonne at Hello World would love to get her hands on my lists https://ytaba36.wordpress.com/), clothes to pack, electronics to charge, camping trailer to ready (an entire list unto itself), and pre-trip cooking for the husband and mother-in -law, left behind, and the campers, sister Babs and niece Tara.

To say that Babs and Tara are not fond of cooking would be a gross understatement. When Covid restrictions hit, the only thing my sister missed more than her yoga class was eating in restaurants. For me, not much changed other than my grocery shopping attire.

A typical trip to the grocery store before vaccination

So, I’m the designated cook and sommelier, since neither of them are big wine drinkers either. Knowing that after a hard day of hiking and biking, I’m not inclined to bending over a too-low cook stove for anything more than re-heating, I prepare and freeze entrees and pack fresh stuff for salads. If I do say so myself, my salads are a work of art. This trip, my sister volunteered to make her legendary vegetable lasagna. That leaves me with just chili and cornbread, and another meal of grilled cheese and tomato soup.

When my garden is hibernating, I shop three or four different stores to find the ingredients for my “green” salads.

Today’s list, two days before lift off, went as follows:

Wash & vacuum car;
Go to Steve’s house to pick oranges;
Pick grapefruit at Robin’s (next door);
Locate wheel lock (just in case I get a flat tire);
Trader Joes – they have the best heirloom tomatoes and snack foods;
Ranch Market – they have the best and cheapest produce and tortillas made fresh while you watch;
Pick kumquats at Barb’s house;
Transplant tomato seedlings (they may be too big to separate by the time I return);
Make yogurt/peanut butter dip;
Do laundry;
Take a nap.

Tomorrow everything gets loaded into the Wanderlust for an early Tuesday departure. The dogs, seeing the preparations, are following me around like little shadows, either in anticipation or fear of being left behind.

Emotional Roller Coaster

~ judyrutrider ~ 17 Comments

A month ago I was ecstatic to find a Covid vaccination available at our local hospital. I had been searching the internet for weeks without success. I had heard stories of people who had driven to pharmacies fifty miles away and others who had waited in line for hours, and I was ready to sign up for any appointment I could find, regardless of inconvenience. I secured appointments for my husband, my friend and myself and we eagerly awaited the date, about a week away. All went according to schedule, we were vaccinated, bragged about our sore arm and minimal side effects, and began counting down the days until our next scheduled appointment to get the booster shot.

Spirits soared with the anticipation of some return to normalcy in our lives. I booked an appointment with my hairdresser for a long over due hair cut (I’m still debating whether to go back to coloring) for April, and I purchased airline tickets to attend my great-niece’s wedding in June. And best of all, I anticipated a camping trip to Valley of Fire with family and friends.The relief was startling to me since I hadn’t thought that I’d been that preoccupied with the limitations Covid had placed on my life.

Immersed in preparing the garden for spring planting, the days passed happily, until the day before the anticipated booster shot. Then, a call from the hospital informed me that they didn’t have the vaccine available and would have to reschedule the second shot. I was devastated. Everything I had heard and read, indicated that all available vaccines would be managed so that everyone who had received the first shot would be assured of having the booster available when needed. I’ve found no information about the repercussions of not getting the second one within four weeks of the first. I’m trusting that supplies will be available by next week when we are scheduled again and that five weeks will be good enough. Meanwhile, back at the ranch…

All garden prep in Mentone begins with rock removal.
Molly oversees the newly planted beet seeds. The shadow of Mum’s house recedes from the garden a little more each day.
The promise of crisp apples to come.
Heirloom tomatoes in the making

So, it’s back to the garden for some renewal therapy. There’s something about watching seeds turn into little green sprouts, indiscernible from weeds at first, that can’t help but inspire hope. The joyful blossoms on the apple tree, tell me that all will be well. The marble-sized nectarines promise a sweet, juicy treat in a few scant months. And the piles of dog poop tell me I have immediate purpose.