the Amazing Vanstones » fulltiming

Crafty Endeavor

Larry — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:01:56 +0000

Crafty Fred

Marilyn has her painting and sewing, I craft my blog and enjoy photography. Others do wood carvings or rebuild old cars. Still others make jewelry, collect rocks or crochet puppets. We all have our crafts. Then, every once in a while you run into someone with a really different hobby. Meet Fred; he makes signs out of license plates. Anything you want on a sign, just tell him and he’ll whip it up.

We were at a car show on Saturday (more about the car show someday when we get decent internet) and got talking to Fred, a very interesting man with a very different hobby. And if you are not into old license plates, how about a sculture using old beer cans?

Fred and his fish

[Maybe I should buy that fish and hang it over the beer fridge, what do you think?

Who’s for a puzzle? This one is thanks to Fred

We Meet Again

Larry — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:48:05 +0000

Rock Guitar

About a half hour north-west of Yuma, just across the California/Arizona border is a massive area known as the Imperial Dam Long Term Visitation area. This camping area covers more than 3500 acres, and trust me on this one 3500 acres is one big campground. In the summer time you can camp out there for free but between mid September and mid April the prices really go up. In their high season camping out there will cost you $40 for 14 days (NOT $40 per day, $40 for 14 days) or $180 for up to 7 months. There are no hook-ups and you are certainly camping but water, sewer and bathrooms are all readily available.

We learned about this area back in October from a couple we met in Glowing Embers RV Park in Edmonton, Alberta.

We were out for a walk with the dogs one morning and he (Doug) was busy packing up their RV, obviously getting ready to go somewhere. He was happy to tell us that they were heading south for the winter to spend 5 or 6 months camping in the desert. The next day we saw them again, they were hooking up this time, we jokingly promised to drop in on them if we were ever in their neighborhood near Yuma.

Yesterday we took a drive out to see this area they had told us about. With hundreds of RV’s out there all parked just where ever they want to park and 3500 acres of desert we were out to see the area, not to find anyone in particular.

Doug and Irene

We’re out there poking around (it is really pretty out there for a desert) and I spy a familiar trailer. Meet Doug and Irene Fairbanks, just two more friendly RVers enjoying every day of their life.

Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t.

Almost Mexico

Larry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:24:22 +0000

: Just accross the border, Los Algodones, Mexico

Miles and Miles of Dentists

Yesterday we made the quick trip from Yuma, Arizona, USA to Los Algodones, Baja California Norte, Mexico, the land of dentists, optical stores, Farmacias (drug stores) and liquor stores. We had no idea what to expect. After the past three winters deep in Mexico we were certainly ready to be disappointed. We were not. The people are exactly the same; All big smiles and warm hearts. Exactly the same as the folks in any other corner of the country.

Marilyn needs a new pair of glasses, we are packing some left over pesos, it would be like getting glasses for “almost free today” as the Mexican vendors love to say. We were travelling with Dale and Sheila, Ken and Jo. Most of our party were either there for the optical stores or the dentists. Dale and I were in charge of getting a table in the sun at an outdoor bar. All goals were achieved: Dale and I polished up our tans while enjoying a couple of cold Pacificos with lime. The rest of our group scored at their dentists, while Marilyn bought two pair of glasses for less than $200.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

Where We Are

Larry — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:01:18 +0000

View Larger Map
See the “A”: in this map? I bet you are thinking that’s us. Well it’s not. Google has the same problem finding us as our Garmin did. Move along that same street a couple of blocks to your left, closer to the desert. Now you see us. That’s me in that motorhome on the computer. It’s 6 in the morning and yes it’s still dark out. By the way, it’s already 15 degrees C (low 60′s) and we are heading for 77F.
Back to the map: On our block we have the large park/drainage area on the east end of the block. The rest of our block has about 35 lots on it with a mixture of uses. About 1/3 have your typical Arizona desert homes, another third would be modular (prebuilt) homes and the remainder have hook-ups for a couple of RV’s, probably a shed or Casita (often with a bathroom, kitchen and laundry. This is typical for this whole area; a mixture of uses all living together, some blocks with more houses, some with less. some are almost all RV lots.
Our lot has an older trailer accross the back, a shed and room for 2 large RV’s down the sides. Ours also has a fence on the street side so the dogs are free to roam. We are on one side, Sonny and Linda are on the other
The folks we are renting from tell us that they bought this lot about 10 years ago to park their RV, put the trailer in as a bunk house for company, later selling their RV and buying a house in the area.
Their goal would be to rent out each side of the lot for 4 or 5 months every winter for about $350 per month. They tell us that these days finding long term renters is a bit of a challenge so that’s how we wind up here for our 20 day stay-over. At $15 per night we think we have struck gold.

Look at that blue sky! It just never ends
Thanks for the read

Watching Paint Dry XXXXIII

Larry — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:05:47 +0000

This painting has it’s real beginning about a year ago when goood friend Cindy is touring South America and snaps a picture of this fruit and vegetable stand in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is taken by the stong colors and thinks Marilyn might like to paint something like this. When we all get together in May Cindy shows Mar the picture and tells her the story behind it. Fast forward to December, when we were in Jojoba Hills she prints a couple of copies of the picture, attaches them to her easel and begins her creation
One day in early january she tells me that this one is a real challenge and she is building the store and then will stock the shelves and the baskets with the produce.
The project got put away for a couple of weeks while we were at Quartzite but yesterday it came back out and was completed in the gorgeous Arizona sunshine.

Are We OK Now?

Larry — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:57:10 +0000

Computer is back

This is Monday. Since last Thursday my computer has really been giving me a rough time. I couldn’t get my amazingvanstones email or my Yahoo home page. I couldn’t save drafts in my blog and it took many attempts to actually publish it. Anything that did happen was extremely slow. I’d ran the Norton software a couple of times and could find nothing wrong. I was however down to my last gigabyte or two of memory. Yesterday, with Marilyn’s help, we attacked my beloved toy with an axe. We threw out programs I hadn’t used in a long time, moved a couple of gigs of pictures off, even cleaned up my email accounts. I had cleaned my inbox out a few times but in my sent folders I had emails going back to 2008. I’ve had a few computers since 2008. I must have moved the old emails over for at least a couple of computers.
Even after all that, still no email or home page. I did the only thing left to do. I shut it down, went out side and had a beer.We promised we would do battle with windows again today.
This morning I crawl out early, bringing my Kobo for back up (if I can’t blog I can pout and read). I make a cup of joe, fire up my Dell and voila! We seem to be back in business. Will it last or was it really crappy internet like I thought? Maybe it was the beer. Time will tell.

Old Friends

The first time someone comments on this blog they need to be approved by me, the administrator. These days you need to be careful, you can’t have all those weirdo’s and perverts leaving comments on the important subjects we cover on here, that’s for sure. Let’s face it. I’ve got both those titles reserved with my name on them and I don’t need no competition.

Anyway, today there is a comment from Don and Yvonne. How long has it been? 8 or 9 years? What a neat surprise! Just one more way this blog connects me with people in our extremely small world. Good to hear from you guys.

We Even Have A Mailbox

Larry — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:45:09 +0000

For the next three weeks or so this is where you will find the Vanstones. We are on a residential lot out in the “Foothills” area of Yuma. We are in a fenced yard (the dogs are confused; “What do you mean we can go outside when ever we want”) with 50 amp and more importantly,lots of room.
Here’s where we were;

Here’s where we are now;

Difference

In the “were” picture we had 30 amp, pavement, a pool and a hot tob. We had to hussle the dogs about 1/4 mile before they had an “accident”. All this for about $40 a day. In the “here” picture we have no pavement or pool but we do have 50 amp, lot’s of room for $15.00 per diem.

We leave you while I still have internet

Quartzite Day 10

Larry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:22:58 +0000

What were we thinking?

Mar and I rolled out early yesterday to do the “Big Tent” at Quartzite. Now the story is that every RV’er worth their salt has to do Quartzite at least once and while you are there you certainly have to see all the stuff for sale. We got out early so we could beat the crowd. Looks like some one else had the same idea. Except they brought their dogs, their scooters and as Rick would call them “their little red pushers.” After about a half hour I realized that I had forgotten to bring my patience. I can see us back in Quartzite again, we are definitely having a blast, but I hope I never do the Big Tent. I have been there and I have done that.

Busy Days

Here’s what was going on at Boomerville yesterday. We can never complain about nothing to do. Today’s board is even busier. Boomerville winds up on Saturday or Sunday and we apparently have to fit it all in before we go.

From the Redneck Book of Manners: Always have a positive comment about your date’s appearance, such as, ‘Ya’ll sure don’t sweat much for a fat gal.’

Quartzite Day 7

Larry — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:38:11 +0000

Look at how our population has grown! Back on day 4 we saw a picture taken by Tom from his powered parachute looking down on Boomerville. Compare the two and you will see a change. I’m thinking I can see it even better when I look at the pictures of happy hours over the days.

So, after a week out here, how are we doing? Skipping showers, using paper plates and towlettes, “if it’s yellow” and lots of other water saving ideas is certainly paying off. We still have two-thirds of our original 100 gallons of fresh water. We have a solar panel but it’s not really properly installed to do much, so for electricity our generator (on automatic start) runs about 4 hours per day. I think we’ve decided that for the amount of boondocking we’re ever going to do, spending a bunch of money on solar doesn’t make sense. However, you know that we are known to change our mind when it’s least expected though; that could change. All in all, we are meeting a bunch of fun people and having a great time, certainly glad we came.

Speaking of people

Friends Anne and Steen, Marilyn and I

We hooked up with Anne and Steen in Palm Springs and had a great time there. Yesterday they returned the favor and spent the afternoon with us out here in the dust. Gourmet cook Anne helped Marilyn with the final details on her Chilli for the Chilli cook off. Excellent chilli I think, though I admit that I am a bit prejudiced.

We want to thank Carol for this one:

“The reason Politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would ‘hate’ to have to make a living under the laws they’ve passed.”

Have a great one!

Quartzite Day 6

Larry — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:01:12 +0000

Happpy Hour at Camp Boomerville

The rigs are still pouring in. We get a count every night at happy hour; last night’s number 86. In the last 6 days we have gone from being a little town of about 50 people to now more than 150 and the number of big smiling, handshaking, “happy to see you” people just keeps getting bigger. If you too like people, you would love Escapees
For the Vanstones every day starts with a 3 to 7 mile walk. I had to hurry home yesterday to catch a seminar called Boondocking 101 (Boondocking is camping with out hook ups). Yesterday was a shower day, not quite as big as Tuesday, but still enjoyable. Marilyn was busy with her Wii game and her buddy Linda with some more exercise and then she put together her chilli for todays Chilli Cook Off. By the time we got through a couple more chin wags with our newest friends it was time for happy hour and you know we wouldn’t be late for that.

Of course, after happy hour is dinner for 10 with our neighbors. That get together just happened. It’s amazing what these ladies have hidden in their refrigerators! Then we hang around the fire for a couple of hours, by then it’s time for “good night.”

Today we get a visit from friends Anne and Steen, on their way through to the Barret-Jackson auction in Phoenix. These visits from friends from the “outside” always remind me of way back when I was at Boy Scout Camp. I keep expecting some one to ask me if I’m eating right or did I change my underwear or something. I just checked to make sure there is no dirt under my fingernails. We wouldn’t want the wrong message getting out of here now would we?

Who’s up for a puzzle? I think the key to this one might be to start with Angel and work out from there. She is the black fuzz ball near the entrance.

I just did the puzzle. Do your self a favor and forget the advice about starting with Angel. My time 8:05 minutes.