A Trip to Death Valley

WHERE ARE WE? Pahrump, Nevada 

NEXT DESTINATION? Las Vegas Bay RV Park, Henderson, NV

This morning I had a couple things to do before our day got started.  First thing was to clean out the firepit because we burned a bunch of wood from pallets last night.  I carry a magnet with us for just these occasions.  Lots of places we go have nails in the firepits and I always try to clean them up.  I estimate that I came up with about a pound of nails just from our fire last night.

Second job was to get our 20 lb. propane tank filled.  The only place open today was Tractor Supply.  They are generally the cheapest place around, but the prices of propane have gone crazy.  Still not bad compared to back home. 

Back when we came to Pahrump a week ago, it was for 2 reasons.  1. To visit Kyra which we have done every day I think.  We enjoy spending time with her and this will be all we see her this year.   2. To check out Death Valley.  Today we decided we would head over to Dante's View which is a neat tourist attraction.  Death Valley is normally a really hot place to visit, but this time of year it cools down a bit so is a good time to tour out there. We left just before noon and Pat and Harold took Chuck and Angie in their Jeep and Sue and I followed in the Yellow Jeep. It was a lovely drive with the windows open and the wind in our hair. 

We travelled for about an hour before arriving at our destination, Dantes View.  The viewpoint is at almost 5500 ft and the floor of the valley below is about 280 ft below sea level.  

Chuck and Angie decided to hike about a half mile up to a viewpoint for a look.  I decided to tag along with them.  Now I know you are saying that the old heart attack victim shouldn't be hiking, but I now understand my limits and can climb hills without a lot of problems. I know exactly when I have to stop to catch my breath for about 30 seconds, and then I am able to carry on.  If I push it too much, it takes me 3 or 4 minutes of puffing away to get things under control.  Being careful today, I made it to the top with only 3 stops.  Pretty good I thought.  Amazing views from there and I got a couple shots of Chuck and Angie out on the view point. 

Oh yes, a little proof that I was there. 

On the way home we stopped by the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel which is located in Death Valley Junction.  A lady by the name of Marta Beckett came here in 1967 from NYC and opened the Opera House.  She was the main performer for many years and is now in her 90's I think.  The Opera House was shut down for Covid and has not reopened yet.  People from all over the world came here to witness her performances.  There is a neat little part of history back here in the desert.  Apparently only 2 people now live in the town, but the hotel is still operating.

Well another great day but our time here in Pahrump is coming to and end.  We will be moving on tomorrow but tonight we had another bonfire with all our friends around.  Kyra, Evelyn, Pat, Harold, Angie, Chuck, Sue, and I.  We have had a good time here and hopefully will see Kyra and Evelyn, sooner rather than later.  Goodnight.

More Good Food with Friends

WHERE ARE WE? Pahrump, Nevada 

NEXT DESTINATION? Maybe Telephone Cove

We are at the point where we have to make a plan for our future travels so that we can make sure we have enough time to do all the things we still need to do before departing for Mexico.  At morning happy hour, I listened to the conversation go round and round about where we wanted to go and when, and my head was spinning.  No decisions were being made because we couldn't figure out where we wanted to be on what date so I thought,  hmmmmmm, Pat and Harold have a daughter Julie who is a school teacher and I'm sure her solution to the dilemma would be to do a flow chart on the blackboard.  So I grabbed the big piece of cardboard that the new chair came on, and started making a flow chart on it.  It worked like a dream and soon we had a schedule between now and Dec 14 which is the day we plan to head into Mexico.  Thanks Julie for being our inspiration!!

After getting all of that sorted out Sue and I headed downtown to get some supplies and a haircut.  We both got a trim at the Walmart Hair place.  Two hair cuts $35.00.  

Here are the pictures of our new hair.  

After our haircuts we did a little shopping because we are having a wiener roast and pot luck tonight at our campsite.  I think it will be fun.

Kyra has bought a place here in Pahrump and so we thought time was running out so we better go there today and see it.  She is in an Escapee Park and has a nice site in a quiet area.  We immediately recognized the "Born Free" motorhome when we pulled up.

She has a lovely little place with a nice shady area where she setting up an outdoor sitting area.  

Kyra gave us a tour of the park which included the clubhouse where all the activities take place. Of course I had to check out the bathroom for weird things as I usually do and "Bingo".  There is was on the wall---the sign!!  It seems that seniors take great pride in making signs to make sure everyone does what needs to be done.  I kinda think I was taught bathroom etiquette when I was very young, but maybe for some, they start to forget with age.  Hence the need for precise instructions for toilet flushing!

We stayed to talk for a while and then headed for home.  It doesn't take long for time to drift away.  We are expecting Kyra and her friend Jane to join us for the wiener roast.   While we were gone, Chuck and Harold had gathered a bunch of wood for the fire.  

Just before supper the boys got the fire going and everyone took a bit of time to discuss the day.  Pat and Harold mentioned that they had noticed a balloon out for a morning flight before I arose this morning, and Pat sent me a picture of it. I might have to get up earlier tomorrow in case it flys again.

Kyra and Jane spent the evening with all of us.  We had a lot of laughs and our friend Dave stopped by to say hi.  We love spending time with our friends and we had a great night with all of them.

We realized that in a month or so we will be heading into Mexico where beautiful sunsets over the ocean will be a normal occurrence.  

Remembering Them

WHERE ARE WE? Pahrump, Nevada

NEXT DESTINATION? Maybe Telephone Cove

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans Day in the USA.  It was originally Armistice Day and was to remember the end of WWI.  The Armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month ending WWI and at that precise time every year since, we remember.  It now honors all of our veterans who have served protecting our freedoms.  I sometimes fear that we are slowly forgetting that and perhaps we should be more careful not to allow those freedoms to be jeopardized.  Today in the middle of the desert, we took some time to remember those who served to protect us over the years.  Our friend Chuck who is here with us is a Veteran of the Marine Corp and we recognize him today for that.  A lot of our US friends are veterans as well and we recognize them today as well.

Today we were invited to spend some time with Kyra and her friends Evelyn and Jane at golf course near them.  No we were not golfing but rather had an awesome breakfast on the patio overlooking a little lake and the course.

The Golf course is the Mountain Falls Golf course and the grass is the type that you want to roll in.  Breakfast was great and the company was wonderful.  Thanks Kyra for the invite.

Sue loves her new chair but it has a problem.  We were told by the boss lady in the furniture store that it had a battery which it would use to recline it when no power was available.  That sold the chair for us because if you are an RVer you know that the inverter is not always on so 120V power is not always available.  The battery, which lasts for up to 3 months before needing a recharge, allows it to be used whether there is power or not. Well we determined after getting it home that there was no battery.  So we went back to the store and told them, and the owner said, no the chair we bought did not come with a battery and that the sales girls should not have sold it to us as a battery operated chair.  Hmmmmmm Sue says to the owner, it was you that told us it had a battery and gave us all the details about it.  Oh yes she remembered. She said, we normally charge an extra $100 bucks for the battery, but oh well here it is, you can have it.  Good on her so now she gets a 5 star review!!

On the way home we went by Tractor Supply and the Jeep veered into the parking lot!!  They have the angle adaptor that I have wanted for my drill.  There are lots of times when space is an issue for either drilling or screwing so this makes it easy.  I have a project coming up that will need it.  

Sue helped out with making sure that my job list is still active by tripping and saving herself by grabbing the curtains that separate the front of the motorhome from the living room.  They were held up by some plastic hangers so they didn't stand a chance and down they came.  Now I will have to find some clips and replace them so we can hang the rod back up.  Thats a project for tomorrow maybe.

On the way back from town I had to stop at a spot where I had spotted some metal that I need to fix my battery box.  As I was picking up the metal I noticed a pair of shoes that looked almost like a pair I had been looking at when in Walmart.  I picked them up and held them up for Sues approval..NOOOOO I don't think that is gonna work.  

The other thing I spotted nearby was a hole that had been partially filled back in.  It was about 6 ft long and 2 ft wide and gave me the chills.  I sometimes wonder how many people go missing in the desert and are never found.  This little area seemingly is used to dump peoples garbage.  It is sad that people do this but it happens.

You may think my day was different and wonder why the heck we continue on this journey we are on.  Well we had a little reminder of what we are actually escaping when our friends KT and Jeremy sent a picture of their evening walk.  We hope all our Northern friends stay warm and hope that they find time to escape even for a few days from the icy grip of winter.

Good night, sleep tight!!

The Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show.

WHERE ARE WE? Pahrump, Nevada 

NEXT DESTINATION? Maybe Telephone Cove

I got some more projects done this morning.  I am including some boring pictures of the fixes just for a reminder of the date I did them.  It was a nice warm morning again after a cool windy day yesterday.  First project was to fix the door.  The Ponderosa is getting old, 20 years old, so we are finding some things that are just plain old wearing out.  Other things need to be tightened and re-aligned.  That is the case with the door.  The screws have come loose and the top is out of line so it doesn't shut right and sometimes the lock is hard to operate.  After changing out some of the screws and giving it a little love tap with the hammer, things fell into line and I'm sure we are good for another 20 years.

Next project was to fix a leak that has developed in our grey water tank.  Once again this is probably an age problem because we have bounced down a lot of roads, and at some point a weak spot has to show up.  It was hard to tell the exact cause of the leak but I know within a half inch, where it is.  So I cleaned it all up and shoved to camera in there to see what we could see.  Not much.  You can see by the picture that we are starting to see rust from being near the ocean.  Will that stop me from going there?  Not for a minute!!!

I mixed up some plastic JB weld and we will see if it works.  Because the leak is on the underside of the tank, the JB kinda ran down a bit.  Hope enough stayed up top to fix it.  If I have to, I have a plastic welder, but plastic weld does not always work well where there is any flexing so that will be a last ditch repair.

The projects kept me busy until noonish and then it was time to clean up and get ready to go for lunch with Kyra and Evelyn.  The whole gang met at the Phoenix Bar and Grill for a nice lunch.  

A lot of us had the catfish which was not bad.  They had some onion rings which were to die for.  I ate them so fast that there was no picture but Sue had some catfish left so I got a picture of it.

Guess where we went after lunch?  Yup you got it.  We went and brought home the big ole cuddle chair.  It is the olive coloured one which actually looks more grey or brown to me.   Yes it cost us a fortune but oh well!  They say, Happy wife, Happy life.  I will let you know how that pans out in the next few days.

Sue was sitting in her chair looking out the window and saw this Road Runner outside so grabbed a quick picture.  We have witnessed a few of them so far.  We also hear some coyotes around here so we are constantly reminded of the Wylie Coyote and the Road Runner Show.

That was our day today.  There is always something happening but it isn't always earth shattering but then again at our age, it doesn't take much to entertain us.  Hope your found something rewarding to do today.