boondocking in the desert (1-16-2011)



rendezvous in the desert

 We have left the lap of luxury and exchanged it for the sparse desert, and we are having an absolute blast.  We are camped out with about 15-18 other rigs, with a central fire pit set up for all to share.  Because we are literally in the desert,  there are no amenities.  No water, no sewer, no electricity.  Some people have solar panels, some have generators, and some have both.  Some people can generate enough of their own power to watch TV!  We can't, though.  We just have a small generator thats good enough to recharge our batteries and run some of our electrical outlets. We don't "boondock" too often so it isn't worth the investment to get anything more than that.  Most of these people are "Escapees"- members of a club that is comprised mostly of people who live and travel full time in their RVs.  Its not a requirement, in order to be in the club though, so some people here are just on a long term vacation, (or people who happened to already be camping in this part of the desert!). But because we all have a certain lifestyle in common, it gives us plenty to talk about!   As I just said to a friend of mine,being here really feels like an old fashioned neighborhood where you see people sitting out on their porches with a cup of coffee, chatting with the neighbors.  Very hard to describe the sense of camaraderie there is here.





stuck in the sand~

     The day we got here we helped "rescue" a fellow RVer who had taken a wrong turn and ended up stuck in the sand.  We have met an incredible amount of people, and have had the chance to actually get to know them a bit.      The days have a very loose routine, where everyone tends to gather a bit in the morning for coffee, before either taking off for the day to do something, or seeing what anyone else may be interested in doing. Yesterday I went for a bike ride with 3 other women, and tomorrow I am going hiking.




Our class president, Sandie, getting a vote on plans for a Pizza Party.



 Later in the day we tend to meet up again for happy hour.  Yesterday we had food set out and we all nibbled our way through the dinner hour.  Today was the saddest day.  Paul and I took off at lunch time to go find a sports bar so we could watch the Patriots play in the playoffs.  Sadly we saw them lose to the Jets, of all teams. Ugh.  No Superbowl for us this year.