Not Every Day Can Be Perfect .... This is a Bad Day

After our first experience as Walmart boon-dockers, we were ready for the trip from Bend to Burns, about 140  miles.  First, here are a few photos taken along the way - a sunshiny day with fluffy white clouds, a changing display every moment - a fine start to a great day.

First of all, Lacy and Lincoln are ready to go ... Eleanor is ready too but doesn't like having to share a seat so she's actually under it!  Here's the proof!

Eleanor had, in her other life, a lot of trauma.  I got her at the cat sanctuary in December 2012 and she's been very very shy and skittish.  She has decided that she loves me (hooray) and sleeps nestled up to my legs at night and visits me as I work on my laptop during the day; but she doesn't fraternize with Lincoln or Lacy other than to allow that they can be on the same bed at the same time.  I really don't think she even knows how to play; the closest she comes to engaging is to roll over on her back when I scratch her tummy.  It's been sad to see what abuse does to a cat; she had lived at the cat sanctuary for over a year and hadn't bonded with anybody.  I feel happy that she 'loves' me and that she's very slowly coming around.

 Lincoln, on the other hand, was taken to the cat sanctuary as a tiny kitten and had lots of loving there.  He's a very well-adjusted kitty and thinks he's probably more of a small dog than cat.  He's very interested in goings on outside the RV and loves to be outside when I allow it.

Within 5 or 6 minutes after I start the RV engine, Lincoln is over on my lap and doesn't move from that spot until the engine's off again.  He's one cool cat who loves Lacy, Eleanor and me and thinks the world is a wonderful place.

So we get started about 10:15 and have no problem getting on the right road to Burns (after yesterday's extra driving I want to be sure I've got it right).  I really enjoy this high desert scenery.  There are areas of no trees at all, which is a complete 180 from yesterday, when it appears that Oregon could supply the entire world with building lumber by the looks of the forests.  Highway 20 heads almost directly east of Bend to Burns with only one town along the way.  It's a blimp on the highway called 'Brothers.'  Nothing there!

The little white specks in the clear blue of the sky indicate that the windshield needs care.  This is pretty much what it looks like all along Highway 20; albeit, there are a few hills and rock formations from time to time and 2 pleasant rest areas ....

 Here we are parked at one fairly close to Burns, but the tail bone was getting tired and Lacy needed a visit to the Pet Area

There was a group from Idaho who were having a picnic at the rest area.  Check out the cars.  What a treat to walk around them and talk a little to the folks who've put so much TLC into these treasures of the past.

A couple of close-ups.  The car club group is returning to Idaho from an antique car rally

So we arrive in Burns and locate the RV Park.  I've had a little issue with Petunia when I make a 90 degree turn.  As I approached the RV park and started to turn in it happened again.  The wheels seem to lock in the turning position and the steering wheel darts left and right and there's a loud metal on metal clanking sound.  It's happened before a couple of times and the remedy is I pull over , jump out and straighten the Petunia's steering wheel and it ceases.  Well, this time I had to stop while I was still on the street and a guy pulled up behind me and said that the steering wheel needed to be locked.  I hadn't heard anything about that at the place that installed the tow bracket.  This guy volunteered and jumped in Petunia and steered as I turned into the park. It all worked out fine.  I thank him and he's off saying, "Have a great vacation."

After registering at the office I drive to my assigned site, park and unhitch Petunia.  When I try to start her - NOTHING Happens - NADA.  The battery's dead.  That's strange, it ran fine yesterday and I'd disconnected the battery in preparation for towing yesterday and hadn't unhitched her last night.  Well, I call my trusty AAA and a guy is out here in about 20 minutes to jump her.  NADA again.  He has no tools with him and finds that when the mechanism for disconnecting the battery was installed, the terminal doesn't fit tightly on the terminal post (not sure of this vocabulary).  Anyway, he called a service repair shop and towed Petunia into town, where she is as I write.  

Stuart, the gentleman at the repair shop, by his own admission,  knows nothing about Smart Cars.  He fixed the obvious problem of the loose connection, but she still won't start; now he thinks there might be something bad in the starter.  He calls Mercedes Benz in Bend; they aren't Smart Car certified, no help there.  So, Petunia stays in his shop tonight and  he'll call Mercedes Benz in El Dorado Hills, CA, where I bought her and hopefully they can shed some light on what's happening.

But, that wouldn't make for a BAD DAY - it'd be just a little negative.   There's more bad news but I'll save it for later 'cause I can't do anything about it now anyway.  The saga continues .....

It's Rainy - This Must Be Oregon

I awaken to the pitter patter of a light rain on the roof; that, along with the sound of the water flowing over the rocks in the little stream next to my bedroom window are enough to decide to enjoy my coffee - hazelnut-flavored in honor of Oregon - and stick inside until it clears up a bit.

Not the same desire in Lincoln's mind!  He's scampering out as soon as Mom says it's okay.  He truly enjoys lying under the rig and watching the world go by.  It appears that if I 'introduce' him to a new spot (yard) while on the leash, he can then find his way back home without any trouble when he goes out.  I hope I'm not being under-cautious but he does love being in the great outdoors.

Oh, I stopped writing for a moment because my granddaughter, Addison, called from Colorado Springs, where she's teaching Fourth Grade in the Teach For America program.  What an ambitious young lady; she's loving her first profession after graduation from Loyola Marymount in May.  This young woman is going to go far; I just know it.  She has such an appreciation for life, a true adventurous spirit and energy and enthusiasm that know no bounds.

Here's an adorable, and a little out of focus (a picture of a picture) photo of Addison, age 8 and younger sister, Holland, age 6, holding the twins, Malia and Samantha, age about 4 months in Summer 2000.  Check out Holland's shoes; they're Aunt Alice's.

And, here's Addison (right) at brunch in Antigua, Guatemala while visiting me and meeting new friends, from L to R:  Ana (my teacher at Antigueña Academia), Maureen's friend, age 16, Maureen (Guatemala friend from Minnesota), Katy, age 20, Ana's daughter and Addison, age 20.  The entire conversation was in Spanish, at which Addison is proficient.

Back to today's goals (I use the term loosely!):
*Work on my Adobe Elements 11 application and use - still need to tweak the look of this blog.
*Work on my 1Password application (an application that generates a secure ID and password and stores them in a virtual vault) - enter log in information for highly visited accounts needing password protection.  I don't know about others but I have so many different passwords I have to maintain a (Excel) spreadsheet, that's password protected, to try to keep up with them all.

I emailed Harry and David, headquartered in Medford, Oregon, about 20 miles from here and asked to participate in a tour of their kitchens tomorrow in the late morning.  I love lots of their products and have given them for gifts, you know, for the person who has everything, for years.  I just may have to buy some Moose Munch or Baklava or  Riviera Pears or ??? to bring back to Floribunda.  I'm also going to stop at Home Depot in Medford to buy some unglazed ceramic tiles to place in my gas oven to help prevent over-browning when I bake cakes, casseroles and the like.

FOUND! AGAIN!

6:3PM:  Yes, once more, Lincoln has returned to the fold.  I was really a little concerned this time because, at the time he escaped, we hadn't actually parked the rig where it's to stay for the next week; so I didn't know if Lincoln would be able to find us, what with all the dogs and people he'd have to avoid to get here.  And, to him, Floribunda isn't yet a completely known home.

Lacy and I have returned to the blackberry bushes on the other side of the park three or four times this afternoon; I called and Lacy sniffed.  This time he just walked right out from the same bushes in which I'd seen him last.  The little rascal has done quite well walking on a leash but is very fearful of people and dogs and of course I'd just taken the leash off when he darted out.  In the past I've taken him out on walks when we first settle in a new yard, but today I hadn't had a chance yet.  I'm also going to have to expose him to more people so he won't be so afraid.  One of the 'problems' in finding him is that, although he 'meows' when I call him, he doesn't seem to have a 'voice;' I only know he's meowing when I can see him.

Now, we're ready to relax and get used to the sights and smells in this new yard.   This RV park appears to have several long-term renters, several tent camps and even a couple of Euro-vans, as well as  every flavor of motorhomes.  We'r parked in a shady spot right next to a little stream that bubbles along peacefully - hope I can hear it tonight when I go to bed.

That's all for now.     Here's a floribunda rose - called Ebb Tide ..... Mmmm, pungent and spicy scent!