Gone, Baby, Gone!

It'll be gone soon, my Oregon home.  After a mere 4 years on the market, the sale is due to close next week.  Yes sir, my timing was spot-on perfect, nailed the absolute worst housing market of my lifetime, dead center.  I don't recall how many price reductions there were, a dozen or more.  Final price was less than half the initial listing price - and also less than half the replacement cost.

The value loss is substantial but so is the relief at seeing this property in the rear view mirror.  It was the 3rd and last custom home I designed and had built.  It was, and still is, an awesome home with a view to die for and I thoroughly enjoyed living there.  But, there comes a time when a change of venue feels right.  The good thing is, it still feels right.  Living 4 years in one place while wanting to live in a different place?  No.  Life's too short.

I readily admit that it was a show-off house, a statement that I did okay and could afford a nice custom home.  I'm over that now, been there, done that, no longer feel the need to impress people with the trappings.  I'm quite happy with my moderately-sized AZ home and even happier that I don't have to spend countless hours maintaining a huge home and yard.

Bye, bye.

Invention 1

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”  And a demanding mother, she is.

The Magic Wand

The Necessity: the ability to open/close the ceiling vent in the RV living area.  It’s 8’ above the floor.  One could climb up on the counter, of course, but inevitably there would be a fall that resulted in breaking numerous bones, spending a month in traction, 6 months more as a semi-invalid, your muscles slowly atrophying into mush.  A better alternative is preferred, a long handled thingy that will reach, securely grab, and turn the knob while the operator has both feet safely planted on the floor.

The invention, step by step:

1. Measure the knurled vent knob: 1 ¾” 
2. Go to hardware store and wander around, measuring 2-pronged objects that appear close to the correct size.  Settle for a heavy duty screw-in type tool hanger with a spread that’s ¼” too small, “I can bend that sucker, I think, expand the gap so it fits.”
3. Take sucker home and expand the gap with a wrecking bar.
4. Grab an old broom handle and whack it off at 3’.
5. Drill hole in center of whacked end.
6. Screw sucker into hole.  The Magic Wand is born unto the world!
7. Test drive.  Voila!  Works like a charm!

Ye Olde Magic Wand

It’s not as cute as Tinkerbell’s, not as powerful as the Hogwarts students’, and not as versatile as either one.  But, mine’s bigger!  More important, it’s every bit as effective in accomplishing its assigned task.

PS: Know who first said it, the mother thing?  Would you believe Plato?  Yep.  It’s from his book, The Republic, not in those exact words but close enough.

Horny & Furry

We had to bag the Tundra as the 5^th wheel tow vehicle.  It had the towing capacity but not the payload capacity: passengers, dogs, 5^th wheel hitch, misc junk and 5W pin weight came to about 150 pounds over max.  And, I like to have 20% more capacity than needed, for insurance.  So, we had to go to a ¾ ton pickup, ended up with a Ram 2500, which has payload to spare.  It wasn’t my first choice but we were in a time crunch and the local dealership gave us an offer we couldn’t refuse. They took both the Tacoma and the EDGE on trade-in for the Ram, and gave them acceptable values.  Last Friday I delivered the old rigs to the dealership, swapped two sets of keys for one, and drove off in the Ram.  Just drop off the key, Lee.  Set yourself free.

2013 Ram 2500 SLT

'Horny'

Tow mirrors are a must, although they stick out a ways.

This shot shows it in normal driving position.

This shot shows the mirror in towing mode.

It manually rotates 90 degrees, works great!

We took delivery of the Cougar this week and it was a bloody mess - filthy from sitting on the lot for a year.  And, many things were missing: TV, spare tire, battery, light fixture.  And, many things were screwed up: slide-out, blinds, cabinet dings, etc.  Dealer told Trish (the buyer) it would be clean, have new batteries, full propane tanks, be all ready to take camping upon arrival.  In your dreams!  Trish called the dealer, gave him hell, said she was keeping the $5.5K balance due until things are as promised.  Dealer had instant religious experience, said he'd arrange for local outfit(s) to make it right.

Cougar 276RLSWE

That huge awning is motor driven, love it!

'Furry'

The new rigs were at the hitch shop for 2 days to install 5W hitch on Ram and short-bed pinbox on Cougar.  I picked them up Friday. Now, we do outfitting/upgrades, adding or replacing stuff to make things more convenient and worry free.  Add-ons include a ceiling exhaust fan, 3 ceiling vent covers, surge protector, closet shelves, hooks for keys/clothing, propane tank gauges, water filter.  Bath and kitchen faucets - cheap-ass dual handle types – will be replaced with quality single handle fixtures.  I detest dual handle faucets!

This side has the slide-out room with dinette and sofa/bed.

When we and the local outfits have finished our work, it’ll be ‘sea trials’ time.  We’ll go to a nearby campground for 3-4 nights and field test all systems and operations.  That will generate another ‘to do’ list.  We need to push things right along because we leave for the summer in a few weeks.  My work will be done on time and I’m betting the outside work will be, also, because Trish will be kicking butt and hell hath no fury………!  Trust me.  I know.

Puerto Penasco 2

We're at Organ Pipe Cactus NM for one night.  We left PP at 7:30 AM, the early departure inspired by our Mexican auto insurance, which only covered us until 10 AM today.  The insurance isn't a legal requirement but is highly recommended.  Without it, an accident would place a person at the mercy of Mexican state and federal laws and a justice system that is, most likely, exceedingly slow and, I suspect, somewhat (?) corrupt.  No, thanks.

Glorious sunset on our last night in Puerto Penasco.

Terry and Lisa.

Our PP adventure was great fun, despite the constant stream of native vendors strolling by our campsite, asking if we wanted to buy blankets, sunglasses, hats, jewelry, pots and plates and other assorted junk.  The other downer was a group of 4 toy-hauler rigs that set up beside us and proceeded to party hearty and drive their freaking loud ATVs around the park well into the night.  I fantasized charging outside, armed with my trusty ax, and bashing several headlights, tires, windshields, and so on.  I managed to resist the temptation.  Barely.    

A couple of minutes later than the above picture.

We watched for the green flash, didn't see it, too cloudy I think.

Below: the EDGE on the last night of our last journey therein.  Picture taken at Twin Peaks Campground in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, a few miles north of the Arizona/Mexico border.  On the left is the park’s namesake organ pipe cactus.  To the right of the cactus is the campground’s namesake, Twin Peaks.

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I felt a bit nostalgic about our last night in the EDGE.  It’s witnessed much, traveled far and, except for a few flaws and shortcomings, has performed well.  Trish was not enamored of it.  She spent 2+ years in a high end 5^th wheel and small travel trailers just don’t measure up to 5^th wheels for comfort and convenience.

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The nostalgic feeling reminded me of a pair of hiking boots that finally wore out after climbing Mt Whitney, Mt St Helens (twice), several Columbia Gorge conditioning hikes preparing for climbs of Mt Adams and Mt Hood, plus casual hikes too numerous to mention.  I considered bronzing those puppies and hanging them on the wall in my den but ultimately decided doing so would endanger my carefully cultivated swave and deboner image.  Uh huh.

Puerto Penasco

An attractive plaza in Old Town 

Terry & Lisa, our traveling companions

Puerto Penasco, Mexico, aka Rocky Point, is the closest ocean resort town for most Arizonians and a popular gringo/spring break destination for several decades.  The EDGE is parked right on the beach, beside Terry and Lisa's RV, in Playa Bonita RV Park; T and L are good friends from LHC/CO.  This RV park, like most, is full of old fogies rather than large bevies of scantily-clad coeds.  My high expectations of ogling said coeds have been thwarted.  I am bereft.

Typical shop, typical stuff, typical pitch, "For you, nearly free!"

Earliest evidence of PP occupation dates back 20,000 years.  When the Spanish arrived here in 1698, they found it occupied by natives whose favorite cuisine was each other, often with a side of oysters.  Yep, they were cannibals.  A Spanish padre noted the rich oyster beds early on and 'recruited' natives for pearl divers.  The pearls were shipped back to Spain, natives got squat.  Another Spaniard, a sailor, wrote in his ship's log, "Ye Likesly Spot 'O Treachry and Villeanous Skum".  I assume he was referring to the natives, who, I'm sure, were overjoyed at the arrival of the Spaniards.  Everybody gets tired of eating the same darn entree, day after day.

Looking north, several resort hotels in distance.

Okay, it's late afternoon, time for the natives to plan the evening meal.  Instead of asking, "What's for dinner?", the question was, "Who's for dinner?"  Did they draw straws?  Did they choose the weakest and most useless?  The youngest and plumpest?  I can imagine a conversation around the campfire after dinner, Lizard Lips commenting to Buzzard Bait, "Boy, old granny Goat Grunt was one tough, stringy hunk of meat.  Not much to her either, no leftovers for tomorrow."  Buzzard Bait: "Yeah.  Besides that, her skin was so dry and cracked, we had to burn it, was hoping to use it for moccasins.  Hey, remember last spring when we butchered and roasted up my 2nd cousin Snake Snot, little sawed-off runt with the club foot, about 8 years old?  Delicious!

Terry celebrating the launching of his kite, with big stogie; Trish in middle, Lisa on right.

The feature known as Rocky Point is in the background. 

Pancho Villa used to hang out here, as did Al Capone.  Al and his partner had a hotel here and used the natural port for bootlegging operations during prohibition.  He, along with a few Mexican fisherman, put the town 'on the map.'

Wasting away again in Margaritaville.

It's 5 O clock somewhere!

COUGAR TALES

In about 3 weeks Voyages of the EDGE will become history.  The blog will continue but with a new name: Cougar Tales.  If you're thinking, Mike found a new main squeeze, a much older woman with a predatory nature who lusts after younger studly types like himself, you would be wrong.  Truth is, we're upgrading from the EDGE travel trailer to a Cougar 5th wheel.

The Chalet Alpine A-Frame Trailer

The EDGE was preceded by the Chalet A-frame pop-up trailer which boasted 10 SF of open floor space.  We used that space very effectively in  perfecting the now-famous dance known as the Chalet Shuffle.  It goes like this: stand as straight as possible, hold your breath, tuck in your butt, and shuffle sideways towards your partner - who is doing a mirror image of what your're doing, moving towards you.  When exactly opposite your partner, you pause briefly (sometimes not so briefly) and slowly rotate your pelvis several times before moving on.  There are 3 variations to the dance: Back to Back, Belly to Belly and, of course, the ever popular Oh, Doggie!

EDGE M21 Travel Trailer

Compared to the Chalet, the EDGE seemed palatial.  Didn't need to do the Shuffle anymore - although we still did it occasionally anyway, just for old time's sake.  We logged 32,000+ miles on the EDGE, equivalent to driving across the US, coast to coast, 11 times.  We enjoyed the EDGE but it had limitations that became increasingly aggravating over the course of our 3+ month-long annual summer adventures.

The EDGE is basically a studio apartment with bedroom, living room, dining room, and kitchen all in one room. Said configuration is not user-friendly if the the occupants have different sleep habits and my sleep habits are as different as they get - in fact, they're freaking weird!

Keystone Cougar 276RLSWE 5th Wheel Trailer

5th wheel bedrooms are isolated so one person can be zonked out while the other is up and about, reading, computering, cooking, whatever.  The one we're getting also offers a variety of seating options and enough room to have friends over occasionally.  It has numerous other features that the trailer didn't have, a conventional oven for one.  We're excited about our new home on wheels!

Artie

By Guest Blogger Trish

About 3 months ago I started getting the stirring that precedes the yearning which leads to the decision to add to the pack.  I started visiting websites for red poodles.  I kept returning to a site for a kennel in Pismo Beach, CA; mini reds and apricots.  Then I saw a posting on the site for Artie, a 2 year old male who had been recently retired as a breeding sire. His age appealed to me because I could start training him for therapy dog work right away.

I corresponded with the breeder about his personality, health and why she had taken him out of her breeding stock.  I told her I was looking for a dog who would mature into a good candidate for therapy work.  Her responses led me to think he might be a good pick.  She decided that if I was going to train him for therapy work, she'd like to give him to me rather than sell him.  

I met the little termite on Feb. 12th, and "little" is the operative word.  At first I thought, no way.  He weighs 11 lbs. and stands about 13 inches at the shoulder (about the size of most cats.)  I always thought Ranger was small at 22 lbs. and 15 inches.  Ranger looks like a giant next to Artie.  But, there is a huge spirit in the little guy, and a people-loving personality second to none. So, I crated him up, loaded him in the car with Ranger and drove back to Havasu.  I think he will be fantastic for therapy work, and much easier to lift onto beds and laps than Ranger is. 

Artie has been part of our pack for almost 4 weeks, though he's had to spend some of the time in a kennel while I made two last business trips.  Artie adds a lot of energy to our home and he's doing his best to keep us young; he's 14 in dog years while the other three of us are over 60.  He's growing his mustache to achieve the soft lamb like appearance of his older brother, begining obedience training and learning that dogs who stay inside the kayak stay drier than those who don't.  I'm hopeful his obedience training will progress well over the summer and he will be ready for therapy dog evaluation in early December.  We feel lucky to have Artie, aka Scooter, as our newest pack member.