Home for the winter - Twentynine Palms RV Resort and Joshua Tree NP!

Last Wednesday I left Pahrump NV and made the 208.1 mile trek across the Mojave Desert - a very lonely and desolate place and an interesting drive. Landed at the Twentynine Palms RV Resort about mid-afternoon - plenty of time to get settled and then head for the Weekly Wednesday evening Happy Hour! Glad to be back with friends..

You will note on this journey not many towns to pass through and I think I counted about 5 or 6 houses along the way! Not a place for the faint hearted and certainly no place you want to have car trouble!



After spending a few days getting settled - outdoor kitchen set up etc, I decided yesterday with the beautiful clouds in the sky to take a drive through Joshua Tree National Park and shoot a few pictures!

On with the pics!





Stopped at Skull Rock!





Got creative with the old sun through the trees shot! And converted to black & white!











Been using the Camp Chef quite regularly and love it...gets plenty hot!









The Southern California Sunsets can be beautiful - need to take my chair and camp out in Joshua Tree and get some good shots!



Went to California DMV and struck out on getting a corrected title without paying the exorbitant vehicle sales tax so now going to track the dealer where I bought the truck down and make him provide a corrected title - that is my project for the rest of the week.

Also trying to figure out my new Intervalometer Time Lapse Remote Control for my camera so I can start spending some evenings in the National Park shooting some star trail shots and long time exposures! My goal today is to get it programmed and try a couple shots here in the campground. It is like setting the clock on your VCR or digital watch...with instructions written by a Chinese national trying to learn English!

Wish me luck! and Stay Tuned...

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Ghost Town, Death Valley and another Prius Story! Nov 3, 2014

Took another Sunday drive - this time to visit a Ghost Town and then another trip through a different part of Death Valley - a total of about 196.8 miles round trip!

Had a great day and took a few pics and another Prius Adventure! See below!



Stopped here for gas fill-up and took a short tour of the Brothel and Gift Shop - not near as nice as the Chicken Ranch and the girls had a few more miles on them, but the pricing was a little better, but I refrained!



Next stop was a small Ghost town Rhyolite out side of Beatty Nevada. Paved road all the way in so easy to stop and see, not a whole bunch left...but fun to see!



The Bottle House - made from thousands of beer bottles!







Then on to Furnace Creek and a great hamburger for lunch and a couple beers! Took a walk around!





Then a stop and walk at the "Mesquite Dunes"!





Then a stop at Zabriskie Point and a hike up to the overlook - nice long paved climb up...note how far away the parking lot is and how high! The view was amazing!







Now the Prius Story - I am convinced that all Prius Drivers are Morons!

Understand that driving the roads through Death Valley are not crowded this time of year...so vary sparse traffic. In some areas you can see ahead for miles...this was the case as I was driving in a particularly remote area. Way ahead I could see a tremendous dust cloud...as I neared the dust cloud, I realized it was a small car by the side of the road, as I got closer, lo and behold it is a Prius and it is parked on the side of the road directly facing a sign which reads "SOFT SHOULDER". There is an idiot pushing the back of the Prius and his wife is driving and spinning the wheels in the soft sand and digging the car deeper and deeper...this is what is generating the huge dust cloud!

So like an idiot, I figure I will stop and watch and maybe lend a hand....I pull in behind the Prius and get out and tell the husband to tell the wife to stop that they are just making it worse and I needed to be able to breath as the wind was blowing the dust right back in our faces...so they stop and I tell them that I will get my tow strap out and pull them back onto the pavement...the guy is a typical earth shoe wearing tree hugger and so is his wife, who finally gets out of the car. Tie dyed long dress and sandals and you guessed it she had dreadlocks....no bra, big old swaying boobs...so typical. And both were idiots! I pointed out the sign which was almost blocking their way out forward which said Soft Shoulders! He explained that they wanted to take a picture and did not see the sign until they stopped, took their picture then tried to drive out and obviously had a problem so she took the wheel and he tried to push...she had the front wheels hard left to miss the sign and this was adding enough resistance the the low powered piece of shit that it was just spinning in the soft sand and gravel...by the way the car was covered in light sandy dust.

I went back to the truck and got my tow strap out of the passenger side door pocket and proceeded to unroll it, looked for something firm underneath the piece of shit to hook to....found a frame member and looped the strap around it and hooked the hook back on the strap. Stretched the strap out and then pulled my truck a little closer and looped it around the front right tow hook on the Ford F-250! I told Moron to get them both in the Prius and for him to put it in neutral and straighten out the wheels and I would back them right out onto the pavement and for him to NOT do anything!

So I put it in reverse and tighten the strap up and start to pull, by now my back wheels are back on pavement, so no issue with traction...check my mirror to make sure no cars were coming and start to ease the Prius out of the sand...seems a little harder than I thought and again more dust??? WTF...Dingbat has the Prius in forward and is spinning the wheels against me...so I am pissed at how stupid this idiot is and decide if he wants a challenge I will pull the thing out or split it in half!! Needless to say it was not much of a challenge and soon they were back on hard ground and their little tires were chirping on pavement....I stopped and I motioned for him to stop....

Got out of the truck and went to his window and said shut the bitch down you idiot! The tow strap is still tight as a Nun and so I pull the Prius back a little bit to get under and unhook...as soon as I got him unhooked I told the idiot he could leave and asked him why he was pulling against me?? He forgot it was in Drive!!! I almost grabbed him through the window and beat his ass just for being stupid...but decided to just tell him to leave!

That is the 2nd Prius I have had to get unstuck - one in snow in Arches National Park and now this one, add in the guy who pulled out in front of me a couple weeks ago and the one pulling a camper trailer in Canada who pulled out in front of me and I am beginning to come to the realization that only Morons own Prius's!!

Should have taken pictures...DMV this morning for car and trailer registration - then a quiet dinner and pack up the kitchen and get ready to leave tomorrow for my winter home in Twentynine Palms! Looking forward to another fun winter with great people and some work!

Stay Tuned!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - Death Valley and Pahrump NV!

As most of you that follow along, know I traveled from Salt Lake City to Pahrump Nevada to take care of some personal business, explained later. I am in a Passport America campground - Wine Ridge RV Resort! It is a beautiful park and really set up as a winter destination, there are quite a few rigs here for the winter. Two pools, two hot tubs, wonderful shower facilities, free breakfast every morning and weekly dinners! Pickle Ball courts, horse shoes...plenty to do!

Being so close to Death Valley National Park, I figured I would click another National Park off my list and shoot some pictures. By the way - I have now visited 18 National Parks and six National Wildlife Refuges!

But first a couple sunset pics from the campground, while I was cooking my steak on my new BBQ!





So yesterday morning I loaded up the truck with water and my cameras and headed out on a planned 238 mile round trip! Windy but not raining and a little cool, so a perfect day to see some sights!



Got to 260 feet below sea level and this was at the visitor center!



The mountains were beautiful and very colorful!



The place is huge and very difficult to capture the expanse and varying colors...worth another trip here for sure! Maybe tomorrow after the Ghost Town!

Here is a 9 shot panorama of the colorful mountains! BTW the mountains on the west side had some snow on them from yesterdays storm and the wind was blowing so hard it was almost impossible to stand up or open the car door!



Here is a shot of the basin!



Late afternoon it was time to return to Pahrump and do a little more exploring. As I drove into town and headed for "The Ranch", I passed through what only can be described as a speed trap - 45 MPH drops to 35 then right back up to 45! Well, I was in the 45 MPH range and one of Nevada's finest was there to stop me. I was more than a little concerned, since my plates were expired and the registration expired! Luckily it was a nice trooper and I explained that it would have been changed had Friday not been a holiday, he understood and only wrote me a ticket for 10 MPH over and seat belt...I want to be thrown clear, I hate seat belts!!

So after about 20 minutes of worrying and wondering if I was headed to jail...he delivered the ticket and I was on my way, seat belt fastened and under 35 MPH until I was out of the trap area...

So I pulled into the parking lot at the ranch and grabbed a few shots before going inside!







So I went inside and was promptly buzzed in the door (security) and met by what can only be described as the "Madam", nice woman, but obviously not on the list of delights. I explained that a beer or cocktail was in order and I was led into the bar, I was the only person there, settled on a beer and she proceeded to explain the system. Since I was not there to see a particular girl, she would bring all 6 out for introductions and review. I told her I was more interested in a T-Shirt and my beer...three other guys entered the bar and she brought out the girls. They were all very lovely and promptly introduced themselves and asked my name and then headed to the new guys to do the same. Then they broke off into groups of two to talk some business and offer to take me on a tour. I declined the tour, but was interested in the price list...promptly told that they would not discuss price in the bar, but would be happy to take me to a more private place to discuss the terms and conditions...and each girl sets their own prices!

So I figured what the hell and headed to a short tour and a discussion with a pretty young blond! The place is very clean and looks to be well run. Needless to say the prices were far more than I was willing to indulge in....but she was very courteous and offered to find another girl who may have lower prices...I kindly extricated myself from the situation and returned to my beer and T-Shirt - finished my beer and left and headed for a casino downtown for a light dinner and a little gambling.

That didn't go well either - out about $60.00 on the slots, but won 22 cents!! On my way out the door on a progressive penny slot!! Did have a nice inexpensive dinner then back to the RV for some early sleep time!

Today I intend to head back towards Death Valley and find a Ghost town and take a few more pics...if the wind is down, I may head back in the park and see what I can see!

Don't expect to be back at the Ranch anytime soon, but it was fun and I have a T-Shirt to remember it by, also got a nice shirt at Death Valley!

Bit nipply out this morning with the cold front that went through yesterday - 38 degrees this morning, warm and toasty in the RV...but even now it is only 49 degrees and headed for the low 60s's!

Stay tuned for some Ghost Town pics...

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!

Blog Update - On the road again - Recap!

Well, I am back on the road again - had a great time in Ohio and got to spend some quality time with my sister and her husband and of course some great times with my old classmates!!

Really do have to send major Thank You's to Thom McKinney for taking the bull by the horns and providing a great location for the birthday party and Libby and Jan for helping at the door and helping promote and shame some lazy-assed people to show up! For the record we had about 60 people total - 55 registered at the door and a few spouses! I am so happy we had a great turn-out!

I flew back to Salt Lake City on Monday the 27th with several projects to accomplish before hitting the road. The thermostat went out on my fridge in the RV so needed to make that repair - then for some reason when I returned the battery on the truck was dead - brand new battery?? So had to get it jump started and then charged..all is well now - there must be a slow drain someplace - everything was turned off it should have been fine??

Took a few more pics in Ohio for you leaf people!







Fixed the fridge on Tuesday and went shopping for the road trip on Wednesday after the fridge cooled down - have a full fridge and ready for adventures!!

Thursday morning I hitched up and drove 481 miles to Pahrump Nevada. Have some business to take care of here and a couple side trips to Death Valley and a Ghost town! May stop by the Chicken Ranch Whorehouse and check out the girls and prices, but suspect it will be more than I want to pay - I can take care of things fine by myself!

While camping on the North Fork this summer, I experienced the ultimate "Outdoor Kitchen" made by Camp Chef and knew that I had to have the full set-up - so while in Salt Lake City I went shopping and bought the 2 burner expedition model, the one burner griddle and the one burner BBQ. See pics below! Friggin thing has two 30K BTU Burners - the griddle works great and have a big rib-eye out for dinner - Ice maker plugged in table set up - outdoor kitchen??? Have fun in the cold weather my Ohio friends...livin the dream!

Anyway after a long and tedious drive through Las Vegas rush hour - arrived Pahrump at about 7:00 pm local time and went to a suggested RV Park and pulled in - nobody in the office, so it said find a site and check in when they open in the morning, so that is what I did. What a beautiful Park. It is the Wine Ridge RV Resort. Go HERE< to check out their site.. This place is beautiful, I will be here for 5 nights before heading to my winter home in 29 Palms, CA.

Some pics of the camp site today! And the new Camp Chef!

Camp all set up!



The new grill ready for breakfast!



Bacon done perfectly!!



The ice maker plugged in and ready for "Happy Hour"!



BBQ set on the grill for tonight's steak!





Plan is to stay here for the weekend with a trip to Death Valley tomorrow and a ghost town on Sunday - DMV on Monday then head to 29 Palms on Tuesday or so...have work to do when I get there!! Gotta do SOME work!

Stay Tuned!

Capt. Jim - "The Gypsy"

Traveling and photographing the Southwest and Alaska!