That's Talc not snow

Christmas Eve!!!
Been a while since I posted. Bill arrived two days ago, so now there are four of us and 8 dogs. Weather is still cool. Took the bikes out yesterday, My brake is sticking so may have to take the darn thing back.
Tomorrow they will have a Pot Luck Christmas dinner at the community centre. All us homeless folks will get together. Faith and I went to Bingo last night….. (Okay so I am an avid bingo hater…but it was fun.) Both came backwith more than we took in the way of prizes.
To all those I love and miss… I will be thinking of you tomorrow….. Have a great Christmas!!!!!

Dec 11, 2008
Have company now, Faith and Ron arrived two days ago. Had to take Faith checking out rocks and old dumps (validates my collection). Long walk with the dogs yesterday and of course Schatz had to get into some disgusting stuff. I think she thought she smelled real good. So big bath in the laundry tub. Found out later that there is a dog mineral spring too. Have to give that a try. Don’t think Aki will be a big fan, but the short one will probably like it. Have to get someone else to hold the camera tho.l
All the Christmas parcels are on there way, Hope they get there in time.

Dec 5, 2008
Same old, same old…enjoying the sun, looking at interesting spots and soaking in hot water…..
Got to Barstow and did some shopping Tuesday, Then Pahrump for laundry Wednesday,
Even got some work done Monday and Thursday for Gift Lake. Pictures are of Dumont Dunes (yes Pete I picked up a can of Sand), The alternative housing at Shoshone, and the dogs deciding they would do their own sight seeing – guess they didn’t like my driving.
Faith and Ron should be here tomorrow or the next day if they left Wednesday.

Nov 24 – Nov 27, 2008
I know that those of you that know me are going to have a hard time believing that I seem to be picking up a lot of rocks. (Ron & Bill won’t believe this)
The colours here are absolutely amazing, and the fact that there must have been a lot of volcanic activity in the area so there are some real great combinations. Then with the help of John I found an amazing treasure. A lapidary nut abandoned his place and storage area here some time ago and there are thousands of slices of amazing rocks. Including some nuclear glass. I could stay there all day just sorting through the stuff, but I guess that is not a good idea. Anyway you get the idea, the table cloth on the picnic table is being held down by some real beauties.
Then I was shown some amazing construction stuff. Houses built of Railroad ties and 45 gallon drums, Houses built of stone (those amazing colours again) Even a house surrounded by old refrigerators that was going to form the skeleton of a rammed earth house, but the earth never got added. Obviously no building codes to be followed here. One house that was abandoned was filled with wooden carvings, old antique furniture, a chandelier that must have been 10 ft in diameter. There was no room for anyone to live there since it was absolutely full. Then in the front yard were three theatre seats on a hill facing the sunset. Nothing else around just the seats.
Anyone remember the movie “Dune” well it was filmed here and that picture of the mountain full of holes? (that is where the water was) Looking at all the mud hills, I can see the movie again. Took the truck up to the top of a hill (vortex area) very narrow steep road and very tight turn around area at the top, but what a view. (This was in the same area the movie was filmed)
Pahrump yesterday to get laundry done and Christmas shopping. First store had lots of native crafts (All made in China) so I asked more questions and found the real thing. Navaho lady, who only bought stuff actually made by aboriginal artists. Prices were a bit more but at least local stuff. Got to go back and take some pictures in the store for Kim.
Thanksgiving day today and Potluck Dinner at the Community Centre. Should be good.

Nov 21 – 23, 2008
Down to Shoshone to see what Kim found out about calling card. No Kim at the office, but Jill was on MSN so she helped by getting info that Kim had left with Greg. Tried the number, no luck. So I called Telus. Now picture this, only one pay phone in town and I am on a Telus hold ( known to last from 20 min to 2 hours) During the half hour that I was on hold, I was told at least three times that I could apply for a position as a service representative for Telus… but no one to talk too. Maybe they have to hire one before they can answer… who knows… anyway I was getting a lot of ugly looks, so gave up. Will try to get Kim next day.
Thought I would check out the road to Baker, and maybe get cell phone caught up. Drove past Dumont Dunes – must be 100 RV’s there, lots of noise with all the dune buggies and ATVs. Guess they will descend on Tecopa to dump sewage after the long weekend….yuck.
Well Baker is definitely Fast Food Heaven- Tacos, Burgers, Donairs, Subs, Ice Cream – you name it, not much else there tho. Junction of I-15 and lots of Gas stations. Had a quick taco, filled with gas, made a couple of phone calls (Linda, Ed, Mom, Bill – Nobody home) Took the dogs for another run on the desert; Aki keeps digging in holes and I hope there are no sidewinders hibernating in them. He really didn’t want to come back to the truck. Some training (lol) needed.
John (next door ) offered to show me where the Talc Mine was so we headed out with all the dogs, he has 2 hairless dogs. Very interesting trip, the scenery was fantastic. Went up to the talc mine that has been closed since 1972. The government in their wisdom leveled all the homes and left only the cement foundations where the houses used to be. (Would have been a great spot to shelter some of the homeless that seem to be a problem in the big cities). From there we went out to the”Artist House”.
I guess some artist had built it way up in a mountain pass and oasis. You can see from the pictures that it has long been abandoned. Also “the good ole boys” with their ATV’s and shotguns have used it as target practice. Lots of spent cartridges around. Beautiful spot to get away from it all. Also stopped at another “oasis” an artesian well up above the Talc Mine. Dogs had fun getting really muddy. My truck badly needs a shampoo. Need to ask some questions about who the artist was, why the mine closed and all that. The soaks in the mineral springs are always good sources of info.
Nights are getting a little cool now, have to turn the heat on a bit in the morning to take the chill off. Days are still warm tho, but noticed the locals are all wearing winter jackets in the mornings.

Nov 20, 2008
Tuesday I did laundry – have to go to Pahrump for that- Talked to Ed , perhaps he will come down for a few days—would be nice to have company, and someone to go bike riding with. Yesterday I thought I would find the Talc Mine, drove half way to Vegas.. some nice scenery but no mine, so back to China Ranch and a run for the dogs and home. Tried some meat I bought from a Mexican butcher, was good but I think he told me it was horse (not sure) my Spanish is a bit rusty. Will go in to Shoshone earlier today and get this posted. And then I am going to try and find either Dodge City or the Talc Mines, will have to get better directions. Maybe they will have some maps at Shoshone. I will try and find some more interesting post cards for Sadie too.

Nov 15 - 17, 2008

Nov 15 – 17, 2008
Went to Pahrump to buy a bike. Bike shop is closed on the weekends. Walmart had about 100 bikes but no one to sell them. Went to Ace Hardware and talked to “George” Bought a bike for $120 and then tried to find a rack. No such thing. Oh well it seems I have to go to Pahrump to do laundry anyway, so I will do that on Tuesday. Found the wool shop (Basin and Leslie – Crewel World) Fantastic collection of wools, and quilting stuff all housed in a little trailer—No roving but owner is ordering some for me. Found a new Mexican restaurant out by Home Depot too.
Wonder of wonders, I finally got a picnic table. Only had to ask nicely 7 times and lose my temper once.
Well the dogs want to go for their daily desert run, so we will and I will get this posted.

Nov 11, 2008
Well plumbing is okay now and I fixed the awning, so ready to head out tomorrow. Stocked up on Groceries and called Mom. Will try to reach Kim tonight again. Live messenger only works part time here, maybe Shonshone will be better.
Nov 12, 2008 - Arrived at Tecopa around noon, and in the springs by 1:00, sure felt good. Pot Luck dinner that night at the community center, good food and conversation. Back in the pool at 7:30
Lazy day Nov 13, got in the pool at about 8 am and after that it was closed for the whole day. Met up with Jerry who is now in a VW Van, Sal (his dog) is blind now, but seems to be handling it pretty well.
All the conversation is about the economy it seems. Of course everyone is retired and that is the group that was hit the worst. Of course had to go to China Date Ranch for date milkshake fix. Let the dogs go for their desert run too. So far they come back.
Nov 14 .. In the pool at 7:15 and then breakfast. Will post this in Shoshone when I go for lunch. Big wind last night, but everything seems to still be in place. Temp is 22 C at 8 am and sky is blue.

Left Tonopah about 8 am after stocking up on groceries and headed for Death Valley. I let the dogs out without leashes this morning in the desert. They ran and ran, Aki was just ecstatic , was a little worried when all I could see was black and red dots on the horizon, but when I whistled they came back.
Arrived at Furnace Creek around noon. RV’s as far as you could see. Didn’t join 49er’s since it was last day. Found a spot in the main campground (guess some people had left already) and parked it (backed in) beautifully after about 5 min of getting lined up. Then discovered both sides of me had noisy generators going full blast. The choice was to grin and bear it, offer to lend one of them my quiet generator or look for another spot. So in spite of the fact that I had already pulled the pullout out, I got it all put back together and after walking around a bit, found another spot that was quieter (not much chance of silence with 10,000 RV’s in the vicinity.) Nice guy saw that I was not a professional backer upper and offered to do it for me, Thank you, thank you…..
Met up with some SKP’s who pointed me in the direction of the solo group, and I went over and joined up. Nice people. Happy hour at 4 pm and met a few more and got invited to a Campfire at Texas Springs. Nice to know that there will be others on the road that I can say howdy too.
Big wind last night. The dogs were a bit nervous and the trailer shook quite a bit, but at daylight we were still right side up and the only thing missing was a chair bag. Will look for it this morning. Coffee with the Solo group at 8 am, Coffee cancelled due to dust storm. Very windy. Someone said that all roads to the north were closed and to the south at Badwater there was standing water on the road. Rain a bit today, maybe flowers later???
Nov 10, 2008 - Nice looking day today… I will head down to Pahrump to get repairs done to plumbing and awning. Love the fact that I can walk again without too much discomfort.

A Couple of Starts - But on my way

October 26 – Aki the wonder dog went missing, and after 3 days I thought my companion of the past 8 years was wolf fodder. After driving all over the countryside and total neighbourhood help I decided I would get on the road with the “brat”, Schatzie. Left Salt Prairie October 29 heading for Kelowna. Pulled into Little Fort about 830 that night and decided to stay till morning. Called Ingrid to let her know and was told that Aki showed up at home, tired and hungry but with no explanation of where he had been at 6 that evening.
Ingrid suggested I come on to Kelowna and her and I would drive back to Alberta to pick up the hobo. Thank goodness for good friends, the 2200 km trip took two days, but with both driving was not so bad. Aki was quite upset at the fact that we had left without him and let me know.
After waiting till the USA elected their first black president (Yes he can) I left Kelowna on Nov 5th. The Okanagan Highway was closed around Peachland so had to go by hiway 33. Ran into snow at the top but the road was mostly clear. Crossed the border without any problems at Osoyoos and got as far as Kennewick WA the first night.
2nd night after a day of rain and snow was at Jackpot NV behind the Cactus Pete Casino. $13 per night and wonderful hot shower.
Tonight – Nov 7, - at Tonopah after a days drive over the “loneliest road in America” – You can see that from the pics. Think I only met about 20 cars all day. Thank goodness no breakdowns.

Retirement - or - Please no more snow!!!!

Getting ready to roll, plan on leaving Canada around Nov 1, 2008 and returning in April 2009.

First stop will be Kelowna to make sure sister Patty is settled then on to Death Valley and the 49er encampment.