Al's breakfast ain't got nothin on Delys' diner

Sure, they have a great location in dinkytown with an equally enticing menu, but look what we have at Delys' diner...

The breakfast menu is just as mouth watering:

poached eggs

Jimmy Deans sausage

hash browns

English muffin (with cherry or apricot jam)

Cappuccino made with freshly ground Columbia beans topped with whip cream

Then it's on to lunch:

Tabbouleh with green olives

Petra chips with roasted red pepper hummus.

Apples with sharp cheddar and walnuts

Fresh fruit compote

A Pellegrino to cleanse the palette, cin cin!

Dinner includes:

Tossed baby greens salad with a home made Dijon mustard vinaigrette, honey toasted sunflower seeds and crostini

Mesquite smoked pork tenderloin

Roasted carrots or russets or both

Fresh green beans with Parma and onion crisps

And a chocolate gelato cone for desert

Meals can be taken inside or alfresco, with or without entertainment (watching our cat sleep) and a coyote quartet accompaniment (maybe, if they are in the mood). Bon fire optional. Beautiful sunsets usually occur but locations may vary based on our travel plans.

No tipping and for that matter, no charge.

Tomorrow night, who knows, Alaskan cod tacos with mango salsa, sour cream, guacamole ...

We'll see, stay tuned.

So close, and yet so far

What is a cat to do? Those hummers are so close, Blue can almost taste them. Teeth chattering and little squeaks let you know, this just isn't fair! Look away little Blue, look away.

Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air...

Last night we had a nice steady light rain which by the way, has an amazing sound in the RV. This morning the desert has a smell like no other reminding me of that famous song, Hotel California, by the Eagles. Funny how memories always connect with music for me. Ok, this is not what Don Henely had in mind but it has an interesting meaning that can go different ways in translation. The word "colitas" means literally, "Little Tails", so the slang, "colitas", (referenced in the song) means the burning of little marijuana 'tails/buds'. No folks, we were not doing any of that this morning, it was just the rain on the parched desert and I taking liberties with my title.

Walking the rim of the wash I had the good fortune of watching a mother burrow feeding her foal as the herd nibbled near by. Little tail flipping with joy. I could hear the burrows talking last night as they walked the wash along with a few coyote calls for an a-cappella wilderness song. I'm sure they could smell the rain coming in, and today, those dried up plants have a special taste with the fresh coating of rain.

The air this morning is crisp and clear with visibility at its best. It layers the mountains stretching off into the distance like the torn paper sculptures I made as a young girl with my mother. To the south, we watched as fog on Mittry lake rolled off with the gentle breeze. Stunning morning.

Friends flying in from afar

As soon as I put up the hummingbird feeder, the guests arrived. The show is almost nonstop, all day with these delicate little hummers flying in then swooshing over the cliff edge like a wave and back down into the wash only to be replaced by another. Today while we were turning the rig they still kept coming, Gary couldn't believe it, he thought maybe the little birds were afraid we were leaving and trying to get that last drink before the well ran away.

These window feeders are the best. I originally got one for the rig thinking that Blue would get a kick out of it but he could give a care for the show that happens just inches from his face. Cats getting soft with his good life I tell you.

Dinner on Mesa 3 for 30

Christmas dinner on Mesa 3 (the furthest point out in the Northwest Territories) for around 25-30 people was a hit. It was a day filled with baking pies, just two from me, eating with our newly made friends, a sunset fire and a great view of the full moon. Excellent!

Hiking the gold mines

Lava flows are fond at the base of the mountains and very difficult to traverse.
One hike we have yet to take is up into the Chocolate mountains where people still mine for gold. They actually do find some gold but it's not the rush and few make enough to pay for the winter along with all the gear they need to purchase, nothing to say of the hard work it takes to extract the gold.

In one mined out area we found what looks to be a set of pet graves. Not sure if it's for real, but with headstones painted up with names like Tiger, Mews and White foot we assume these are for pets? Or maybe very small people from outer space. I need to be sensitive on how I use the word aliens around these parts. At any rate, we can now say, been-there-done-that. Won't hurry back

The death of a river

Senator Wash Lake sits behind a large dike that separates it from Squaw Lake and the Colorado River. There is an intake along the road over the dike and it is used to pump water into the lake. The lake can also be fed by the very large wash, where the name for this area. originates When the local farmers are in need of water to irrigate their new crops, the water is pumped back out and the normally dirt fields are flooded.

A level in the lake is for the most part maintained but the lake can go up or down on any given day depending on the local agricultural needs. The rise can be significant and for those that are camping along this body of water there is a horn that will blow when the lake level is about to go up. The horn is also to warn those campers that they may meed to move quickly to keep their land yachts from becoming sea worthy. These days, there is not a lot of pumping into the lake and after a very dry season, much of the vegetation around the lake is strained. But even a small amount of rain has an amazing effect on what you would think was a dead landscape. Many of my photos show nothing but dirt and rock (especially in my last post down in the wash area) but the last time we were here, this baron landscape was full of the color green. Small plants spring to life with just a little moisture.

The river is an all together different story. At one time, the river emptied into the Gulf of California, between mainland Mexico and the Baja Peninsula. But drought, climate change and increased demand for water are the reasons the iconic river no longer reaches the sea. A view from Google Earth shows where the river should be but today, only a mud delta remains. In May of 2014 a water pulse was released to study the effects and within days after the release, the then wet delta sprang to life with vegetation. When we take a drive around the countryside we are noticing many crops that are new in just the past few years we have been coming here. For several years there have been vegetable crops grown in this area to feed the growing demand, but now we see corn, hay and many other crops that are high water consumers.

Life on the edge!

Blues favorite walking experience is to go to the edge of the cliff just feet from our rig and act like he wants to run down the steep incline. Not for me but you know how boys are. There is a nice path that winds down to the bottom of the wash from our site and it is the only one from our mesa and few know of it's location. It cuts down on the walking by at least 1/2 hour and saves our lungs from the hefty amount of dust kicked up along the road. No burrows sightings yet but there is no shortage of what they leave behind.

The shortest day of the year

Winter solstice

The shortest day of the year (Well almost, it floats from the 21-23 based on the year) and the day we move up onto the Mesa. Our two weeks is up at the lake but we will be back down for another two as soon as our allotted time away is up. The BLM wants people to experience the lake so they specify 14 days in, followed by 14 days out. And even though we love the waterfront location we also like the Northwest Territories on the Mesa as well.

But this is not an area for the average RVer. Example, we are at least a mile from the watering stations and dump. There's no power, no water, no sewer or even garbage pickup out here. Wind can be an issue and with wind, dust so if you are a neat freak, forgetaboutit! We are on the end of a long finger that drops off on both sides several hundred feet down to the wash. For the first time, we actually have cell and tv. But MAN, what a view! We have a site large enough to build a house on and if this were Tucson, this would be a very expensive piece of real estate. The sunsets are spectacular over the Chocolate mountains just behind us and the same is true for the sunrise over the lake in front of our rig.

We have already met our neighbors, they are very nice people. And it is silent out here. No whirling dervishes (generators) for 10 hours at a time because most people out this far have solar. Plus, it is a very different type of people that wish to be this remote. It's funny in a way, because this group likes the privacy but they are very social and welcoming. They watch out for each other without getting into your business. They are often times, people that try hard to conserve, many are gardeners back home and to my delight, we hit on the occasional foodies that contribute to interesting epicurean discussions or they are musicians or hot rod builders... Such an interesting mix for our winter playlist!

What? No Christmas party?...

...No problem

We might be out on BLM land in the middle of no where, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in style! Just look at these campers with their toads (tow vehicles for you non RVers, all decked out like santa's elves, rain deer and a few that are just bright unidentifiable orbs.

Each evening from Sunday through Christmas they start their journey across the area, which is vast. Last night we were down by the water and they made a showing at 6:30. Tonight we are up in what is known as the Northwest Territories so we Watched them go by after 7:30. But that is OK, you know, what ever works!

Holiday hiking

I'm not sure the distance of our walk around the reservoir because we always forget to bring the GPS. Depending on the water level it takes us between 2-4 hours. At this time the water level is low so we can take a shortcut across and from the looks of it, this is heavenly traveled by our hooves friends as well. They always seem to know the easy routes but unlike us, they do not car if their feet get a little muddy.

On the other side of the reservoir we found some beautiful camp sites but I don't think we will venture out this way because the roads have some significant dips that would cause us to bottom out, still, for some, this is a very peaceful place to camp. Far away from the whirling dervishes (that is the name we have given those folks that rely heavily on their generators). We are lucky, the solar panels give us plenty of amps to do most everything we need to enjoy our stay. No baking Christmas cookies but we will survive.

A Bethlehem moment

As I sat down to have my morning coffee I looked up to see these 5 little burrows standing on the hill near our campground. I was thinking the headline would be "king of the hill" but as I was about to take this shot, I noticed the cross of stones on the hill side and the moment took on a different feeling altogether. Touch the photo to enlarge it. A Bethlehem moment was born, at least in my mind so I moved up the road just a bit to get the better lighting on the cross and the rest is now my Christmas e-card to everyone! Got to love it when the emotions take over. Merry Christmas.

I'm so pretty!

This is a perfect place to release those Easter ducks you gave the kids, great weather and plenty of food, in fact, it's the good life if you are a duck. These lovely Miscovy ducks are not native, someone has set them free and a few have hooked up with the wild ducks, and what better place to save them from the dinner table. And they know they are the fanciest ducks in town.

The locals

Some are asses!

Improvements

Because we come here every other year there are always changes and many are for the better. A big draw to stay on this patch of BLM is the nice dumping station and plenty of water. An example of change for the better are the new islands for water fill. The new arrangement makes quick work of the task and can accommodate several rigs at one time. But this year, there are no lines or waiting. Even hurricane hill which is usually packed, has open spaces. There are fewer people this year and we wonder if the week Canadian dollar is having an impact.