Friday, Saturday, & Sunday

We’ve been real busy the last three days helping with the Escapees Boot Camp here at North Ranch, Congress, AZ.  I’ve been the kitchen coordinator.  People said I was the head cook.  Nope.  I considered myself more of a planner, timer & coordinator.  I did very little cooking.  I did have some special ideas that were incorpriated in the cooking of the food.  Bottom line – all of the kitchen staff did an outstanding job and we all got the job done of cooking for about 90 people.  We had biscuit with sausage gravy, blueberry pancakes,  scrambled eggs, hot pulled pork on two types of buns, my special cowboy beans, sausage patties, bacon, hot oatmeal, cold cerals, fruit, pastries and a few other things I can’t think of over the course of 3 meals.  Helpings were very large.  Nobody went hungrey.  The students and staff loved each meal for sure. 

Yesterday, Sunday, Mark put on a pizza party for the kitchen staff and instructors.  Carol’s 65th birthday was also added as a surprize party for her.  She got sang too and even presents.  It was really fun for all.  It’s been a lot of hours of “fun working” and was appreciated by all.  Thanks guys for being yourselves and doing an outstanding job.

All is well….

See ya…..

Pace Picking Up

The last two days have been a lot of little things going on in getting ready for the Escapees Boot Camp this weekend. 

Wednesday, Mark, George, Rick and myself went into Phoenix and got food for this event of about 70-80 some people.  We filled up a pickup and car full of food.  Mark wouldn’t let me get steaks so I got 8 pork butts.  I will cook them Saturday.

I got some time to fix my one large compartment door.  The wind did some damage to it two years ago and it’s just got where it really needed to be fixed right and now.  Since Ed had the right tools (rivet gun) it was time to fix it right and I did. 

I also removed three of my four outside water filters.  Our inside water pressure was low and removing them corrected it.  I will change to new filter inserts another time. 

I also changed the heavy duty safety cables on our hitch/tow bar for the car.  They’ve been doing damage to the car where they hook up to.  Ed had some extra cables that fit a lot better.  We traded.

Thursday evening it was time to go out and cut loose.  I think we did.  All of these vehicles are full of staff and helpers, about 20 or so.  We’re stagging so we can caravan to the local Mexican resturant in Wickenburg.

Here we all are deciding what to order.

The owner came out and sang Happy Birthday to Carol.  He loves to sing to his guests.

Other people were taking pictures.

They finally caught me feeding my face.

I think these two wanted to gulp down these cold drinks.  That’s George in the background.  He’s glad someone else is drinking and not him.

We all survied the night and made it home…. I think.

Carol’s Mom is in Baltimore and had to go into the  hospital.  Not really sure what it is.  Carol’s three brothers are there.  We are just waiting for a few days and will decide if we need to go out there.

See ya………….

RV Slide Out Gears - JUNK

Today was kinda of just do little things and start planning to cook for the Escapees Boot Camp.  The Escapees have a real nice commercial type kitchen here at North Ranch.  It’s all available to cook for the Boot Camp attendees.  Mark & I decided what would be on the menu for two breakfasts and one dinner.  Breakfast is breafast.  Dinner well that is another story.  We’re gonna do a pulled pork dinner with cole slaw and beans, etc.   Myself along with some helpers will be preping and cooking 8 pork butts.  We won’t be heavy on the spices.

Carol & I didn’t do a whole bunch.  It was friggin windy as hell in the morning.  I did get in a 20 minute walk but won’t do that again when it’s wendy. 

Our large slide out gear brackets are coming apart again.  Swintech gearing – pure cheap junk!!!!!  I would not buy another RV that has ANY Swintech products on it.  PERIOD… I seriously do not think Winnebago or Swintech will stand behind them anymore.  We shall see in a couple of weeks.  Plus I got an engine light that stays on in the dash.  We will have to go to Cummins in Phoenix to check out when we leave here in a couple of weeks. 

Oh, I forgot to take pictures of here at North Ranch.  Maybe tomorrow.

See ya……..

RVing Is Great As Usual

Our last morning in Quartzsite.  Steve & Laura fixed a mighty good breakfast for everyone.  Thanks guys.  It was really appreciated.

Here’s George dusting us all as he left way too fast in our camping area.

Here’s some pictures along the way to North Ranch in Congress, AZ.

We got set up in Ed & Sandy’s lot.  Full hook up and 50 AMP.  That’s great.  We heard the landlords provide all meals too!

Later that evening Ed/Sandy, Denny/Susie, Mark and us piled into Denny & Susie’s Fun Mobile.  We all went to the local Tastee Freeze for Pizza.  Yes, it’s pizza and it’s right up there with Silly Al’s.  Ed said the crust on the giant pizza was too thin for him.  He was out voted.

All is well.

See ya……..

Last Full Day In Quartzsite

We started our last full day in Quartzsite by eating at the Bad Boys resturant.  There were 7 of us and not much room inside.

So we all ate outside with the pig

Then Mark, Carol & I did a little browsing around in a flea market.  Not crowded at all

The rest of the day was a quiet one.  People started to pack up some.  Some even got SMART. The car that is….

Where did it go!!

It was another good night at the camp fire.  Everybody was out and the fire was big.  The final group (including me) retired at 10:30 PM.

All is well..

See ya….

RVing

This is a RV water pump. 

The wires run into a little switch centered here.  It went bad.  So 1st thing this morning I went to the Gambler store in Quartzsite for a part.  The Gambler is an old store that has little of everything new & used dealing with (dealing - pun intended) RVs.  They didn’t have my part so I bought a whole new pump.  I went back to our RV with a new pump in hand.  I took the part I needed off the new pump and installed it on the old water pump.  You ask why didn’t I just install the whole new pump?  Because out in the desert you don’t do more than you have to because if something else brakes then you are in hotter water.  Maybe down the road I will.  We now have running water and we are fine.

People have been asking about our fake fires.  Well, here’s the brand that Mark, Ed and I have and highly recommend it if you are in the market for one.  Suggest Amazon.

While I got “stuff” out, here’s the Carry Out sat dome that we got from Bill & Jan.  It will go in the Class C.

We decided to move on down to the RV Driving School rally.  On the way down we stopped at Don & Sharon’s place for a momment.  They had some Pressure Pro (tire monitors) parts that I could possibly use on the little RV.  Thanks guys.

We arrived at mile post 98 1/2 and drove into the desert again.  We found everybody in the original area that we use to use.  We use to host this rally years ago.  Here’s the main group.

Here we are on the back side of the group.  Plenty of scenery.

This guy stopped by to show off his trike.  He’s been working on it for 24 years.  It’s a keeper for sure.

Oh No.  The three Ameigos’

Yes, Carol doesn’t have her walking cast on.  She just started walking around a little bit without the cast on.

Now it’s Pot Luck time…..

Now this is someone he likes smoking pork butt like Mark & I do.  He’s showing us how to eat smoked pulled pork.  I had some then I had some more.  It had a real nice smoke flavor to it without the heavy spices.  It’s a thumbs up for usre!

Here we all are chowing down.

Then it was Mead tasting time.  Those who wanted to got to taste three types of Mead.  Plus there was some of Mark’s home brew beer and tap beer from Silly Al’s Pizza joint.

Some prizes were given out by George & Valerie plus Mark got a special badge.  It says he is the Intoxacator I think.

Then later the fire got going and some more “tasting” was going on.  At least that’s what I remember I think.

No more pictures were taken to protect the identity of some.  We won’t mention George’s name here.

My eyesight was a little blurry from the dust and smoke!  Thus I couldn’t see the clock but I think it was about 11 PM.

Now I’ve been up since 5 AM doing this blog and reading a few others.

This morning it will be off to the Bad Boys resturnat for breakfast.

See ya……………….