Upgrades, and a Road-Runner

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

Not only did I get to spend time with the entire family, and stuff my face with all the traditional Thanksgiving day fixings, but was also able to finish a long overdue project.

 Another solar panel, and 2 more batteries were part of my project. Now the Turtle boat a whopping 310 watts of power upon the roof, and 482 amp hours of storage. Certainly not enough power for your average house dweller. However it is more then enough to suit my daily needs. Maybe even add another gadget, or two? 

Upgraded battery bank. Not exactly up to code, but passed my inspection.

Meep Meep! Roadrunner video I managed to capture while staying at the Casino. Thanks for visiting! Good Day! 

Back in the desert

Actually been back in Tucson nearly a month now. Candy had gotten a bladder infection, and the folks needed a house sitter, so I decided to head to the desert a few weeks early, and I am glad to report Candy's infection is gone, and all six of the critters I was responsible for are alive and well.

Now, that I have very briefly summed up my whereabouts about the past 3 weeks. I am currently staying at my favorite Casino here in Tucson. Which is always a welcomed change of pace, after spending the last 7 1/2 months in the forest. 

Candy has plenty of area to walk, and its nice being a mere 2 miles from a grocery store for a change. Plus the Casino supplies plenty of entertainment for a weary nomad. Best part is my favorite poker machine has paid me $39 not to bad for a few weeks rent. Here's a few more pics......

 Turtles current parking lot home

 Parking lot wildlife

 Coyotes seen on Candys morning hikes. Of course they only come out when the good cameras at home.

Honorable mention Flash the desert tortoise was one of the six critters I was responsible while I was house sitting, and definitely the lowest maintenance. He's about as laid back as one can get!

Thanks for visiting! Good Day!

Thanks!

Sometime during the wee hours of the morning my very little corner of the internet surpassed the 100,000 visitor marker. Not nearly as popular as google yet, but a small milestone non the less. Pretty sure most of you visit to check on Candy's adventures, but whatever the reason I just wanted to say thanks to all of you, not only have you inspired me to go out, and see more. You have also helped put a few gallons of gas in the tank, which is liquid gold for any Nomad! Thanks again!

Living on the Edge

Arrived back down in the desert on Tuesday. Cold weather finally chased me outta the high country, but here's a few more pics up in Rim Country. I've also included a map of 3 of the free campgrounds in the area that have restrooms not always in the most desirable condition, but hey its free, the rest of the area around the rim is all dispersed camping. Enjoy

                                                                                 

The Abyss 

Camping on the edge

The map above should be scrollable, and you can click on the pinpoints to receive more info. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!

The Shepherd

Shepherding. Often referred to as America's worst job, or the job nobody wants. Several articles online report it as a miserable life. Having to endure long harsh winters on wind blown prairies in complete isolation. Living in make shift trailers with no heat,  running water, and leaking roofs all for a measly $600 to $900 a month working 12 to 16 hours a day. Now that may be true in other parts of the country, or maybe its just another false media portrayal , but whatever the case I stumbled upon a happy herder.

  

 Meet Sebastian, and his sidekick Rambo. If your a long time reader you've met him before. Sebastian has been a sheepherder for 9 years. Now I don't know all the details, but id say hes living the good life. In the summer months he spends his days roaming the cool forests with his flock of 1500 sheep, and in the winter spends them his meandering the alfalfa fields in the desert. 

Rambo does most the work running from side to side making sure there aren't any strays. As far as I could understand due to the language barrier Sebastian's staff is used to grab the sheep's leg in case they need to be administered any injection.

For his time he is compensated 700 a month. Provided with water, propane, living quarters, and I am pretty sure he said all the sheep he could eat. Seems to me to be a fair deal hes probably saving more a month then the average American. Here's a few more pics

Flock of 1500 as far as the eye can see.

Guardians of the flock you approach the sheep anytime day or not and you will be confronted by theses two 

His home. Not quite the ritz  carlton, but is a great solution to live a debt free lifestyle. Maybe Sebastian can go help solve our current set of problems in D.C. 

Anyhow, Still dwelling up on the Mogollon rim temps are going into the the 20's tonight, then will be warming back up for another week, or two. Almost time for my winter descent down the mountain. Dont want this to happen again! Thanks for visiting. Good Day!

Nomadic Beginning's

Several weeks of sitting on "The Mesa" being surrounded by private property was starting to give me the willies. Decided it was time for a change of scenery. After pondering upon my current options, which needed to be within a reasonable distance of the vet, so that Candy could still be able to receive her shots. There was only one location that had beckoned to me.

The picture above surely doesn't appear to significant, but it carries much sentimental value. It is the very spot where my nomadic adventure begin over 3 years ago I had discovered this spot while turning around to go back to a pay campground that I'd passed, because I was still being very weary of the whole concept that a person could camp in the forest for free. Figured it was time to take a stab at it, and I was hooked!

Not only was this the spot I discovered that one could live rent free, it was also where I reached a major crossroads, when I knew the decision to live a simple life was the right one. Lets face it resigning from a job of 16 years, and getting rid of everything you own, to move into a van, and live in the forest. Will certainly make any fair minded being question there own judgement.

Freedom is what I found that day, and still find daily. No longer being tied to mortgage, or hefty car payment not to mention all the other bills associated with my previous lifestyle. Now. If money ever becomes a issue a simple part-time job will suffice, no more 50 hour weeks just to make ends meet. So if any of you readers are considering taking the plunge into a nomadic lifestyle I say go for it! I didn't do it tell m mid 30's, and regret not doing it sooner, but enough about my freedom speech. Here's a few more pics of the area.

 Current camp down the road from my sentimental camp, which could now be called rookie camp to close to the road, and not nearly enough solar!

 General pic of sites in the area

"Big Ears" Abert's squirrel  eating a mushroom a troublesome creature to photograph.

 Reminiscence of the mushroom that was thrown at me from the guy above. Needless to say he/she was a good shot and hit me square in the head.

 Even have commodes here 3 camps in the area have them. The area is Forest Lakes Az. Plenty of free camping Ill do a write up on the specific areas later.

 Mountain Meadow

Ponderosa pine

Candy always excited in the pines. The Adequan shots definitely help her overall mobility, but she still a bit slow getting up and down. Unless there is ham involved then there seems to be no pain whatsoever. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!

Staying Put

Exactly what Ill be doing for awhile. Candy's arthritis has been getting worse. Decided it was time to take some action, so for 8 weeks she will be receiving Adequan injections into her legs to hopefully ease the pain. through her golden years. In the past shes had a tree fall on her, 3 leg surgeries, been confronted by a Bobcat, and been bitten by Rattler, so a mere 8 injections will be a piece of cake.

Happy Labor Day! Labor Day weekend has always marked the end of summer, and this year for me as well. My summer exploring the mountains will come to an end. I will be staying on "The Mesa" (the name which I've giving to my property/homebase) until my descent into the valley this fall.

Candy 3 days after her Rattlesnake 2009 Craggy wash Lake Havasu City.

 Fellow Nomad, and friend visits the Mesa in his converted Snap on tool truck. Definitely a comfy apartment on wheels. Right down to the back patio. 

Of course these guys are still running amuck/amok on the Mesa. That should do it for now Ill report any excitement that happens out here, but to tell the truth there isn't much of that out here, which is a good thing. Thanks for visiting. Good Day!