Adventures in being there…

Last post, I went from Tucson to Quartzsite to Preferred RV in Pahrump. 

Arrived in Quartzsite March 15th. Had my usual Silly Al’s pizza. Couldn’t find any way to pay for the night at the RV park so that was free. Random guy said the RV park doesn’t care so next morning headed north to Pahrump. I’ve stayed there occasionally over the years as it’s so close to Silly Al’s.

I stayed at Preferred RV Resort from 16th of March until the 4th of May. Didn’t take a single photo as I’ve posted 10’s of photos of the resort and Pahrump in the past. Really didn’t do much but stay home, watch TV and monitor the weather up north along my intended route to Milton-Freewater.

Eventually the weather warmed up enough that it was looking good along the entire route with just one overnight spot showing near freezing overnight. I have tried traveling this route with two nights layover but I am not in a hurry so these days I make it a 3 night trip. I’ve got my favorite places to stay and I’m a member of Preferred RV Resort in Pahrump so my expenses are low. As a member for instance, I pay $350/yr for the privilege of a guaranteed RV parking spot and then it’s $4/night for 35 nights followed by $17/nite thereafter. If I count the yearly fee into the first 35 nights, it comes out to $14/night. Pretty cool savings as from then on for the rest of the year it’s only $17/nite for members. I’ve been a member for 10 years I think? Stop there 2X per year for a month or two. They have all sorts of amenities like a swimming pool. And they have a carpenter shop available.

Stayed in Pahrump waiting for the weather to clear up on the northbound route to Milton-Freewater. My big concern was snow on the roadways and there were two big storms up that way dumping some snow along my route. I stayed in Pahrump until May 4th. I didn’t do much as the weather wasn’t always agreeable.

Anyway, after staying there for a month, the weather finally warmed up enough for me to continue north and I took some photos because, well, I just love these huge valleys. I did stop in Beatty at the candy and nut place and got $50 of sugar free candy. Sorry about the bugs on the windshield but I got them off in Battle Mountain.

I have stayed at one of the RV parks here in Goldfield…spent 3 days exploring the town. But that was years ago, this time I’m just passing through.

Another few pics of my favorite views.

And a sudden appearance of thunder clouds plus rain. I expected it but for the entire 3 day trip the winds were at my back helping push me along. Saved some fuel. Most of the trip was under clear skies though.

Stayed at the RV park in Battle Mountain after filling up the RV tank. Very expensive. $5.49/gallon. Which was like $0.50/gal more then back in March. But I’d only paid $3.80/gallon back in December.

Next morning was nice and sunny, with a trailing wind, for this leg of the journey. Destination was John Day, Oregon. I like stopping there for the Outpost’s excellent meatloaf dinner.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a few years you may notice the new growth in the wildfire area. Oregon had a bad season a few years ago that ended up in the national news the fires were so extensive. The forest is slowly coming back but Oregon is still in a drought.

All settled in at the county RV park in John Day. It’s up to $50/night.

Unhook the car and drive downtown to the Outpost.

Had an Eagle Cap IPA and ordered dinner along with another to take home. I end up getting 4 meals out of those.

Another couple pics the next morning and off on the last leg of the journey.

The hills give way to huge wide valleys.

And then back into the not very high mountains. There’s a nice stream though.

Arrived in Milton Freewater at the RV park here, I won’t give the name or link because they’ve blocked others from staying here. I’m still allowed to stay here though. There’s only 3 of us here now. They’re re-purposing the land for manufactured homes.

First thing I noticed when I drove up to my regular RV space was that my two heatpumps I’d left at the back of the property were missing. The two were covered with a silver tarp when I left with a ‘Property of…’ note taped to it, the park grounds keeper was aware of them and allowed me to leave them there and was supposed to watch them but didn’t see anyone picking them up. They weighed 225 lbs each so it would have taken a couple big guys and a truck to steal them but that’s what happened. I filed a police report.

And then I contacted the parks staff about me moving back in and they came back with the new monthly rate of $609! Last year it was $470. My neighbors are paying $477 this year I’m told. Because they are grandfathered in, but I’m not because I left for 6 months. GAH!

And then last week, my daughter tells me she is breaking up with her BF. They bought a house 4 years ago just 4 blocks away with room to park my RV but I’ve never stayed there. Anyway, the BF just wants out of the mortgage and I’ve been looking for a place to buy anyway so I’m buying the place. My daughter can’t afford to stay there on her own so once he’d left she’d end up homeless, but since I’m buying it, she can stay. Worked out pretty well for us.

But that’s what is going on here as I deal with lenders and an RE attorney to get the BFs name off the mortgage. I’ll not likely be traveling much in the future once I have a home to take care of. I have grown weary of it anyway and was looking for a way to end my RV traveling journey long before this opportunity presented itself. It has been 22 years of full timing and other escapades. I’ve pretty much seen all I want to see over those years, even spent 2 months touring Europe. Sometimes I’ve made multiple trips to places like the Grand Canyon. I’ll never regret my years living and traveling in two RVs and my years on the road.

I’ll maintain the blog for a few years most likely and of course I have a lot of repairs I need to do to this ’02 Winnebago Journey to get it ready to sell most likely. But eventually, I’ll retire the blog.

Thanks for reading all these years.

Jim