My fierce little protector

We are back at Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico.  When I drive through their gates, it feels like I'm home again.  I snagged a really good site - there are so many good sites here, but I haven't tried this one yet.  It's completely level and on the edge of the canyon with the beautiful creek far below.  I can't see it from the campsite, but next week I'm hiking down there with a guide.

I have some photos from my last stay that I didn't post, and I'm going to put them in today and then start fresh next time.


Riding through the campground.

We only had an hour drive from Gallup back to Bluewater, but I was so over staying where I was, I decided to travel part way back last night and overnight at the Pilot gas station in Jamestown, NM.

I thought it was kind of strange that I had no problem sleeping, whether in Wal-Mart right on the edge of their parking lot by a busy road, or last night with all the big rigs around and RVs close by on both sides.  I slept like a log the whole time I was in Gallup.

Airtop sleeping room - it comes with a ladder.

I woke up at 6 am this morning and jumped up, got ready and behind the wheel.  I didn't even let Katie out - of course it was pretty early for her.  We had about a 40 minute drive and came through the gates right after 7 am.

This little squirrel/chipmunk (?) came barreling along, jumped up on the wood retaining wall and stopped on a dime when he saw the big squirrel on the other side.  He turned around and scooted off in the other direction. :)

I'm not sure about this 14 days in the park, then six days out.  I decided this is a pretty silly way to live.  It's like living in a home you love and having to leave every two weeks to stay in a place that is borderline unsafe.  After six days, you get to return to the wonderful home.   But now that I'm back, it all looks a little different because I'm back and I love it here. 

I don't think I was ever in any danger while I was in Gallup, but I have to tell you, it gets pretty tiresome being constantly approached for money, or to buy something, etc.  I was doing laundry yesterday and a man came up to me as I was loading the dryer trying to sell me some CDs.  Good grief, a little privacy please.  My delicates were visible!  I was coming out of Family Dollar and was approached to buy jewelry, twice in that same strip mall on different days. It seemed that wherever I was, I was considered fair game, and you know what?  I got really tired of it.  I know people are having a hard time, but stay out of my space.

I debated about posting this, but decided to tell you about a couple of experiences Katie and I had in Gallup.  I wanted to wait until we were back at the lake, though.


Gnarled, twisted tree trunk on a juniper tree. 

On Tuesday afternoon Katie and I were in the parking lot when she had to go outside for a little potty break.  I put her leash on, locked up The Palms, and as we were walking away from the rig, I saw three men talking nearby.  As soon as they saw us, they approached.  Katie was on high alert. Two of them kept walking and one started our way.  They were all well dressed in jeans, boots and cowboy hats, but were part of the group that hangs around panhandling.

As the man came near, Katie ran toward him, stretching the leash to it's fullest length, and she went ballistic.  If I had let her go, I have no doubt she would have attacked the man.  I've never seen her like that before.  He continued walking toward me with his hand out, asking for money.  I held out my arm with my palm facing him in a "stop" position and said to him, "She won't let you get ANY closer, please STAY THERE."  He tried to talk to Katie and befriend her, but Katie was having none of it.  Barking, snarling and showing teeth, she was scary and held her ground.  He finally smiled and walked away.  I was so proud of Katie!  There was no way she was letting that man near me.  I didn't sense any danger, but she must have.

Here's our beautiful Great Blue Heron fishing in the lake. I don't usually see them wading in water this deep - his feathers look wet.

As soon as he was far enough away from us, she came right back to me.  She got lots of pets for her good job as a protector.

Later we went back to Wal-Mart where I did some shopping.  I wheeled my purchases back to The Palms, and parked the cart outside our door.  I opened the door and latched it so I could bring in the bags.  I saw a toothless, dirty man approaching the rig, again with his hand out.  He was smiling, but still, my door was open and THIS IS MY HOME, Gosh Darn It!  I finally lost it, and yelled at him.  "I don't have ANY money for you - LEAVE ME ALONE!  GO AWAY!"  Poor guy, he got more than he bargained for, that's for sure.  I guess all the anger that was building over the last five days because of these people making me feel not as safe as I wanted to feel -  it just spontaneously poured out.  I was kind of like Katie earlier in the day.  I was fine until then, but when he was approaching my open door, I blew.  I realize that I am fortunate to have such a nice life, and not everyone is as lucky.  But, !#%*, I had had enough.

Butterfly in our campsite.

Okay, deep breath...  Afterward, but quite a bit afterward, I felt bad. I just don't lose control like that, but I think the pressure was building for a few days, and that poor man got the brunt of it.

I'm not sure they are homeless, because they were never around at night.  They arrive in the parking lots when the store opens and leave around dinner time.  They all come in from the same direction, and leave the parking lot in the late afternoon to go in the direction they entered.  I'd love to follow them to see what kind of car they are going back to. One man sat down on the curb in front of The Palms one day and pulled a wad of bills out of his pocket.  He unrolled it and counted it, then put it back in his pocket.  Judging from the size of that money roll, he's probably got a larger monthly income than I do.

Here's our campsite bunny keeping a close eye on the intruding squirrel.  The rabbit won again - he didn't attack, but the squirrel ran off.

So, that's my story, and a bit of a rant, I guess, about the "homeless" beggars.  I know that phrase is not very PC, but I'm really tired of having to PCize everything. I decided a while ago to use real words, the honest words, and not be PC.

I think I should definitely thank Wal-Mart and Home Depot for letting me stay in their parking lots for that long with not a word from them.  They never bugged me at all. The security, camera and lights at Wal-Mart are great.  The free, very fast wi-fi at Home Depot was a real gift, because that's what I did all day and I really appreciated it.  Nights were good and I felt fine sleeping at Wal-Mart, it was only the days when the beggars swarmed that were iffy, and we stayed in The Palms most of the time.

If I decide to do this again, I'll stop one night at the Pilot gas station, then the Indian Casino, two nights at Wal-Mart, then head back, Indian Casino, Pilot and then Bluelake.  And stay away from other parking lots and strip malls where the homeless gather. Or I'll head in the other direction and stay at the Wal-Mart in Grants.  I know that city better, and know of different places I can park during the day like the library, or post office, or maybe even the police department.  It's much smaller, and you don't see people hanging around like in Gallup, which is a much bigger place.

I'll leave you with a beautiful sunset from my last visit here.

As I write this, it's storming - rain, lightening and thunder all over the place.  I love it!

From me and Katie, happy as clams at Bluewater Lake, have a great Thursday, everyone!  :)

Wordless Wednesday... Fat Katie

Did Katie gain 20 pounds?  LOL

From me and Fat Katie, have a great Wednesday, everyone!  :)

PS - see comments.

Blacktop camping, and wet t-shirt time

We've been spending time in Gallup, NM, waiting out our time until we return to Bluewater Lake State Park.  I have to say it's interesting to watch what goes on in parking lots.  The nights are quiet, but the days are busy, for sure, and for three days in a row there were police involved activities. 

This was down the street from the Wal-Mart; I was spending some time in a parking lot  when I noticed a police car. I watched them for a bit, then up comes this Gallup Community Service Aid van, and then the police started arresting someone.   He was a very large man, and they checked him out, then put him in the van.

There is a locked cage inside the van, and the prisoner was put in the cage.  When it was all buttoned up, the van drove off, and then the police car left.

The next day, late afternoon, I was in The Palms in Wal-Mart's parking lot when I noticed a Gallup Police car in the lot, with it's lights flashing.  I never did learn what was going on, but we ended up with three police cars, one sheriff vehicle and one security car, all with lights flashing.  A lot of activity was happening, and they were getting things out of the trunk of one of the police cars.  One man wearing street clothes was talking on a large sat phone.

I would have loved to know what was happening.  I'm very nosy, but from afar.  I don't want to appear nosy, you know?  So I never get close to the action and usually don't find out what happened.

Then today, a series of sirens sounded close-by. I looked across the street, and there were emergency vehicles in front of Wal-Mart.

I've had people knock on my door twice so far, asking for a handout.  Both pretty early in the morning.  The first time I had the generator running and was blowing my hair dry, so I ignored it.  That was at Wal-Mart.  The second time was at Home Depot, and the woman saw me through the windshield, so I couldn't ignore her.  I just asked through the closed window if I could help her.  After she asked for money, I told her I didn't have any to spare.  There were two women and five or six men sitting under a tree in the corner of the parking lot.  They were pretty close to the front of The Palms.  I saw them yesterday, too, but they were closer today. 

After a few hours, I started being a little nervous as more people came, and I drove around the block to the other corner.  Home Depot has blazing fast free wi-fi for it's customers, so I like parking here.  I figure:  1. my son-in-law is an assistant manager at Home Depot; 2.  my son is a general contractor and spends a fortune at Home Depot; and 3. I've been a customer for many, many years.  So I'm really happy to take advantage of their free wi-fi as a "customer," even though I'm not buying anything this week. Thanks, HD! This is the fastest Internet connection I've had for months and months.

It's been hot during the day. I was working away at my computer yesterday on a project for a friend.  I "get in the zone" when I'm working or playing on the computer and don't notice how hot it's getting.  Katie jumped in my lap with her paws on my shoulders and stared at me.  She had been out, had food and water, and her treats were up to date at that point in the day. Then I looked at the clock and noticed the temp in The Palms.

99.6 degrees?  Holy cow, time to get out the neck wraps.

Katie in her neck wrap and wet t-shirt Princess dress.

She's happy now - nice and cool - with a madly wagging tail.  Sorry, guys, that's the best wet t-shirt photo I can provide today.

Oh, yeah, I also turned on the A/C.

In addition to the hot days, we've been having furious storms on and off since we arrived in Gallup.  Loud, rolling thunderclaps, very close by and almost immediately after the huge lightening flashes.  Pouring rain. Very cool... I love it - as long as the lightening doesn't hit The Palms. 

From me and Katie in the hot blacktop jungle, have a great Monday, everyone!  :)

We've had visitors - 3 were welcome, 1 was NOT!

Hazel  and the Greyhounds came to visit yesterday.  Fleur and Power are such well behaved dogs, and my little Katie is a terrible hostess.  She growls and shows her teeth periodically - usually when they MOVE.  They just ignore her.  :)

Beautiful Fleur, so graceful.

Power is such a cutie.  I always put up Katie's food and keep the water down for them. See the little bowl next to Power?

Hey, Mom, look what I did!  Boy that water was good, and the paper towel under it, too! But that bowl is waaaay too small for Greyhounds.

Wednesday night and yesterday morning Katie was acting like we had a mouse again. She wasn't barking or wagging her tail, just looking at the cab area.  I kept telling her, "Mouse all gone."

When we went to bed Wednesday night, I blocked off that area, I didn't want her to get aggressive and put a paw under the seat.  I might catch a paw instead of a mouse.

Katie said, "I swear I can smell a mouse."

After Hazel and pups went home yesterday, Katie was still checking out that area and so I went outside, opened the doors to the cab, and guess what I found?  Yup, another dead mouse in the Tomcat Snap Trap.  It must have visited us during the storm Wednesday evening.

BARBARA AND KATIE: 4   -   MICE: 0     (3 Tomcat Snap Trap, 1 butcher knife) 

Wednesday was cloudy all day. It was a hot day, so the cloud cover and breezes helped a lot.

Our campsite at sunset with cloudy skies.

I went to bed around 11:00 pm, and we were having quite a thunder and lightening storm.  The thunder rolled and rolled and the lightening just lit up the sky.  I got up and brought the TV antenna down and unplugged the TV again.  I don't know if lightening would hit the antenna or not, but I'm not taking any chances. 

Visitors can camp for 14 days in the New Mexico State Parks this year, then we have to leave for six nights.  Katie and I are leaving this morning and will be Wal-Mart camping for our six nights out.  We'll drive around the Gallup area and find some nice places to day camp, then return to Wal-Mart or Home Depot, etc. at night after it cools down for the day.

From Me and Katie, have a great Friday, everyone!    :)

Happy 4th of July… and the Horses are Back!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July this year.  We have fires in New Mexico and the states around us; I hope no one starts any new fires with fireworks.

We have a lot of smoky air today, the smoke is coming down from Colorado, but there are no fires near Bluewater Lake State Park.  Thank goodness.  There are still some good campsites available, and it's already after 3:00, which surprises me.  I thought we'd be full to overflowing by now.  Maybe we will luck out and have a quiet 4th.

The horses were back yesterday.  Following are some of the photos I took. The sun going down as I was shooting caused different colors in the horses and surrounding area. 

Horse waving his tail was neighing loudly - sounded like he was barking orders.

A scuffle broke out among the adult horses.

Things calmed down, and the baby started nursing.

These eight horses were in one area, moving together. Five adults, one yearling and two foals.

Horses with the dam and house in the background.

BABY PICTURES:

Our time is up again here at Bluewater Lake, so Katie and I are leaving tomorrow to do some blacktop camping.  We'll be back.  

From me and Katie, enjoy your holiday and stay cool and safe!  :)