UT to NV – In Transit

November 13, 2009 to December 24, 2009

11/13-A Vandweller sent me this message: Did I ever tell you that you were the inspiration that got me involved with vandwellers in the first place? I was looking at YouTube videos of the OR coast, longing to return to the west coast and came across the one where someone was interviewing you in your van and the solution to my upcoming situation clicked. I said to myself that's what I've always wanted to do, just didn't know that I could. You mentioned vandwellers on the video, and I started there and here I am. Among some of the best people I've ever met in person or on line in my whole life. And you continue to inspire me as I read all your posts and your blog. So thanks again.

Charlene gets a big smile for being my inspiration :)

Smiles 4 everyone:)

Wow, that was pretty neat. It was written by GranmaHugaBaby… who finally caught up with me in Quartzsite.  She is delightful and I am humbled.

November 19, 2009 – I got to my brother Jim's in Vegas.
-stayed and did his genealogy, scanned family photos, and did his wife's genealogy also.  Pretty neat to be able to sit in my van in someone’s driveway and be a genealogist.  That has been my dream for years… and it worked very well.

December 24, 2009 - Had breakfast with my half-brother, Dan, before leaving Vegas. I had scanned some family photos for him and burned a CD for him... and wanted to return his photos.

But a few days earlier we had driven out to Red Rock Canyon and visitors we taking photos of the snowmen someone had made rather than the rocks or the canyon.  I found that hilarious. It was a nice visit and I got to meet his granddaughter. 

Then I headed to Quartzsite, AZ where Vandwellers were gathering.  Alone on the road at Christmas time/eve, some would find depressing but I found it delightfully freeing.  I began noticing things that reminded me of Christmas."  Little lambs grazing in the fields, palm trees in the desert.

I found places between Lake Havasu City and Quartzsite where I'd like to paddle one day.  I don't how why I didn't go back and do it this trip (kicking myself - but I had already paddled AZ so lacked motivation).  In Lake Havasu, I felt the London Bridge was a joke.  I always thought the London Bridge (that was always falling down) was the big red one with the clock tower.  NO... not so.  Boring.