21 miles, 38 degrees, 28%
and another bobcat



I was not sure if I had dug out the slope enough and extended a backup area to 3-point turn the Nash around so I could get in position to drive down the access road (I didn’t). I decided to hook up the Nash and turn it around a few days before I thought I would be pulling out, just in case there was a problem. There was. I spent a couple hours doing more digging and cutting down four small trees that I really wanted to keep. Guano. Sure glad I didn’t wait until moving day.


Meadow and Mesa seem to prefer this orientation. Generally, the view outside the back window looks into the distance. With it all in so close here, M&M spend much more time on the table looking out. One afternoon this doe came in close to the window. Pretty cool.


This little spot is a favorite place for both M&M to chill out.
Whenever I was going to do some work around the property, I made sure Meadow and Mesa were outside. They followed me around and got familiar with the land. When I’m with them, they seem to explore more freely.
We spent too much time in our last spot so M&M were real ready for new territory on our daily walks.


I think it was during the last week in October while still up in Timberon. One morning I got up and this was the inside temp. No big deal. The Wave 6 warmed things up quickly.

Just out of curiosity, I figured out what percentage of my social security is being spent on medical insurance. I pay for Medicare Part B, Cigna supplement insurance, and Humana for prescription drugs. They add up to 28% of my SS. I’m not grousing about it. All my medical expenses last year were paid. It would be nice, however, if it was a smaller percentage. And it sure would be if most people took responsibility for their health. Why should those of us that do, have to carry all those that don’t?

As I’ve said in the past, some months I’m scrambling for something to write about. The last few months have been different. Back in July, I pretty much had the August, September and October pages roughed out. I closed on the lot back on August 7. I just needed photos and added in various stuff that came up. I’m guessing my winter pages will be short. And I sure hope they are nothing like last year’s.


Just about every morning when I get up, Meadow and Mesa go over and stand by the door, wanting to go out. They don’t generally stay out for long. After they came back in one morning, Mesa went out into the window cage and Meadow was on my lap while I was reading. Mesa tensed up and went on point. Meadow noticed and got up to look out the back window to see what had Mesa’s interest. There was a young bobcat, not 25 feet away. It was stalking something. I went to get my Canon but it had gone behind a large clump of prickly pear so I could not get a whole-body photo. I could see its butt and the swishing distinct bobcat tail. I’ve never had a domestic cat who swished its tail as rapidly as this bobcat. I wonder if that is why they have a short tail. If they had a long tail, there’s no way prey would not notice.

During my 2-week stay at Oliver Lee this month, I racked up 21 miles along the Dog Canyon trail. Not my usual 50-60 miles but, as you can imagine, I’m still working on building back strength and stamina. I then left for a week and came back for a few days, and my pace was a bit better. I’m looking forward to what I’ll be able to do when I stay there again in January.
The first couple hikes, I only went to the 1-mile marker before turning around. Then a few days turning at the 1.5-mile marker. The last days, I managed to get to the 2-mile marker and what got me excited, was getting to the 2-mile marker in the same time that I was earlier only getting to the 1.5 mile marker. I was way more stoked with the increase in speed than I was with the increase in mileage. Definitely making progress.
On one hike, I came across a hiker who commented on my Transplant Survivor shirt. He mentioned he had quadruple bypass surgery. That’s totally awesome. I love hearing how someone gets through an ordeal, starts exercising, and gets back to physical activities. So many just throw in the towel to some extent. I made a point of telling this person how much I thought of all his hard work to get back into the outdoors. Sure wish I came across more people like this.

I had a nice surprise one day at Oliver Lee. I was in the Nash and someone knocked on the door. It was Rick and Linda from Massachusetts, who I’ve written about on previous pages. I think it has been three years since we crossed paths. I like these people. They drove cross country pulling their Nash and stopping at 7 Harvest Hosts (harvesthosts.com) sites along the way. It was great to see them again and to catch up a bit. One day they hiked all the way up Dog Canyon, a ten mile round trip. Way to go.
Linda started a new blog: lookingfornowhere.wordpress.com Check it out.

The week I came back to Oliver Lee, I met Pickett. She has an informative site about her lifestyle, truckcamperhints.com. I thoroughly enjoyed our talks. I also met a lady from Maryland who was quite interesting and I wish her well. Hope to cross paths with these people again.

I hooked up and pulled out of Oliver Lee, only to turn around and set up the Nash again. Brake problems. Took the Dodge to a mechanic and had a bill of $2300 after all the problems were taken care of. Took six days. Missed my first week at Bottomless. Guano.

Mind how you go.

October sixty minutes for sixty years—2680 minutes
October Triple 18—pecs/delts/arms: 2400; core: 1845; legs: 1920

There is stellar satisfaction from physical exercise
and contact with the outdoors


RVwest article ‘Following a Free Spirit’

RVwest article ‘The Spaces Between the Places’

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