Catching up from the Granite Dells
Posted by: Rich in Arizona, On the road, Technology, airstream
I didn’t get to post a lot about the weekend’s events. Busy one! I’m wondering if my server is working well enough to even post this now…..we’ll see.
Early in the a.m. on Saturday I decided to take a run into town. The trees are flowering, and they’re really a site! Very pretty indeed. Of course, you’ve got to have the right lighting, and the morning seems to be the right time.
After taking a few photos near the town square I returned to Point of Rocks to play tech support for Gunny. The mission, as I noted last night, was to get his VHS tapes onto his computer so they are not lost and gone forever. We’ve gotten him a long way too!
Like me, Gunny is a Mac user. After reading the second edition of the Digital RV Gunny decided he wanted a PVR for his Macintosh. He wanted to copy a collection of VHS tapes to his computer.
Unfortunately nobody in the area carries Elgato’s equipment (the Mac PVR company). But several stores carry Pinnacle’s PVR’s. After researching Elgato’s software I found that Pinnacle equipment could be used. So, for $99 Gunny picked up a Pinnacle USB converter, and the Elgato software for $79. In the end, a little more expensive than buying a device direct from Elgato.
So, Gunny spent part of Saturday & Sunday copying VHS tapes! And he was pretty happy with how the copies came out.
While Gunny played tech person, I went into domestic mode. Airstream cleaning. Reorganizing once again. 2 years full-timing. You collect a lot of stuff. In my case, BOOKS.
Why did I get on the reorganization kick? Gunny’s trailer. After a few years of ownership he’s finally happy with it. Many initial problems including a severe leak that messed up his insulation when he first bought it.
Over this past winter Gunny ripped out his dinette, put in a new corner table, and re-did the counters with Corian. Really cool. He also change his shower door and put a porcelain toilet in (really cool looking).
After seeing his interior upgrades I found a few new ideas for organizing in my trailer. Honestly, I wish his cabinet guy lived nearby, as I’d rip my dinette out tomorrow and make that wrap around computer desk I’ve been wanting.
Someday……someday…….
As I’d mentioned the other day (when I could post) we decided to head out for some photos in the Dells Saturday night. Fun walk out with Gunny, Lars, & Sadira.
Gunny’s new pup Natchez came along for the hike. For those who remember reading about Gunny in 06′ you know he had a dog named Nana. Well, Nana passed away this winter. Now Natchez travels with Gunny. He’s a good pup, and spent some time with Nana.
Our hike was to a usual spot. Natchez dragged Gunny along, and was difficult at times. An 8 month old Shepard can be a little high strung!
We all had a good time in the Dells watching the sun drop below the mountains. We also got a little cold with 30 - 40mph winds blasting us on the top of the rocks. My hat popped off a few times.
There’s the wrap for Saturday……
I’m tired of typing now…. Go figure. I wish the site had been functional this weekend. Good to see it’s working now!
Sunday was another trip to Skull Valley, and some extra rest. For a weekend off, it didn’t feel like it.
I’ll catch up on Skull Valley later. Promise. Oh, and by the way…… Bert and Janie will be coming in this week! Wow, lot’s of visitors. Let’s see if I can get a day or two off to visit with them too!
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Ah, comments are working again. It’s the little things that count!
Ahh, Glad to see the trees are blooming in Prescott. We are just outside Puerta Vallarta, headed home. Should be crossing into Tucson in another week or so, heading over to Prescott for an overnight before making the final leg to Bishop, via Death Valley. Glad to see we will be following spring all the way up. Looks like it might still be chilly though? We’re hoping for warm, but you can’t have everything. See you
Get in touch when you’re close by Paula. It’ll be good to see you guys again!
Rich…the pictures from this weekend are just amazing!
These are fabulous photos, and what kind of camera and lens are you using?
I just got a Sigma 14mp, I love it, it’s great for macro. But it shoots very slow.
You know me, when I write you I always seem to bug you with my interest about places to move.. sorry about that. it’s a little stressful not knowing where to go!
hopefully I’ll find a place that ‘me’ soon!
I’m still interested in Charlottesville, VA… I’m going to look at Durgano, CO. You mentioned it before.
but I wanted to ask you about Prescott.
How is it? Is it safe? Is it great?
Do you think it’s too small, not enough men? Will I feel like I’m in isolation? What about the drought issue?
In Sedona, it’s like 10 men per woman, it’s horrible - for me. haha
I just spoke to a woman, who said her sort of bf, went to a tantra class, and had 3 women fighting over him.
but the population is so small there anyway… I wouldn’t go for that reason alone.
My idol, Norman W Walker, the juicer and raw vegan advocate, lived in Cottonwood until he passed away, in excellent shape, very active, until age 99…
How is Flagstaff?
What are the best areas I should look at in AZ?
Personally, I think Prescott is one of the nicest towns I’ve found crossing America. And I’ve seen just about all of it.
Drawbacks? Plenty. Not much in the way of tech work. Folks need tech, but they won’t pay for it. They’ll pay $90 per hour for a plumber, but if you even want $45 per hour recovering all of your personal info for a computer they think it’s too much. Uh, lost your whole bank file eh? No backups? Good luck there chief!
Also, don’t come here with a high end resume. It gets you black balled by companies. I’ve been told in very certain terms that my previous work experience is too “high end”, and literally one HR person told me to dumb down my resume (her words, not mine). If you’re doing your own business, you’re in luck. Many small businesses here.
It’s a good town. I’ve found many people asking me what I’m doing here with my skills. The local labor force at times seems self hating. Sorry to all reading, but that’s the general emotion I’ve met with, and even my local friends agree there’s an acceptance of mediocre skills. My current job yields interesting comments…..”What are you doing here?”, “Why aren’t you doing more?”, “You should be elsewhere….”, etc. Not kidding. I hear that so many times a day.
Bottom line. You want a wonderful town? National forests all around you? Beauty and recreation? This is a great spot. You want higher dollars? You need to make your own market then. It’s the right place, with many disappointing and self defeating attitudes. I’m willing to keep looking for the right corner in the right location (and this town is the right location). Safe? Yup. Beautiful? Yup! A population that greets an outside success with open arms? Not so much. Well, it almost has the right blend.