- April 2006 I took about a three week trip from Quartzsite, AZ to
Phoenix and down to Tucson. Then Douglas, AZ and over to New Mexico, and
north along the NM - AZ border. Then west across Northern Arizona to
Flagstaff and down through Salome and back to Quartzsite.
- Early in May 2006 I took my mini-RV up to Las Vegas, and camped
on Lake Mead for about a week and then put it in storage there; and took
Greyhound from Las Vegas back to Quartzsite. A long and tiring ride
that went by Laughlin and over to Kingman and down to Flagstaff, and to
Phoenix and eventually to the Pilot Gas Station in
Quartzsite.
- I left Quartzsite, AZ around May 15th in my Ford Van with a
miserable cold and came back to San Jose, CA.
- July 2006 I went to Utah for a family reunion, and stayed until
about July 15th before I came back to San Jose.
- On 2006 September 16 I fly to Las Vegas to get my mini-RV out
of storage and head for Quartzsite. Depending on the temperature, I may
take a "less than direct" route, waiting for the Arizona temperatures to
cool a bit. Until I get back to San Jose and take a computer to
Quartzsite I will not have internet access. So don't be surprised if
your emails go unanswered.
- On 2006 October 12 I took the Greyhound bus from Blythe, CA to San
Jose. I want to drive my Van with computers and "stuff" to Quartzsite.
(I move too much stuff, which I don't use or look at when I move from AZ
to CA and back.) More details about this painful experience are
here.
- After I got to San Jose, 2006 October 13 after going 24 hours
without sleep, I compensated by doing almost nothing for a couple days.
The weather was very warm for that time of the year, so I enjoyed my
back yard hot tub; and was little motivated to go back to Quartzsite,
where NOAA weather forecasts were in the 100's. (You may recall all the
fire problems in the Los Angeles area at this time.
I extended my solar pipes another 80 feet, to get more hot water
earlier in the mornings.
- I stayed in Silicon Valley to attend: A USGS lecture on the 2004
Parkfield earthquake. A SITI fall meeting. (SITI is an organization,
mostly of astronomers and other scientists, trying to find intelligent
life somewhere in the universe. So far no radio signals, looking at
what might be other than noise has been found. But it is an interesting
group, and I joined SITI last spring.) And then on 2006 November 4
there was a "Vintage Computer Fair" and APL & IBM 1130 event at the
Computer History Museum. I stayed for all of them, and didn't get my van
packed with all the "stuff" I wanted to take to Quartzsite till Wednesday
November the 8th.
The San Jose weather forecasts were looking like it might rain later
in the week, but it was forecast to be clear on Thursday the 9th.
- 2006 November 9 I left San Jose about 1 PM, and drove about 200
miles and stayed in a motel at "Buttonwillow, CA". There was a "Taste of
India" restaurant across the street, where I got their "Mixed
Vegetables" dinner. It was good, but a little too spicy for my
taste.
- 2006 November 10 I went to Denny's and got their "Super Slam"
breakfast. Then went back to the motel.
November 10. I didn't leave the motel until a little after 9 AM (I
didn't want to get in the commute traffic around Los angles.) Even so
traffic became stop & go when I got over the "Grape Vine" heading down
into the Los Angles Basin. I took Interstate 210 which stays north and
east of greater Los Angles, but even in mid-morning the traffic was only
going about 15 MPH. This went on for about 50 miles. And the air was
very visible. (I feel sorry for the mass of people who call Los Angles
area home.)
I stopped in Banning, CA to go into a Bank of America to pay my
credit card bill which was due on the 12th. I drove on to Indio, CA
(East past Palm Springs) when I started to get cramps in my stomach. I
soon realized I need to find a bathroom. I got off the freeway and found
a restaurant, and by this time things were getting "critical".
Fortunately, right inside there entrance was a door and sign saying
"Restrooms". I got in and turned the light on with no time to spare.
This had to be food poising, but I don't know if it was the Indian
food I had eaten about 24 hours before of the breakfast about 7 hours
earlier. (I could taste the Maple flavored syrup, but not the Indian
food. Does this mean anything?) I must have spent about ten minutes in
the restroom throwing up and with diarrhea.
I felt I should buy something to pay for the use of the restroom.
There were no other customers, but it was about 3 PM which is not the
busy time for a restaurant. So I ordered a Tuna Fish Sandwich. But,
before they got the sandwich prepared I had to make another trip to
the restroom.
The sandwich was big so I ate half of it and the French Fries. They
gave me a box to save the rest. I left feeling fine, but had not got
back on the interstate before I needed to find another restroom. I got
to a service station, again just in time. Yep, I lost most of the Tuna
sandwich, but I thought by this time I had got rid of whatever was
upsetting my stomach. But, I did have to make another stop, and
fortunately there is a road side rest stop along the way. From there it
is desert all the way to Quartzsite, by this time it was dark; so I
decided I could stop along the highway and just go off the side of the
road if I need any more stops.
Things were OK all the way to Quartzsite, but with all the stops I
didn't get here until about 9 PM.
- 2006 November 11 was a Saturday and also Veterans Day so the Post
Office and Bank were closed. So I spent two days just getting settled
in. I got the mail in the P.O. Box and a card saying there was more.
- 2006 November 13 Monday I got the phone company to restore my
internet service, and banking and mail taken care of. I got the
motorcycle out, and it started without problems.
- 2006 November 14 I am updating this and hopefully, will soon get my
internet computer going.
E-mail me
or
Click the phone block to call or get link to my BIO page.
