Off the Grid Changes, Getting Things Straightened Around, Getting Cleaned Up and Becoming Regulars

Our Location today is Quartzsite, Arizona, U.S.A. 

We both spent some wakeful time staring at the ceiling last night but finally managed to get a fair amount of sleep. Kathy did spend more time awake and needs more sleep than I do so which meant that after finishing over half of my morning reading I thought it wise to start breakfast. 

The one thing that has really changed since we moved to the LTVA and “Off the Grid” is we are not as dependent on our Electrical Appliances. Before while stopped in RV Parks to have our morning coffee we would plug in our Electric Kettle to boil our water. Now we boil the water on the stove using Propane. Even when we have toast instead of plugging in the Electric Toaster we use our toaster over the flame on the Propane stove. 

People that have been Reading this Blog for a while know that we’ve just installed the Solar Panels on the trailer and know that we now produce our own Electricity will ask why don’t we use it. Research shows that Electric Appliances that have Elements for producing heat can discharge a Battery Bank in minutes compared to running Electric Motors (Drills), Computers, Entertainment Equipment and Lights for an entire day. When we have cloudy days and are trying to avoid using a Generator so you avoid those Appliances at all cost. “Lesson’s over!” 

When our Water Kettle is hot it starts a High-Pitched Whistling sound that gets more intense the longer you leave it boil. Needless-to-say Kathy wasn’t asleep very long when that started to whistle. At breakfast, we always discuss “What’s on your Agenda?” in other words what are you planning on getting done today. Looking out the Rain Soaked Windows I knew it wouldn’t be anything outside. 

As mentioned yesterday Kathy found a problem with our Online Banking. Many people are not as diligent as Kathy, who believes if we didn’t buy it we are not going to pay for it and that is what Credit Card Thieves depend on. They expect to charge something to your card and expect you to pay for it. That’s why she holds on to our receipts for a while. She does believe in paying our bills but when she makes a payment and the money gets put back in our account there is a problem. We spent nearly an hour getting that straightened around and our payments have now been made. 

Rain finally stopped but clouds hanging in there.

Since we’ll be leaving on Wednesday and heading to the Balloon Festival in Lake Havasu we had another issue to deal with Laundry. Kathy made us a light lunch of Tomato and Basil Soup along with Toasted English Muffins. I took that time to get the laundry sorted and ready to go.  

Beautiful Desert Sunsets.

When we arrived at the Main Street Laundromat the place was packed. Everyone had the same thing in mind because it was still raining. That meant I could only get one washer at a time until all three of my loads were going. With around Forty Washers and people waiting for machines you put your clothes in a cart as soon as they were done and repeated the process with the dryers. Unlike some Laundromats that have Folding Tables here you only have a Two-Foot by Six-Foot counter that runs along one wall and is divided so someone doesn’t get carried away. It is very Efficient and works. I have been told not to try doing our laundry in Quartzsite the week of the Big Tent as it will be worse.

Give it a minute and it all changes.

Three Hours later we had clean clothes, the Rain had stopped, the Sun was finally out, but our light lunch was long gone and had left us hungry. Since the Laundromat is in the same building as the Main Street Eatery we decided to have supper out. You know you are becoming a regular when they know what you are drinking before you order. We both had Taco Salads which were filling but didn’t leave us stuffed. 

Look in the opposite direction.

We were back Home as the sun was starting to set and got our laundry put away before settling in on the computers where we started doing more research. Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment. Be Safe and Enjoy! 

It’s about time.

Krackers 

Words of Inspiration 

Children begin by loving their parents; after a time they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them. 

Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet and Playwright