It Happened

I'm sure you all have heard the expression "Sh!t Happens" - yes it does.  When we arrived a month ago, our jacks didn't seem to go down quite right, but everything else worked so we didn't think much of it.  Last weekend we had to move to dump and get water and everything seemed to work fine - that is until we got back to our camp.  The jacks didn't go down properly, but we decided to try a slide to see if they worked.  We first tried the smaller slide and it started to go out but didn't sound right so we stopped.  But when we tried to bring it back in - nope; it wouldn't budge.  Out comes the manual and we carefully go through the instructions for the emergency retraction of the slides which we try to no avail.  Then we try by getting about 6 people to push on it; again, nope!  The slide is out about 3 inches so we stuff some sheets around it to keep out the cold, and call it a day.  The next morning Gerry decides to try it and it slowly comes in - whew!  So after much reading, and youtube videos, the conclusion was that that motor needed replacing.  A new motor is on order and when it arrives, a new dilemma - who is going to install it.  Until then, we are living in closer quarters which is not our choice but it works, and we can still continue having fun.

We even celebrated an 80th birthday this week as our friend Dorothy hit the big eight-oh.

This week we went on three very enjoyable off road trips.  The first one was to Mine Wash and Kumeyaay Village and then to Quartz Vein Wash. Kumeyaay Village is an ancient aboriginal village and one could definitely understand why they would settle in this particular area.  It is sheltered by huge boulders and is in  a beautiful setting as it overlooks a valley. 

The indentations are called morteros and are created from grinding grain with another rock

We stopped and had lunch - Rick and Chris were using a new picnic basket they had received for Christmas.  

Here is a photo of their picnic basket, and of ours!

From there we went to Quartz Vein Wash which is a short little drive into a canyon.  We looked up and there was a bighorn sheep grazing on the slope.  It was quite a ways away but it still is exciting to see them. 

This is what happens when the sheep gets a bit too close to a cactus

A couple of days later it was to go down Grapevine Canyon.  At one time, this was the main thoroughfare to points further west. Another scenic trip.

Next trip was to Calcite Mine - After the attack on Pearl Harbour, a rich deposit of optical grade calcite was discovered and it was used in the manufacturing of precision bomb sights and anti-aircraft weapons.  We had gone here many years ago but the road had been incredibly rough so we decided to give it a try and go as far as we felt comfortable.  Well, it has been graded so it was an easy drive to the mine.  On the way we stopped for lunch and there was a slot canyon. 
Everyone went up the canyon to the end although once the walls came in closer and closer, I opted out and protected the vehicle!

Up at the mine site, there were various lookouts and some interesting rock formations.

And as always, someone has to take the pictures.

And some of the flowers are starting to bloom.

It was time to head home and as we are going down the highway, Gerry says "is someone stuck".  We turned around and sure enough, a Volkswagon GTI is not made for off roading, particularly in soft sand.  Interesting - he was digging sand with his hands, then he would spin his tires in hopes it would hold.  When we stopped the fellows asked him where could they hook a tow strap - he had no idea.  Then they asked if he had a tow hook - he didn't think so.  So, they went into the back as his car (which was filled with camping gear) found the hook, showed him how to put it on and towed him out.  Note the direction of his from wheels as Gerry was getting him out of the sand.

And it can't be said that we have no excitement.  Someone had taken a nasty fall (I heard it was from the back of his truck, and I also heard it was off a ladder.  Both reports were by folks who said they had seen it happen).  Regardless, he ended up with a dislocated knee and a sprained ankle.  It wasn't anyone we knew but we do we wish him well.

It has been a week of highs and lows, but the highs won.  I hope you all have a good week.