Hello everyone, We are Doug and Melanie, two retirees (ages 69 and 62, respectively) who left Cleveland, OH in July to spend one year traveling in our Airstream. We are best friends who love travel, adventure and nature. We were very lucky to meet Shelly and Tracy while boondocking in Anza Borrego and then to […]
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Desert Light on the Solstice
Our desert Christmas tree Scenes from the nightly LTVA parade
We Have Your Winter Veggies—All of Them
Yuma is the closest city to Imperial Dam LTVA, so it’s where we drive to for groceries, the laundromat, and one microbrewery with outside seating (our treat after errands). It’s so important to folks here at the LTVA that we all go on Yuma time instead of California time (where we actually live). Maybe you […]
Socializing in the Clam
I’ve been reveling in “zero days” since we’ve arrived at Imperial Dam LTVA—that’s what AT thru-hikers call days when they make no progress on the trail at all. Zero Days My zero days mean I haven’t gone hiking, kayaking, errand-running, anything-ing that’s productive. So, how do I spend my time? We put up the tent […]
Los Algodones: Mexico for Gringos
Today we drove a half hour to a parking lot at the Yuma border crossing, then walked into Mexico for dental appointments. The whole shebang was absurdly easy. We walked right in without anyone even looking at our faces, much less asking for ID. We’d heard that it would be easy and weren’t worried, but, […]
Why Do People Come Here?
I’m still mulling over possible reasons. They should be obvious, but I can’t wrap my head around it. Here’s a quick recap from my previous posts about Imperial Dam LTVA (long-term visitors’ area). Cons That pictures above is not of the LTVA, although I snapped it while I was taking the trash to the dumpsters […]
Settling into Life on Boot Hill
We’ve been here at Imperial Dam LTVA for longer than 95% of our campsites, I’d estimate, and I guess we’re getting the hang of this place. And I have to admit, it’s treating me a lot better than it is Tracy. I’m getting to be gregarious and reaffirming my faith in humanity (kind of), whereas […]
Banjo Days at the LTVA
The desert here isn’t Banjo’s kind of place; the only mammals around seem to be the wild burros, and they act like they’re going to charge when they see her, so we stay away from them. Of course, we still take her on three walks a day, but they’re along the rocky, hard paths here, […]
Balance Is a Seesaw
From Bruce Springsteen’s “Growing Up.” on Asbury Park, 1973: I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere, And you know it’s really hard to hold your breath. I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress. Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth, […]
Where Eclectic Nomads Go for Community
I feel like I’m in a Talking Heads song sometimes. I’m a bit confused about exactly where we are, plus how I feel about why we’re here vacillates. Yet, we’ve been here (BLM land in Arizona? California?) for only two full days. Seems like my disorientation is greater than what could fit in two days. […]
