DODGED THE BULLET

WE'VE BEEN BUSY SETTLING BACK INTO OUR WINTER QUARTERS HERE AT BLACKSTONE RV PARK.  IT'S TAKEN THE WHOLE WEEK BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.  YOU DO A FEW THINGS OUTSIDE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO COME IN TO COOL DOWN UNDER THE A/C VENT.

WE DID HAVE ONE EVENING "OFF" THAT IT COOLED DOWN AND WE FIRED UP THE DUTCH OVEN WITH DOG DISH MEATLOAF AND BAKED POTATOES.  WE TURNED THE A/C OFF, AND HAD THE WINDOWS OPEN FOR A CHANGE. NICE!!

OF COURSE NOW THAT WE ARE BACK TO THE RV PARK WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ELECTRIC, AND THE FIRST WEEK'S USAGE WAS 227 CLICKS FOR $31.78.  I'M GLAD WE WEREN'T HERE IN JULY PAYING THAT BILL.  OF COURSE ANOTHER YEAR MEANS ANOTHER RENT INCREASE AS WELL, AND THE PRICE IS $270/ MONTH.

BEES

WE ASKED AROUND ABOUT OUR BEE PROBLEM AND MOST OPINIONS AGREE THAT THE BEES WERE NESTED NEARBY UNDER GROUND.  WHEN THE LAST MONSOON STORM WENT THROUGH IT MUST HAVE INCLUDED A HUGH AMOUNT OF RAIN WHICH FLOODED THE UNDERGROUND BEE HIVE OUT, CAUSING THEM TO COME VISIT US TILL THE HIVE DRIED OUT.  WE WENT BACK TO THE BLACK MOUNTAINS CAMPSITE FIVE DAYS LATER AND THERE WERE NO BEES HANGING AROUND.

MONSOON

THAT LAST MONSOON STORM HIT THE FRIDAY NIGHT OF LABOR DAY WEEK-END.  BEFORE WE GOT THE CHANCE TO SET UP CAMP ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE, WE HAD DECIDED TO MOVE THE CAMPER TO A DIFFERENT RV PARK WHERE ELECTRIC WAS INCLUDED FOR $375/ MONTH. THAT RV PARK WAS HIT BY A MICRO-BURST.  THAT'S A NEW TERM TO ME, BUT WE DODGED THE BULLET BY NOT BEING THERE.  THE MICRO-BURST KNOCKED OUT THE POWER IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE VALLEY.  THE CENTER OF THE MICRO-BURST WAS OVER THE RV PARK WE HAD SELECTED.  THE STORM OVER TURNED 27 RV'S IN THE PARK, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO FREE EIGHT PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE OF THESE UNITS. 

PEOPLE HERE SAY IT WAS A CALM MONSOON SEASON, BUT MARY AND I HAVE LEARNED TO RESPECT THIS SEASON MUCH LIKE THE SPRING TORNADO SEASON OF HOME.