November at Black Rock

No words are necessary.

The Bird and I

I first saw a roadrunner in 2005 in El Paso, Texas. There he was, and then he was gone. Since that time I've been trying to photograph one. Herb says I'm not fast enough. No kidding--I'm not even half fast!

A couple of days ago Herb spotted one. I carefully eased out of the coach and approached slowly. He simply stood there, looking suspiciously in my direction.

I was coming closer and closer. He seemed to be trying to make up his mind about me and my intentions. I spoke a few words, but that didn't impress him at all. I began to wonder if he was injured.

I kept on coming and eventually he fluffed himself up andtrotted off a few steps.

He didn't look like the same bird. No longer tan and brown and flat, he now showed a cute topknot. I tried to keep him in focus. He'd trot a few steps, look back, and trot a few more. Eventually he turned his back.

He was getting nervous now. I tried to be as non-threatening as possible. But to say my reflexes are slow is to say bears really do that in the woods.

Anyway, by the time I could really get a good picture, he was ducking behind a bush. Oh, well.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

It was a great relief to know the slideout motor on the coach had been repaired. The great feeling lasted until this morning. You'll notice in the picture there's a bar sticking straight up supporting the slide topper awning. Well, it's not supposed to stick up; it's supposed to hold the roller on the side of the slideout, not the top. So when Herb tried to close the slide this morning, the awning just gathered itself up in a bunch. A couple of men at Charger Enterprises came out and helped roll the awning up and secure it. They told Herb there are some broken springs and bent stuff involved and it will be a booger to fix. Oh, well, as Gilda Radner said, "It's always something." Motorhome ownership is interesting. I'm reminded of a little plaque on a friend's boat: "A boat is a hole in the water into which one pours money." Motorhomes seem to have similar characteristics, except they don't float. You'll know that if you've seen Robin Williams' movie "RV."

The true treasure found in this Elkhart odyssey is the service center. Charger Enterprises along with Holmes on Wheels are outstanding for RV repair.

It's the Little Things

Can you see the butterfly on the berries? I didn't until Herb pointed it out. He's much more observant than I. We were walking through the woods here at White Oaks on the Lake in Monticello, Indiana when he observed this dark flyer flitting from berry to berry.

Back in Time

We were in Shipshewana, Indiana recently. This form of transportation was everywhere. Some of the carriages had three rows of seats.

Large farms along the road had clothes drying on the lines and bicycles, horses and carts in evidence; no cars or pickups in sight. Signs advertised handmade quilts, woodworking products and furniture, and fresh produce.

The Amish women in this area dress traditionally but in pale gray for the most part, with white bonnets. A number were working at booths in the huge flea market. Their words were gentle and pleasant. The prices were more than reasonable.

And on the road traffic made way for carriages and buggies of every description with handsome, high-spirited horses trotting along oblivious of the cars and trucks. Despite the crowds of tourists, their lives go on in a peaceful way as they have for many years.

Communication Challenged

I suppose you wonder where we've been. We were in White Cloud in western Michigan. And the reason why you've not heard from us is no internet access. Our phones were on roam as well.

Because of the trees, Herb couldn't aim the satellite dish. So there we were. After glaring at each other for a time, we went on with things.

We went canoeing and hiking. Herb grilled over an open fire. We had a look at Lake Michigan, nearby. We visited some yard sales and fresh produce stands. Cherries and sweet corn are grown in the area--we feasted!

We'd like to return to the area next year, perhaps to work in the campground where we stayed. There's a lot to see, including woodlands, small lakes and farms of all sizes. Nice people, too. Now I have to lose this Michigan accent before I get back to the southwest!

Wow!

We had an exciting afternoon. As we were setting up camp at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Belleville, Michigan, a loud roar alerted us to the Blue Angels! The aerial acrobatics were amazing and performed at blinding speed. We watched, open-mouthed, for a long time, trying to catch some pictures. Herb was better at catching them at the right moment. Most of the other campers watched as well. It was really hot outside, but no one seemed to notice.

The experience was unforgettable. Such precision! I think we'll both probably have stiff necks in the morning.

This is the second time we've stayed at this fairgrounds. Last time, we just needed a place for the night and happened to be in the area. We were delighted to find the county fair in session. We explored the exhibits and Herb ate some disgusting hot dog conglomeration which included sauerkraut and, I think, chili! Truly an ecumenical meal.

This time, we chose to stay here because we're having repairs done to our coach just down the road, and it was convenient. I think we may come back again, just to find out what's going on!