Four Dollar Diesel Fuel

A week ago, diesel fuel was $3.40 a gallon when I last filled. Didn't need fuel on Saturday, but as I drove Tucson, I noted the prices for diesel ranged from the lowest at $3.49 to $4.09 at the Chevron stations. Wow.

Thought I could at least begin my summer travels before diesel hit that even numbered plateau. A little unrest in an oil producing country and two days later the price of diesel goes up. I wasn't aware that the diesel pump was directly connected to North Africa. But it must be. What other explanation would there be.

Looks like there will be more walking in my future. Or an alternative might be to forgo a stop at Starbucks and buy a gallon of diesel fuel instead.

Snow On The Palm Tree

Yup. That is what I woke to this morning. There was a two inch layer of snow covering the RVs, Silver Slug -- and the palm tree fronds. Donning a pair of jeans (long pants), I headed out for a photo shoot. This shot tells the story.

 

Many palm fronds had already been frozen from the recent hard freeze. Those palm fronds had already turned brown. Now it was a layer of snow.

Actually, I lied about taking a walk for a photo shoot. It was warm in Wandrin Wagon. No point in leaving a warm place where the fuel was paid for. I opened the window, leaned out and took the above photo. Yup. I am a wimp.

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My bet is that this blog entry about snow at lower elevations in Arizona will only be one of several others on the same subject to be posted today.

Recycling Books

For entertainment or to pass time, many people watch TV or go to movies. Not me. After my addiction to the internet (no Facebook) and a passion for hiking, I spend time reading.

A nomadic existence makes it difficult to check out books from a library, so I buy books -- used, new and ebooks. Unfortunately, the ebooks are not recyclable, but those physical paper sourced books have value. At least my non-fiction (my reading choice) books have value.

Upon arrival in Tucson, it was time for the annual visit to Bookmans to sell all those books that were accumulated in the past year since my previous visit a year ago.

There are six Bookmans located in Arizona and three of those are in the Tucson area. This is not the usual used book store smelling of musty books and fear for your life wandering the aisles. It is well organized by subject and alphabetized.

Of the over 50 books that I took to Bookmans, they took all but three. This is not unusual for me since my reading is non-fiction and largely adventure/essay travel. That was enough to create a rather large credit for book purchases.

Before I left the store, the credit was reduced as about fifteen books accompanied me back to Wandrin Wagon. Another trip to Bookmans should eliminate any outstanding credit.

Wild Life Photo Shoot

Taking photos of wild life in the wild is not easy. Cooperation is poor. Watching and waiting for the perfect photo takes more patience than I can spare. 

Given a chance to take photos of captive wild life is something not to be passed up. This time it was at the Sonoran Desert Museum raptor presentation. Standing right under the flight path of the winged wild life, it was a great experience. As the birds are released, a docent describes the ravens, owls and raptors -- their lives, foods and habitat. As the docent speaks, the museum bird keepers are set food tidbits (quail breast) on various perches near the audience viewing area.

After that it was off to the herpetologist talking about rattlesnakes and the gila monster. The gila monster did not cooperate for my photo shoot, so the photo is from a hike at Usery Park where the gila monster was on the trail.

Commonality for those bitten by rattlesnakes: male, young, booze and tattoos. Not making this up. That is what the herpetologist said. Men are mostly frequently bitten on hands or arms. When women are bitten, it is on the leg below the knee.

Five Brothers

That is what these five Saguaros were tagged as we walked by. On the King Canyon trail in Saguaro West is where we found the illustrious five.

Along the trail and all around Tucson is the evidence of the frost damage. With almost no winter rain and the frost damage to cactus and bushes, it seems there will be little desert color this spring.

Regardless it was a good day to get out for a hike along the trail.

Silver Slug Needs A Bath

A few days ago the prediction was for a 60% chance of rain this weekend in Tucson. That dropped daily to possible showers with a 30% chance of rain on Sunday. The positive is that it did rain. In Arizona. Far to the north.

Finally, the sky spit out a couple of drops of moisture here at the RV park late yesterday. And now Silver Slug needs a bath. Before it was a non-noticeable light layer of dust all over Silver Slug's surface. With that spittle in that layer of mud, it is real obvious that Silver Slug needs a bath. A real bath.

That task was put on my mental "to do" list. Without writing it down, I have a better chance of ignoring it.

Observation

Nice paint job.

The Good Life

Sitting in the "hot tub" at night looking at stars over head. Dining out with friends and road acquaintances. Playing Scrabble with real people instead of the computer.  Add to that many other activities for participation, there seems little time to get the laundry done.

That is the good life where I've hung my hat for a month at the Voyageur RV resort.

Then there is hiking. My passion. Found a fellow hiker/walker in next door neighbor Duane. We've hiked several days in Saguaro East. Other times, we have joined a hiking group from the park.

The most recent hike was to the Empire Ranch. A BLM managed grass land south east of Tucson. Much of the hike was along part of the Cienega River (the name according to my GPS). Some cottonwood trees have been growing a long time. They were huge -- six to ten feet in diameter.

There was considerable temptation to climb the branches of these trees. But with that inner ear balance issue, I decided that this was a good time to be a sensible person in spite of what I really wanted to do. A younger person -- including a younger Wandrin Lloyd -- would have shimmied up the tree without a second thought.

Speaking Of The Budget

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." -- Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.) Roman Statesman, Philosopher and Orator

Same thing 2000 years later.

A long time ago as a manager, interoffice memos were occasionally received to cut 10% from my budget. Not just my budget, but every budget in the corporation. Nothing was safe from the 10% cut -- including some position consolidations and job terminations.

That isn't the way the US Federal government is run. Only a small portion of the budget is being considered for cuts. Why? Because a vast portion of the budget represents votes and getting re-elected. That does get in the way of making a rational decision. The cuts should include all areas, defense, Pentagon, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. However, there isn't even a discussion about possible cuts or adjustments in those areas.

A suggestion: Stop manufacturing the penny. It isn't a lot of money, but it is a gesture that there is serious concern about the budget. Losing money on the manufacture of every penny is not the way to stay solvent.

Diesel Engine Idling

It's happened to all of us. It is 7:00 a.m. and you are still asleep. For some reason, the diesel owner seems to believe that the engine has to be hot and idle for 30 minutes before moving from the RV space right next to yours. Not the sort of alarm clock you were expecting.

This message is not to the considerate diesel owners who idle for a few minutes. Thank you. This message is to those diesel owners who did not read the owners manual or were recalling the diesels of decades ago. There is a risk to your modern diesel engine by excessive idling.


Quoted from RV The Magazine -- Winter 2011, Page 8

Diesel Idling
Garry Miller
Shady Spring, West Virginia

As a retired diesel electrician, I support Jim Harper’s opinion on excessive no-load diesel idling (August 2010 RV View). Diesel engines are so efficient that they generate little heat when not doing any work, so idling when cold can actually harm any diesel, especially a modern, computer-controlled engine with a soot filter. The low temperature idling causes incomplete combustion and soot (an abrasive) to get into the lube oil and can clog the pollution exhaust filter that must be burned off with extra fuel by the engine. Read and follow the engine manufacturer’s instructions. Idle only to bring up the air for the brakes and suspension. By then the oil will have circulated and it will be safe to drive at moderate speed and load until the engine reaches operating temperature. If you are still concerned and must operate your diesel at high speed and heavy load immediately, do what standby diesel generators and emergency diesel fire trucks do: run your electric block heater, with care, so the engine is somewhat warm when it is first started.

More support on the same issue comes from RVBasics on the subject of diesel idling.