20190110 - RTR Day 1

     It was a great first day for RTR (Rubber Tramp Rendezvous). We didn't go to any of the 'main stage' programs but headed into Quartzsite to see people and take care of a few matters. As we pulled out onto Mitdchell Mine Road, the narrow dirt road which is the only way in and out for these thousands of people, Pamela mentioned that a friend of ours was supposed to be camping nearby. The words were hardly out of her mouth when I spotted him. 

     He is an engineer from Massachusetts who has done things like turn a Prius into a dwelling complete with a fridge and "kitchen". The past two years he built out a small pop-up truck camper that goes on a quarter-ton truck. He's a whiz at such things and shares his knowledge with others here at RTR. He's also a really big heart.  His kindness and charity are legendary among nomads.  

    We couldn't spend a lot of time with him because we had a breakfast date with a lady who was a Facebook friend. We met her at Bad Boy's Cafe in Quartzsite. She is a journalist who worked for ABC Network at one time and now is a blogger and author. She lives full time in a van. It was so much fun to finally meet her in person. 

    We stopped by LaPosa to drop off some medicine that we picked up for a friend in Mexico and then went to Discount Solar to get some pieces for our portable solar panel.  We have 320 watts of solar panels on our roof, but it is nice to have another 80 watts for cloudy days. 

     When we got back to camp we found that a lady who has volunteered at the RTR for several years was camping by us. We've known her for three years. She runs the free table. At RTR we can drop off good items that are then given to other campers for free. No requirements to take from the free table. If you need it, take it.  It's all about helping each other.  This year she has some helper but is still working long hours. 

     Pamela got some pork chops to grill. She had bought a used grill in Quartzsite.  We invited our two friends over for dinner.  We had a really good time.  

     I really love this life. It is so peaceful and free.  I haven't heard what Trump has done for days. That's great!  I can't do anything anyway except get upset.  When we hit the streets back in the 1960s the politicians at least acted as if they cared what the people thought. Today they don't have to pretend that they care about us at all. Except for voting and contributing to organizations with a good stable of lawyers, there's nothing I can do.  

     Back in the midwest a lot of people call us old hippies. We know real hippies and the only thing we share with them is our free spirit. We decided that we're really free spirits and there's no place better to be a free spirit than in the west.  

(Picture credit: Pamela Smith. Great job!)