Sunday, October 6, 2024
Company and conversation were lively yesterday, Saturday 5th, here at the Rio Rancho, NM home of Evelyn and David, my sister and brother-in-law. Monty, the 10-year-old Havanese dog that Evelyn and David had been caring for, was one happy boy today!
Having arrived here last Friday afternoon, I woke up to a pleasant [Saturday] morning of coffee and muffins with Ev and David. The annual hot air balloon festival was going on in Albuquerque and, despite the morning haze, we could see a few balloons in the distance.
Around mid-morning [still on Saturday, yesterday], I got to work on my laptop, aiming to finish Blog #4 and publish it on my blogsite before Monty’s owners arrived later in the day. I managed to achieve that just in the nick of time!
Lesley and Mike, both in their 70s, are British, as is David. Evelyn had previously told me that their accents, once they talk amongst themselves, are rather difficult for her to follow. Lesley, I could lipread a little bit. Mike, not at all! Nevertheless, it was a fun evening – together, Lesley and Ev prepared a British snack called “Sausage Rolls,” which turned out to be very good! Ev also made a beef stew for dinner, and that was very good, too!
Conversation was, as I said, lively and also very interesting. Since I often have trouble lipreading David as well, his efforts at fingerspelling words to me, have improved significantly. He fingerspelled bits and pieces of the conversation as the evening went on and Ev, an excellent ASL signer herself, interpreted most everything else. Soon as I felt ready to go to bed, I took a few minutes to send off my Blog #4 via email, then said my goodnights.
Today – Sunday – we had more coffee/muffins and then Lesley, Mike, and Monty left for the drive back to their home in Prescott, AZ. Around 10:30 am, I said my goodbyes to Ev and David and headed out for the three-hour drive on I-25S to Caballo, NM.
As far as interstates go, today’s drive on I-25 was OK. It was a straightforward southern route through a mostly desert landscape. I arrived around 2:30 pm at the Caballo Lake State Park, in Caballo. Since the lake was to the east of my campsite, today’s sunset was behind me. I took the pictures below at different times –
This is my final night, of this truck camper trip, in New Mexico. Tomorrow, I cross into Arizona…and gain an hour!
Monday, October 7, 2024
Anticipating a four-hour drive today, I left Caballo Lake State Park at 9:30 am (8:30 am Arizona time). I drove on I-25S for a few miles and then connected to Rt. 26W to Deming, NM. Getting gas there I then got on I-10W towards Benson, AZ. Having driven on the I-10 interstate a number of times before, I expected to see the usual desert scenery, the gradual appearance of assorted cacti, and the repetitive “what-to-do-in-a-dust-storm” alert signs in New Mexico.
At Benson, I followed printed directions, and the GPS, to the Harvest Host “Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary,” which is located within a rural mountainous area, about 13 miles north of downtown Benson. Veering off the comfortable familiarity and ease of I-10, and driving along on the paved two lanes of Pomerene and Cascabel Roads, I soon turned into a narrow dirt road for the rest of the way. Because of the washes within this region, there were a good number of dips in the road and “Do Not Enter When Flooded” warning signs. Monsoon season in Arizona ended in September, so thank goodness for that!
Since there are free-roaming donkeys on this property, the sign on the gate, when I arrived, instructed me to open and then close/latch the gate after entry. I did that, looked around the dirt area for a spot to park, made my selection near some trees, set up the camper (no hookups provided here) and called my spot “home.” Retrieving my camp chair from the truck, I sat outside to wait for the host to come and greet me. After waiting for a while, I decided to walk up to several of the nearby structures and see if I might get somebody’s attention. I walked by and stopped to visit the “Rainbow Bridge” burial grounds and read the markers placed there. [I learned later that deceased donkeys are indeed buried here on the property; they use a backhoe to dig out deep graves.]
Not wanting to venture too much further, I went back to my camper…and waited. I did see a couple of donkeys…and donkey dung, a lot of which was close to my camper.
Eventually, Suzanne Velasquez, the director of this sanctuary, came by and apologized that she didn’t see me until just now. She gave me their informative materials, pointed out where the donkeys’ pens were, told me to walk around freely, the evening feeding time is around 4:00 pm. And then, while we were talking, the owners – John and Tish Hiestand – arrived and were making their way through the gate. So, I’ve now met the folks who run this place and care for the donkeys.
During my stay, I learned a great deal about the donkeys who reside at this sanctuary. When I finally approached the pens, just before the evening feeding time, several donkeys came right up to me. To keep flies away from their eyes, they had on “fly masks.” One donkey in particular (name: Muchacho) took a special interest in me…or maybe it was my iPhone, which, in my hand, probably looked edible. He kept butting into me, prompting me to pet him every time...not that I minded!
The things I learned –
* Established by John and Tish, the sanctuary became an ALL VOLUNTEER 501(c)(3) Nonprofit in 2020. This is their website - www.foreverhomedonkeyrescue.com.
* The donkeys are all rescues. They had been abused, neglected, no longer wanted.
* As of my visit, there are 32 donkeys living out their lives here. Six are female. All are “fixed.” No breeding is done here.
* The donkeys are of different ages. Some arrived with injuries. Some require specific medications and foods over their lifetimes.
* There are size differences, too – Miniature, Standard, Large Standard, and Mammoth. Suzanne introduced me to a Mammoth donkey. He was, she said, 56” high at the shoulder. By comparison, I’m 60” tall.
* Some of the donkeys in their care died naturally – age, disease. Others arrived with severe injuries that couldn’t be treated humanely. They were euthanized.
* The organization has foster and adoption programs. Potential owners are carefully evaluated and scrutinized. Some donkeys are transferred to other sanctuaries if space is an issue at this sanctuary.
Watching John (age 84) and Tish (age 81) do the physical work of caring for these donkeys – luring them with carrots into their pens, filling their buckets with feed and hay, preparing their medications -- I asked Suzanne about the future. She said that the organization, being a non-profit, has a board of directors; she is personally committed and dedicated to the donkeys, she lives on the property, as do John and Tish; she will take over when John/Tish are no longer able to.
Suzanne let me know that around 9:00 pm the donkeys would be let out of their pens and are free to roam around the fenced property. Since my camper is right there in the open, I might have visitors, she said. With no shore power available, I decided to leave my camper’s interior lights off and turn on the exterior docking lights (powered by the camper’s batteries). Those exterior lights enabled me to see the ground outside both my dinette windows and the rear door. Aware of other critters that live around these rugged environs -- coyotes, javelinas, rattlesnakes – I stayed inside the camper and, not seeing anything out the windows, went to bed at 9:30 pm.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Up with the sunrise, I looked out the rear door and swore to myself that those hoof prints on the dirt around the camper were not there yesterday. “Is that fresh dung over there, too?” – I wondered. Ohhh, them donkeys – it’s so easy to become enamored with them! Those sweet souls, they are funny, smart, personable, endearing…and while their trauma is forever seared in their memories, they are also a true lesson in forgiveness.
Around 7:00 am, a husband-wife volunteer couple – Mike and Kim – arrived. Everybody was rounding up and coaxing the donkeys into their pens…including me. John gave me a carrot and Kim gave me an “animal cracker” cookie. “Just hold out your palm,” Kim said, “…and lead your donkey into his pen.” The feel of that muzzle, gently searching for the treats was…well, gentle and soft...and, without question, appreciative, too.
I spent that morning visiting all of the donkeys while they waited for their hay and feed. Mike assisted with the morning feeding and Kim focused on cleaning the water buckets in all 32 pens. That job took her pretty much all morning -- she was still at it when I later said good-bye to her. Just before I left at around 10:30 am, I purchased some clothing items from their gift shop and also left a donation check.
Returning to Benson, I got some lunch and then after about five miles on I-10W I took Rt. 90S towards Sierra Vista, AZ. Per the directions, I then got on Rt. 92E and, spotting the sign, turned into a rough farm/ranch dirt road to another Harvest Host location – “Double G Alpacas.” This is my 8th Harvest Host overnight stay since I became a member in 2022, and my last one of this truck camper trip.
My 2:00 pm arrival was pretty much a repeat of yesterday – park and wait for the host to greet me. Again, I walked around, hoping someone would notice me. Again, seeing four-legged mammals, I strolled over to take a look, but, again, didn’t venture too far. Best to heed the host’s instructions to wait for the tour that they will give me. Within the fenced area, I did see a small gathering of alpacas who were watching me with interest; three male angora goats, who were sort of interested in my presence; and two sleeping dogs who showed zero interest in me. There was also a nearby coop with chickens of assorted colors.
Alpacas naturally do not bite. Alpacas do not like their heads being touched. You can pet their lower neck or back. Just not on the head.
We breed and show our Alpacas. We are trying to make a name for ourselves nationally so that we can sell the offspring.
Llamas are much taller and weigh about four hundred - 600 pounds. Llamas are pack animals like horses.
Are fiber animals like sheep; We process their hair and make yarn.
No hoof, their feet are like a dog's paw. They walk on a pad. Humming [LeRoy’s reply to my question about sounds they make.] No teeth on top, only bottom teeth. Alpacas have 3 stomachs.
There is no season for alpacas. We can breed them any time. Like humans. The gestation is three hundred and fifty-five days...11.5 months.
All camelids spit however alpacas are least likely to spit at humans; Not like llamas. Or camels.
They are very very gentle. She [LeRoy’s mother] can go inside [their pens]. I can go inside. It’s not a problem insurance will not allow us to let every [other people in.]
[We] separate them by temperament; Every pen has an alpha; You have 2 alphas together, they fight all day.
I would like to point out the Gray one with the all-white face. His name is Man of Steel. He has eight first place ribbons and is a three-time champion. Every time the first-place ribbon, we can charge more for the alpaca. [Pertaining to stud service.]
Judging is confirmation and fiber quality. Similar to dog shows. The judges do touch them, but they don't care if they have hay on them, it's okay.
Because they have control of their bowels, it is possible to train an alpaca, house train.
They are a very smart animal and you can train them like a dog. They all go in one spot and we collect…And it's very very good for your garden. [Noticing neat piles of their poop, I asked about that; suggest readers Google for pictures of alpaca poop.]
We have had alpacas for twelve years but as a business about seven years. I'm giving you a tour today same as I would a group.
When they lay down with their legs under them, we call it cushing.
They know when they're pregnant because they will not let the male mount them after they are pregnant. It's very difficult to determine when they're pregnant… [I was asking how they know if an alpaca is pregnant, if there are obvious signs with their belly, their teats…]
We determine the breeding and we can calculate the day they will be due. [I asked how they know which male fathered which baby.]
We processed the fiber and turned it into yarn if you like I'll give you a demonstration.
Normally takes about thirty minutes but because of the language maybe longer. [This comment from LeRoy made me laugh!] We will go to the studio for the demo.
The goats are angora goats. We shear them twice a year and use their fiber to make yarn. The fiber is called mohair. We have 12 acres total. We have eight acres fenced in on this side of the street and four acres across the street.
Earlier, Martha, LeRoy’s mother had been filling up the water buckets around the pens. That was her job, she said. On the way to the studio for the demo, she came by in her golf cart and gave me three small potatoes and two tomatoes. “She gets food from a food bank so she's sharing it with you today,” LeRoy said. We got to talking about her role with “Double G Alpacas” and she told me how much she loved what they were doing here, using the correct ASL sign for “love” – the arms crossed over the chest. I looked at Martha and made a comment about how that sign is exactly right. Oh, my gosh, the look on her face – the memories and emotions were obvious -- she smiled and told me that she used to work at the Deaf School in Illinois. Her husband, too, LeRoy’s father, who is no longer with us. I told her I went to the Indiana School for the Deaf and I remember the football and basketball games we played against that “other ISD team.” Martha nodded and I thought to myself – “What a small, small, small world we live in!”
That was a fascinating “alpacas tour” and I very much appreciated the opportunity to learn so much about this species. They have such beautiful faces. They look right at you, eye to eye, with curiosity, interest, and intelligence. Their fiber (or fleece) is soft, so soft, and I had to press down a little bit to finally feel the surface of their skin. LeRoy said they will shear that fiber (sheep produce wool) – in the spring. From the fiber they collect, they implement a process to make yarn.
LeRoy took me over to the studio. Martha hung out with us there and I soon met Paula, LeRoy’s wife. There I learned that LeRoy’s last name is German and the “Double G” refers to his parents (“German and German”). When they started this business, it became confusing when people thought the alpacas were from Germany. “Double G” was the solution and the family business is still going strong -- their breeding program, stud service, alpaca shows, art shows, and sales of their hand-made products. Their website: DoubleGAlpacasAz.com. Check out their video – it’s captioned.
For the “yarn” demo, we got off to a funny start with LeRoy’s “speech to text” approach. He decided to abandon that and start writing on my notebook – four pages worth! I’ll share his spoken comments (unedited)…
I grew up in Galesburg, Illinois, but I spent 22 years in the military and retired at fort huachuca.
So I currently work as a contractor for the army on the fort.
I'm a software developer by day a Alpacas rancher at night.
I want to show you how we create yarn from alpaca hair.
We will try the best we can.
Felting during washing is very bad.
I do appreciate your patience.
This is from our garden
She is growing cotton. Cotton and seed. Different plants from different seeds.
We are getting side tracked with the… [We started laughing here because we kept veering off to other topics – the cotton, our personal backgrounds, etc.]
The pictures below correspond with what LeRoy was telling or showing me…
It was very dark when we left the studio. LeRoy used his mobile’s flashlight to walk me to my camper. Knowing that I’m not likely to see him tomorrow morning, I gave him a hug and thanked him for such a great day and experience.
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
I spent the morning catching up on Blog #5, my final blog of this truck camper trip. For the first time since starting this trip, because I didn’t have any shore power hookup here, I activated the generator to recharge both my laptop and iPhone. Before leaving, around late morning, I took one last look at some of the alpacas and left an envelope with a $30.00 donation near the front door. Then, going back the way I came, I got on I-10W towards Tucson, AZ. The one excitement with that drive was approaching the Border Patrol checkpoint on Rt. 90N. They waved me through.
I soon arrived and got my camper set up at Catalina State Park, located just outside of Tucson. Settling in to do more work on the laptop, I found it necessary to turn on the air conditioning. It was that hot here! Sitting outside later, just as the sun set, I watched the flitting behavior of some birds in the darkening sky. Bats, maybe?
I had visitors today! Being the solo traveler that I am, it is rare for me to have folks come visit me at my camper...and/or for me to visit anybody on my travels.
Pre-arranged some time ago, I invited my long-time friend, Kathy Fraychineaud, who lives in Tucson, to come by my camper today. She arrived around 11:15 am with Brady, her little 11-year-old dog. A smart dog, this one…he understands most everything Kathy signs to him! We sat outside in my two camp chairs for a little while and then hopped in her car to go to lunch at a nearby breakfast/brunch restaurant.
Back at the camper, we continued our visit outside. Since Kathy used to do a lot of camping herself back in the day, she was interested in some of my camper’s functions, including -- since I complain about it so much! -- the “tank dumping” part. I was telling her about the “camper design” for this process and how the angle of the sewer’s outlet differs from the designed outlets for trailers, fifth wheels, motorhomes. As it happened there was a Lance trailer (my camper is a Lance product, too), across the way and I decided to go over there and ask the owner if we could see what his dumping apparatus looks like. He was happy to comply and talk about it. “Jeez, the conversations we RVers have!” I thought to myself. But it’s worth it if we learn a thing or two.
The sun had set by the time Kathy and Brady left. Tonight is my last night in Arizona.
Friday, October 11, 2024
Back on I-10W, I drove for four hours through the Arizona desert to The Cove RV Resort in Blythe, CA. I’ve been here several times -- it’s perfect for the chores I have to do tomorrow morning. This time around, I selected a site overlooking the California side of the Colorado River. Being that this is my final night in the camper I started bagging my clothes, food, and other essentials.
Saturday, October 12, 2024
First thing this morning, I took a picture of the sunrise on the Colorado River...
The minute I arrived home, I turned off the camper’s fridge and closed the two propane tanks. With no power source operating the fridge, it was OK for me to park on my sloped driveway for easier unloading of both the camper and truck. Taking my time with this task -– and taking frequent breaks inside my cool condo -- I was able to finish by late afternoon. Laundry is on the schedule tomorrow. The camper goes back to Galaxy Campers in Ontario, CA on Monday.
Despite the earlier issues, just as I started this trip, with both the fridge and the broken lever for the cabover vent window, I’m glad everything went so well and all my pre-planning panned out satisfactorily. It’s always good, via RV travel, to discover and learn about new things in and around our beautiful country. Animals are always a highlight. They humble me.
It’s also always good to return home!
Total days of travel - 33
Total miles traveled – 3,035
