Building My Awning at Coyote Howls

Most of the last couple of months I've been at Coyote Howls campground in Why, AZ. It's minimalist camping in the desert with bathrooms, showers and dump stations, but no power and marginal water. I have been living on my solar panels, but the generator did come out for one big project. The awning has been in the planning stages for a long time. Our boat had a large awning but it was easy to take down in strong winds (that only come at 2 AM) as it rolled up and stored on the radar arch at the stern. Since I'm by myself, that was again my priority. Well, that and shade.

 

 

The awning factory was a blue tarp, my Honda generator, and my Pfaff 130 on the tailgate of the truck. Oh, also my buddy Jim who sews way better than me and who got me to come down to the winter warmth of Coyote Howls.

 

 

After one long day, we had something that looked like an awning.

 

 

 

 

There is a one inch diameter aluminum tube in a sleeve at the end of the awning. The poles go through grommets in the fabric and through the tube. The main purpose of the tube is to allow me to roll the awning up and to store in a zippered bag on the awning track.

 

 

So far, it's a success after about a month of use, including a road trip to Tucson to hear Antsy McClain sing at Alumafiesta. Never ever miss a chance to see him perform.

 

 

 

-steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Joshua Tree National Park

I just loved it here! I've spent very little time in the desert over the years and it has been fun learning about what goes on in this environment (a lot).

 

I spent a couple of days at Black Rock on the north side of the park.

 

 

My favorite spot was the small Belle Campground with no facilities except for vault toilets and with only eighteen nearly empty sites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If that leash were just a little longer. . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bris says we will be coming back here!

 

-steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yosemite Valley

 

Pam and I were married in the little Chapel at Yosemite on Valentines Day, many years ago.

There's a nice view towards Yosemite Falls from the front steps of the Chapel.

Ahwahnee Hotel

It's only about ninety minute drive from Fresno where we lived when we met. Sometimes we would drive up for dinner. I was much more comfortable in a coat and tie back then. My current T shirt only wardrobe won't get me in the dining room.

 

 

Perpetual motion Brissy in the campground. I was surprised how many sites were available there. We had a reservation, but didn't need it.

Lots of changes to Island Girl since that pickup day shot on the iPad!

 

 

The weather was nice for the four days we were there, but was wet and gloomy on the way out. The clouds and the lighting was amazing that morning and I just wandered around taking it in. It's an amazing place.

I was standing by the trailer watching it all when a couple of cars parked nearby. I'm looking at the clouds and the rocks and the trees, when the Airstream draws a crowd and pretty soon the door is open and the tours are in session.

 

 

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