Spring is Springing & A Battery Makeover

A lot of people that I talk to think of the desert as a barren wasteland.

Just dirt, rock, and cactus.

Barren and unchanging - season to season.

Nothing could be further from the truth however.

The desert wildflowers are beginning to bloom.   The show will increase

as the days and weeks roll by but we are getting some of the early peeks

at the colors to come.

This Prickly Pear Cactus is showing off its spring finery.

I'm not certain as to the names of the two bushes below, but they

were blooming all over Lake Pleasant Regional Park just

North of Phoenix for the last 3 days.

While in Lake Pleasant, we were invited down for a Sonoran Hot Dog lunch

with 4 other couples that we know from our Montana Group.

 

They are spending a couple of months in Phoenix to Golf and attend 

Spring Baseball Training games by

one or more of the 15 teams that are here.

What's a Sonoran Hot Dog you ask??

So did I.

How about:

Big juicy hot dogs, wrapped in bacon, covered with cheese, and then

all sorts of toppings - onions, guacamole, salsa, chili, beans, salads, etc.

It was great visiting with all of them - unfortunately I forgot to bring the

camera so no pictures.

Thanks for a great lunch and afternoon!

Kate and I had a wonderful time.  

We owe you guys a lunch!

While at Lk Pleasant I also broke out the radiant grill

to cook up a couple of beauties.

Marcel - this steak's for you!

Our site at the Lake as the sun casts the final rays of the day.

This morning we hit the road and headed down to Mesa where I had

an appointment to have 6 new batteries installed.

It's an easy job that I could have done myself but the batteries are 90lbs each

and they did not charge much so I sat back and let them do it.

We installed 6 Lifeline GPL-6CT batteries.

6v 300ah each gives us a 900ah bank at 12v.

The batteries just barely make it into the battery compartment.

But make it they did.

Step 1   Install Battery Monitor...  done!

Step 2  New Larger AGM Battery Bank....    Done!

Step 3   Add Solar Panels to the Roof...   Next on the list.

Then I will be done.

After the batteries we moved an hour south to Picacho Peak State Park.

We have passed by here at least a dozen times and always wanted to stay and

check it out.   So here we are.

Each time we pass thru I play Pat Metheny - Last Train Home.

Lindsay knows why.

The park has several hiking trails including one to the top of the peak for 

the more adventurous.

Our site has electric which is necessary for the A/C right now as the temps are unseasonably

warm in the high 80's and low 90's.    Time to head for higher elevation.

Our view with Picacho Peak in the background.

Sunday we will depart and head 5 hrs north west to Las Vegas where we

will spend two weeks.

I have to fly to NY for business and you can fly direct to ANYWHERE from Las Vegas

so it is a good place to hang out.

Jim & Kristi,  returning from Mexico, will hook back up with us there later in our visit 

and hopefully keep Kate out of trouble while I'm gone.