Saturday, November 7, 2015 (Midland LTVA, Blythe, CA)

We started our day off as usual...pretty darned slow! Just don't like rushing these days...love our morning coffee! Besides...isn't that what retirement is all about?!

We did a little Amazon shopping this morning...Steve ordered a FloJet Macerator Waste Pump and some solar LED Christmas lights. So we are getting ready for our winter in Quartzsite!

We have plans with Charlene and Dennis today...Steve is going with Dennis out in his jeep to explore an area west of here and try out his new .40 caliber pistol while I'm going with Charlene into town for a little shopping. It was going on about 10:30 when Dennis picked up Steve...Charlene picked me up at 11:00.

I'll pass things over to Steve now to describe his day...

We checked out the calcium carbonate Victor Mine site...

Then continued along the Arlington Mine road for many miles. Dennis had heard that one of Patton's bunkers where he would watch maneuvers was somewhere in the area. We found a road sign that said Patton's Cabin Road. We continued along this very bumpy road until there was a Y in the road, but no sign to Patton's area. Thinking it's got to be along the mountains and not in the valley we went left. Eventually we spotted some buildings in the distance. Could this be it?

Dennis scanning the valley with binoculars...

There was no evidence as to what this place was...

Dennis taking a picture of Steve taking a picture of Dennis :-)

This structure looks like it was used for dumping material so perhaps it's an old mine?

Remnants of a burned out building...

On our way back we started to hear something banging under the rear of the jeep...

Thinking that perhaps a clamp has broken off of the exhaust we decided to check it out when we got to the next road...

Exhaust was fine, shocks look good...what the heck is it?

We continued on a short while exploring until Dennis felt it was best to turn around and head home.That's when another different sound started and it almost felt like one side of the rear of the jeep was slipping or losing traction...hard to explain. Any ways I think the pucker factor kicked in for both of us as we had no cell service and were a looong way in. As we limped home we passed this mountain with two mine shafts. We didn't get to shoot but thankfully made it back.

I had a great day with Charlene...shopping, lunch, more shopping...what's not to like? Mind you, shopping IS pretty limited in Blythe! LOL.

Shortly after 4:00 Charlene and Dennis came down to our rig to join us for happy hour and dinner. Steve grilled burgers on the barbecue...so it wasn't anything particularly fancy. As usual, we had a great evening chatting and laughing with our dear friends!