Natasha; dessert and desert(ed) Internet; cowboys and Indians; a scorpion hunt?

As I write this edition of our Messages of Hope tour blog, I have Natasha Bedingfield blasting on the stereo for inspiration. Suzanne is conducting her S.O.A.R! Workshop at The Logos Center in Scottsdale, and I am catching up on RV maintenance and paperwork here in The Bus. Even though we are away, what we call in the Navy “administrivia” always manages to catch up with us. Today is no exception. Our great friend Ann Lavelle brought us a large packet of mail that Suzanne’s mom has been collecting for us back in The Villages. (Thanks a lot, Ann... I mean that only partially sarcastically...). 

Here is my workspace on the table in The Bus. We can tether Suzanne’s iPhone to her computer for access, but both of those electronic marvels are in use in her workshop. As a confirmed Luddite, I have reluctantly been brought into the 21^st century as a matter of necessity. I have an iPhone, an iPad and a computer here... none of which work especially well on the fringes of civilization (apologies to the Mesa, Arizona, Chamber of Commerce).

One of the minor (major?) inconveniences of “camping” in the desert (yes, that’s a relative term; we are not living in a tent) is the lack of Internet, reliable or otherwise. We are in Usery Mountain Recreation Area east of Mesa. As you know, cell towers support population centers. Here is a photo of the area around our campsite. “Urban sprawl” is not an issue here. There's not a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts in sight... 

You don’t see green (trees and lawns) because of the simple fact that real trees and grass don’t grow here. There is a lovely cactus, sand, rock and mountain view out the window which you can’t discern because of the off-the-chart glare from the sunshine and its associated 106F heat. Even with sunglasses on, you want to put a pair of sunglasses on. Humidity today is 7%. There’s probably more moisture on Mars. The EPA-rated UV (ultraviolet) exposure index here today is 11+. That’s as high as the scale goes. There’s nothing moving out in the desert right now. Any organism with a brain is buried down deep in a burrow until sunset. (Note for Bronwen:  I'm sorry if I sound like I'm whining; I really do love the desert, and have backpacked/hiked the Red Rock area near Las Vegas, 29 Palms in California, Death Valley, and Sedona. I just like pulling Desert Rats' chains.)  ;-)

Speaking of sunset, there is a special social activity here at the campground tonight. The park ranger will be presenting a lecture on scorpions, and after that, there will be a “Scorpion Hunt”.  I’m not sure if that means the campers go into the desert looking for scorpions or vice versa, but it sounds like great fun. I am sure Suzanne will be ready for some scorpion excitement when she finishes her workshop. Here’s one of the critters that we may be hunting... or who may be hunting us.  

I did get into Old Town Scottsdale for an hour or two this morning. After a Starbucks, a sinful lemon cake goodie and use of their WiFi connection, I recon’ed the Ville, with Rudy and Gretchen waiting in the car in air conditioned comfort. It’s a neat place, with lots of shops, restaurants and galleries. I especially liked the wagon wheel chair and the bronze Indians and cowboys in the Schorr Gallery. (Stephen Schorr is a former Rhode Islander, and a very knowledgeable gallery owner). They were having a sale, but our space is very limited aboard The Bus.