I'm out of the cold country! It took about 9 hours of driving against or across a stiff wind yesterday, and learning what that feels like (and what it does to fuel mileage) but I'm settled for a few days where I can get ready for "regular" camping -- that is, self-contained boondocking, I hope, or at least being able to use my own water. Today I flushed the lines of antifreeze, to the best of my ability, and filled the water tank. The water is still fizzy and vaguely pink, and not especially pleasant to drink, so i'll continue using bottled water until it's all flushed below my personal detection limit. This was yet one more reason my darling always wanted to be gone by now: I really detested the lingering taste of RV antifreeze, so when we bought a new trailer we ensured that the stuff had never contaminated the pipes. But that meant, of course, that we had to leave before the temperatures dropped below freezing. (One year we did have a severe cold drop in October, so we winterized that Princessmobile that year. It was only for a couple of weeks, and I don't recall having objectionable flavors. Holding time is probably a factor; this Princessmobile was winterized several months ago.)
I luxuriated this morning in the idea that I could have my OWN coffee (once I found the stuff) and didn't have to go anywhere in particular. Sunshine outside, steamy coffee in bed! Yay!
The coffee mug has a wedding photo from my best friend's youngest son's wedding in Kenya last summer. I'm farther around in the photo, next to my best friend and the happy couple; I'm "Auntie Nancy" to the gang. I've never written here about the Kenyan food I sampled, but you may see some of it later this winter. It was delicious.
There's a prairie dog town across the field. I finally know what those mystery "birds" are that chirp so peculiarly from the ground. 🙂
I'll need to go to town tomorrow for fuel and, believe it or not, a few groceries. I finished off the yogurt today, and I think there are other things on the list as well.
I worked hard getting the Princessmobile ready (mostly) and waited far too long for lunch; it became dinner. Still, I had a chance to try out my new cast iron griddle atop the stove. I haven't had much luck cooking grilled cheese sandwiches on cast iron at home without smoking up the kitchen, and that's why I almost brought along my panini press. Today's trial worked pretty well, though. The sandwich was salami, turkey, Havarti cheese (I'm out of the other sliced stuff), mayo, mustard, on sourdough bread. I'd already had an uncooked version of this sandwich. As much as I like that bread's flavor it's a bit too soft without being toasted or griddled. This worked out much better. Butter on the outside for the griddling.
Salad greens and pickles added after griddling.
It isn't the "ooh, what will I cook first when I have time?" dinner I'd envisioned, but it's all I had the energy for.
