Sunday, March 21...Shoe Shopping (Old Dominion)

    It was 55o at 7 a.m....the sun and heat are coming on strong these days.  However, the forecast for the next couple of days has a slight dip down into the high 60s...we’ll see if that pans out.  Need the heat to stay so we can go scorpion hunting.  Ryan gave us a heads up on a spot down off the end of Picacho Hwy for spotting scorpions.  I want to check it out in the daytime before I go walking around in the dark.  We went out just for a quick look last night but nothing.

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   I usually grab my camera when I go for a walk...never know what I’m going to see that needs to be documented.  My policy: Rather have it and not need it then need it and not have it.  Today I needed it and I’m glad I had it...saw a roadrunner on my walk.  In my experience it’s difficult to get a picture of a roadrunner in a natural setting...they’re usually on the go.   I was a distance from this one when I saw it and immediately stopped; didn’t want to spook it into running.  The camera has a great zoom but I have to remain super steady when I get into optical zoom.  Super steady can be tricky.

    The roadrunner was at the same side of the road as I was when I spotted its movement; it was searching in some roadside tufts of grass...maybe for a tasty bug snack.  Then it leisurely crossed the road into the base of a bush, reappearing in the desert field beyond the bush.  Sort of meandering but with purpose.  I snapped a couple of pictures when I first saw it, hoping for the best because I was so far away.  As it crossed the road I quickened my step but nothing extreme because again I didn’t want to scare it into running.  Was able to draw even with it with the road between us...started snapping more pictures.

    To my eye the pictures were slightly out of focus when I was taking them but I know the camera has better eyesight than I do.  All I had to do was keep steady and trust the camera would do the rest.  I’m tickled that I got several good pictures of a very elusive subject.

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   Kim wants it known that the lethal point on his snake stick is not for harming any snakes...he will be using the forked end to pin down the snake.  I don’t really know the purpose of the sharp end...I think he just whittled it to a point because he has a sharp knife and he’s not afraid to use it. 😎

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   I edited the video I had taken of the wrestling lizards and sent it off to a man at the Natural History Museum of LA County.  I asked if he could identify the species of lizard and what it is they’re doing...mating or establishing male dominance.  Hope I hear back from him.

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   While Kim was out walking I sat outside in the shadow of the camper but feeling the warmth of the day. Playing Scrabble on my Kindle, looking up now and again.  Movement on the tree caught my eye...there was a lizard on each trunk of the mesquite tree.  I watched those two for about 20 minutes...the lighter one remained very still, maybe basking in the sun or waiting for the other one to make its move, while the darker performed pushups and skittered off and then back onto the tree, maybe trying to impress the other one.  I was taking video in case something weird and wonderful like yesterday’s antics happened but they stayed on their respective tree trunks. Still an interesting way to pass the time.

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   We went into Casa Grande to look for shoes for Kim...maybe replace his Keen’s, maybe get some tennis shoes.  He’s been wearing his hiking boots which are generally okay but a little on the warm side when walking in 80o weather..  Our other goal was to find a food truck to buy some lunch.

   Went into several shoe stores in the Promenade Way shopping area; stores which were surprisingly busy.  Apparently Sunday is the day to shop for shoes in Casa Grande; however we didn’t find what we were looking for. In fact some of the shoes only type stores had so much to offer it was overwhelming.  We’d given up on Keen’s; those will wait until we can get to Petoskey.  For now we just need a pair of walking shoes in a size 13 or 14, please. Went to Big 5 Sporting Goods where the selection was smaller and asked about walking shoes.  The young employee wasn’t too sure which of the athletic shoes were actually considered ‘walking’ shoes but he was still trying to be helpful.  When he found out what size Kim needed he said, “We do have a couple of styles in a 14 but I’m not sure which ones those would be...how about I bring out all the size 14s that we have.”  Which was just two pair of shoes.  But one pair fit and that’s all Kim needed so now he should be able to crank out those steps with ease.

   And bonus! Taco Kings was three doors down.  Couldn’t find any food trucks, we were hungry and Taco Kings was right in front of us.  Time to eat. Ordinarily I’d be suspicious of a place called Taco Kings but this wasn’t a fast food joint.  It was busy, it’s family owned and there’s a short order type kitchen in the back.  We sat outside to eat our very late lunch/early supper.  Next time we’ll check out on Jimmie Kerr Blvd for the food trucks...less restaurant competition along there.

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    I had the vague idea about taking an early evening bike ride but when we got back to camp it was too late...in about a half hour it would be dark. Also too late to watch lizards.  Took a short walk to get my 10,000 steps.  Other than that I tried very hard to amuse myself in camp...not the easiest but I managed.

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   We’re in the land of sunshine and dry heat and both are taking a toll on my skin and hair. Nothing that a daily slathering of lotion and a dab of conditioner after a shampoo won't fix. It’s just that knowing it and actually doing it are two very different things.  And chapstick...always needing chapstick because my lips feel tight.


 

 

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