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RVNN.TV Interview replay

This is the interview Jaimie and Alice had with Courtney Wallin and Andy McCaskey of RVNN.TV. We're the first segment followed by RV news and other stories. We had fun. Hope you enjoy it too! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

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The dingo's got my baby - revisited

In 1980 a baby disappeared from a tent out in the outback of Australia near Uluru or Ayers Rock. While the parents claimed a dingo had taken her baby, public opinion was that the mother had killed her 9-week-old infant.

The baby was sleeping in her basinette in the tent while Lindy, the mother, was preparing dinner. Nearby campers said they had heard a growl and a baby's cry just before the mother discovered little Azaria missing. She cried out, "The dingo's got my baby!" That line was immortalized by Meryl Streep in the movie, "Cry in the Dark."

Not having watched the movie, we heard about the line and the story while in Uluru. In fact, the sign on the laundry room indicated that dingo attacks are possible and if so, get out of your tent and run for this concrete block structure. I did not sleep very well, waiting for sirens to go off and then having to spring to the building! We got bit by ants when outside the tent but heard no dingos. An RV would have felt much more secure on this trip.

In spite of spots of blood on the bedding and dingo prints outside the tent, which led credance to her story and a torn and bloody jumpsuit later found in the desert, many people thought Lindy guilty.  Police said spots of blood had been found in the car also. Lindy was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Later, with improved techniques, the blood in the car was found to be milk and dye from the vehicle. She was released.

Three cornoner's inquests have been held, all of them returning with inconclusive findings. They did not believe a dingo would behave that way. However, there have been fatal attacks since then so now a 4th inquest is being held. Maybe this time they will come to a definite conclusion. You can read the Associated Press article with more detail here. According to the article, most people still do not believe a dingo could kill a baby and drag her off into the desert. We'll see what happens. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Tumacacori bound- food and spices

Chuck and I could have eaten at the Tubac Festival of Arts at one of the restaurants or food wagons. However, we were done with people and I had eaten at a restaurant with good food a few miles south in Tumacacori. This tiny blip of a town is home to Tumacácori National Historical Park, which contains the ruins of an old Spanish colonial mission. The mission was established by Father Kino, a Jesuit priest, in 1691, the oldest mission in Arizona.

Wisdom's Cafe is just north of the mission and serves excellent Mexican food. Margaritas, ice tea and other drinks are served in Bell jars. Established in 1944, they are best known for their fruit burros. You might want to go just for dessert! They have many choices on the menu, both Mexican and American. We were hoping most people were eating at the art festival, but Wisdom's had been discovered. However, we sat outside and were served pretty quickly. I got a chuckle out of the two big chickens outside. 

Just as we were leaving, a man asked us if we knew where the Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Company was located. I happened to have a local guide and saw that the address was fairly close. After sending him down the road, we decided that might be a fun stop before heading back to Tucson. It was only another mile or so south and the large sign helped us spot it.

This is another Tumacacori business with a long history. It has served Hispanic kitchens for more than four generations. The land on which it is located is part of what once wa a floating Spanish land grant made to the Baca family.

The first thing you notice as you approach the door is the almost overpowering smell of spices. That's because this is where they make their line of spices and sauces that are sold in the store as well as on their website. Your nose adjusts, though. The building houses a museum containing antiques and wetern memorabilia. You could spend some time looking at the articles and poster plus other exhibits that decorate its walls and document the rich history of the area. You can see the factory area where they make and package spices through the glass.

George wasn't along and he does most of the cooking so I decided to wait to purchase spices when he is with me. However, there were many tempting sauces and spices. Fresh makes all the difference, too. So, if you are venturing south of Tucson, make a day of visiting Tubac and Tumacacori. You can find room at both places to park an RV, though get to Wisdom's a little before lunch or dinner so you have plenty of room. Otherwise, you might need to park and walk a short ways. Your visit will give you a smattering of art, culture and history plus yummy food - all in one day! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Tubac Festival of the Arts

A friend Chuck and I drove south from Tucson on I-19 to Tubac for the 53rd Annual Tubac Festival of Arts last week. Tubac is a fun artsy sort of place to visit anytime. During the festival, 175 juried artisans and crafters set up their booths along the streets. Parking is also $6 no matter which way you enter Tubac during the festival (free otherwise). The place is packed during festival week.

New to Chuck and I was Tohono Village, a fairly new structure built by Tohono O'odham tribe. It has room for performances, an oven for baking bread, a saguaro cactus fountain and a shop that sells items made by Native Americans from several tribes. Aztec dancers were going to perform in the small plaza after lunch.

Tubac stores have lots of color. This fountain shop had whimsical metal flowers to decorate your yard. They are a tad large to haul around in an RV, but for the right house or year-round RV lot, would be fun. Another store used the outside of their building to display the many geckos, frogs, lizards and other creatures and designs that could decorate a wall.

A yard of metal horses and some other animals was fun. The wire ones looked ready to take off, while the parts of the blue horse and other creatures like it, would bob up and down or swing when pushed.

There were lots of items for sale that were RV-size or good for gifts. Arts and crafts festivals have unique items, making them a nice place to shop, if the price is right.

I did find a different sort of egg poacher in the kitchen store in Tubac - RV size. Rather than buy a big poaching pan, these cups float in water. You put the raw egg in the cup, which floats in the boiling water until cooked. The first time I used a small frying pan and didn't have enough water. The very top part did not get cooked. The second time I put quite a bit of water in a large pot. Turns out it was too much. One cup spontaneously sunk- drenching the egg! Then, when I tried to pick the other cup up with tongs, it tipped over, letting water in that one. argh.... Next time, I'm going to make sure the depth of the water is such that it cannot go into the cup even if it is resting on the bottom. Maybe tomorrow morning.

While cars were parked in rows, I believe there would be places to park RVs for the festival. There are plenty of places to park RVs during non-festival days. It would be easier to take your tow or toad instead of your RV, if possible. The real question is can you resist buying something else for your RV that you don't really need. It is fun, however, to see how creative these artisans can be. I do suggest getting there early. We  parked just a few minutes after it opened so could easily see items in the booths. As it got towards noon, though, the streets got more crowded and it was difficult to see what was being sold. Chuck and I were peopled out by about noon, having had our fill of admiring all the attractive artwork. We headed south for lunch and spices. More next time. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

 

Forest Service fees- halted

A few years ago, the Coronado National Forest instituted a permit system to park along the Catalina Highway, the highway that summits Mount Lemmon. Unless you  were only going to Summerhaven, a hamlet at the top, you needed the permit. A fee was charged.

According to the Arizona Daily Star, "A federal appeals court on Thursday slapped down the U.S. Forest Service for charging fees for those who park and hike in the Catalina Mountains." The reasoning is that the Forest Service cannot charge to park and use undeveloped land.

In the Red Rock District of the Coconino Forest, a similar case was filed. Now you need a permit to park only if there are restrooms/pit toilets or other facilities but not if it is undeveloped. The general requirement for a permit to park anywhere in the District was voided. What that means for the visitor is that some roads that were once maintained, or at least semi-maintained, are no longer kept passable. For example, while FR 152 to Vultee Arch is open, only serious 4-wheel drive vehicles can get down it. Tours still go out there, but the road that was horrible a couple of years ago, has deteriorated even more.

I certainly can understand frequent users filing a suit since our taxes already pay for public lands. We should have access. If we're only going for a hike, should we have to pay extra? And, these agencies do not get enough money in their budgets to maintain existing facilities and roads, much less make improvements. These extra fees do help and are paid by the user, not the general taxpayer. The agencies are between a rock and a hard place. While I don't like paying fees, I think that's the only way we can continue to use our public lands safely. I'm sure at least other RVers are similarly conflicted; keep spending for recreation down, but keep these lands open and accessible to the public. What do you think? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

 

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Tucson's Gem and Mineral Show is huge! I think there are close to 30 different shows or venues around town. Most are clustered on the west side within a few blocks of I-10. You could never hope to see them all. A few are open only to those buying wholesale; most to both consumers and those buying wholesale.

One day I went to Electric Park, where two shows are held and walked around. And, after seeing an article about the African Art Village, went there plus to another downtown hotel a few days later with friends. The African Art Village had interesting pieces, mostly decorative. Many booths had the same items in the way of masks and baskets.

The hotel had this giant amethyst geode outside and many more crystals, rocks and gems of all sizes. I couldn't begin to tell you all the different kinds. There was very little jewelry at this location. Good thing. This way I only looked and didn't buy!

This weekend will end the show for most venues so if you haven't gone yet, better hurry. Programs and maps give you an idea of what you might find in each location. The main location in the civic center charges admission. Most are free. However, some areas do charge for parking. Some places are under tent, others in hotels or buildings. Often there are tents outside a central huge tent or hotel.

Definitely much bigger than the gem show in Quartzsite! And, if nothing else, going is a lesson in geology and geography. These minerals are from all over the world. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

CBS This Morning visits Quartzsite!

CBS This Morning is doing a segment on women RVers that will air this Tuesday, February 7 between 8 and 9. The Texas Ramblin' Roses chapter of RVing Women is the group they filmed. I'm the RV lifestyle expert they interviewed for the piece.

It's quite exciting to get a call from a CBS producer while out running errands! Elizabeth Bohnel had come across the books I wrote with writing partner Alice Zyetz- RV Traveling Tales: Women's Journeys on the Open Road and The Woman's Guide to Solo RVing. When she found out George and I would be in Quartzsite, she was even more excited because they wanted to get shots of RVs there too.

Hunter Bloch, cameraman, got in Sunday afternoon. Elizabeth was delayed by a cancelled flight but arrived after dark, after Hunter and I had driven around Quartzsite looking for RVs driving around. By that time of day most RVs have landed for the night so we didn't have much luck. He did get two groups at campfires.

The next morning, after getting shots of RVs on the move, they came out to where we were parked on the far edge of the Scadden Wash 14-day area where we had parked with the Boomer group of the Escapees. Lee Cowan, CBS National News correspondent who would interview me, was along too. He had arrived late on Sunday. He couldn't get to Quartzsite until then- he was interviewing Brad Pitt!

It was quite a procedure to set up the "set." Two cameras, mikes, screens were what I could see. We loaned our Honda 200X for power. We had to put it in Elizabeth's rental car to muffle the noise. Hunter said normally you wouldn't hear it but the desert is so quiet. We also had two people from BLM to oversee the operation since it was on pubic land.

 

 

Lee was so gracious. I can see why he is so successful at what he does. I felt immediately at ease with him. Looking up his bio later, he has traveled all over the world and been in some dangerous places on his job yet he was totally engrossed in women and RVing. Elizabeth was fun to work with too She is so enthusiastic and very good at what she does. Hunter, the cameraman, had more things packed in that truck than we could have imagined - very professional.

I once worked with a very demanding Japanese film crew. I ended up running all over Prescott for them only to have all the footage they shot end up on the cutting room floor. The CBS crew couldn't have been more different- very friendly, encouraging and grateful.

I hope you tune in! It will be fun to see what parts of the filming I saw ended up in the piece. If I find a more exact time, I'll post it on the home page of RVLifestyleExperts.com. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak