It's been just the last couple of days that I've noticed a lot of RVs leaving the place, so I guess the spring migration is on. Today I saw the first red-winged blackbird, one of the very early species to get moving northwards. I'll be tracking the RWBB all the way to Port Townsend, I suspect. This time of year I'm watching the weather up north, deciding on which route or which weather-avoidance strategy to use to get to the Juan de Fuca strait....

This is the annual Escapees gathering/rally/convention, this year for the first time in the Tucson. Given the location and the timing, it was the biggest gathering by a large amount because the directors chose to have the event where people already were. I went over for a day visit which worked out nicely. Just wandering around I found a lot of friends, and this afternoon was a scheduled get-together of my buddies, so I saw a lot of people. It...

I watched another hearing in Olympia as the WA legislature processes three bills that address the medical marijuana problem in the state. Those bills do address the problem, the legislature seems inclined to pass one of them, and the governor will sign whichever law is written. That's good. But no matter which bill passes, the medical marijuana people are going to have a problem: only a very few are going to qualify for licenses, and those...

One of my all-time favorite places to visit. It's world-class birdwatching, I always enjoy the town of Tombstone, and the RV park I'm in is one of the best I've stayed in. Tombstone Territories RV Park is extremely popular and fills up (100 spaces) regularly this time of year. I pulled in on a gamble, and discovered they'd let me park in storage and wait until a space came up. For $20 a night. This matches the highest rate I ever paid for dry...

I went north from town to see the ag area and because the incoming weather permitted, through the mountains. There are orchards of fruit trees similar to the Yakima Valley: apples, pears, peaches, cherries, but on a tiny scale comparatively. Some walnuts and pecans. No trees are budded out or showing blooms yet; workers were still pruning. Most impressive were the miles and miles of greenhouses, which I gather are used for growing row-crops...

Depending on the weather I'll be in Willcox for a few days getting some birding in, or waiting out a storm. The forecasts aren't that great in this part of the country. I'm at Cattlerest Bar and RV Park, whose RV portion just opened up a couple of months ago. Nice people bought it (he's a commercial airline pilot, partially retired) and have got it fixed up pretty nice. A cattlerest was a place to unload the livestock off your truck after they...

Colorado had a successful rollout of it's retail cannabis business because they had a medical marijuana (MMJ) that was working well. That MMJ law is up for renewal in 2016, and lawmakers seem to be taking a harsh approach to it. Those folks operating MMJ facilities aren't paying taxes and are the source for the competing black market. Discussion in Colorado is leaning towards extremely strict controls over the MMJ businesses, which will...

When I pull out on Sunday I will have spent 6 weeks in Deming this winter, a signal that I like the place, and a sure sign I will be spending more time here in the future. I like Deming, but why? The restaurants are plentiful and good. There's a walmart, and there is Pepper's supermarket, an independent. Jimmy's is great for RV repair, and all RV parking is cheap, good, and easy to get into. This is a great place for motels for those on the...

I relocated from the Low-Hi Ranch to the Escapee's lot today, to get a different view, and to hear some trains. I'll be here a week then head west to do some birding. Actually, I'll be in excellent birding spots for the next 6 weeks, before heading north with the birds. I'm starting to dream about trees and the sea....

I had a good Green Chile Cheeseburger at the Patio in Columbus yesterday, so today I went to Hatch to have Sparky's BBQ. Sparky's has the number 3 or 4 best GCCB in NM, but their BBQ is just as good. As with all BBQ, regional and local differences apply. Sparky's is Texas style, but they have a lot of salt in their rub. The beans side is one of the best I've had. Hatch is funny without the chilis. All the crop is gone and the processing...

Alaska and Oregon are in the process of developing regulations for legal recreational marijuana. In Oregon, arrests for pot will stop in July of 2015, but licenses for growing and selling won't be issued until January 2016. That's six months that helps the largest marijuana retailer in Washington, Vancouver's New Vansterdam store. Oregon is scrambling to develop regs for hemp farms which want to get the growing season started, part of the law...

There can be no complaints about the weather here. Winter might be ending in NM. I've been doing stuff like visiting Hatch, going to the Pink Store, repairing a drawer that had shaken itself apart, getting mail, filing income taxes, trying out restaurants. Maybe fixed a window leak. Bobbie recommended the Adobe Deli, which I had never tried. It's kinda out of the way, though it's just on the other side of the hill where Rockhound SP is. The food...