Before I bought our RV "The Hollandia," Desert Dog
Dutchess and I traveled around in a Toyota pick-up with
a small cab-over camper. And with "small" I mean really
small. Of course it had no bathroom or toilet. We watered
a lot of trees along the way and for more serious
business I used the restrooms at gas stations and
roadside rest stops. This works fine for a couple of
days but after that you need to find a place where you
can shower. One time, early spring, we traversed the
State of Nevada using the famous Highway 50,
aka "The Loneliest Road in America."
There was still snow on the ground and frost in the
air. The campgrounds had not opened yet. It was during
that trip, I remember itwell, that Dutchess insisted
that the window on her side of the car stay open even
while we froze our buns off. I must have smelled very
bad. She even refused to lookin my direction.
When I told a campground host of my need for a bath he
explained to me that he couldn't turn the water on for
fear that the water pipes would burst.Not counting
the hours it would take to get the boiler going.
"Why don't you go to this old motel at the edge of
town where you can rent a room for around $10.00 per night,
"he said, "I'm sure the owner will let you take a
shower for half that amount." What an excellent idea!
Why didn't I think of that? The motel was not hard to find;
it was the last building before you left town and
saw nothing but miles of emptiness in front of you.
The first thing I noticed when I stepped into the office
was a gallon bottle of cheap red wine, only half full.
When a little old lady came in from the room behind the
office and asked me what I wanted, I could smell where
the other half of the wine had gone.
I told her what was on my mind and she agreed to let me use
the shower for five dollars if I did not disturb the
rest of the room. After I had paid her, she looked outside
where I had parked my pick-up.
With her unfocused eyes she saw someone sitting behind
the steering wheel. It was Dutchess, it's something
she always does, the minute I leave the car she jumps in
the driver's seat. With her sweetest voice my hostess
asked: "And your wife, honey, does she want to take a shower
too?"
