First day back in Beni was softly foggy; once the obligatory circuit with dogs to the water [Leashes! Yippee!] and a quiet breakfast in the overgrown damp of the garden were out

of the way we Tundra’d [with a stop at Big O, still trying to get the tirelight off] to Richmond

to pick up some wobbly lasercut stainless panels for Linda, then lunched.

After hosing out the truck’s bed I followed L. to Vallejo where she was having the Mini de-sooted and did something similar about the Tundra’s desert dirt.  Heading home I stopped off at

 Seret Speed to see if Matt might know anyone who’d paint the camper shell which he didn’t but his landlord immediately got on the phone in rapid-fire Spanish, said go two doors over, down the alley and find Abel…which I didn’t have to as Abel was out on the street.  He looked the thing over, said for a grand he’d fill all the cracks and also fix the windowframe Willey’s guy twisted loading batteries the day Lefty died.  Seemed good; I backed in, they lifted the shell off,

I took 780 south to 680 north, dropped in on Ryan to arrange to have the ’45 towed there [did I mention when it fired right up Thursday it was clutchless?] Wednesday, shot back via Big O [finally getting the light off after they lowered and filled the f-ing spare – wotta system, eh?], home for a check for Abel in V-town…over and back after three but in time

 for the Hallowe’en Weekend to begin.  Linda’d shopped in the interim but we ordered

 from Nani’s anyway, Friday night music drifting up from Lucca’s, over the garden…

Saturday, a grey day threatening [but not delivering] rain, there were so many little costumed creeches thronging First that walking the dogs would have created unconscionable chaos; instead I jacked up the ’45 to see if there was anything I could do but no…will have it towed.

The overgrowth had its…charm.*

The next morning was calm enough to walk dogs, go for LBDF** [a much better deal locally than in Pueblo] and still catching up, catching up on every boring thing…

Rained Monday…

back in California, oh yes, where rain could not be more welcome. At least in…moderation.

*We REALLY need to find some brave soul to trim that palm tree…

**Large Breed Dog Food, as mentioned previously .