April 28th
Well, our adventure is about to end. Now we have to get back to reality and get settled in again! We are in Bend, Oregon, tonight and will be home tomorrow night. I cannot find words to tell everyone what a great time we've had! We plan to go again this next winter and hopefully our renters will want our home again. That worked out well.
Since my last posting, we stayed one night in St. George, Utah and visited friends from Great Falls. Then we spent 8 days/nights in Las Vegas and stayed at Sam's Town RV Park. It's a very large park and well taken care of. I have a cousin living there so we visited him. Donnie is from Great Falls but has lived most of his adult life in Gillette, Wyoming. He's quite the character but we sure enjoyed spending time with him! Buster has a college friend living in Vegas so met him one evening for dinner. Mostly we spent time with Buster's aunt and uncle. The 4 of us drove to Valley of Fire and also to Red Mountain. Both were very interesting places. Of course, we had to put a few dollars in the machines but we didn't win and the casinos didn't either. There sure are some beautiful casinos and always construction going on. Our 8 days went quickly and we had to leave for Reno. I have another cousin and hubby (Joanne and Marvin) moving to Vegas so next year will be more family.
Our friend, Jane, and the 2 of us went to 8th grade and part of high school together in Cascade. We had not seen her in years and years and about 6 years ago she found me. We have kept in touch since. We had a great time staying at her place and seeing sights in/around Reno area. She lives in Minden, a few miles south of Carson City high on a hill with a gorgeous view of the Sierra Nevadas. One day we drove to Lake Tahoe. One day we went to Fallon and Fernley and one day spent in Reno. Buster went to the Harrah Car Museum in Reno and Jane and I -- can you guess???? We went to a wonderful quilt shop and spent hours there!
So here we are in Bend, Oregon tonight. We went to Sisters, OR today as they have a wonderful quilt shop...."Stitching Post"...you quilters know all about Sisters! I also visited 3 shops in Bend. Bend and Redmond have both grown in leaps and bounds over the years. This is a very beautiful area. The mountains in the distance are still covered with snow but the flowers are blooming in town.
Tomorrow night we'll be home....and with a big sigh we can start getting our wits together! We have seen lots of beautiful country, some not so beautiful, visited with so many old and new friends, been to National Parks and stayed in nice State Parks. Many RV Parks are something to be desired but ok for a night. We've traveled almost 6,000 miles and been through 9 states!
The sad part of our trip is we both have to get back on our diets!! Oh well. We have enjoyed every minute, every mile, every bite of food!
FYI: Texas has great State Parks and with the State Park Pass there's many discounts. Worth the money. Texas has the cheapest gas. California has very rough riding interstates. We joined Passport America for more RV Park discounts and used Good Sam too. New Mexico had the worst directions to get anywhere. We finally found the State Capital in Santa Fe after 3 days!
I hope you've enjoyed reading this. I'm not the greatest at writing but tried to keep everyone in touch as to what we were up to. It's been a great ride!!
Susan
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Moab, Utah
April 11, 2013
Hello Everyone!
I have been busy and lazy so no blog for a month. (Mostly lazy!) I will try and bring you up to date!
We stayed a week in Georgetown, TX and spent time with our friends in Austin. Harry and Maddie are from Kalispell, MT and winter in Austin. Harry is a physician and does part time work with the Indian reservations. We spent the night with them and bummed around Austin and saw some of the music that was playing downtown. After we left Austin we headed to Dallas.
My cousin and her hubby (Joanne and Marvin Joyce) live in Dallas and we spent 3-4 days with them. What fun! Traffic was hell on the freeways getting into Dallas. We were glad to be settled in an RV park! Joanne and Marv took us to the Fort Worth Stockyards and drove us around Fort Worth and Dallas. We saw the exact spot President Kennedy was shot and the book depository where the killer (can't think of his name right now) sniped him.
After we left Dallas, next was Mineral Springs, a short drive from Fort Worth. Here we stayed a few nights in a very nice State Park. We visited with a couple we'd met a number of years ago while at meetings in New Jersey. The men both worked for BMS and we had not seen them since this time in NJ. We really enjoyed them and plan to see them again.
We headed towards Amarillo as was going to the Palo Dura State Park. Had motorhome problems so had to stay in Lubbock one night. Got Ethel fixed and off we went. The State Park was, by far, one of the most interesting places in Texas. Canyons 800-1000 feet deep and roads going clear to the bottom. We camped down there for 4 nights with no internet, TV or phone. Just like living in the olden days! We hiked, biked and even went on a guided horse-back ride! Me raised on a horse and PAY to ride one? It was fun tho. This State Park is one for all of you to put in your MUST SEE list. It is truly a beautiful park.
We made it over to Santa Fe, NM, Taos and Los Alamos the following week for another stay. We shopped, visited art galleries, pueblos and looked over the entire area. We have friends in Los Alamos we met in Los Algondonas this past January so had a dinner date with them. Los Alamos is where the atomic bomb was developed in WWII and still secret things are going on. We had to show ID to get into town! It is part of the Dept.of Defense/Energy. Very interesting. The town is also very interesting -- spread out among "fingers" on top of a mesa at 7800 ft. We also spent the afternoon at Bandelero, part of the National Park System. There were cliff dwelling we climbed up into. Some of them were high enough we had to climb ladders. Bandelero is near Los Alamos.
After leaving NM, we drove over to Durango, CO and took the ride of our lives over Hwy 550 to Ouray. We were up/down, up/down over the curvy mountain highway for over 100 miles at elevations over 11,000 ft. We crossed two passes. I had to drive the car as the m.home was grunting and groaning. This was definitely a hiway we will never drive again! It is ten times worse than Going to the Sun Hwy and Beartooth Hwy in Montana. Scary. Steep. Curvy, narrow highway, Snowy but Beautiful.
Montrose, Colorado. Our next stop for a few days. Buster has a friend living who he'd gone to pilot training with way back when. Leonard has a crop-spraying business and nine airplanes -- 5 of which are used for crop spraying. Two of them are helicopters. What a set-up he has! We so enjoyed being there with him as we hadn't seen him in 40 years. He took us for a plane ride up over the mountains and down into the canyons. What fun!
Then to Grand Junction, Colorado. Again, Buster has a friend there he had worked with for a number of years. We had such a good time -- the guys reminisced for 2 1/2 days, laughed and drank too much whiskey! Buster and I went to the Colorado National Monument (National Park) and what a drive! We were up over 11,000 ft. and it was a gorgeous drive. At the top we had stopped to take pictures. We were returning to our car met up with a couple from Cascade, Montana!!! All of us were very surprised and had a nice 30 minutes visit! Small world!!
We are now in Moab, Utah. Yesterday we visited Canyonlands Natl. Park. It is awesome! We drove along the top of the mesas, looking over the deep, deep canyon walls. At the bottom is the Colorado River and Green River winding their way through the canyons. Truly a beautiful Park. Today we visited Arches National Park. Again, it was beautiful. It is so different than Canyonlands. This time we looked UP at the rock arches, spires and "fins". We hiked in both Parks (short hikes) to take pictures and see what was beyond the highway.
Tomorrow we leave. We are heading to Las Vegas. We will be there at least a week and then on to Reno to see a friend that Buster and I went to 8th grade with. Then home. We will be home May 1.
That's is in a nutshell! I have almost 2,000 picture that I've taken. I wish I had learned to post them here but you can follow me on Facebook with most places and pictures where we've traveled.
Until the next blog, enjoy each day!!! We sure are!!!
Hello Everyone!
I have been busy and lazy so no blog for a month. (Mostly lazy!) I will try and bring you up to date!
We stayed a week in Georgetown, TX and spent time with our friends in Austin. Harry and Maddie are from Kalispell, MT and winter in Austin. Harry is a physician and does part time work with the Indian reservations. We spent the night with them and bummed around Austin and saw some of the music that was playing downtown. After we left Austin we headed to Dallas.
My cousin and her hubby (Joanne and Marvin Joyce) live in Dallas and we spent 3-4 days with them. What fun! Traffic was hell on the freeways getting into Dallas. We were glad to be settled in an RV park! Joanne and Marv took us to the Fort Worth Stockyards and drove us around Fort Worth and Dallas. We saw the exact spot President Kennedy was shot and the book depository where the killer (can't think of his name right now) sniped him.
After we left Dallas, next was Mineral Springs, a short drive from Fort Worth. Here we stayed a few nights in a very nice State Park. We visited with a couple we'd met a number of years ago while at meetings in New Jersey. The men both worked for BMS and we had not seen them since this time in NJ. We really enjoyed them and plan to see them again.
We headed towards Amarillo as was going to the Palo Dura State Park. Had motorhome problems so had to stay in Lubbock one night. Got Ethel fixed and off we went. The State Park was, by far, one of the most interesting places in Texas. Canyons 800-1000 feet deep and roads going clear to the bottom. We camped down there for 4 nights with no internet, TV or phone. Just like living in the olden days! We hiked, biked and even went on a guided horse-back ride! Me raised on a horse and PAY to ride one? It was fun tho. This State Park is one for all of you to put in your MUST SEE list. It is truly a beautiful park.
We made it over to Santa Fe, NM, Taos and Los Alamos the following week for another stay. We shopped, visited art galleries, pueblos and looked over the entire area. We have friends in Los Alamos we met in Los Algondonas this past January so had a dinner date with them. Los Alamos is where the atomic bomb was developed in WWII and still secret things are going on. We had to show ID to get into town! It is part of the Dept.of Defense/Energy. Very interesting. The town is also very interesting -- spread out among "fingers" on top of a mesa at 7800 ft. We also spent the afternoon at Bandelero, part of the National Park System. There were cliff dwelling we climbed up into. Some of them were high enough we had to climb ladders. Bandelero is near Los Alamos.
After leaving NM, we drove over to Durango, CO and took the ride of our lives over Hwy 550 to Ouray. We were up/down, up/down over the curvy mountain highway for over 100 miles at elevations over 11,000 ft. We crossed two passes. I had to drive the car as the m.home was grunting and groaning. This was definitely a hiway we will never drive again! It is ten times worse than Going to the Sun Hwy and Beartooth Hwy in Montana. Scary. Steep. Curvy, narrow highway, Snowy but Beautiful.
Montrose, Colorado. Our next stop for a few days. Buster has a friend living who he'd gone to pilot training with way back when. Leonard has a crop-spraying business and nine airplanes -- 5 of which are used for crop spraying. Two of them are helicopters. What a set-up he has! We so enjoyed being there with him as we hadn't seen him in 40 years. He took us for a plane ride up over the mountains and down into the canyons. What fun!
Then to Grand Junction, Colorado. Again, Buster has a friend there he had worked with for a number of years. We had such a good time -- the guys reminisced for 2 1/2 days, laughed and drank too much whiskey! Buster and I went to the Colorado National Monument (National Park) and what a drive! We were up over 11,000 ft. and it was a gorgeous drive. At the top we had stopped to take pictures. We were returning to our car met up with a couple from Cascade, Montana!!! All of us were very surprised and had a nice 30 minutes visit! Small world!!
We are now in Moab, Utah. Yesterday we visited Canyonlands Natl. Park. It is awesome! We drove along the top of the mesas, looking over the deep, deep canyon walls. At the bottom is the Colorado River and Green River winding their way through the canyons. Truly a beautiful Park. Today we visited Arches National Park. Again, it was beautiful. It is so different than Canyonlands. This time we looked UP at the rock arches, spires and "fins". We hiked in both Parks (short hikes) to take pictures and see what was beyond the highway.
Tomorrow we leave. We are heading to Las Vegas. We will be there at least a week and then on to Reno to see a friend that Buster and I went to 8th grade with. Then home. We will be home May 1.
That's is in a nutshell! I have almost 2,000 picture that I've taken. I wish I had learned to post them here but you can follow me on Facebook with most places and pictures where we've traveled.
Until the next blog, enjoy each day!!! We sure are!!!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Catch up time!
March 9th
It's been a whirlwind since I last posted! Monday, February 25 we moved from the Mustang State Park to Port Aransas (Port "A") into a nice RV park within walking distance of the beach and a couple miles from town. Moving day was horrible wind. We thought we'd get blown to China! We had a couple more days of the terrible winds and sand blowing but all-in-all the weather did improve daily. We picked up Jeff from the airport on Wednesday and Gene and Charlene Thompson also arrived to spend time with us again.
We visited the King Ranch on Thursday. The ranch sprawls across 825,000 acres of South Texas land. It is a working ranch with 60,000 head of cattle and 300 quarter horses. A 1 1/2 hour bus tour took us through parts of the ranch and we even saw newborn colt born the day before. The home where the family lived "only" has 17 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms! Google "King Ranch" as there's alot of information on the history and present day. The ranch also has its own museum, located in Kingsville.
Friday Jeff and Buster toured the USS Lexington, docked in Corpus Christi. It is over 3 football fields long, 19 stories tall and weighs 33,000 tons. The guys spent at least 5 hours looking through the ship so I am very glad I didn't go with them! They both really enjoyed seeing this huge aircraft carrier. It was nice they could enjoy a "man day" together.
Julie and her family and Rob (Thompson) came for the weekend. Everyone had a great time -- walking on the beach, flying kites (and sacks?), drinking a few cocktails each day, shopping the local tourist shops and eating! Time went by too quickly, everyone left us by Monday and Jeff left on Tuesday. Yesterday, Friday, we had to leave as Spring Break is starting and every nook and cranny on the island is booked solid.
Buster did not do any fishing while on Mustang Island, mostly due to windy days. He did go with two neighbor guys this week but didn't fish. The other two didn't catch any fish but another fisherman gave them two large Redfish. We had a potluck and the fish was delicious. They also gave us a Sheepshead fish, which we cooked one evening, and it was also very good. What an odd name for a fish, huh?!
We are now in Fredericksburg, west of Austin. What an interesting area! We will be here for a week. Today we went downtown and started looking through the local shops. There's enough shopping here for a month! Many buildings retain the traditional German and frontier styles with more than 700 historical structures. It is also the birthplace of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet during WWII. There is a large museum, which Buster will visit this week.
This week we plan to visit the LBJ Ranch and take a self-guided tour with a CD and also go to Luchenbach (population THREE!). Luchenbach has one unpainted general store that serves as a beer tavern, a traditional rural dance hall, a sometimes used blacksmith shop and Sunday afternoons is live music. Maybe we will see Willie Nelson?? Johnson City and Stonewall also have attractions. There's something to see and do every day!
Yesterday I visited a quilt shop, spent a few dollars and got my "fix" taken care of! There's two shops in town and one sells pies! Today we had a piece of chocolate cream pie and coffee for lunch. The shop makes 17 pies each morning from scratch and sells out by the end of the day. A whole pie costs $25.95!
We plan to visit friends in Austin but will not go there for another week or two. There is a huge music festival in Austin until March 20 with over 2,000 bands. We've heard traffic is horrendous so we will stay away! We could not get an RV space in Austin so will stay in Georgetown instead.
May 1st, our target date to be home, is coming much too quickly. This adventure needs to never come to an end! Time to go RV'ing FULL TIME?? YES!!!
It's been a whirlwind since I last posted! Monday, February 25 we moved from the Mustang State Park to Port Aransas (Port "A") into a nice RV park within walking distance of the beach and a couple miles from town. Moving day was horrible wind. We thought we'd get blown to China! We had a couple more days of the terrible winds and sand blowing but all-in-all the weather did improve daily. We picked up Jeff from the airport on Wednesday and Gene and Charlene Thompson also arrived to spend time with us again.
We visited the King Ranch on Thursday. The ranch sprawls across 825,000 acres of South Texas land. It is a working ranch with 60,000 head of cattle and 300 quarter horses. A 1 1/2 hour bus tour took us through parts of the ranch and we even saw newborn colt born the day before. The home where the family lived "only" has 17 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms! Google "King Ranch" as there's alot of information on the history and present day. The ranch also has its own museum, located in Kingsville.
Friday Jeff and Buster toured the USS Lexington, docked in Corpus Christi. It is over 3 football fields long, 19 stories tall and weighs 33,000 tons. The guys spent at least 5 hours looking through the ship so I am very glad I didn't go with them! They both really enjoyed seeing this huge aircraft carrier. It was nice they could enjoy a "man day" together.
Julie and her family and Rob (Thompson) came for the weekend. Everyone had a great time -- walking on the beach, flying kites (and sacks?), drinking a few cocktails each day, shopping the local tourist shops and eating! Time went by too quickly, everyone left us by Monday and Jeff left on Tuesday. Yesterday, Friday, we had to leave as Spring Break is starting and every nook and cranny on the island is booked solid.
Buster did not do any fishing while on Mustang Island, mostly due to windy days. He did go with two neighbor guys this week but didn't fish. The other two didn't catch any fish but another fisherman gave them two large Redfish. We had a potluck and the fish was delicious. They also gave us a Sheepshead fish, which we cooked one evening, and it was also very good. What an odd name for a fish, huh?!
We are now in Fredericksburg, west of Austin. What an interesting area! We will be here for a week. Today we went downtown and started looking through the local shops. There's enough shopping here for a month! Many buildings retain the traditional German and frontier styles with more than 700 historical structures. It is also the birthplace of Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet during WWII. There is a large museum, which Buster will visit this week.
This week we plan to visit the LBJ Ranch and take a self-guided tour with a CD and also go to Luchenbach (population THREE!). Luchenbach has one unpainted general store that serves as a beer tavern, a traditional rural dance hall, a sometimes used blacksmith shop and Sunday afternoons is live music. Maybe we will see Willie Nelson?? Johnson City and Stonewall also have attractions. There's something to see and do every day!
Yesterday I visited a quilt shop, spent a few dollars and got my "fix" taken care of! There's two shops in town and one sells pies! Today we had a piece of chocolate cream pie and coffee for lunch. The shop makes 17 pies each morning from scratch and sells out by the end of the day. A whole pie costs $25.95!
We plan to visit friends in Austin but will not go there for another week or two. There is a huge music festival in Austin until March 20 with over 2,000 bands. We've heard traffic is horrendous so we will stay away! We could not get an RV space in Austin so will stay in Georgetown instead.
May 1st, our target date to be home, is coming much too quickly. This adventure needs to never come to an end! Time to go RV'ing FULL TIME?? YES!!!
Friday, February 22, 2013
El Paso to San Antonio to Corpus Christi....
It's been awhile since I posted anything.
We left El Paso, traveled across west Texas for two days. Finally on 3rd day we saw a tree and hills and a couple cows with nothing to eat but dirt! Gene and Charlene Thompson, from Cascade MT, are in Castroville, west of San Antonio about 5 miles. They winter there with their daughter (Julie) and family. It is a very pretty area and part of the "Hill Country" of Texas. We had so much fun with all of them......truly miss them as the neighbors we had for almost 30 years.
The four of us went into San Antonio and visited the Mexican Market and, of course, had to eat Mexican food. Then Gene drove us around the area of rolling hills and small towns. George Strait's roping arena is in Leon Springs and it is bigger than HUGE! We wondered where he lives....did not see him anywhere! :(
A couple days later Buster and I went back to San Antonio and took the boat ride along the Riverwalk. It is a beautiful area with alot of small shops and restaurants. We again had to eat ..... Buster was hungry for a hamburger so we shared a double Texas burger. Each half was almost more than we could eat! Texas definitely has the biggest!
We so enjoyed our visit with all of them and sure do appreciate their hospitality. After being there for almost a week we loaded up Ethel, hooked up Hilda the Honda, and headed to Corpus Christi.
Corpus Christi is a big city! We were so surprised to read that the population is over 350,000 and the metropolitan area is over 600,000. We expected a smaller town, maybe 50,000. Since being here we have found out this area is windier than Chicago. In fact, windier than Great Falls, MT! Is that possible? YES. We are parked out in the middle of nowhere (again) on Mustang Island in the State Park. The water (Gulf of Mexico) is very close but with the wind being so strong we haven't spent much time on the beach. One evening we rode our bicycles to the beach looking for the fishing pier and I tipped over in the sand. End of ride. We came home. Buster hasn't gotten to fish yet.....one of the reasons we came here. This island is divided by a small waterway.....Padre Island to the south and Mustang Island the north. The folks who winter here are called "Winter Texans", not "Snowbirds".
Yesterday we went to a boat show in Corpus. It was not nearly as large as our Seattle or Tacoma shows but we did see plenty of gorgeous boats. I think that's next on our list .... a new boat....Buster has the itch!We will be moving to an RV Park in Port Aransas on Monday, about 10 miles north. It is located at north end of Mustang Island. Across the ferry is Aransas Pass. Both towns are small but have all the amenities of a larger area. Hopefully Buster can fish next week.
On Wednesday,the 25th Jeff (our son) will be arriving from Great Falls. He will be with us a week. We are looking forward to him coming. Thompson's are planning to also join us for a few days and hopefully Julie, Scott and girls and son Rob can be here too. We will have our own "Spring Break". College spring break starts here the next week! We can whoop it up early and be long-gone by the time the 400,000+ college students arrive! Oh my, to be young again!!
Tomorrow Buster and I are going to another town (Fulton) to a large Winter Flea Market. There is always something to do, no matter where we are! We have met other RV'ers here and also in Castroville.
Not much excitement in our lives right now....just enjoying doing nothing. Soon it'll be time to head towards home....we have stops ahead in Austin, Dallas, Mineral Wells and Las Vegas to visit friends/relatives. Time is flying by much too quickly!
Saturday, February 9, 2013
El Paso --- Texas
Saturday night in ole El Paso!
We arrived here Friday afternoon, got settled in our RV park and left to sightsee the area. El Paso has a population of about 800,000. Even with a wonderful freeway system we managed to be get lost many times, even with our smartphone navigation. Actually, I wonder if it was the navigation or was it the "director" -- ME? We shopped at El Paso Saddleblanket, which is 2 acres of Mexican and Indian handweavings, pottery, blankets, oriental and Persian rugs, sterling silver and turqoise jewelry, artifacts, saddles, ropes.....oh everything western. Then there was another building with 1 acre of home furnishings. I doubt if anyone living outside of Texas would want this furniture! There even was caskets to buy.... lined with cowhide!
After finally finding the Visitors Center, we picked up some interesting reading material and ideas as to what to do, where to go. We knew we wanted to have Mexican dinner at Rose's Catina, which we fnally found after wandering around again. Remember Rose's? It's the cantina Marty Robbins sang about in his song, "El Paso". His records are on the wall, the jukebox has his songs and it is a very lively place! Three Mexican troubadours came through singing their music and playing their instruments. We paid $5 per song. It was worth it! The food was great and the atmosphere fun. Buster had a Lonestar beer, which he hasn't drank since 1965! (Think he was barely 21 then! Or was he??). The building itsef is an old rock, small building and is definitely a hole-in-the-wall along a desolate street near the Mexican border. After dinner we tried to take a different route home, ended up off the beaten track in the dark. The GPS gave us directions and we'd end up at a detour or dead end. Finally wandered around Ft. Bliss and the Airport and got back on track and made it back to our RV, scratching our heads wondering why the GPS would change from miles to kilometers. Found out that depending on where you are, it can change -- we were evidently too close to Mexican border.
This morning we drove the "Border Highway". It follows alongside the Rio Grande and the big fancy fence separating Jaurez, Mexico from the U.S. The Mexican flag flew proudly in the breeze and we could see many modern buildings and manufacturing aeas through the fence. We knew we didn't dare cross the border. The border crossings are very large and modern.
We stopped by a Justin western boot outlet store. It was fun to look at all the fancy boots, belts, purses, etc. We asked for a good BBQ place for lunch so then went to State Line BBQ. We ordered one plate, shared it and still had enough for dinner tonight! Texans like to eat! It was delicious. Buster was commenting that last night his Lonestar was $1.50 at Rose's and today it was $4.00 at the BBQ place!
We tried to find a good Mexican flea market. Never did locate one. So we drove over the Woodrow Bean/Transmountain Road, which took us over the mountains alongside the city. We were up over a mile in elevation. Other than those mountains, it is flatter than a pancake throughout the area.
There was a huge dust storm today and we couldn't see the city from the top of thoses mountain. So we came back to town, explored the area around the beautiful Univ. of Texas El Paso campus and came home. Visibility was poor and we were ready for some R&R.
End of our day. Came home and did nothing. Watched the eastern snowstorm on tv and glad we aren't back there! We will be outta Dodge in the morning and head east. We hope to be in San Antonio area in 2 days.
We've heard so many stories of how dangerous El Paso is. We did not have any problems, other than getting lost. Everyone was very friendly everywhere we went. Don't think either of us care if we ever return, it's a "been there, done that" city.
Susan
We arrived here Friday afternoon, got settled in our RV park and left to sightsee the area. El Paso has a population of about 800,000. Even with a wonderful freeway system we managed to be get lost many times, even with our smartphone navigation. Actually, I wonder if it was the navigation or was it the "director" -- ME? We shopped at El Paso Saddleblanket, which is 2 acres of Mexican and Indian handweavings, pottery, blankets, oriental and Persian rugs, sterling silver and turqoise jewelry, artifacts, saddles, ropes.....oh everything western. Then there was another building with 1 acre of home furnishings. I doubt if anyone living outside of Texas would want this furniture! There even was caskets to buy.... lined with cowhide!
After finally finding the Visitors Center, we picked up some interesting reading material and ideas as to what to do, where to go. We knew we wanted to have Mexican dinner at Rose's Catina, which we fnally found after wandering around again. Remember Rose's? It's the cantina Marty Robbins sang about in his song, "El Paso". His records are on the wall, the jukebox has his songs and it is a very lively place! Three Mexican troubadours came through singing their music and playing their instruments. We paid $5 per song. It was worth it! The food was great and the atmosphere fun. Buster had a Lonestar beer, which he hasn't drank since 1965! (Think he was barely 21 then! Or was he??). The building itsef is an old rock, small building and is definitely a hole-in-the-wall along a desolate street near the Mexican border. After dinner we tried to take a different route home, ended up off the beaten track in the dark. The GPS gave us directions and we'd end up at a detour or dead end. Finally wandered around Ft. Bliss and the Airport and got back on track and made it back to our RV, scratching our heads wondering why the GPS would change from miles to kilometers. Found out that depending on where you are, it can change -- we were evidently too close to Mexican border.
This morning we drove the "Border Highway". It follows alongside the Rio Grande and the big fancy fence separating Jaurez, Mexico from the U.S. The Mexican flag flew proudly in the breeze and we could see many modern buildings and manufacturing aeas through the fence. We knew we didn't dare cross the border. The border crossings are very large and modern.
We stopped by a Justin western boot outlet store. It was fun to look at all the fancy boots, belts, purses, etc. We asked for a good BBQ place for lunch so then went to State Line BBQ. We ordered one plate, shared it and still had enough for dinner tonight! Texans like to eat! It was delicious. Buster was commenting that last night his Lonestar was $1.50 at Rose's and today it was $4.00 at the BBQ place!
We tried to find a good Mexican flea market. Never did locate one. So we drove over the Woodrow Bean/Transmountain Road, which took us over the mountains alongside the city. We were up over a mile in elevation. Other than those mountains, it is flatter than a pancake throughout the area.
There was a huge dust storm today and we couldn't see the city from the top of thoses mountain. So we came back to town, explored the area around the beautiful Univ. of Texas El Paso campus and came home. Visibility was poor and we were ready for some R&R.
End of our day. Came home and did nothing. Watched the eastern snowstorm on tv and glad we aren't back there! We will be outta Dodge in the morning and head east. We hope to be in San Antonio area in 2 days.
We've heard so many stories of how dangerous El Paso is. We did not have any problems, other than getting lost. Everyone was very friendly everywhere we went. Don't think either of us care if we ever return, it's a "been there, done that" city.
Susan
Thursday, February 7, 2013
A History Lesson -- The Gila Cliff Dwellers
February 7th.
We arrived in Silver City, NM yesterday, got settled and went to the historic downtown district. Billy the Kid was raised here. His mother ran a laundry catering mostly to houses of prostitution, of which there were many. His mother is buried here in the local cemetery. The town population is around 12,000 with everything leaning towards arts and crafts. Of course, I found a quilt store and a yarn shop! Close by the town is the Santa Rita open pit copper mine. It is the oldest continually operated copper mine in the U.S. and one of the largest pit operations. It reminded us of Butte, MT! Silver City is also the home to Western New Mexico University.
Today we drove 43 miles each way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings Monument in the Gila River Valley. The road was very curvy and we climbed over the Continental Divide, altitude 7,080. It took us two hours to drive to it and almost as long to come back. The Cliff Dwellings are something you don't want to miss if you come this direction!. We had to walk about 1/2 mile UP and 1/2 mile back but it was worth it. If I can walk it, anyone can! We carefully walked, climbed ladders and crawled along the cliffs through the rooms of the Mogollon people where they lived in the late 1200's.
Much of the following information I have taken from a brochure from the National Park Service. The people who built the cliff dwellings were part of the Mogollon culture.They combined hunting and gathering with farming and built pit houses or surface pueblos in the mountainous areas of Arizona and New Mexico. The Mogollon found abundant game and fertile soil in the Gila River valley for both native vegetation and their crops of corn, beans, and squash. They built inside the caves of Cliff Dweller Canyon with rock, mortar, and timbers from trees cut between 1276 and 1287. But by 1300 the Gila Cliff Dwellers had moved on.
Approximately 40 rooms were built inside several natural caves. Artifacts and architectural elements show that these ancient cultures traded not only materials but also ideas. They left behind macaw feather from Central America, and they built T-shaped doorways also used by other cultural groups. With culivated crops like corn came a more sedentary life. In time, the area's natural resources, already affected by drought, no longer sustained the Mogollon and they moved on. The visitor center has many artifacts and pottery from the caves, and artifacts left behind by the Apaches.
After the Mogollon left, no one appears to have lived here for over 100 years. Apaches migrated into the area of the upper Gila River about 1500. The legendary leader, Geronimo, was born near the Gila River headwaters in the early 1820's, as Mexico challenged Apache control of the area. Thirty years later, with the area under U.S. control, army posts were built to protect new Anglo settlers as area mining towns grew and ranching was established throughout the valley.
By 1870 the government began relocating the Apaches into reseravations. But not until 1886 were the last Be-don-ko-he -- as Geronimo's people were known -- led by Geronimo himself, ultimately were forced from their ancestral lands.
Tomorrow we are leaving for El Paso. Saturday we will head up north to Carlsbad Caverns.
Buster walked through the cemetery this afternoon, looking for Billy the Kid's mother's grave but did not find it. Maybe someone dug her up????? That's all the info I have for today! Susan
We arrived in Silver City, NM yesterday, got settled and went to the historic downtown district. Billy the Kid was raised here. His mother ran a laundry catering mostly to houses of prostitution, of which there were many. His mother is buried here in the local cemetery. The town population is around 12,000 with everything leaning towards arts and crafts. Of course, I found a quilt store and a yarn shop! Close by the town is the Santa Rita open pit copper mine. It is the oldest continually operated copper mine in the U.S. and one of the largest pit operations. It reminded us of Butte, MT! Silver City is also the home to Western New Mexico University.
Today we drove 43 miles each way to the Gila Cliff Dwellings Monument in the Gila River Valley. The road was very curvy and we climbed over the Continental Divide, altitude 7,080. It took us two hours to drive to it and almost as long to come back. The Cliff Dwellings are something you don't want to miss if you come this direction!. We had to walk about 1/2 mile UP and 1/2 mile back but it was worth it. If I can walk it, anyone can! We carefully walked, climbed ladders and crawled along the cliffs through the rooms of the Mogollon people where they lived in the late 1200's.
Much of the following information I have taken from a brochure from the National Park Service. The people who built the cliff dwellings were part of the Mogollon culture.They combined hunting and gathering with farming and built pit houses or surface pueblos in the mountainous areas of Arizona and New Mexico. The Mogollon found abundant game and fertile soil in the Gila River valley for both native vegetation and their crops of corn, beans, and squash. They built inside the caves of Cliff Dweller Canyon with rock, mortar, and timbers from trees cut between 1276 and 1287. But by 1300 the Gila Cliff Dwellers had moved on.
Approximately 40 rooms were built inside several natural caves. Artifacts and architectural elements show that these ancient cultures traded not only materials but also ideas. They left behind macaw feather from Central America, and they built T-shaped doorways also used by other cultural groups. With culivated crops like corn came a more sedentary life. In time, the area's natural resources, already affected by drought, no longer sustained the Mogollon and they moved on. The visitor center has many artifacts and pottery from the caves, and artifacts left behind by the Apaches.
After the Mogollon left, no one appears to have lived here for over 100 years. Apaches migrated into the area of the upper Gila River about 1500. The legendary leader, Geronimo, was born near the Gila River headwaters in the early 1820's, as Mexico challenged Apache control of the area. Thirty years later, with the area under U.S. control, army posts were built to protect new Anglo settlers as area mining towns grew and ranching was established throughout the valley.
By 1870 the government began relocating the Apaches into reseravations. But not until 1886 were the last Be-don-ko-he -- as Geronimo's people were known -- led by Geronimo himself, ultimately were forced from their ancestral lands.
Tomorrow we are leaving for El Paso. Saturday we will head up north to Carlsbad Caverns.
Buster walked through the cemetery this afternoon, looking for Billy the Kid's mother's grave but did not find it. Maybe someone dug her up????? That's all the info I have for today! Susan
February 5th
Here we are in Tucson. This morning we were ready to leave and the neighbors told us I-10 was closed due to a semi wreck. Traffic was backed up all directions. So we decided to stay here another day. We had no plans to be anywhere in particular anyway.
We went to the Visitors Center to see how we could spend our day. We went to one of the 43 locations for the Gem Shows and looked at all the gorgeous rocks and stones from all over the world. There was jewelry to die for too. The tent waslarger than HUGE. The gal at Visitors Center told us this tent is about 1/10 as big as some of the others. I can't imagine.
We found good Mexican fast food for lunch -- a Sonora hot dog and a shrimp taco. We went to the Skecher's Outlet store and I bought a pair of new tennis shoes that have memory foam in the soles. I plan to wear them soon. We drove around looking at the nice neighborhoods, went to a mall and came home.
We plan to go to Silver City, NM tomorrow. We plan to go to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. There, in the 1280's, people of the Mogollon culture occupied caves, which may have been used as ceremonial centers, work areas, communal kitchens or prayer kivas. The site today is eerie and beautiful: brick barriers and catwalks are still intact. It is a mystery as to why these people lived in these cliffs and appeared to have abruptly left after about 25 years. We are able to walk through the caves.
After a month of staying in Yuma, it was time to leave. I didn't want to go. Buster said, "It's time to head East." No telling where this trip will take us! We have no plans!
We enjoyed our friends we met last year in Yuma and new friends this year. It will be fun to return next year and hopefully we can stay longer!
Last night we met up with our Olympia friends, Fred and Judy, and had dinner. Buster and Fred fish together in the ocean and Puget Sound. They are the couple who went over to Yuma and the four of us went to Los Algondonas and stayed in the hotel.
Hopefully I can write more often from now on. It was just a busy life in Yuma! Too much to see and do all the time!!
Susan
Here we are in Tucson. This morning we were ready to leave and the neighbors told us I-10 was closed due to a semi wreck. Traffic was backed up all directions. So we decided to stay here another day. We had no plans to be anywhere in particular anyway.
We went to the Visitors Center to see how we could spend our day. We went to one of the 43 locations for the Gem Shows and looked at all the gorgeous rocks and stones from all over the world. There was jewelry to die for too. The tent waslarger than HUGE. The gal at Visitors Center told us this tent is about 1/10 as big as some of the others. I can't imagine.
We found good Mexican fast food for lunch -- a Sonora hot dog and a shrimp taco. We went to the Skecher's Outlet store and I bought a pair of new tennis shoes that have memory foam in the soles. I plan to wear them soon. We drove around looking at the nice neighborhoods, went to a mall and came home.
We plan to go to Silver City, NM tomorrow. We plan to go to the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. There, in the 1280's, people of the Mogollon culture occupied caves, which may have been used as ceremonial centers, work areas, communal kitchens or prayer kivas. The site today is eerie and beautiful: brick barriers and catwalks are still intact. It is a mystery as to why these people lived in these cliffs and appeared to have abruptly left after about 25 years. We are able to walk through the caves.
After a month of staying in Yuma, it was time to leave. I didn't want to go. Buster said, "It's time to head East." No telling where this trip will take us! We have no plans!
We enjoyed our friends we met last year in Yuma and new friends this year. It will be fun to return next year and hopefully we can stay longer!
Last night we met up with our Olympia friends, Fred and Judy, and had dinner. Buster and Fred fish together in the ocean and Puget Sound. They are the couple who went over to Yuma and the four of us went to Los Algondonas and stayed in the hotel.
Hopefully I can write more often from now on. It was just a busy life in Yuma! Too much to see and do all the time!!
Susan
Saturday, January 26, 2013
RAIN!
Saturday, January 26
Yesterday it sprinkled. Now it's rain. Wonder if we'll have a flash flood and "the wash" will be overflowing! The "wash" is a dry creek bottom. The rain does not soak in, it just flows away into a wash. Interesting. Different than from where we live!
Wednesday Buster and I drove to Quartzite, 65 miles north, to the big RV show. Along the way we saw farmland with different vegetables ready to be harvested and at least a gazillion boondockers parked out in the desert. That's not my idea of fun but there sure are alot of RV'ers out there. They are self contained and set up their own little communities.
Quartzite was full of vendors with wares for sale of everything you'd ever want or need. They are all set up with streets. The "big tent" was at least 4 blocks long and a block wide. It was full of vendors, over 700 of them, all selling anything you'd ever want for your RV. We also viewed many new motorhomes and 5th wheels and really didn't see anything we liked any better than what we have. That was good news to Buster's ears!! Finally we went to the famous local bookstore, where the naked man hangs out. (No pun intended!) He only wears a sock. Dang, I looked in every nook and cranny for him but never found him. I found out he was out in his trailer having a nap! I was NOT going to go wake him up for a picture! It was a fun day.
Yesterday, Thursday, we went on a motorcoach trip to Mexicali. It is a city of over a million people located about 50 miles to the east right over the California border. Instead of taking the freeway, our driver took us down through Los Algondonas (where we barter-shop, go to the dentist, etc) and drove around the area. We stopped at the last dam on the Colorado River, along the outskirts of town. It is on the American/Mexican border but under Mexican management. Then through sand dunes and ended up at a brick making place. The bricks are hand made using sand, water and cow poop. They are all dried in wooden forms for eight days. Then they are baked in a wood burning brick oven, with workers constantly tossing in wood for heat. It was very interesting. How would you like your house or fence made out of cow poop??!! We saw a couple places where fancy cemetary headstones are made. The Mexicans love to have showy cemetary markers. Then we were off to Mexicali, along the backroads going past farmlands of onions, asparagus, lettuce and radishes Cotton had recently been harvested. (Buster saw a cotton combine in nearby Welton at a farm show which sells for over $500,000 new. The asparagus combine is made from stainless steel and sells for over $750,000).
We finally met up with a Mexican Interstate highway, which is 3 lanes each direction and goes from San Luis (just south of Yuma) over to Tijuana. The highway is very well maintained with many exits and overpasses. The secondary highways were in very good condition too.
Mexicali has a population of over a million. It is a very modern city with Dairy Queens, Burger Kings, McDonald's, and other popular American restaurants, large stores and many casinos. We saw a McDonald's which is much bigger and fancier than any I've ever seen. The U.S. has moved many manufacturing plants to Mexicali -- Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Nestle, Coca Cola, BF Goodrich to name a few. The plants are huge and beautiful buildings. Chinatown, the largest in Mexico, is almost as large as in San Francisco. The city is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California and the 2nd largest city in Baja California. The city maintains a highly educated and skilled population and the standard of living is one of the highest in Mexico. In Mexico, it is recognized for its investment in education as well as its low unemployment levels. There is a large university there.
We dined at "Pampas Mexicali", in the traditional Brazilian style. There was a large buffet and then the Mexican waiters arrived at each table with large skewers of meat. We had beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, shrimp and octopus. Everything was delicious! It was a fun and interesting trip. Our tour guide is from LIBBY, MONTANA!! She also told us that the area is becoming the new Silicon Valley.
Yesterday was another drive over to Los Algondonas as Buster had an eye appointment. His new bifocal glasses were ready at 2:00 and only cost $130 including the exam. I had a haircut for $7.00 and the gal washed, blew dry and styled it. We shopped awhile, bought our next 2 bottles of Brandy Alexander's and headed for home. Going through customs was fast, we only waited in line for about 30 minutes.
There sure isn't any time to get bored here. Everyday there's something to do or somewhere to go and we don't even golf! "Happy Hour" is at 4.......we can't miss that!
We will be leaving Yuma on February 4th for "the east" -- into New Mexico and Texas. I could stay here until time for us to go home!
I've given up on posting pictures. Susan
Yesterday it sprinkled. Now it's rain. Wonder if we'll have a flash flood and "the wash" will be overflowing! The "wash" is a dry creek bottom. The rain does not soak in, it just flows away into a wash. Interesting. Different than from where we live!
Wednesday Buster and I drove to Quartzite, 65 miles north, to the big RV show. Along the way we saw farmland with different vegetables ready to be harvested and at least a gazillion boondockers parked out in the desert. That's not my idea of fun but there sure are alot of RV'ers out there. They are self contained and set up their own little communities.
Quartzite was full of vendors with wares for sale of everything you'd ever want or need. They are all set up with streets. The "big tent" was at least 4 blocks long and a block wide. It was full of vendors, over 700 of them, all selling anything you'd ever want for your RV. We also viewed many new motorhomes and 5th wheels and really didn't see anything we liked any better than what we have. That was good news to Buster's ears!! Finally we went to the famous local bookstore, where the naked man hangs out. (No pun intended!) He only wears a sock. Dang, I looked in every nook and cranny for him but never found him. I found out he was out in his trailer having a nap! I was NOT going to go wake him up for a picture! It was a fun day.
Yesterday, Thursday, we went on a motorcoach trip to Mexicali. It is a city of over a million people located about 50 miles to the east right over the California border. Instead of taking the freeway, our driver took us down through Los Algondonas (where we barter-shop, go to the dentist, etc) and drove around the area. We stopped at the last dam on the Colorado River, along the outskirts of town. It is on the American/Mexican border but under Mexican management. Then through sand dunes and ended up at a brick making place. The bricks are hand made using sand, water and cow poop. They are all dried in wooden forms for eight days. Then they are baked in a wood burning brick oven, with workers constantly tossing in wood for heat. It was very interesting. How would you like your house or fence made out of cow poop??!! We saw a couple places where fancy cemetary headstones are made. The Mexicans love to have showy cemetary markers. Then we were off to Mexicali, along the backroads going past farmlands of onions, asparagus, lettuce and radishes Cotton had recently been harvested. (Buster saw a cotton combine in nearby Welton at a farm show which sells for over $500,000 new. The asparagus combine is made from stainless steel and sells for over $750,000).
We finally met up with a Mexican Interstate highway, which is 3 lanes each direction and goes from San Luis (just south of Yuma) over to Tijuana. The highway is very well maintained with many exits and overpasses. The secondary highways were in very good condition too.
Mexicali has a population of over a million. It is a very modern city with Dairy Queens, Burger Kings, McDonald's, and other popular American restaurants, large stores and many casinos. We saw a McDonald's which is much bigger and fancier than any I've ever seen. The U.S. has moved many manufacturing plants to Mexicali -- Mitsubishi, Honeywell, Nestle, Coca Cola, BF Goodrich to name a few. The plants are huge and beautiful buildings. Chinatown, the largest in Mexico, is almost as large as in San Francisco. The city is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California and the 2nd largest city in Baja California. The city maintains a highly educated and skilled population and the standard of living is one of the highest in Mexico. In Mexico, it is recognized for its investment in education as well as its low unemployment levels. There is a large university there.
We dined at "Pampas Mexicali", in the traditional Brazilian style. There was a large buffet and then the Mexican waiters arrived at each table with large skewers of meat. We had beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, shrimp and octopus. Everything was delicious! It was a fun and interesting trip. Our tour guide is from LIBBY, MONTANA!! She also told us that the area is becoming the new Silicon Valley.
Yesterday was another drive over to Los Algondonas as Buster had an eye appointment. His new bifocal glasses were ready at 2:00 and only cost $130 including the exam. I had a haircut for $7.00 and the gal washed, blew dry and styled it. We shopped awhile, bought our next 2 bottles of Brandy Alexander's and headed for home. Going through customs was fast, we only waited in line for about 30 minutes.
There sure isn't any time to get bored here. Everyday there's something to do or somewhere to go and we don't even golf! "Happy Hour" is at 4.......we can't miss that!
We will be leaving Yuma on February 4th for "the east" -- into New Mexico and Texas. I could stay here until time for us to go home!
I've given up on posting pictures. Susan
Sunday, January 20, 2013
FINALLY!!! HEAT!!!
Sunday (I think) , January ??, 2013
Hi Everyone!
I'm as senile as the rest of the old codgers down here.....can't even remember the date! And pictures? I gave up trying to post pictures.
The weather has finally warmed up. We went from coats and socks to shorts and sandals. It's been in the mid 70's and oh, so welcome! I realized 2 days ago the AC in Hilda the Honda wasn't working. I was lucky to find a repair shop on Saturday to get it "recharged". Whew! We would roast without AC! It is 75 during the day now.
Friday a neighbor and I went to the Desert Hills Quilt Show here in Yuma. There was over 270 quilts on display and 30 vendors. We found many new ideas for fun projects and, of course, lots of fabric to choose from. We both behaved! :-). Our RV's are not large enough to accumulate a large stash!
A highlight at the show was the display was a quilt which recreated "The Last Supper". It measures 183x67, has 51,816 squares of one-half inch cotton fabric pieced together. It was pieced by a gentleman, Don Locke, DDS, of Waxahachie, TX and took him over 2 1/2 years to piece. It is absolutely AWESOME to see. Go to www.thesupper.net to read about this quilt. This quilt had a room all to itself at the show and the artist was there to visit with. If any of you ever get a chance to see this, you will love it, whether you're a quilter or not.
Our friends, Dan and Barbara Mann, from Great Falls, MT arrived in town a few nights ago. They own the Great Falls Speedway. We went to the local stock car races on Friday night with them. It was a roaring evening. Dan and Barb will be heading to Phoenix on Wednesday for races, on to Georgia for races and to spend time with their daughter there and back to Florida for the Daytona 500. They are traveling in their motorhome with their "family" of Doc, their big lab dog, and 2 cats! This is the first trip for the cats....MEOW, MEOW.
I've gone to a couple craft shows this past week.....one highlight was earrings made from a page from National Geographic Magazines. Most shows also have a Farmer's Market with fresh veggies and fruits. Yesterday bought a nice head of cauliflower for $1 and 2 Anaheim chilies for 20 cents each.
The Anaheim chilies are what our favorite shrimp taco stand uses to make a chipalonas (sp). It is a flour or corn tortilla with a grilled slice of the Anaheim chile plus hamburger, cheese and our choice of various toppings. They go perfect with the deep fried shrimp tacos!!
Yesterday Buster and 2 neighbors went to Wellton to a tractor pull, using tractors out of the 40's and 50's and saw stationary displays of old hit-n-miss engines. They looked at classic cars, combine -- old and new -- cotton picking combines, asparagus picking combines, and other harvesting equipment from this area. Wellton is a small community about 25 east of here, another home to many snowbirds.
More RV's are arriving daily here in our park. Quartzite, the desert mecca of thousands of boondocking snowbirds, is hosting a huge RV/craft show now. I would assume many are traveling back and forth from here so they have the amenities of an RV park. It is not our idea of fun to go boondocking....sitting out in the desert with no luxuries!! Quartzite is about 50-60 miles north of Yuma. We plan to drive there this next week for a day to nose around. Maybe we'll come back with a new Prevost half-a-million-dollar motorhome!! ha! ha!
I will report more after we're back from Quartzite and from our trip to Mexicali, MX for our Brazillian dinner. Til then, enjoy each day! Life is too short to sit around and say, "Someday......".
The D's, with smiles on our faces!
Hi Everyone!
I'm as senile as the rest of the old codgers down here.....can't even remember the date! And pictures? I gave up trying to post pictures.
The weather has finally warmed up. We went from coats and socks to shorts and sandals. It's been in the mid 70's and oh, so welcome! I realized 2 days ago the AC in Hilda the Honda wasn't working. I was lucky to find a repair shop on Saturday to get it "recharged". Whew! We would roast without AC! It is 75 during the day now.
Friday a neighbor and I went to the Desert Hills Quilt Show here in Yuma. There was over 270 quilts on display and 30 vendors. We found many new ideas for fun projects and, of course, lots of fabric to choose from. We both behaved! :-). Our RV's are not large enough to accumulate a large stash!
A highlight at the show was the display was a quilt which recreated "The Last Supper". It measures 183x67, has 51,816 squares of one-half inch cotton fabric pieced together. It was pieced by a gentleman, Don Locke, DDS, of Waxahachie, TX and took him over 2 1/2 years to piece. It is absolutely AWESOME to see. Go to www.thesupper.net to read about this quilt. This quilt had a room all to itself at the show and the artist was there to visit with. If any of you ever get a chance to see this, you will love it, whether you're a quilter or not.
Our friends, Dan and Barbara Mann, from Great Falls, MT arrived in town a few nights ago. They own the Great Falls Speedway. We went to the local stock car races on Friday night with them. It was a roaring evening. Dan and Barb will be heading to Phoenix on Wednesday for races, on to Georgia for races and to spend time with their daughter there and back to Florida for the Daytona 500. They are traveling in their motorhome with their "family" of Doc, their big lab dog, and 2 cats! This is the first trip for the cats....MEOW, MEOW.
I've gone to a couple craft shows this past week.....one highlight was earrings made from a page from National Geographic Magazines. Most shows also have a Farmer's Market with fresh veggies and fruits. Yesterday bought a nice head of cauliflower for $1 and 2 Anaheim chilies for 20 cents each.
The Anaheim chilies are what our favorite shrimp taco stand uses to make a chipalonas (sp). It is a flour or corn tortilla with a grilled slice of the Anaheim chile plus hamburger, cheese and our choice of various toppings. They go perfect with the deep fried shrimp tacos!!
Yesterday Buster and 2 neighbors went to Wellton to a tractor pull, using tractors out of the 40's and 50's and saw stationary displays of old hit-n-miss engines. They looked at classic cars, combine -- old and new -- cotton picking combines, asparagus picking combines, and other harvesting equipment from this area. Wellton is a small community about 25 east of here, another home to many snowbirds.
More RV's are arriving daily here in our park. Quartzite, the desert mecca of thousands of boondocking snowbirds, is hosting a huge RV/craft show now. I would assume many are traveling back and forth from here so they have the amenities of an RV park. It is not our idea of fun to go boondocking....sitting out in the desert with no luxuries!! Quartzite is about 50-60 miles north of Yuma. We plan to drive there this next week for a day to nose around. Maybe we'll come back with a new Prevost half-a-million-dollar motorhome!! ha! ha!
I will report more after we're back from Quartzite and from our trip to Mexicali, MX for our Brazillian dinner. Til then, enjoy each day! Life is too short to sit around and say, "Someday......".
The D's, with smiles on our faces!
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
BRRRRR! IT'S BEEN COLD!
January 16.
It's hard to believe it's already January 16th. Time is flying by much too quickly! We are hoping that it FINALLY will be warming up here....it's been very windy and very chilly. Temps are predicted to be in the 70's now so hopefully the weatherman knows what he's talking about! Nights have been COLD! The poor Mexicans and Yumans have been shaking in their shoes! Yumans are the locals who live here in Yuma. We are tough. Coming from icy Montana and rainy Washington the cool weather doesn't bother us but sure will enjoy the warmer days! Buster is wearing his shorts-- no matter what the temp is!
I saw a picture of icicles hanging off of trees over in Scottsdale! Bet the citrus/vegetables will be in short demand this year.
Our friends, Judy and Fred, came on Saturday and spent the night with us again. Of course, the guys had to watch football......of course we were all sad with the outcome of the Seahawks game on Sunday. :-( Judy and I went shopping while the guys watched the game but we hurried home to see the end.
We bought our yummy shrimp tacos for dinner that day after the game......Buster and I could live on those!! The battered, deep-fried shrimp are about 4" long in a hand made corn or flour tortilla. They are cooked outside so maybe that's why they taste so good! Sand, dirt and flies never hurt anyone! ha! ha!
Buster and I have signed up to go on a motorcoach tour to Mexicalli on the 24th. We are going to a Brazillian style meal. This is what the brochure says: "Many, Many years ago....in the Southern pampas of Brazil the 'gauchos' roamed the land. Each night brought massive bonfires for warmth and cooking their evening meal, and from these fires rose the traditions of the Churrasco or barbeque. The gauchos mastered the art of slowly cooking savory cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb on the large skewers turned over the open flame. From the moment you enter the restaurant you smell the exquisite aroma of steak and shellfish served on skewers around the restaurant." It will be fun and we can see some new countryside along the way.
We've met friends froma small town in North Dakota. They are crazy! They live about 100 miles from the oil drilling and workers are renting homes there and driving the 100 miles each way, each day. They have the most beautiful Bighorn 5th wheel I've ever been in. I have realized, too, that a fireplace is on our "want and need" list for our next RV! They are constant heat, not warm-cool like a furnace.
Yesterday we went for a drive out in the countryside and looked at the vegetable fields. I will post pictures if I ever can figure out how again.....it was a nice drive.
Dang, the motorcoach trip to "Road to California", the big quilt show in Ontario, CA, is cancelled due to lack of interest. I was so looking forward to going! This weekend is the local quilt show here in Yuma so I will go to that. I went last year and it is a very nice show. I've behaved, haven't gone to the local quilt shops yet! In fact, haven't even sewed yet. Seems like there's never time!
Am going to a craft show this morning so best get beautiful for the day! It sure is fun down here! Its a busy, lazy life! Bye for now.
It's hard to believe it's already January 16th. Time is flying by much too quickly! We are hoping that it FINALLY will be warming up here....it's been very windy and very chilly. Temps are predicted to be in the 70's now so hopefully the weatherman knows what he's talking about! Nights have been COLD! The poor Mexicans and Yumans have been shaking in their shoes! Yumans are the locals who live here in Yuma. We are tough. Coming from icy Montana and rainy Washington the cool weather doesn't bother us but sure will enjoy the warmer days! Buster is wearing his shorts-- no matter what the temp is!
I saw a picture of icicles hanging off of trees over in Scottsdale! Bet the citrus/vegetables will be in short demand this year.
Our friends, Judy and Fred, came on Saturday and spent the night with us again. Of course, the guys had to watch football......of course we were all sad with the outcome of the Seahawks game on Sunday. :-( Judy and I went shopping while the guys watched the game but we hurried home to see the end.
We bought our yummy shrimp tacos for dinner that day after the game......Buster and I could live on those!! The battered, deep-fried shrimp are about 4" long in a hand made corn or flour tortilla. They are cooked outside so maybe that's why they taste so good! Sand, dirt and flies never hurt anyone! ha! ha!
Buster and I have signed up to go on a motorcoach tour to Mexicalli on the 24th. We are going to a Brazillian style meal. This is what the brochure says: "Many, Many years ago....in the Southern pampas of Brazil the 'gauchos' roamed the land. Each night brought massive bonfires for warmth and cooking their evening meal, and from these fires rose the traditions of the Churrasco or barbeque. The gauchos mastered the art of slowly cooking savory cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb on the large skewers turned over the open flame. From the moment you enter the restaurant you smell the exquisite aroma of steak and shellfish served on skewers around the restaurant." It will be fun and we can see some new countryside along the way.
We've met friends froma small town in North Dakota. They are crazy! They live about 100 miles from the oil drilling and workers are renting homes there and driving the 100 miles each way, each day. They have the most beautiful Bighorn 5th wheel I've ever been in. I have realized, too, that a fireplace is on our "want and need" list for our next RV! They are constant heat, not warm-cool like a furnace.
Yesterday we went for a drive out in the countryside and looked at the vegetable fields. I will post pictures if I ever can figure out how again.....it was a nice drive.
Dang, the motorcoach trip to "Road to California", the big quilt show in Ontario, CA, is cancelled due to lack of interest. I was so looking forward to going! This weekend is the local quilt show here in Yuma so I will go to that. I went last year and it is a very nice show. I've behaved, haven't gone to the local quilt shops yet! In fact, haven't even sewed yet. Seems like there's never time!
Am going to a craft show this morning so best get beautiful for the day! It sure is fun down here! Its a busy, lazy life! Bye for now.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
MEXICAN DENTIST!
Thursday, January 10
Good evening!
I just lost what I previously posted so will start over. Dang. Also, if anyone can help me download pictures, let me know! I have to re-learn! Dang again.
Monday morning I went to a big craft sale here in our Park. There are craft sales every day in different parks and areas of town. There's something to do every day of the week!
Monday afternoon our friends, Judy and Fred from Olympia/Tucson, came. Judy, Fred and Buster all wanted to go to the dentist in Los Algondonas, Mexico. I called and got them appointments for 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Buster had one crown. Judy is having 14 crowns and Fred 6. They won't be back until late tomorrow but we came home today. I decided to wait until next year to have 4. In Olympia, Judy was quoted $30,000 for 26 crowns that her dentist told her she needed badly. The dentist in Mexico told her she only needed 14 and the cost will be around $2,200. Are dentists a ripoff in the U.S.? It pays to fly down and get dental work done and get a vacation too!
We stayed in the Hacienda Los Algondonas for two nights. If you have dental work for $1,000 or more, rooms are free. We paid $30 for our room as Buster's crown was only $160. (Last year he had 12 crowns and one bridge with the same dentist in Algondonas. We did not know about the hotel then). Anyway, our rooms were not the "Hilton" -- they were Mexican quality but definitely ok. We met so many nice people there who were all getting dental work and had a great time partying, snacking and yakking with them in the evenings. We had to come home to rest!
Of course Judy and I shopped in all those touristy joints and hauled home Mexican wares we definitely don't need! We will be going back in next week or so to do our pharmacy run -- and a liquor run.....prices are unbelievable. Customs will only let you bring one bottle of booze per person across the border at a time. Pharmacy is no problem but no narcotics are allowed without a prescription.
I know many of you are in the cold and snow now. Hopefully it won't last long! It has cooled down here and only to be in 50's next couple of days. Freezing temps are predicted for the next 2 nights so don't plan on any lettuce this summer! ha. Tonight the wind blew hard and dirt blew everywhere. We couldn't see the mountains. The area has alot of dirt storms.
We had some good food in Algondonas. Tony, the manager of the hotel, drove the 4 of us to a little hole-in-the-wall amongst the locals one night. He came back and picked us up when we were finished eating and then gave us a tour of the town. The population is 3,500 and there are over 350 dentists in town. There are also many doctors, eye doctors, pharmacies, liquor stores and Mexicans with their wares for sale along the streets. I have some favorites I like to buy -- pine needle handmade baskets are my favorite.
I will keep trying to figure out the picture downloads. My directions just don't work. Grrrrrrr.
I'm tired. Goodnight!
Good evening!
I just lost what I previously posted so will start over. Dang. Also, if anyone can help me download pictures, let me know! I have to re-learn! Dang again.
Monday morning I went to a big craft sale here in our Park. There are craft sales every day in different parks and areas of town. There's something to do every day of the week!
Monday afternoon our friends, Judy and Fred from Olympia/Tucson, came. Judy, Fred and Buster all wanted to go to the dentist in Los Algondonas, Mexico. I called and got them appointments for 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Buster had one crown. Judy is having 14 crowns and Fred 6. They won't be back until late tomorrow but we came home today. I decided to wait until next year to have 4. In Olympia, Judy was quoted $30,000 for 26 crowns that her dentist told her she needed badly. The dentist in Mexico told her she only needed 14 and the cost will be around $2,200. Are dentists a ripoff in the U.S.? It pays to fly down and get dental work done and get a vacation too!
We stayed in the Hacienda Los Algondonas for two nights. If you have dental work for $1,000 or more, rooms are free. We paid $30 for our room as Buster's crown was only $160. (Last year he had 12 crowns and one bridge with the same dentist in Algondonas. We did not know about the hotel then). Anyway, our rooms were not the "Hilton" -- they were Mexican quality but definitely ok. We met so many nice people there who were all getting dental work and had a great time partying, snacking and yakking with them in the evenings. We had to come home to rest!
Of course Judy and I shopped in all those touristy joints and hauled home Mexican wares we definitely don't need! We will be going back in next week or so to do our pharmacy run -- and a liquor run.....prices are unbelievable. Customs will only let you bring one bottle of booze per person across the border at a time. Pharmacy is no problem but no narcotics are allowed without a prescription.
I know many of you are in the cold and snow now. Hopefully it won't last long! It has cooled down here and only to be in 50's next couple of days. Freezing temps are predicted for the next 2 nights so don't plan on any lettuce this summer! ha. Tonight the wind blew hard and dirt blew everywhere. We couldn't see the mountains. The area has alot of dirt storms.
We had some good food in Algondonas. Tony, the manager of the hotel, drove the 4 of us to a little hole-in-the-wall amongst the locals one night. He came back and picked us up when we were finished eating and then gave us a tour of the town. The population is 3,500 and there are over 350 dentists in town. There are also many doctors, eye doctors, pharmacies, liquor stores and Mexicans with their wares for sale along the streets. I have some favorites I like to buy -- pine needle handmade baskets are my favorite.
I will keep trying to figure out the picture downloads. My directions just don't work. Grrrrrrr.
I'm tired. Goodnight!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
SUNDAY, LAZY DAY!
Sunday morning, January 6.
Good morning! Lots of sunshine! It's only 45 but is supposed to warm up to 65 today and be around 74 by Wednesday!!! Yipee!! At least we don't have to look forward to Washington rain!!
We have rented our RV spot for a month here at Fortuna DeOro RV Park. The park is very large and on the eastern outskirts of Yuma. It's about 15 miles to the California border and it's all Yuma in between. Long and skinny city! We have a Fry's grocery store where we can use our Fred Meyer rewards for groceries and gas....and Walmart is on down the road another 3-4 miles. Almost everything we need we can get at either place. There's a large mall at other end of town and and the three Markets are along the way.
We spent one night in Palm Springs before we got here to Yuma. What a fun place! Hopefully next year we can spend a week there. There is so much to see and such a beautiful town out in the middle of nowhere. That evening we went downtown to a Street Fair -- crafts, food, music-- for 4-blocks. We only bought 2 loaves of bread ($5/loaf!) but oh, is it good! Garlic and one of jalapeno. The RV park was very tight. There was only a hedge between us and a neighbor and hardly room for our car. There didn't seem to be many RV parks, only the resorts. We paid $48 for one night, most we've paid so far. I can just imagine what it will cost in an RV resort!
We bought a "hot spot" JetPack from Verizon. It is the answer to the internet! We can use it anywhere there is cell phone coverage. We did not want to pay $50/month for internet here in the park. This is secure so we can do the banking, check credit cards, etc. without someone trying to hack into us. We can drive down the road and use the laptop! Wow! What next in our lives??
Yesterday we went to the Arizona Market. We only had time to go through half of them, although Buster said he hit them all! He doesn't stop and look at everything like I do! I found a veg peeler for $1, a couple new fun "fancy" watches and another 2 pair of my favorite bifocal sunglasses for $10/pair.
There are 3 Markets....the AZ Market, the Mexican Market and a more "upscale" indoor market that's like walking through a mall. I think they are only open Thurs-Sunday but are a "must" to go to often! There's always something to look at, live music and eateries and tons of shopping! There's 3 quilt shops in town too..........!!!!!!
Last night we were invited to our friends' place for Happy Hour at 4 and dinner of tasty taco salad, Grands biscuits and pumpkin cake. They are our friends who we know from Great Falls (MT). They have been coming here for 10 years, have always stayed at this park but this year they (and a couple others) have moved to a private lot nearby. We are now in their RV spot so feel right at home!! We had a fun evening visiting with them and Judy is one of the best cooks I know! We have known them since mid 60's, Judy and I used to work together.
Today we are going to go into the desert and get sand. Buster wants to fill 6 socks and use them to secure the sewer hose. I thought he could buy something for this and asked him why we have to be "rednecks" but he said there isn't such a thing to buy! So that's that. What do I know?? Nothing!
Once we get our wits together here we will go out exploring and seeing the sights. Our Olympia/Tucson friends (Judy and Fred) should be coming this week and we will go to Los Algadonas, Mexico, for dental work.
That's all for today. Buster tells me I'm almost ready for "the home" and I think he's right!! Talk soon!! :-)
Good morning! Lots of sunshine! It's only 45 but is supposed to warm up to 65 today and be around 74 by Wednesday!!! Yipee!! At least we don't have to look forward to Washington rain!!
We have rented our RV spot for a month here at Fortuna DeOro RV Park. The park is very large and on the eastern outskirts of Yuma. It's about 15 miles to the California border and it's all Yuma in between. Long and skinny city! We have a Fry's grocery store where we can use our Fred Meyer rewards for groceries and gas....and Walmart is on down the road another 3-4 miles. Almost everything we need we can get at either place. There's a large mall at other end of town and and the three Markets are along the way.
We spent one night in Palm Springs before we got here to Yuma. What a fun place! Hopefully next year we can spend a week there. There is so much to see and such a beautiful town out in the middle of nowhere. That evening we went downtown to a Street Fair -- crafts, food, music-- for 4-blocks. We only bought 2 loaves of bread ($5/loaf!) but oh, is it good! Garlic and one of jalapeno. The RV park was very tight. There was only a hedge between us and a neighbor and hardly room for our car. There didn't seem to be many RV parks, only the resorts. We paid $48 for one night, most we've paid so far. I can just imagine what it will cost in an RV resort!
We bought a "hot spot" JetPack from Verizon. It is the answer to the internet! We can use it anywhere there is cell phone coverage. We did not want to pay $50/month for internet here in the park. This is secure so we can do the banking, check credit cards, etc. without someone trying to hack into us. We can drive down the road and use the laptop! Wow! What next in our lives??
Yesterday we went to the Arizona Market. We only had time to go through half of them, although Buster said he hit them all! He doesn't stop and look at everything like I do! I found a veg peeler for $1, a couple new fun "fancy" watches and another 2 pair of my favorite bifocal sunglasses for $10/pair.
There are 3 Markets....the AZ Market, the Mexican Market and a more "upscale" indoor market that's like walking through a mall. I think they are only open Thurs-Sunday but are a "must" to go to often! There's always something to look at, live music and eateries and tons of shopping! There's 3 quilt shops in town too..........!!!!!!
Last night we were invited to our friends' place for Happy Hour at 4 and dinner of tasty taco salad, Grands biscuits and pumpkin cake. They are our friends who we know from Great Falls (MT). They have been coming here for 10 years, have always stayed at this park but this year they (and a couple others) have moved to a private lot nearby. We are now in their RV spot so feel right at home!! We had a fun evening visiting with them and Judy is one of the best cooks I know! We have known them since mid 60's, Judy and I used to work together.
Today we are going to go into the desert and get sand. Buster wants to fill 6 socks and use them to secure the sewer hose. I thought he could buy something for this and asked him why we have to be "rednecks" but he said there isn't such a thing to buy! So that's that. What do I know?? Nothing!
Once we get our wits together here we will go out exploring and seeing the sights. Our Olympia/Tucson friends (Judy and Fred) should be coming this week and we will go to Los Algadonas, Mexico, for dental work.
That's all for today. Buster tells me I'm almost ready for "the home" and I think he's right!! Talk soon!! :-)
Friday, January 4, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January 1, 2013
Happy New Year to all of you! We are so thankful to be alive today after spending the day in the big city -- San Francisco. I had to do the driving in Hilda, the Honda, as Buster won't drive her. Hilda has 194,000 miles on her and the reason she's gone so far is he has had NO access to her! We are staying out in Santa Rosa, about 55 miles north of Frisco but the drive was very beautiful this morning. After getting lost a number of times, even with a Garmin and my Smartphone navigator, we made it to Fisherman's Wharf. Oh, I might add -- a couple good nasty arguments along the route too! After walking around the Wharf area, taking a few pictures and spending a few bucks in the shops, we had lunch and then took a "Hop On Hop Off" bus tour around the City. We saw alot of sights and each bus we rode had good narrators. I recommend taking a bus tour.
Some of the stops along the route included Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, Civic Center Plaza,Coit Tower, Hilton Hotel (walking distance to huge shopping center), downtown area, Chinatown, Barbary Coast, North Beach and Alcatraz Landing and a few other stops. We did not have time to get off and sight-see at all these stops but did go to Haight-Ashbury. It was fun seeing the area again, we had not been back there since the '60's when it was in it's heighth. (If I hadn't married when we did, I might have joined them!) There's alot of fun shops and eateries. I loved going thru all those hippie shops and digging around. We didn't have much time to see alot and I did get pictures of a bunch of homeless that live there. Most all of them have a dog. I've decided after today that everyone either has a dog or a baby!!! There sure were alot of kooks hanging around -- brains fried, talking to themselves, sleeping all over the place, sitting around smoking ???, enjoying their pets, doing odd things, it was fun watching!!!! .
The only catastrophe today was I was stopped at a stoplight and coasted into the back of the car in front of me (heading downhill, of course) ......just touched him but he jumped out and said, "You hit me, did you know that?" Buster said something (I don't even want to remember what he said) and the guy said, "The least you could do is say 'I'm sorry'!" We both said we were sorry, he jumped in the car and they drove off. WHEW!! Close call! And I was in big trouble with hubby. That's all I'm gonna say about that!!!
I am so glad we live in little Olympia, WA! It's hard to imagine how folks can live in those homes all crammed so close together. Streets are narrow and no where to park a car, if you own one. Where do these people buy groceries? We never saw one grocery store all day! (You know me and groceries.....)!! Driving in Seattle doesn't compare to Frisco.
Finished our tour and headed for Santa Rosa. Here we are in our little playhouse, had our dinner and enjoying the evening. Tomorrow a.m. we will load up and go to I-5 and travel south. Guess we've seen enough of San Francisco for this trip and decided the route south to LA is just too many days ahead of us. We're anxious to get to Yuma and get settled in for awhile!
I am accumulating pictures.....will figure out how to download one day soon, I hope!!
Happy New Year to all of you! We are so thankful to be alive today after spending the day in the big city -- San Francisco. I had to do the driving in Hilda, the Honda, as Buster won't drive her. Hilda has 194,000 miles on her and the reason she's gone so far is he has had NO access to her! We are staying out in Santa Rosa, about 55 miles north of Frisco but the drive was very beautiful this morning. After getting lost a number of times, even with a Garmin and my Smartphone navigator, we made it to Fisherman's Wharf. Oh, I might add -- a couple good nasty arguments along the route too! After walking around the Wharf area, taking a few pictures and spending a few bucks in the shops, we had lunch and then took a "Hop On Hop Off" bus tour around the City. We saw alot of sights and each bus we rode had good narrators. I recommend taking a bus tour.
Some of the stops along the route included Golden Gate Bridge Vista Point, Golden Gate Park, Haight-Ashbury, Alamo Square, Civic Center Plaza,Coit Tower, Hilton Hotel (walking distance to huge shopping center), downtown area, Chinatown, Barbary Coast, North Beach and Alcatraz Landing and a few other stops. We did not have time to get off and sight-see at all these stops but did go to Haight-Ashbury. It was fun seeing the area again, we had not been back there since the '60's when it was in it's heighth. (If I hadn't married when we did, I might have joined them!) There's alot of fun shops and eateries. I loved going thru all those hippie shops and digging around. We didn't have much time to see alot and I did get pictures of a bunch of homeless that live there. Most all of them have a dog. I've decided after today that everyone either has a dog or a baby!!! There sure were alot of kooks hanging around -- brains fried, talking to themselves, sleeping all over the place, sitting around smoking ???, enjoying their pets, doing odd things, it was fun watching!!!! .
The only catastrophe today was I was stopped at a stoplight and coasted into the back of the car in front of me (heading downhill, of course) ......just touched him but he jumped out and said, "You hit me, did you know that?" Buster said something (I don't even want to remember what he said) and the guy said, "The least you could do is say 'I'm sorry'!" We both said we were sorry, he jumped in the car and they drove off. WHEW!! Close call! And I was in big trouble with hubby. That's all I'm gonna say about that!!!
I am so glad we live in little Olympia, WA! It's hard to imagine how folks can live in those homes all crammed so close together. Streets are narrow and no where to park a car, if you own one. Where do these people buy groceries? We never saw one grocery store all day! (You know me and groceries.....)!! Driving in Seattle doesn't compare to Frisco.
Finished our tour and headed for Santa Rosa. Here we are in our little playhouse, had our dinner and enjoying the evening. Tomorrow a.m. we will load up and go to I-5 and travel south. Guess we've seen enough of San Francisco for this trip and decided the route south to LA is just too many days ahead of us. We're anxious to get to Yuma and get settled in for awhile!
I am accumulating pictures.....will figure out how to download one day soon, I hope!!
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