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
Saturday, January 26, 2013
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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