Today was a "Get Organised Day " since we are new to this area of the country. Our friends gave us the "Lay of the Land", but mostly where to shop and the locations of the several other RV Parks where many of our friends are spending the winter. The first thing was to do some grocery shopping and in AZ, a company called "Fry's " is the competition for Wal-Mart and Safeways for groceries. Since the prices are competitive , we shop there because they have a "rewards " card that give 10 cents off a gallon of gas if you spend 100.00 and their diesel is at least 5 cents cheaper than any other gas station. Incidentally , diesel cost 3.75 / gal and gas is around 3.45/gal. The state Sales Tax is 10%.
We had intended to visit the AZ Tourisum today to get some tips on the " Must See " in the area but we ran out of time. There are quite a few areas to visit, such as the Roosevelt Dam, Superstition Mountain, and Tortilla ( pronounced Tor tea a ) Flats, which is an authentic old stagecoach stop , now better known as a must see, Tourist Trap. Somedays they have a bar room fight which spreads out to the street and ends up being a gun fight. They also have a Swap Meet in Apache Junction; which we call a Flea market, and it is so huge you need 2 or 3 days just to walk the entire area. If they don't sell it, then you don't need it. We have scheduled the Swap Meet for Sunday.
I should mention that we are also watching the Ladies curling if and when we can squeeze it into our schedule. The park also has a Jam Session at the Park Hall once a week at 7 PM but we did not get there until 7 PM and it was full, with a sign on the door saying to come back at half time. I guess the "Jammers" are real good or the people in the park stuck for some entertainment.
Thursday, 23 February 2012
Monday, 20 February 2012
15 Feb Yuma to Apache Junction
On 15 Feb we left Yuma and headed for Apache Junction which is about a 4 1/2 hour drive so we expected to arrive in the early afternoon. However, when we reached Casa Grande it was lunch time so we decided to stop for lunch at Cracker Barrel, which is a favorite of ours.
Apache Junction is east of the Phoenix/Mesa area and is a desert community nestled in the shawdow of Superstition Mountain. It has a year round population of 42,000 and a seasonal ( Oct to april )population of 35,000, mainly snowbirds like ourselves. Apache Junction is spread out with several huge shopping Malls but it does not have a downtown area,so to speak.
Our RV park is called " Weavers Needle ". I assumed it was so named because the ladies did a lot of quiltting . But I was advised that there is a landmark that, with a bit of imaginations, looks like a Weavers Needle. I'll take their word for it because I'm not all that interested in finding a " Needle in the Mountains ".
We pulled into the RV park and were allotted a space. Most parks , including this one has a spotter to help with parking as most spaces are back in. " Cliff " the spotter insisted that he show me the space first, so away we go in his golf cart to check the Space. I did not like the space as it was not level so I selected another one. After we got back in Carroll noted that a Palm Tree was so close to our awning that we would not be able to open it. So, Cliff and I got in his golf cart again and went looking for another space which would accommodate our trailer. I stepped off the length of the next space to make sure we would fit before I backed in . Finally we got set up and we will call this home for the next month.
Then we called our friends from Med Hat who are parked nearby and they dropped over to say hello and have a friendly drink.
Apache Junction is east of the Phoenix/Mesa area and is a desert community nestled in the shawdow of Superstition Mountain. It has a year round population of 42,000 and a seasonal ( Oct to april )population of 35,000, mainly snowbirds like ourselves. Apache Junction is spread out with several huge shopping Malls but it does not have a downtown area,so to speak.
Our RV park is called " Weavers Needle ". I assumed it was so named because the ladies did a lot of quiltting . But I was advised that there is a landmark that, with a bit of imaginations, looks like a Weavers Needle. I'll take their word for it because I'm not all that interested in finding a " Needle in the Mountains ".
We pulled into the RV park and were allotted a space. Most parks , including this one has a spotter to help with parking as most spaces are back in. " Cliff " the spotter insisted that he show me the space first, so away we go in his golf cart to check the Space. I did not like the space as it was not level so I selected another one. After we got back in Carroll noted that a Palm Tree was so close to our awning that we would not be able to open it. So, Cliff and I got in his golf cart again and went looking for another space which would accommodate our trailer. I stepped off the length of the next space to make sure we would fit before I backed in . Finally we got set up and we will call this home for the next month.
Then we called our friends from Med Hat who are parked nearby and they dropped over to say hello and have a friendly drink.
1 Feb to 14 Feb Yuma, AZ
This Blog will cover the 2 weeks we spent in Yuma, AZ. A place we have been to many times, usually to visit friends as we would find it boring if it were not for the many friends that are here. We parked at the Bonita, Mesa Resort (the word resort is overused but mainly so they can charge more ) because 3 of our friends are there: Ziglos from Yorkton, SK: Malach, a Lake in SK that I can't spell and Mathisons from BC. Friends in other Yuma parks are Moe and Gail Bakens from Childs lake, MB; Ken and Carol Jangula from Med Hat, who I play ball with and a long lost friend, Jim and Marion Mclelland, from Belmont. I don't think I have seen Jimmy for about 40 years and it was very enjoyable to see him and Marion again. It made be remmeber how long ago I left home to join the RCAF.
Well, what else did we do in Yuma; First we had to visit the Dentist in Mexico as I broke a tooth while South Africa but it was not hurting so i could wait until I got to MX. The tooth was beyond a Filling or Crown so I had to have a Root Canal followed by a Crown which took 3 appointments and cost 490.00. MX is only 8 miles from Yuma.
There are three large Flea markets in Yuma so we spent an afternoon checking out each markets place and purchased a few things that I could probably " live without " but considered a necessity. We also attended a few parties with our friends and even attended the 100 th anniversay party for Arizona in downtown Yuma.
Yuma has very fertile soil so they grow a lot of vegetables in this area but as you would probably guess the vegetables are picked/packed by Mexico farm workers. The farmers actually have a bus that goes to St. Luis , MX, about 20 miles away to pick up the workers each day.
They also had an RCAF reunion scheduled in yuma while I was there but I forgot to get a ticket so I am somewhat disappointed that I let it slip away. It would have been nice to swap lies with some old comrades.
For Valentines Day supper , we went for Chinese Food and had to wait about 15 or 20 mins for a table. I had to snicker because I don't remmeber every waiting for a table at a Chinese restarunt. On the 15 th feb we left yuma and headed for Apache Junction.
Well, what else did we do in Yuma; First we had to visit the Dentist in Mexico as I broke a tooth while South Africa but it was not hurting so i could wait until I got to MX. The tooth was beyond a Filling or Crown so I had to have a Root Canal followed by a Crown which took 3 appointments and cost 490.00. MX is only 8 miles from Yuma.
There are three large Flea markets in Yuma so we spent an afternoon checking out each markets place and purchased a few things that I could probably " live without " but considered a necessity. We also attended a few parties with our friends and even attended the 100 th anniversay party for Arizona in downtown Yuma.
Yuma has very fertile soil so they grow a lot of vegetables in this area but as you would probably guess the vegetables are picked/packed by Mexico farm workers. The farmers actually have a bus that goes to St. Luis , MX, about 20 miles away to pick up the workers each day.
They also had an RCAF reunion scheduled in yuma while I was there but I forgot to get a ticket so I am somewhat disappointed that I let it slip away. It would have been nice to swap lies with some old comrades.
For Valentines Day supper , we went for Chinese Food and had to wait about 15 or 20 mins for a table. I had to snicker because I don't remmeber every waiting for a table at a Chinese restarunt. On the 15 th feb we left yuma and headed for Apache Junction.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
29 th Jan to 31 Jan. Quartzsite, AZ
The next three days were spent in Quartzsite but spending most of our time at the Flea market. However, this is no ordinary Flea Market and you can not see it all in less than 3 days. You can buy anything you need for an RV or to operate your RV . Mostly , you but things you do not nec need but since it is the latest gadget, then you must have it. There is alway a large white Tent the size of a football field that is sells anything and everything. They sell Power Wheel chairs; Food Choppers; Generators; Health Insurance; Satellite Dishes; ( including Shaw Direct ) and anything you could possibly need for your RV. Outside on the grounds, there are at least 6 companies selling RVs with over 500 vehicle on the lot. The rest of the outdoor area has about 100 more booth selling fast food, tools and you probably won't believe this but they sell Rocks ; Oh excuse me; they are now called "Gem stone". There are actually truck loads of rocks for sale. I met one guy who is called "Doctor Fossil" and he told me that all he does for a living is hunt for Gem stones and sells them at the flea markets.
I won't bore you with anymore Quartzsite stories but if you are every in southwest AZ during the first two weeks of Jan then you must visit Quartzsite. I believe there is no place on earth like Quartzsite.
There are literary 1000's of RVers camped in the dessert, with NO services and some of the Motorhome are worth in excess of $300,000.00 I can't imagine why they camp here for months.
After three days boondocking in the dessert, which incidentally is our limit, we headed for Yuma ,AZ on 1 Feb.
I won't bore you with anymore Quartzsite stories but if you are every in southwest AZ during the first two weeks of Jan then you must visit Quartzsite. I believe there is no place on earth like Quartzsite.
There are literary 1000's of RVers camped in the dessert, with NO services and some of the Motorhome are worth in excess of $300,000.00 I can't imagine why they camp here for months.
After three days boondocking in the dessert, which incidentally is our limit, we headed for Yuma ,AZ on 1 Feb.
Monday, 13 February 2012
28 th Jan Quartzsite , here we come
Our plan to stop in Quartzsite, AZ was twofold. First, our friends the Carlyles where Boondocking there for a week so we would be able to have a 3 day visit and the second reason was that we had our ONT friends ( Mary and Evan ) with us and we really wanted them to see "The World Famous" Quartzsite. The trip from Laughlin to Quartzsite is a 4 hour drive thru a few small cities, which incidentally are also RV havens for some folks, mainly those interested in Golf. We first had to navagate thru the city of Needles, Ca. It is a very small city but you have to make at least 1/2 dozen left and right turns in order to get to I-40. We did have the GPS on but Carroll kept doubting it and she kept saying, " I don't remmeber going this way before". Since I have driven or I should say, negotioated this city many time before, so I ignored Carroll's complaints and just kept going. I will admit I seldom ignore Carroll's direction because she is the navigater.. period, but i do know how to get thru Needles.
As we drove thru the next city of Lake Havasu, Mary and Evan took note of this area because they were told by a few friends that they should stay here for a holiday and they did return after they left us.
Another city that was of interest to Mary and Evan , was Parker , AZ. It is right on the east side of the Colorada River with several RV resorts and many golf courses. The opposite side of the river is California and it too has golf courses and RV resorts.
We arrived in Quartzsite in the early afternoon and dropped Mary and Evan at a campsite because they were not prepared to Boondock. Then we had to find our friends who were parked somewhere in 500 acre dessert along with 1000's of other Boondockers. However, we had specific direction so it would be a piece of cake.
Here are the directions: Once you reach Quartzsite, turn left at the Stop sign, drive to the Tee junction, turn right and go over the overpass and keep going to another Tee junctions; there is a small church on your left; turn left and follow the winding paved road, about 2 KM until you see a sign on your right that says " Scaddan" ; turn right into the dessert and sign in at the "Camp Host ". At this point the Camp host fills out a card which allows you to stay free of charge for 2 weeks. From here it gets tricky because you are now in a dessert among a "Sea of Motor homes and 5 th wheels.
The directions are to follow the trail and worm you way between a green and a brown Motorhome, continue on the trail and go thru the WASH ( that is dessert talk for a dry creek or ditch ) and you will see a yellow cowboy boot hanging from a tree, continue along the trail until you see another boot hanging from a catus, continue along the trail another 500 M and our friends are parked on the right. Even though we know their 5 th wheel we could not find it so we were total lost... we think. After driving in circles for about 10 mins hoping to see our friends we finally stopped and decided to phone them.
No dam wonder we could not find them because they had just left with their trailer to dump and to reload with water at the local Dump station some 5 KM away. So we waited for them to return so we could park near them, to what would be our dessert home for the next 3 days.
This was enough travelling for today so we did a quick "Setup" including the Satellite. It was now Happy Hour so we got together with our friends and met two more couples that they were with them. After Happy Hour Carroll and I headed for the local "Eatery " for a Chicken and Ribs supper for 9.99. This resturaunt is not fancy but it serves excellent food at a great price and the seating is family style, which means grab a seat where you can find one. The resturaunt is always full.
first,
As we drove thru the next city of Lake Havasu, Mary and Evan took note of this area because they were told by a few friends that they should stay here for a holiday and they did return after they left us.
Another city that was of interest to Mary and Evan , was Parker , AZ. It is right on the east side of the Colorada River with several RV resorts and many golf courses. The opposite side of the river is California and it too has golf courses and RV resorts.
We arrived in Quartzsite in the early afternoon and dropped Mary and Evan at a campsite because they were not prepared to Boondock. Then we had to find our friends who were parked somewhere in 500 acre dessert along with 1000's of other Boondockers. However, we had specific direction so it would be a piece of cake.
Here are the directions: Once you reach Quartzsite, turn left at the Stop sign, drive to the Tee junction, turn right and go over the overpass and keep going to another Tee junctions; there is a small church on your left; turn left and follow the winding paved road, about 2 KM until you see a sign on your right that says " Scaddan" ; turn right into the dessert and sign in at the "Camp Host ". At this point the Camp host fills out a card which allows you to stay free of charge for 2 weeks. From here it gets tricky because you are now in a dessert among a "Sea of Motor homes and 5 th wheels.
The directions are to follow the trail and worm you way between a green and a brown Motorhome, continue on the trail and go thru the WASH ( that is dessert talk for a dry creek or ditch ) and you will see a yellow cowboy boot hanging from a tree, continue along the trail until you see another boot hanging from a catus, continue along the trail another 500 M and our friends are parked on the right. Even though we know their 5 th wheel we could not find it so we were total lost... we think. After driving in circles for about 10 mins hoping to see our friends we finally stopped and decided to phone them.
No dam wonder we could not find them because they had just left with their trailer to dump and to reload with water at the local Dump station some 5 KM away. So we waited for them to return so we could park near them, to what would be our dessert home for the next 3 days.
This was enough travelling for today so we did a quick "Setup" including the Satellite. It was now Happy Hour so we got together with our friends and met two more couples that they were with them. After Happy Hour Carroll and I headed for the local "Eatery " for a Chicken and Ribs supper for 9.99. This resturaunt is not fancy but it serves excellent food at a great price and the seating is family style, which means grab a seat where you can find one. The resturaunt is always full.
first,
Thursday, 9 February 2012
27 th Jan off to Laughlin and Quartzsite
We left Mesquite, NV at 8:30 AM with Mary and Evan in tow. We advise them that getting thru Las Vegas was our first hurdle and to stay close once we entered the city as there was a tricky sweeping turn to get from I-15 to Hwy 515. Although I have traveled this route many , many times I still got in the wrong lane but i did a quick manevure , which incidentally, probably got me off a local residence christmas card list, and got on the right lane to get on to hwy 515. Our friends had time to get into the right lane and we were now on our way to Laughlin, NV where we would spend the night.
The trip from Las Vegas ( better known as Loss Wages ) to Laughlin is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. Hwy 515 out of Vegas ( actually Henderson ) goes to Boulder city and to the majestic Hoover Dam and then onward to Kingman AZ and eventually to Laughlin. Or you can turn off to Hwy 95 which goes to Laughlin. We always take 95, probably out of habit. This highway was upgraded from a well used 2 lane hwy to a 4 lane road shortly after 9/11 as the other road crossed the Hoover dam and the Homeland security stopped all RV and Commerical traffic from crossing the Dam hence this hwy was the only way to get from Vegas to Phoenix. As a point of interest, the US Gov't recently ( about 2 years ago ) constructed a new bridge across but away from the Hoover dam site, so traffic can now get to Kingman and Phoenix without going around thru Laughlin. This new bridge is well worth a stop as it is huge.
When we arrived in Laughlin we stopped at the parking lot of the Tropicana hotel and casino, which we had done many times in the past and it was always free. However, we were surprized at first to see such few " Boondockers" because it is normally 90 % full. And secondly, the reason became quite obvious when we found out there was a 7.00 per overnight charge to park in their lot. Seniors ( us included ) are attracted by the word free. Mary and Evan agreed to Boondock with us even thought they were not fully prepared, nor had they Boondock before. Anyway, we spent the afternoon and evening in Laughlin ( Carroll donated another 20.00 )and we agreed to depart for Quartzsite, AZ around 9 AM. Out of curiousity, Carroll and I checked out several other Casinos to see if they charged to park overnight and all but one Casino ( there about a dozen in Laughlin ) was charging 7.00 per night. Most of the casinos were "dead " compared to other years , so I'm sure the overnight charge was the reason. Did mention that Seniors are attracted by the word " Free ".
The trip from Las Vegas ( better known as Loss Wages ) to Laughlin is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. Hwy 515 out of Vegas ( actually Henderson ) goes to Boulder city and to the majestic Hoover Dam and then onward to Kingman AZ and eventually to Laughlin. Or you can turn off to Hwy 95 which goes to Laughlin. We always take 95, probably out of habit. This highway was upgraded from a well used 2 lane hwy to a 4 lane road shortly after 9/11 as the other road crossed the Hoover dam and the Homeland security stopped all RV and Commerical traffic from crossing the Dam hence this hwy was the only way to get from Vegas to Phoenix. As a point of interest, the US Gov't recently ( about 2 years ago ) constructed a new bridge across but away from the Hoover dam site, so traffic can now get to Kingman and Phoenix without going around thru Laughlin. This new bridge is well worth a stop as it is huge.
When we arrived in Laughlin we stopped at the parking lot of the Tropicana hotel and casino, which we had done many times in the past and it was always free. However, we were surprized at first to see such few " Boondockers" because it is normally 90 % full. And secondly, the reason became quite obvious when we found out there was a 7.00 per overnight charge to park in their lot. Seniors ( us included ) are attracted by the word free. Mary and Evan agreed to Boondock with us even thought they were not fully prepared, nor had they Boondock before. Anyway, we spent the afternoon and evening in Laughlin ( Carroll donated another 20.00 )and we agreed to depart for Quartzsite, AZ around 9 AM. Out of curiousity, Carroll and I checked out several other Casinos to see if they charged to park overnight and all but one Casino ( there about a dozen in Laughlin ) was charging 7.00 per night. Most of the casinos were "dead " compared to other years , so I'm sure the overnight charge was the reason. Did mention that Seniors are attracted by the word " Free ".
24 th Jan Heading South
We arrived home on the 17 th Jan but it had taken us the biggest part of a month to find the time to start the Blog again, so here goes.
We spent a week at Todd's place in Okotoks getting re-organized and re-aquainted with our family and a few friends. Clark's family was in Calgary on the weekend as Morgan and Paige had a Dancing Fesh, so we were able to watch the girls dance and have supper with the family. We also managed to get some time with Connor as he opted to go swimming, with his cousins rather than being bored watching his sister dance.
On the 24 th Jan we departed Todd's place around 6:30 AM with a target of reaching Idaho Falls by night fall. Since we left the trailer in Mesquite, NV in Oct when i was in St. Geo, UT playing ball, we made good time without the trailer and managed to get to Idaho Falls with mainly clear roads. We had about 30 KM of snow covered roads going thru the Manida Pass but other than that it was clear roads all the way.
I did make a pit stop at the Cdn Duty Free to pick up a couple of cheap ( less expensive ) bottles of RYE. So we stayed at the Comfort Inn , in Idaho Falls, since we had enough points for a free room. Of course it snowed during the night but only a light dusting.
25 th Jan..... We again departed Idaho Falls early so we could reach Mesquite , NV before dark were we thought we might pick up our trailer from the storage lot. However, when we reached Mequite we decide to check out the price of a room and it was 26.00. A camp site was $22.00 so it was a no Brainer. We immediately decided to take the room and get the trailer in the morning. After, checking in and having supper, Carroll decide to donate $20.00 to the casino so i went to a nearby Macdonld's to take advantage of their Free WiFi. While perusing my email I overheard a couple having trouble getting a connection so I ask if they needed assistance. I knew they were Cdns because the man was wearing a CANADA hockey sweater. ( Just to be clear.... Yes this couple are now our friends but the story gets better.) They accepted my charity and i show them how to access Macdonald's. They did not realize that they had to check " I agree ". Before I left Macdonald's they ask if i would meet them in the morning to help get on the web site again, so I agreed. Yes, Carroll donated the $20.00.
26 th Jan..... After breakfast, Carroll and I meet the couple ( now called Mary and Evan Roy , a nurse and a farmer from Ontario ).During our 1/2 to 3/4 hour chat we found out they sold their farm in Melborne and bought 600 arces in new Liskard, ON. However, they were in Calgary and the Peace River, visiting their two boys and decided ( as apposed to planning )to take a trip to southern USA for a couple of months. We thought we could give them some tips on where to go and were to camp since they had never been down this way before. We then agreed to meet for supper and we would enlighten them.
Carroll and I retrieved our trailer and moved it to a local camp site, where we had to do a bit of cleaning, and to unpack our bags with the clothes we had brought with us. Next we had to do a large grocery shopping but first I had to get the truck washed. It was still dirty and to be perfectly honest, it was a mess from the slushy streets in Calgary. There was a Wash Rack about 200 M from the grocery store and he offered to clean it, both inside and outside for $12.00 . I just said.. get at it.
After getting the trailer sorted out and swapping a few lies with our camping nieghbours in the camp ground, from AB, it was time for supper with our new found friends. During supper we offered and they acceted the offer, for us to lead them as far south as Quartzsite, AZ; a place they had heard about and were anxious to visit. We agreed to leave at 8:30 in the morning and bid them goodnight. Carroll donate another $20.00
We spent a week at Todd's place in Okotoks getting re-organized and re-aquainted with our family and a few friends. Clark's family was in Calgary on the weekend as Morgan and Paige had a Dancing Fesh, so we were able to watch the girls dance and have supper with the family. We also managed to get some time with Connor as he opted to go swimming, with his cousins rather than being bored watching his sister dance.
On the 24 th Jan we departed Todd's place around 6:30 AM with a target of reaching Idaho Falls by night fall. Since we left the trailer in Mesquite, NV in Oct when i was in St. Geo, UT playing ball, we made good time without the trailer and managed to get to Idaho Falls with mainly clear roads. We had about 30 KM of snow covered roads going thru the Manida Pass but other than that it was clear roads all the way.
I did make a pit stop at the Cdn Duty Free to pick up a couple of cheap ( less expensive ) bottles of RYE. So we stayed at the Comfort Inn , in Idaho Falls, since we had enough points for a free room. Of course it snowed during the night but only a light dusting.
25 th Jan..... We again departed Idaho Falls early so we could reach Mesquite , NV before dark were we thought we might pick up our trailer from the storage lot. However, when we reached Mequite we decide to check out the price of a room and it was 26.00. A camp site was $22.00 so it was a no Brainer. We immediately decided to take the room and get the trailer in the morning. After, checking in and having supper, Carroll decide to donate $20.00 to the casino so i went to a nearby Macdonld's to take advantage of their Free WiFi. While perusing my email I overheard a couple having trouble getting a connection so I ask if they needed assistance. I knew they were Cdns because the man was wearing a CANADA hockey sweater. ( Just to be clear.... Yes this couple are now our friends but the story gets better.) They accepted my charity and i show them how to access Macdonald's. They did not realize that they had to check " I agree ". Before I left Macdonald's they ask if i would meet them in the morning to help get on the web site again, so I agreed. Yes, Carroll donated the $20.00.
26 th Jan..... After breakfast, Carroll and I meet the couple ( now called Mary and Evan Roy , a nurse and a farmer from Ontario ).During our 1/2 to 3/4 hour chat we found out they sold their farm in Melborne and bought 600 arces in new Liskard, ON. However, they were in Calgary and the Peace River, visiting their two boys and decided ( as apposed to planning )to take a trip to southern USA for a couple of months. We thought we could give them some tips on where to go and were to camp since they had never been down this way before. We then agreed to meet for supper and we would enlighten them.
Carroll and I retrieved our trailer and moved it to a local camp site, where we had to do a bit of cleaning, and to unpack our bags with the clothes we had brought with us. Next we had to do a large grocery shopping but first I had to get the truck washed. It was still dirty and to be perfectly honest, it was a mess from the slushy streets in Calgary. There was a Wash Rack about 200 M from the grocery store and he offered to clean it, both inside and outside for $12.00 . I just said.. get at it.
After getting the trailer sorted out and swapping a few lies with our camping nieghbours in the camp ground, from AB, it was time for supper with our new found friends. During supper we offered and they acceted the offer, for us to lead them as far south as Quartzsite, AZ; a place they had heard about and were anxious to visit. We agreed to leave at 8:30 in the morning and bid them goodnight. Carroll donate another $20.00
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