January 27 - 29, 2024 Back to Yuma

Saturday, 27th, we said our "see you laters" and headed south to Yuma.

We arrived, set up and have been hanging out every since. Andy has been busy cleaning the dust out of the shed. I have been doing a few things in the motorhome and resting. Hope to be back to normal soon with pictures of our lot and plans to do more traveling.

So stay tuned and enjoy today.

Stats for Saturday, 27th

Miles Traveled: 99 Miles

Arizona: Plomosa Road - MM3; US-95; AZ-195 (Araby Road); East 32nd Street Avenue 3E; East County 17th Street

January 19 - 26, 2024 Our Time in Quartzsite

On Friday, 19th, we finished shutting down and away we went.

We met Sue at the VFW on US-95 - nice tank and anchor:

Past the little church:

Past the guns at the Yuma Proving Grounds entrance:

Thru border patrol checkpoint:

Thru the desert mountains:

Coming into Quartzsite - past the Big Tent:

Up and over the freeway:

We are staying with Chapters 6 and 21 of the Escapees RV Club.  Great group of folks.

After setting up and getting caught up, we headed to the American Legion in Bouse for their fish fry!  Yummy!

We finished the evening with a great campfire.

Tonight's sunset:

Love the contrails with the full moon:

Today's Stats:

Miles Traveled:  99 Miles

Arizona: East County 17th Street; Avenue 4E; East County 14th Street; AZ-195; US-95; Plomosa Road - MM3

--

Saturday, 20th, Sue and I went to the QIA (Quartzsite Improvement Association) POW WOW.  It has been many years since I have been to the show and always enjoyed it.  They did not have as many craft items and equipment that I remember but there were lots of gems and minerals.  OH MY! The colors that our earth produces.  (There should be a line in the Bible where God says: "Let there be color.")  Sadly, I did not get any pictures.

We had lunch at the QIA cafeteria and headed back to camp for a great Happy Hour and ended the evening with a campfire.

--

Sunday, 21st, Andy, Sue and I went to the Big Tent RV Show.  There were a lot more vendors than last year so that was great!  But I did miss the state and national park information centers.  We were really looking for information on Alaska since we are considering heading that way this summer.

The entrance to the Big Tent:

Check this out:

Years ago, we use to leave the guys here while the girls went shopping.  Good memories.

We had lunch at the famous Quartzsite Yacht Club - Yummy.  Sadly, this is their last year unless they can sell.

There was a Happy Hour and Campfire tonight but I was not feeling well. (Still can't shake whatever I caught.)  Andy had a great time though.

There was rain off and on today and they are calling for heavy rains for the next few days - Bummer!

---

Monday, 22nd,  Andy and I were up early heading to Yuma (with the truck only).  It was lot transfer day.  So in between the rain drops, we moved our stuff from our shed on Lot 77 to our shed on Lot 30.  Our meeting was at 2 PM and since we finished the moving early, we were able to do some wash and go to lunch at In-n-Out Burger.  At 2 PM, we signed all the papers and we were off, with a short stop at Walmart.

The rain was heavy and about 15 miles south of Quartzsite, the washes were flowing over the roads.  Very scary but we made it thru and back to the RV.  All is good.

---

Tuesday, 23rd was a hang out day.  We did have some rain off and on but then it cleared in time for a campfire.

Sue's dog, Annie:

Our area:

Tonight's sunset and moonrise:

What a beautiful day!

---

Wednesday, 24th, was Party on Plomosa Day!  The Escapee RV Club has many chapters and groups and many of them have their rallies around Quartzsite during this time of year.   So one day during this week, the club sponsors a gathering so all Escapees can get together and socialize.  There was bands, food, announcements about the club as well as a row of information on different activities of the club.

It was good to see some folks I have not seen in a while and so many I did not know.  The club is changing and growing.

Our friends, John and Geri, did not camp here this year but came in for the day to visit.  It was so great seeing them and getting caught up. Hopefully we will see them later this season.

We finished the evening with a great Happy Hour and Campfire.

---

Thursday, 25th - Big Day Today.

Andy and I joined both Chapters 21 (Arizona) and 6 (Michigan and Northeast).  This morning was the Chapter 21 breakfast followed by their meeting.  Breakfast was outstanding.  I made Hash Brown Casserole and found out that it is called funeral potatoes in the west - Interesting.  All the food was yummy.

This afternoon started with a Polar/Grizzly Bear Party - Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic.  (Polar was vanilla ice cream and Grizzly was chocolate ice cream.)

Andy and Mike volunteered to do the creating:

The day continued with a taco party late afternoon.  What a great day.

All contributions to the food and drinks are for the benefit of Escapees Care.  How wonderful.

The campfire was ongoing all day and continued into the evening as the full moon rose and we had our own howling at the moon.  (We could hear howling all around us so there were quite a few moon parties going on!)

---

Friday, 26th, Andy, Sue, and I decided to roam Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama.  It was great to see all the vendors.  Last year, there was many empty rows, this year all of the rows were full.  Tyson Wells has a little bit of everything and then some - LOL!

Love the yard art.. now if only I can find a way to bring a few of these creatures home.

We had lunch at Silly Al's Pizza and then headed back.  A beautiful evening around the campfire with the full moon - life doesn't get any better than this.

-----

This ends our stay in Quartzsite.  There was so much more I wanted to see and do plus visit a few of the groups but I am still not feeling the best.  Because of that we decided to head back to Yuma to check out our new lot and for me to try to get back to normal. So stay tuned for our next adventures and enjoy today.

-----

January 2 – 18, 2024 Our Time in Yuma, AZ

(First, my apologies.  I am updating on 01/29/24.   Second, since this blog is for you and me, it may sound a little like a diary on what we have been doing.  Sometimes I do this so I don’t forget – and these days it is easier to forget.  LOL!)

And for the next sad news....   I have lost all of my blog pictures from 2021 to 01/01/24.  Not really lost, however,  but the links are broke, sort of.  I used Live Writer which saved the pictures to Google Drive (since 2020).  Those links were severed without a notice to me.  From doing my research, the only way to have them all appear on the blog is to republish all of them.  GRRR!  The ones previous to 2020 are all good.   (Hopefully someone will come up with a better way to link them but until then.. GRRRR!)

Thank God, I downloaded a PDF every time I published so I still have those photos..

There is a small box next to the picture title.  That should take you to the picture.  Apparently that link is not broken.  Crazy..  If anyone knows how I can fix without republishing, please let me know.

---------------------------------------------------

On January 2nd, our friend Sue arrived to spend the next few weeks with us.  It was so great to see her and her dog Annie and get caught up with each other.

On January 3rd, the three of us headed to Los Algodones, Mexico to have lunch with Peg, Larry, and Bob at the El Paraiso.  Love that restaurant – food, music, and colorful surroundings.

Me, Bob, Larry, Sue,  Andy:

Larry, Sue, Andy, Me, Peg:

The border wall and line – it was not too bad that day:

More border wall – we noticed a lot of construction and a double wall this year.  Not sure why?:

On Thursday, January 4th, I went to see Karl at A-Z Window Fashions in the Foothills.  Last year he repaired one of our MCD shades and this year he repaired another.  Great guy, great service at a great price.   After a stop at Fry’s, we finished the day with a nice Happy Hour.  Sue and our neighbors, Chuck and Linda, joined us.

On Friday, January 5th, I stopped over to see the KoFa ladies at coffee:

Then headed to the Yuma Marketplace with Andy and Sue.  There were many more vendors this year – I am so glad.  One of the old Swap Meets on the other side of town has shut down and a number of the vendors moved here. 

From there we went to the American Veterans for lunch:

Followed by a visit to the Moose Lodge – what a great day!

On Saturday, 6th, our friends, Larry and Cheryl, were passing thru on their way to have dental work done in Los Algodones.  We were able to meet them for lunch and get caught up but I forgot to get a picture.  We will see them again in Casa Grande later this year.

Sunday, 7th, was a hang out day so we just hung out!  😁😁😁

Monday, 8th, found us in Los Algodones for my dental appointment with Dr. Roberto Acre at the Smille Shop.   A filling fell out about 2 months ago so I needed it fixed.  Once he showed me the x-ray, I knew I needed more than that.  So I had a root canal and a temporary cap put on until Wednesday.

It was great to see Dr. Roberto again.  We have been with him since 2009 and it was great to get caught up.  Turns out when he looked at my records, he did those fillings in 2014 – 10 years ago!

So, of course, we had to stop for lunch – Garlic Shrimp and Margaritas – Life doesn’t get any better!

It took about 1.5 hours to get back across.  Always fun chatting with the folks along the way!

On Tuesday, 9th, I dropped off my little Bella at the Yuma Veterinary Clinic to have her dental.  Glad to report that she did good and no teeth were removed.  Yea!  (If you have been following my blog, we found Bella alongside the road in 2011.  She had been abused and had to have some of her jaw reconstructed.  And I was told then, she may lose many of her teeth.  Sadly, she only has a few left now so I was glad she could keep them!).

Wednesday, 10th, it was back to Dr. Roberto to finish up my dental work and to have Andy’s teeth cleaned.

Of course, a visit to El Paraiso:

Yummy!

This day it took 2.5 hours to get across!  Still fun talking with the folks along the way.

Thursday, 11th,  was a hang out day - sort of.  Our lot in the Yuma Co-op has beautiful landscaping but a small and "crappy" shed.  We have talked about updating the lot and that is all we did.  But in the last week, there are a number of lots that were relinquished and were up on the bulletin board to check out.  So we spent today checking on those lots.  There is one that we really like so we told the lot transfer committee.  Now all we do is wait.  If no one higher in seniority is interested, we will get the one we want.  Fingers crossed.

Friday, 12th, Sue and I met Peg for Art in the Park in Yuma.  Folks are so creative!  There is a place that teaches silversmithing so that is on our list for next season!  After walking around, we made our way to Lutes Casino for lunch.

Aren't we just the cutest!

After Peg left, Sue and I walked around downtown and then met Andy at the American Vets.

What a great day!

Saturday, 13th, Sue was not feeling well so I went to the Yuma Quilt Show - WOW!  The talent again.  I was able to pick up a few items for my sewing.  Saw a number of kits that I may just have to try.  Next year 😀.

Sunday, 14th, was another hang out day ending with a Happy Hour with Sue, Stan and Beth.

Monday, 15th,  Sue and I were off to a craft fair at Coyote Ranch and a nice lunch at Chretin's Mexican Restaurant.  Great food and Happy Hour Margarita prices all day!   

Andy was not feeling well on Monday and I came down with the bad cold on Tuesday.. Wednesday was the same and Thursday, I finally did get out for some groceries.  Sheesh, I hate being sick.

But the great news is that we got Lot 30, so we will be transferring next week.  Pictures to follow.

Tomorrow, Friday, 19th, we are heading up to Quartzsite for lots of bargain hunting - maybe..  LOL!

Until then, enjoy today.