February 12 to February 17, 2012 - The Steps, Lake Havasu, and Fireworks

This is our site here at the Steps” – John and Geri; Sue and Bruce, Us:

On Friday, Bill and Shelly joined us:

And here we are:

And this is our group – there was almost 100 rigs – :-))):

 

We met Rusty on Day 2.  This is his rig – that he built.  He was a very interesting fellow and camped up the hill from us:

 

 

So many times when we meet people like Rusty, we tend to ignore them and I am just as guilty.  But for some reason, I wanted to hear his story.  He spent 30 years in the service, retired and started walking and camping.  Two years ago he built this because he is having health issues and can no longer sleep in the elements.  And I keep thinking – “There but for the grace of God, go I.”  Later in the week, Andy and I talked with him at his campsite and when we said goodbye, he said “God bless you”.   I wanted to give him a hug.

So while we were here, we did some walking around the hills and washes:

 

  

  

At the top of the hill – Renada, Mike, Geri, John, Sue, Bruce, me, Andy”

The boys did some exploring in the Jeep:

We went to the Lake Havasu Elks once for ribs and the second time for prime rib – YUM!

We also had a great potluck picnic – Ed’s birthday party; and a BBQ at Kathy and Dennis’s house in Lake Havasu (Thanks for having us – :-))

And, of course, the AWESOME fireworks show!

   

And videos – click on the links below:

Fireworks 1

Fireworks 2

We have had a wonderful time at the Steps but alas, it is time to move on.  Tomorrow we head to Parker for a few weeks so stay tuned.

 

 

February 11, 2013 – Travel to “The Steps”

We left the lush farmlands of Yuma:

 

 

Into the rain:

 

For years we have seen this balloon/blimp as we headed to and from Yuma:

I knew it had something to do with Border Patrol but not sure exactly what they did.   Well, I came across an article about them.

“The helium and air filled radar blimp (or Aerostat) is known as Yuma's border-watching “eye in the sky” It is tethered at Yuma Proving Ground and hovers about two miles above ground as it scans the desert for low-flying aircraft that could be bringing illegal drugs into the United States. The Yuma aerostat is one of eight along the southern border of the U.S., with additional crafts in Texas, New Mexico, the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico and, closest by, Fort Huachuca. The system of blimps is known as the Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) program and is owned by the U.S. Air Force.

An aerostat has operated at YPG since 1989. About two dozen people work around the clock at the Yuma site.

The aerostat can detect activity up to about 230 miles away. All radar data is transmitted to a ground station and to the Air-Marine Interdiction Center at March Air Reserve Base in Southern California. A cable keeps the 208-foot-long aerostat tethered to the ground.”

Read more: http://www.yumasun.com/articles/program-84953-aerostat-tars.html#ixzz2Jtfgomig

So now we know what they are – although there is now talk about grounding them because of budget cuts – :-(((.

I see clear skies ahead:

Whenever it rains, the desert starts to turn green – notice the grass – cool:

 

 

As we approached Parker, the topography changes.  From this point north, we followed the Colorado River:

 

 

Awesome, isn’t it!

This is part of Lake Havasu and the Bill Williams Refuge.  In the distance notice the golden color – I call it the wheat river – :-).

We arrived at “The Steps” where we will be for the next week seeing old friends, meeting new ones, going to a birthday party, and seeing the fireworks at the Winter Blast.

We were here last year so I won’t be posting any history.  Here is the link:

http://thehitzels.blogspot.com/2012/02/february-15-2012-travel-to-steps-near.html

Stay tuned for our adventures this week – :-)

Stats:

Miles Traveled: 136 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Arizona: Avenue 8 1/2 E; E County 6th Street; South Laguna Dam Road (Ave 7E); US-95; Stopped at MM 165 - “The Steps”

February 19, 2012 – Windows, Cards, and Winter Blast

 Windows – Foggy – Yuck!

Our Bounder has double pane windows and a number of them have leaked and are dirty.  The critical ones for us are the side ones – driver and passenger – where we need to look out for the side mirrors.  We have checked a number of places and the cost was really high.  So when a note was posted on the Boomer Board about a gentleman who does it reasonably we had to check it out.   Both Mark and Chuck were having their windows done so when Joe showed up to do Mark’s we talked with him and were able to get those two windows done at a great price.  (Thanks Mark and Chuck for finding this guy.)

His name is Joe Colvin – 602-505-3802 - http://www.autoglassboss.com/

Our window is being repaired:

 

Andy supervising – :-)):

This is where I sat while the work was being done:

 

Taking in the view and realizing how blessed we truly are:

Dick doing the same:

   

All done:

 

About 2, a bunch of us met here at the table and Dick taught us to play Anaconda (or Chase the Ace).  We laughed and played and laughed some more – and this great scenery and weather all around us – WOW!

 

And this evening we were off again to the last night of Winter Blast.

This is an anvil and check out the video:

How funny – :-)).

And the last of the videos:

We have had wonderful time here at the Steps  - the fireworks, the birthday party, the weather, but most of all seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Tomorrow we are heading to Emerald Cove for a few weeks so stay tuned.

February 18, 2012 – Ed’s Birthday Party and Winter Blast

Another one of the reasons we are here is for Ed’s Birthday Party.  Meet Ed/Duane:

 

This is funny story.  A few years ago while here at the Steps, Betty wanted to have a surprise party for Duane.  She was having a hard time finding a birthday cake at the local grocery stores.  One store did have a sheet cake however it was for Ed who had died.  They gave it to her for half price and every year since then, the Boomers have been celebrating Ed’s/Duane’s Birthday.  How Funny.  This year’s cake:

Betty and Duane made hotdogs for all and the rest of us supplied the other food – Another great time.

And this evening more AWESOME fireworks:

 

 

 

Enjoy today.