10-#1 Indio Rally and Quartzsite, AZ 1-1 thru 1-17-2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

For all of you who think we are crazy to be living in a RV and roaming around the country—we still love it!

We started the new year by moving the RV from the Indio Elks lodge at $25.00 a night with full hook-ups, to the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio. We must have traveled three miles! We volunteered again this year to help Dick and Sue Engle with the signs at the WMHA rally. (Western Area FMCA) Irv and Linda were there to help, also. It has been three years since we volunteered at this rally, and we really enjoy working with Dick (who is the captain of sign volunteers), and helping to make and put up signs, (We have to take them down and put them back in storage, too)

Because we go in early to get things ready, we end up with full hook-ups for the entire show. We pay the fee to attend the show, but nothing extra for the hook-ups. A great deal for just volunteering. No wonder they have about 900 volunteers! Everything from parking, security, decorations and vender appreciation dinners. It is quite an operation to put on a rally. There were 1260 coaches signed up to attend and 1250 made it So if there are two people to a coach, that is 2500 people. That doesn’t count the people who park their coaches in parks or at the Elks and just come over for the show. It was a big crowd.

We went to a number of seminars, but mostly just helped with the signs and enjoyed the nightly entertainment. We also did some shopping at the Vendors Tent!

We stayed an extra three nights at the Fairgrounds after the show, for the special rate of $15.00 for full hook-ups. Frank is still having some physical therapy and has started working out at the gym. He is doing so well, and feeling a lot better.

On Wednesday our time at the fairgrounds was up, so we headed to Quartzsite, AZ. We have heard so much about the winter camping in the desert and a group of Elks we belong to were having a pre-rally get together, so we thought we would see what it was like. We have four days before Frank’s next appointment and it’s only about 120 miles east on I-10. Nice to be mobile! Off we go for another adventure.

We got as far as the AZ border and pulled off at the Flying J to fill up with propane and diesel before “boon docking.” Good thing we pulled off. There was a bad accident 5 miles into AZ and traffic was stopped back to where we pulled off. So, we filled up, parked and took a nap! No hurry—we’re retired. By the time we were ready to head down the road the traffic had cleared and we finished driving the 25 miles into Quartzsite.

We had a general idea of where our fellow Elks were parked, but even the GPS wasn’t sure because we didn’t have any street number.

We followed the signs to find our fellow Elks. And this “rock hound” was there to greet us at the driveway. We finally found the campsite and it was really out in the “pucker brush.” Because of the delay on the road we missed happy hour and the auction. Oh well, nothing we really needed.

That’s our group ahead, not a very tight circle of Elks. We parked at the end, hope the Injuns don’t get us. The circle had two rows.

Our closest neighbors circle of RV’s was a little neater. All the RV’s faced in towards the campfire. Look at all the flags flying high in the wind. Can’t miss this campsite.

There were a few “loners” that parked off by themselves. Just them and the Saguaros. Every thing was flat and level. It was graveled, but very dusty. We only had one windy day. The rest of the days were cloudy in the morning and sunny and nice during the day. Sweat shirt in the morning and “T” shirt in afternoon. Campfire after dark!

Above is a “campground” closer to the swap meet. Can you see the circle of RV’s in the middle?

We had heard so much about Quartzsite and the big swap meet from other RVers that we just had to go into town (about 8 miles from where we camped). and check it out for ourselves.

Below is a photo of the roofs of the tents set up for the swap meet. Each vendor has a space and there are rows and rows of vendors. I took this picture as we were crossing on the overpass of I-10. There is a traffic jam each day getting across the bridge.

This is a “town” or 1900 people, (and one motel), whose population swells to over a million during the months of Jan and Feb. Tent businesses spring up everywhere. It is the most amazing thing I’ve seen.

Above, if you look just below the mountains, you can see the roof of the “big tent.” Inside there are more vendors set up. The weekend we were there was the big “RV Show,” with lots of vendors selling things for RVers. The next “Show” is the Rock and Mineral Show and it will highlight things for that venue. The big tent is used all winter for different “shows.” While we were there it was so crowded it was hard to get down the aisles. I’m sure the vendors did very well, as I saw a lot of people carrying out bags. So much for the recession.

All through the area there were lots of dealerships set up to sell. We saw a lot of used vehicles, and new vehicles from previous years that were never sold. It has been rough times for these RV dealers, and they were all about dealing and selling these units.

#165 Christmas and New Year’s 2009

We got right into the Christmas spirit as soon as I arrived home from Oregon. Boy was it nice to get back into just one layer of clothes!!!

The weather was beautiful with clear blue skies, balmy days and chilly nights.

The first thing we did was go to breakfast with the staff at PDCCA (the homeowner’s association). So many new faces, and all had heard about Frank and were happy to meet him or see him again. It was a really nice breakfast and everyone seemed to have a great time. Thanks Phyllis for including us.

Christmas eve was spent at (son) Ray and Nicole’s with Ray’s best friend George and his Dad Big George. Frank and Big George had a great time reminiscing about life in the service.

Nicole served a wonderful Ham Dinner that we all enjoyed and ate too much.

Gidget really got into the spirit of the season, wearing her new Christmas coat.

Later that evening a fat, jolly man came to visit Aubrey and Alex.

Aubrey couldn’t wait to give him a big hug, and some chocolate milk and cookies.

Alex wasn’t too sure about the guy and wouldn’t get very close at all. Only when he was on his Daddy’s lap.

What a great way to start Christmas, with the wonder of the little children!

Christmas Day was spent again at Ray and Nicole’s, with we two women fixing a wonderful turkey with all the fixin’s. Ray came down with a bad cold and missed most of dinner. But, we managed to put a big dent in the turkey without him.

Ray’s oldest son Hallam and him girlfriend Bree, came to visit (and to pick up his home made Almond Roca candy) But, they couldn’t stay for dinner because there were too many other’s that wanted to see them. Lots of family and friends!

We had a hard time getting the kids away from their toys and new pj’s. So many new things to play with and to do.

It was a day filled with phone calls from our families wishing us a Merry Christmas and letting us know we were missed. Likewise to all of them!

The day was beautiful. A little nip in the air, but not too bad. We had a wonderful time!

The next week was filled with family and good times.

Daughter, Renee’, Peter and kids drove down from San Francisco on Monday, to spend three days in the desert visiting with us. We spent the first night at the Living Desert viewing all the Christmas Lights they put on display.

Here are a few of the millions of lights we saw!

The basketball player actually moved from one spot to another and made the basket—cool!

Lauren and Katherine by the big Teddy Bear!

Going through the tunnel of lights actually made the big people dizzy. It felt strange when you looked up. The kids loved it.

Dinner after the lights, at Olive Garden was great. We almost had the room to ourselves and it was a good thing. Dixie got kinda silly after a Margarita and ended up spilling her entire glass of water. Well, she told the waitress not to bring her any water—oops! Above is Katherine, with mom, Renee’ and Grandpa Frank. Then all three kids, Bray, Lauren and Katherine with Grandpa.

The next day—Tuesday, Laurie and Rachel drove over from Lancaster to spend the night. Rachel stayed with us in the RV and Laurie spent the night at her brother, Ray. By this time Ray was over his cold, but Nicole and Alex were sick. So Grandma Dixie picked up Aubrey, who wasn’t sick, and took her for the day so Nicole and Alex could get some much needed rest.

Aunt Laurie read to Aubrey, while Grandma cooked a prime rib dinner for all of us. We weren’t sure how we were going to all eat at once, but as it turned out we ended up being like a cruise ship with an early seating and a late seating. Renee’ and Peter had stopped to visit a friend and didn’t get back to the RV until late. So it all worked out. We were all going to go up to Ray’s, but that changed when we had sick people!

After dinner, Renee’ told us stories and compared work with Laurie.

Ten of us in the RV along with 2 dogs. That’s Molly with her back to us. Gidget is hiding somewhere. We all fit, had a great dinner and wonderful conversation.

Grandma and Grandpa were tired after that day! We had been shopping (girls) and golfing (boys) during the day—except Renee’ and her girls who hung out at poolside at the Westin!

The next day—Wednesday—Laurie, Rachel and Dixie went shopping, again! and then met everyone at California Pizza Kitchen in Palm Springs where we met up with granddaughter Micaela, who is visiting from Hawaii.

Here we are—eating again. Everyone is leaving the desert now, so safe travels.

Katherine says: That’s all folks, Have a Happy New Year!!!

Our last post of 2009!!!