12-2 Sundance RV Resort, Yuma, AZ 1-22 thru 3-22-2012

Frank got his birthday present a day before his birthday.  We had tickets to see “The Texas Tenors” at a local RV Park.  Below is Marc singing to a member of the audience.  This was the evening of the 25th.
On Frank’s birthday we hosted happy hour at our RV.  By this time we had moved from our original reserved site because we didn’t fit.  We are now only one row away from the freeway (I-8), and on a space without a tree.  Lots of open space to have the birthday happy hour, but so noisy with the semi-trucks we could hardly talk.  Right now we are not very happy campers, but will try it for a while.
We received a call from Fred Martin and his S.O. Alice, that they were in Yuma for a few days, so we got together a couple of times.  They are parked in their RV at River’s Edge RV Park, which is on the other side of Yuma right along the River.  So we met half way and had dinner at Famous Dave’s BBQ.  It was so nice to meet Alice, she is such a nice lady.  Good for you, Fred.
The next week we anxiously awaited the arrivial of our friend, Linda from Depoe Bay, OR.  She drove her van down with the cat, Duffy.  Duffy is not a good traveler and ended up curled under the driver seat for the four day drive here.  Linda found a pet friendly motel and stayed for 8 days.  Duffy was a little better in the room, but it took a lot to get him to come out from under the seat.
We enjoyed taking Linda to Happy Hour with us as well a a couple of trips into Los Algodones, MX, where we had some dental work done.  And of course did some shopping.

Here we are at the Super Bowl party.  We put our names on the betting board and Frank won the 3rd quarter score numbers.  You Rock!
Here we are on our walk around the park.  The mountains in the background are stunning and all the flowers are in full bloom.  Can’t believe it is the middle of winter and we are running around in shorts and T-shirts.

Everyone is enjoying the visiting and Frank is doing the “roll of the day” where we each put in fifty cents and try to roll the dice and get five of a kind. You only get one try, but some of the combinations will get a small pay-out. Frank rolled a full house and got three dollars! Lots of fun, and most of us are losers.

Ian Snow, after a long day of hiking in the desert is enjoying happy hour his way!
I know Linda had a great time, she even got to dance a couple of days. Once we went to a VFW dinner, and there was live music. She danced until the band went home. Another time we went to a local bar and dance hall and again she danced the night away. I think we have convinced her that the desert is the place to be in the winter. Bye Linda, hope to see you again next year.

Our next set of visitors are Phyllis, from Palm Desert, and friend Millie who is visiting her from New Jersey. 
Another trip to Algodones and then dinner at Cracker Barrel.

The streets of Algodones are lined with dental offices and vendors selling stuff!.  You can buy jewelry, clothes, purses, shoes, metal sculptures, watches, etc.  If you look closely at the first photo, behind the cars you can see some of the booths set up on the sidewalk.  the second picture is only one row of Dental offices.  There are also many places selling eye glasses and now hearing aids.  About on third the cost of USA prices. 
During the winter the little town of Los Algodones fills with US citizens and Canadians.  Getting into the border from the big parking lot located just outside the town, on the American side, is easy.  Getting back into the US can take two hours of standing in line waiting to go through customs.  Each month you are allowed one 750 liter of liquor to be brought across the border, and only 6 months of medicine.  So every one has to go through the customs check point.  We were lucky the day we went, the line was relatively short and we only had to wait about 30 minutes.

#12-1 Indio WMHA rally in Indio

This is an view of the fairgrounds from the air, where all the Motor homes are parked for the rally.  There were 1300 of them.  If you can find the arena on the picture we are parked right across from it on the right.  We have full hook-ups and end up staying about 10 days. That is part of our perks for volunteering.

Here we are working on the signs.  The guys are out hanging them or setting them up where they can be seen.  We have volunteered in the sign shop for about four years.  It is a nice job and enjoy working with the people who run the shop.  Dick and Sue Engle have been the Captains for about 8 years.  I think this is their last year as they have decided to sell their Motor home.
We stayed the extra 3 days after the rally and stocked up on groceries.  We left Indio on Jan 18 and headed to Quartzsite, AZ and dry camped for four days enjoying the shopping and visiting with other Escapee’s at their annual Quartzsite Happy hour.

 

There was entertainment, and dancing and we all lined up our chairs to enjoy the fun.

All the rigs are parked in a big circle and you would swear it looked like a bunch of covered wagons circling to keep out the Indians.  But it just keeps the wind from blowing too bad inside the circle.  Each evening there is a big campfire in the middle. 
This weekend is the “RV Show” in the “big tent” where vendors set up to peddle their wares.  Many Canadian tourist information centers have booths urging us to visit Canada, there are also booths for “work camping” opportunities as well as booths selling items just for RVer’s.  On the first day the big tent is open, which is Saturday, it is so crowded the cars are parked all over the desert.  We were lucky and found a nice parking spot in the “handicapped” parking area, so was level walking for Frank.

Above is a postcard picture aerial view of the “tent” city that sets up during the season.  Only two of the structures in this picture are permanent buildings.  The vendors usually park their rigs behind the tents and sell for a couple of months.  It is amazing what you can find to buy.  Frank bought six sticks to make walking sticks out of.  We also bought little stuff for the Motor home.  Always find something we just can’t live without.  The weather was cooperative and we only had slight wind, cold nights and warm days.  It is very dusty and if the wind kicks up it can be miserable.
We left on Sunday and drove the 70 miles to Sundance RV Resort where we had reservations for the “winter.”

#11-48 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Years 2011 Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Carlsbad, CA

Three granddaughters,  Micaela Martin, Aubrey Martin and Rachel (McBeath) Ivison.  On Christmas eve day.  Breakfast at Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage.

Micaela and half sister Aubrey having a good time together.  Beautiful girls!

Look Grandma and Papa we got a new puppy for Christmas.  We are taking turns holding him. 

We had dinner with Ray, Nicole, her father and his wife and Frank and I on Christmas Day.  The kids were too excited to even eat.  Santa was very good to them this year. 
We left the next to the last day of year 2011, and drove the RV over to Oceanside and spent New Years Day with Diane and her family in Carlsbad.  Renee’, Peter, and family (from San Francisco) were there spending a week going to a California Mission for a project for Katherine (in the pink sweater) and just enjoying visiting with family and friends.  It was a fun day for all of us including Mollie the dog and Misdemeanor the cat.

Mollie wants to know what is going on and when do I get to go for a walk?

Meanwhile Misdemeanor, the cat just sits on the cat condo watching everything.