30 January '08

Wednesday

Louise left me yesterday and didn't look back...until she ran out of money at the casino and caught the bus back.  She joined a group from the campground and took a bus tour to the Viejas Casino which is located about 35 miles east of San Diego.  She had a good time but next time she would rather come back with a jackpot or two in her purse.  I stayed back to work on the trim around the floor.  The only thing left now is the stairway and I hope to have that finished tomorrow (Thursday).  This morning we met again with Mark and Susan and spent most of the afternoon at a couple of museums here in Yuma.  The first was the the old Fort Yuma and then we went across the tracks to the old Arizona Territorial Prison.  Both of them were very interesting and a real asset to this area. 

28 January '08

Monday

It's been a little while since we've taken the day and went out into the desert and took a hike.  Louise and I joined up with Mark and Susan and drove out to the Imperial National Wildlife Refuge and hiked the Painted Desert Trail.  Our drive took us right through the middle of the Yuma Proving  Grounds (just about ALL of the military weapons are tested here) and past the beautiful Martinez Lake. 

As we passed the lake we were immediately met with the "stickiest and slickest" red mud I've ever been in.  It was like driving on snow and ice only it didn't melt off of the car.  OK, getting back to our hike...  We walked through rocky washes and over variegated mesas that were left behind by volcanic action many, many years ago.  We were also on the outlook for the desert critters (the rattlers aren't out yet) such as the mountain/desert goats, wild donkeys, coyotes, and lizzards.  Unfortunately all we saw were a couple of lizzards.  We did have a good time, a good hike, and good food (packed by Louise and carried by me).  

With all the recent rain we've had the desert showed a lot of green and will soon show a lot of flowers as well.  Arriving back in Yuma the first stop was diffenately the car wash...unfortunately the $10 wash was worth only a buck.  Most of the mud was still attached to the bottom of the car and the rest of the car was so grimmy looking that we headed over to Mark and Susans place to "re-do" the whole thing.  Hell, I don't think the car wash machine could have possibly gotten that red "mud ???" off. 

Even after the second and third wash of the day it is going to have to be done again tomorrow.

27 January '08

Sunday

We've got rain...  It started last night just before bed time and at 2 in the afternoon it hasn't stopped.  I've been watching the LA TV Network and seeing all the flooding, slides, and snow that they are receiving.  I ask myself, "is that really "The Sunny California" that we've always known to be the sun tan capital????  I know, it's the Global Warming.  Louise is helping that cause right now, she is roasting a turkey for our dinner tonight...mmmm good !!! 

Well the new floor is in and I've just about finished with setting the trim work as well.  Unfortunately I had to "purchase" another tool to set the finish pieces.  I bought a new nailer.  I had to buy this  compressed air nailer so that the nails would penentrate the new flooring and/or the walls.  I tried to use a standard hammer and finish nail but I just couldn't get it to hit pay dirt and hold...Oh well, I've always wanted a "nailer"...  The people at Home Depot and Lowes are getting to know us on a first name basis because of all the visits we've made to their establishments.  Yesterday we met with Louise's brother and his wife (Mark and Susan) and attended the annual "Lettice Festival".  It turned out to be pretty much the standard street market with the addition of "The Largest Salad Bar" in the world.  I don't know about the "Largest", but it was about 20 feet long and in the middle of the street.  We lasted about 2 hours and then the snarling of our tummy's got to us and we had to find the local "Hot Wing Bar"...nothing better than a nice sunny day, hot wings, a cold beer, and eating out on the sidewalk... 

19 January '08

Saturday

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been here and let me tell you, it hasn't been because I've been doing nothing.  After leaving the "Full-Timers" group in the desert we drove back to Ehrenburg to plug-in, dump our tanks, and take on fresh water before heading back to Yuma and our campground at Pilot Knob.  Our plans are to have the floors taken up and replaced with "Purgo" type hardwood floors.  We will be here for a month so that should give us plenty of time to get it done.  We got a call from Bonnie and Doug and found out that they were stopped by heavy snow in Medford Oregon while on their way down to Cabo San Jose.  Two days later we again got a call from them and they wanted to meet us in Brawley Calfornia (just 24 miles north of El Centro) for dinner.  Brawley is about an hours drive from Yuma so we drove over to see them before they crossed the border into Mexico.  Two days after that we got a call from Ralph and Susan Keith (a couple we first met in Cos, Turkey when we were camping there). 

They live just outside of Calgary and were on their  way down to Cabo San Lucas for 3 months.  Again we drove up to El Centro and met with another couple heading across the border.  It had been at least 3 years since we traveled with them and it was really good to see them again.  It was tough letting them head off to Cabo and not tag along...  Well back at "camp" I finally decided to take on the flooring project and do it myself.  Day 1,2,3, and 4 were taken up with pulling up the old carpet and the hard surface.  What I thought would be a moderately easy job turned out to be a huge challenge...it turnsout that the total flooring is laid before any walls or cabinets are installed in the coach.  There-fore I had to chisel all the hard surface material out of every corner, around all the cabinets, shower, and doorways.  Of course not only was it tough to chisel those areas I also had to do the same with the floor that was glued down. 

 Well today is day 5 and I have now laid, glued and screwed the sub-floor and started to lay the new flooring.  We have chosen a hardwood oak flooring (Purgo) to cover from the bedroom to the very front of the coach...no more wall to wall carpeting in the living area for us...  Another couple of days and I will be done.  Louise keeps telling me it would have been much cheaper and quicker if we had "hired" it done....Ya, you think so ????  Oh yes, I forgot, I also refinished the kitchen cabinet doors too...I've been a little busy doing all this but not to busy to pass a few gatherings at one or two of the local "watering" establishments with Mark and Susan or at a few of the neighboring RV's when invited.