29 November ‘06

Welllll, sometimes things just don’t work out too well, and this is one of those times.  We arrived promptly for our warrantee appointment, talked out the problems and what we thought might be the fix, and then left to let them do their work.  This is the day that we set aside to go back to Algadones Mexico and have our teeth cleaned.  We have talked with just about everyone we could find that has had some dental work done there so that gave us enough confidence to go on our own.  We left the motor home at noon, drove to Algadones and walked across the border, found a dentist that was recommended to us and got an immediate appointment.  Now try that at home…  I chose to go in first just in case, but as it was, it turned out to be a good experience for both of us.  Now it was time for the bill….$35 total…not too bad…  Now we have to wait 30 minutes before we can have one of those fabulous lunches we have been hunkering for.  After some “window shopping” for 30 minutes (and not a minute longer), we found our way back to the restaurant that we had enjoyed last time.  Now it’s time to head back and see how the work finished out on the coach. 

27 November ‘06

This has been the longest period of camping without any hook-ups since we started our journey.  So far we have really done well.  Making this a little easier was the purchase of a battery operated lantern that gave us enough light inside the coach when we needed it.  Next, we watched our water usage…water used is also water to one of the waste tanks as well, which means that we have to make a run to the “dump” site a mile away.  We also fired up the generator twice.  Once was to bring the batteries back up to full charge and the other was to watch one of our favorite TV programs (we didn’t want to rough it too much…).  We’ve pretty much made up our mind to have a complete solar system installed prior to going into the Baja.  First we’ve got to get our warrantee work completed, which is set for Tuesday. 

24 November ‘06

Yesterday was a full day of activities…  The hills around us have been calling to us every since we arrived.  So this morning we slipped our hiking shoes on, grabbed the camera and a couple of bottles of water and headed out.  The hills are surrounded by the water that we had been kayaking through for the last 3 days so this is going to give us another prospective.  We both feel really good about hiking, it’s just getting out the door and doing it.  Today the weather couldn’t be more perfect for hiking (or anything else).  Unfortunately we didn’t see any wildlife but the view over the waterways we had paddled through made up for it.  It was like looking down into a giant maze.  Well yesterday also happened to be Thanksgiving Day and we had made reservations for dinner at a private campground across the river.  Louise thought an early dinner would be best, so by 3pm we were sitting down to a nice dinner of turkey, ham, and beef with all the trimmings including pumpkin pie. 

22 November ‘06

Tuesday morning we took the coach into the shop for some warrantee work, but about 2 in the afternoon we found that they couldn’t really do anything until they got “authorization” from Four Winds.  Now we are back out looking for a new campsite that will take us until Tuesday of next week.  After paying the $32 a night at the last campground, I was looking to save some money, so having been told about the Imperial Dam BLM camping we were on our way to see just what this was all about.  BLM (Bureau of Land Management) has quite a number of good campsites all around the country and we have heard nothing but good things about all of them.  This one is located beside the Colorado River and the Imperial Dam.  There are RV’s parked all over this desert area, some in pre-marked camping locations and others are just scattered throughout the desert.  They all have one thing in common…no hook-ups, just “dry camping”.  We can run our generator if necessary and we have enough fresh water to last at least 7 to 10 days.  One of the biggest draws to this site is the water.  We have the most beautiful little bay just outside of our window.  It comes off of the river about a ½ mile away and from that, it flows all around the hills in the area, making up these little lakes.  All of these lakes are tied together by a beautiful waterway through the high grass and reeds.  There isn’t just one waterway, there a many and each one is something special.  We watch the many water birds scurry away as we row close and we watch the larger egret’s fish from the shores.  We’ve also had sightings of 2 large mountain goats, a coyote, and fish in the crystal clear water. Our first afternoon of kayaking, took us to some incredible photo opportunities.  I’m sure we will be on the water more over the next week.  

20 November ‘06

Una Cameron, Dos Pescado Tacos, Una Aqua Frio, Una Coka Diet por favor… Yep, we went into Mexico this afternoon, spent $4.30, and we had the most wonderful tacos… It has been sooo long since we’ve had that perfect taste of the Mexican Taco.  Algodones, Baja California is located just a few miles west, so we decided to go see what we have heard so much about.  It is a charming “South of the Border” village that got it’s recognition for being the “Dental Mecca” for those of us in the U.S. on a budget.  As we approached the border we were directed into a large fenced parking lot.  It is run by the Indian Reservation on this side of the border and makes it easy for those of us that want to walk into Algodones.  It is but a short walk to the center of town.  As soon as you cross the border you are met by young men trying to coax you to their dentist or druggist.  No matter which direction you took into town, you were right at the door of one or the other and this was to continue until there were no more blocks to walk.  Of course the colorful handicrafts of jewelry, pottery, glassware, clothing and more were available from the Mexican artists.  We also found the taco stand which was high on our priority list and after a long day of “shopping”, we found a second place to settle down for a Margarita and a great Mariachi Band.  Our quick visit to Algodones was just about finished, all that was left was a quick walk to the border, cross through the gates, find our car, and head back to the campground.  It was all too short a visit, but on the good side it we will be doing a second and possibly a third before too long.

19 November ‘06

The Imperial Sand Dunes and Felicity, the center of the World, are located just west of Yuma.  Having some time this Sunday, we headed out to see what they are all about.  As we arrived in Felicity, we were taken back as to how sparse this area was, but also fascinating.  It is the “Official center of the World”.  There is this attractive pyramid that you step into and stand on a bronze plaque that marks the precise Center of the World.  Also available at the “Official” location, are the granite walls of the World commemorative Center.  Included among other commemorative, the “Histoire de I’Aeronautique Francaise” (History of French Aviation) which we found very interesting. 

Now we head to the dunes.  As the dunes came into view at Buttercup Valley, so did the motor homes, travel trailers, cars, trucks, and flatbed trailers carrying all modes of 4 wheel off-road vehicles.  The dunes were like looking onto a ski hill, those little specks on the hill running (skiing) from one side to the other and eventually making it to the bottom.  After finding a parking spot in the soft sand (tough to do with everyone roping off these large camping areas for their clubs), we joined the crowd of about 100,000 in the big sandbox.  As we walked the base of the dunes, we were awestruck with the variety of sand machines and those that drove them.  We watched little girls and boys from 3 to teen throwing sand high into the air as they hit the throttle, and then it was the adult that took the big engine sand buggy screaming up the dunes at unbelievable speeds, throwing sand high into the air.  It was like the big unlimited hydros leaving the rooster tail in their wake.  From what I’ve heard, “Duners” are a really big thing for Yuma’s economy spending about $30 million annually in the area…not too bad for the economy here in the desert.

16 November ‘06

Well, I have to “eat my words”… I said Ehrenberg didn’t have anything to offer other than being close to Quartzsite…well I was wrong.  Wednesday I was talking with our neighbor and he told us of this ancient site up in the hills to the north.  In 1931, a local pilot discovered 2 huge figures outstretched across the desert, on the terraces above the Colorado River.  The archaeologists called these figures “geoglyphs”.  After a 12 mile drive out California 95 from Blythe, we came to a dirt road that took us another ½ mile to the first design.  These “designs” are separated by 200 hundred yards from each other.  The first design is a man, 105.6 feet from head to tow.  With his arms outstretched we’re looking at 92 feet…now that is a “man”.  The other figure was “either a lion or a horse”, but the archaeologists just aren’t sure.  Amazing designs and also amazing that they are still here.  They were just made by scraping away the desert gravels or tramped into the desert pavement forming an indented image. 

Blythe Intaglios

16 November ’06 (2)

Continuing on from Blythe Intaglios, we headed back up towards Lake Havasu City.  After our stay at the state campground, we were heading down here to Ehrenberg, when we passed this beautiful spot to put the kayak into.  It would have been great to put in right then, but we thought we had better continue on to Ehrenberg.  Today we decided to go back that 65 miles and enjoy some “water” time.  We put in at the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge which was made by the damming up the Colorado River, and in particular for this refuge, behind Parker Dam.  Not only was the weather perfect, the water like glass, the waterfowl absolutely beautiful, the grasses and the mountains were stunning.  The only negative was that we just didn’t have a whole day to enjoy this special place. 

14 November ‘06

Last Saturday we pulled into Ehrenberg, Arizona for a weeks stay.  A weeks stay in Ehrenberg???, yep, I’m not really sure why, but here we are.  The town made famous by the RV community, Quartzsite is just over 20 miles away, and then Blythe, California is across the river from us.  The river, which runs directly behind our coach, is the Colorado River and then, other than that, there just isn’t much except the fine weather.  When I hooked up the water filter last Saturday, I found that one of the hose attachments was cracked and leaked like crazy.  Then, I found a screw in one of the tires on the Tracker (toad).  Soooo, yesterday we traveled into Quartzsite to see what we could find to fill our needs.  Luckily we found a good deal on a water treatment system, but as far as the tire, it was fixed ok, but as we got onto the freeway I found that the balance of that fixed tire was way out.  Now we will have to make a return trip just to get the tire balanced…damn. 

Today we made the decision to register for the caravan trip leaving from Texas through 7 countries, and onto and through the Panama Canal and back.  We will be leaving the 7th of January 2008 for 78 days…anyone want to join us???   Fact is, I met a couple today from Twisp (Chuck "The Cougar Research Guy" and Kathy Smith) and I’m working on them right now.  Well, we finally got our appointment in Yuma to get some warrentee work done.  Keep your fingers crossed that it wont take too long and that this will take care of our water leaking slide. 

10 November ‘06

Wednesday we said our goodbyes to Herman and Tony and then pulled out of the 49ers encampment heading back to Pahrump.  We had decided to go back there for a night to catch up on some laundry and then move on the next morning.  Thursday we passed through Las Vegas again (and got lost before we got through town) and headed onto Laughlin and Bullhead Az. (across the Colorado River from each other).  After getting the coach all set up in Bullhead, we headed into Laughlin for dinner and a “look see” at the casinos.  Dinner was enjoyed on a deck over looking the Colorado River and the gaming at a few casinos we found along the boardwalk…Finally, I came out $50+ dollars ahead for a change.  Today it was Lake Havasu City, the home of “The London Bridge”.  Our campground is out side of Lake Havasu in a state park  After setting up, we walked down to the lake for a look see, met a couple campers and then drove into Lake Havasu for a close-up of that “Bridge” from England.