A closer look at the desert offerings.


Now that the  frenzies of Christmas are over, we turn our attention to the natural beauty that surround us.

Dome Rock  is only a few miles from Quartzsite, so yesterday we jump in our little Tracker and spent most of the afternoon appreciating some of what took nature, most likely thousands of years to create.

A large variety of Cactus, unique vegetation and multiple color rocks and stones can be found here, a real feast for the eyes.So all of this and more await us , this Wednesday we are moving from our present camp site to boon-dock in the desert.

Different kind of Christmas!!!

Back home in the past, Christmas was very much celebrate on our own or with a few intimate friends, out here this year we were part of this new found instant family.

Last Sunday we were serenaded for about half hour by a wagon full off Carolers,  friends of the campsite Manager......afterward some of the guest sipped  hot chocolate while other like us were having a bit stronger beverages, sitting around the fire chatting for a few hours,

Today "Christmas day" afternoon about 25 show up for the  Pot Luck, all kind of glorious and varied foods were presented to the delight off everyone.

Frederick with is "Baby" plate....

Me cutting the pecan pie, no I did not have any!

Following the lunch was the traditional gift exchange ,frederick above and Pat the manager below seem delighted, their big smile tells it all.

All and all it was a great success......Christmas in the Arizona desert is a different kind of Christmas.

Back from Lake Havasu

Back from Lake Havasu  a sprawling city and a beautiful lake, we stay here for one night at a state park camp site.We also visited the famous London Bridge.

 

Here we did our first attempt at boom-docking about 10 miles north of the city, it was great it give us a small preview of what to expect in January once we move to the desert.

We enjoy the experience immensely! The main reason we went to Lake Havasu ,was to purchase this cute little  Geo Tracker,  what a  gem and fun to drive!!! we towed it here behind the Motor Home, it was easier than I thought,  Can't wait to try it in the desert.

To end this post here is a picture of the sun rise this morning!

This and That

In the last few days, not a lot has happened, the weather has been the worst in years, cold, cloudy some rain so we spend more time with our camp site neighbors, but be took our bikes out everyday and explore our surrounding. There are several vendors installed here all ready ,a small sample off what is yet to come.

We also visited the cemetery,Hi Jolly was a hero and well respected here,fascinating how the cemetery is laid out.

We had to take a picture off this unique street name ,to say the least it is original.

At this point we are staying indoor playing card , waiting for sunnier weather to come, soon so we are told.

Back to home port!

Back to Quartzsite from a three day visit to Yuma Arizona,Palm trees and sunset, we were looking to purchase a small car to use while we are visiting Arizona,but it din't pan out but got a nice sunset.

Our next stop was in Los Algodones Mexico, there is the place to shop till you drop and improve your smile along the way.

Bach here at home base our neighbor next door have been busy decorating and getting in the  spirit of the season,as you can see they went all out.Christmas in the warm desert will definitely be a different experience.

There you have it,an other slice of our vacation in sunny Arizona.

Fire in the sky!

Yesterday most of the day,we shop and explore different possibilities  with our friend Denise, lots of fun learning the in and out of life over here......summer in December is a bit like living in reverse.Our evening was grace by the visit of one off our neighbor, a couple from Princeton who know people that we know it is really a small world.

We are getting ready to go to Yuma tomorrow and a short step into Mexico,we are looking forward to this new leg of our journey.Earlier today after our daily bike ride , we were treated to this spectacular Fire in the sky during cocktail hour....what a site,lasted just long enough for me to run and take this photo.Christmas is in the air around here but that is for an other show. Stay tune!

The sun has return!

The sun has return today and with it my smile, meeting with our friend Denise today was the icing on the cake ,she is a pro at this desert living she has been doing this for  five years already,we had dinner  at good pizza restaurant,we did lots off catching up ,we hadn't seen each other for a year an half....it was most pleasant.Yesterday we took our bike for the first time on this trip, we went to town and look at what the few venders had to offer, mostly general merchandise, household items and interesting novelties there is also the Rock and Gem stores, there is only a few open now but come January there will be hundreds of boutique to browse trough.So far we have meet most of our neighbors ,this place is as social as you want it  to be and it suit us just fine. Stay tune....!

Glad to be here!

Traveling on Sunday was an other drama, marred with heavy rain and traffic like I have never seen before, once we recover from getting lost in LA because we took the wrong exit, we only drove a 100 miles and ended up in a Home Depot parking lot, Frederick pleaded with the manager to let us stay the night and was granted the permission, as a rule Home Depot does not allow overnight stay.We arrive here at Quartzsite Monday afternoon,all set up at B-10 Camp Ground, for the next two months.We were greeted by Pat the super friendly camp host so we elected to call it home.We decided the safe comfort of a campsite over dry camping in a field,the monthly rate is very low and suit us fine.Maybe next year we will be more daring.
To be continue...

Just talk to Ron and Pat in Cloverdale, BC.It seem we ran away from home just on time, they have minus 15c and snow on the ground, don't mean to brag but it was 23c here this afternoon in Bakersfield ca, we should be happy that all we had to put up with today was a miner fix on the Fiesta left flasher and torrential rain for about 150 miles....also got to see the devastating drought in southern California there is nothing but dust, it is tragic.
Tomorrow we will be at or near Quartz-site Arizona and be officially Snow Birds.

We stayed in Medford last night and look what we first saw this morning ,We were in aw at the site of this  georgous sun rise We were duped to thing that it would last,10 minutes later the heavy rain started and lasted for most of the day but for a breef moment it was pure joy.Before departing we fiddle around a bit with the whippers and finally  we got on the way.
We made it to Happy Time RV Park in Yolo by mid afternoon, great park all the services for $20.00 what a deal! we stayed here 2 years ago and certainly do  it again in the future.
Tomorrow we of to Bakersfield, we have yet to find a place to stay.....

So we had an other exiting day traveling from Oregon City to Medford Oregon, first was the discovery that someone had syphoned a few gallon of gas while we were sleeping and dispose of our gas cap, got to get a new one tomorrow (one that can be looked) as well as a new set of wipers one of them fell up just as we stop at Pilot, in Grants Pass and during the 300 or so miles we cover today we were in torrential rain, never seen anything like it, be-leave it or not Oregon is greener than BC.....Tomorrow will surely bring more excitement as we head to California....... Earth  quake maybe!

This morning at 9AM sharp we hit the road on the first leg of our trip to Arizona to earn our wings to become once completed officially Snow-Bird.

The Fiesta perform as well as expected I drove the first 3 hours in the morning and after a short break for lunch Frederick drove the rest of the way trough verry heavy traffic due in part to  the American Thanks Giving Holiday tomorrow, it was a hair raising experience especially for us,we have groan acostume to the traffic at home in Hope BC, anyway after a few twist and tun because we had forgotten how to get  to Oregon City we made it.This RV-park is a city park, situated on the south side of the City and has all the facilities for a modest $20.00 a day a real gem, we plan on stoping here again when we return home in march.

Very late but.....

Well were just about ready to go in less than 48 hours, will be on our way, the Fiesta has been prep. and tune, most of our cargo  is loaded "we are good to go". Also hour house has been secure and thanks to Cathy for helping us .We have maps,GPS, trip planner from BCAA health insurance and the concern and apprehension that come with it all. Frederick, my long time  companion and dearest friend has been must helpful.We have to make a quick stop to Bellingham WA.for a few life essential.