2008 Travel - Installment #3

In our travels in the desert, we finally spotted a roadrunner . Also attached are some pictures of others boondocking in the area to show how they add portable structures to their motorhomes giving them more room for entertaining. When most of the activity was finished in Quartzsite you wouldn’t believe the lines of motorhomes at the Pitt Stop (to get propane) and the dump stations (to unload black and grey water and add water) (filling up, emptying and getting ready to head to other destinations).

Our friends from Vancouver, WA (Penny & Arnie) arrived in Quartzsite towards the end of January. After an evening with Butch & Mary and all our Quartzsite friends (picture around Butch’s “water heater fireplace”), we teamed up with Penny & Arnie for a couple of days boondocking near the Mexican border and then on to an RV park – the Pilot Knob – for five days. By February 11th (our 48th day on this year’s excursion), we headed for the desert for boondocking – 4 miles north off Interstate 8 on Sidewinder Road. We met up with new friends Dan & Jeanne, and James & Jan from California.

In Yuma we visited the Yuma Vendors where we always see new things – one of the more ingenious this year was the “perfect pet” – a small dog curled up in a pet bed, looking very real, and even more real when, upon a closer look, we noticed that the dog was breathing – a simple thing to accomplish if you have the right batteries to put in the dog. Another new thing are “nude sandals” – stick on soles – perfect for those who like to go barefoot – not too perfect for walking in sand and gravel – they will come off if they get dirty! (http://www.nudesandals.co.uk/sandals.php) Also, the Nada chair – check it out – it was very comfortable, even though it looks silly http://www.nadachair.com/how_it_works.html

Our Peanut Patch tour picture shows a slab of granite with jalapeno fudge. We were given free samples of natural peanut butter, peanuts, and fudge (http://www.thepeanutpatch.com/).




Tony spotted a tow dolly built to carry a car and an ATV (picture). Who knows, maybe next year we can bring the ATV with us also.








One day we toured the Center of the World – Pictures are of the God’s arm sundial, spot that has been declared the center of world, steps from the Eiffel tower that were obtained when steps had to be replaced, and the pyramid in center of picture was where the center of the world spot was housed (http://deuceofclubs.com/rv/cal203.htm).







Down the road we spotted this sign - end of the world humor due to the Center of the World.







Notice the pool rules at Pilot Knob – guess maybe we were there to lower the average age of the RV park. (http://www.whresorts.com/sunbelt_usa/resort_directory/resort_pages/sw_region/ca_pilot_knob/pilot_knob_sb_1.htm).



Every day we see a lot of buses hauling workers to the fields, followed by a trailer with their porta potties.



On-site, I couldn’t resist this picture of the big and small – Arnie on his ATV and Dan on his ATV (1/2 the size and 1/10 the cost).

We are close to the Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corp Air Station and often watch the helicopters training day and night.









Lack of ability to cut trees down here, in the evening we have a California fire – cardboard pressed log, environmentally safe and each log lasts one hour. So far we have gotten up to a four-log evening.








We visited the Gold Rock Ranch and museum. Picture is of their sheriff’s office (http://www.goldrockranch.us/).

Now, maybe you can tell by this time that Sharon got a new camera – very small, but very powerful.

One evening, our motorhome was rocking – Tony, with flashlight in hand, sprang outside to catch the person big enough to rock a motorhome with the leveling jacks down. The next morning we learned that it was an earthquake – in Tijuana, 250 miles southwest of us, with a reported 5.4 on the Richter scale. As a matter of fact, for the past two weeks, we have felt tremors in various places in and around Yuma and the campsite.

We went out to watch all the kids on the sand dunes during the President's Day three day week-end. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/recreation/ohvs/isdra.html

We took a trip over to El Centro and north into the desert to look at other sites to go to when we leave this desert area. Interesting to be below sea level while driving. The picture shows the sea level on the side of the silo.














Yuma had an air show - this plane was practicing the day before. Clicking on any of the pictures should make them bigger and easier to see what we are talking about.









Finally we found a way to keep in touch better and have internet service wherever we go - this Verizon Wireless AirCard 595U modem is a great way to travel. We sent ourselves emails all the way back to the campsite in the desert, and have since travelled 25 more miles away from anything and still able to get the internet.