091228 - Yuma, Arizona

December 28, 2009
Country Club MHP
Yuma, Arizona

The past 2 weeks in Indio was mostly uneventful with a few memorable experiences. Our new friends from Canada, Alan and Mary, who were Danny’s favorite people in Desert Hot Springs, also stayed at our Indio Park so we had many days together.

My luck at the weekly Poker game was not working, but the next evening at dinner I won the raffle which turned out to be a large gift basket filled with a dozen different beers of the world and a whole lot of munchies like peanuts, chips, jerky and the like.

One of our next door neighbors were not new to RVing but recently became full timers. Larry is a retired school teacher. His wife Chris was partially disabled from many accidents and medical problems but was very positive and surprisingly active. One evening they invited us over for a steak dinner. Unfortunately, the weather had become cold early, and had to move the dinner to inside their fifth wheeler and Danny was too big to fit. I save him a piece.

I have wanted to buy a newer Internet connection card from Sprint because my old card does not fit in my newer laptop. Sprint wanted $200 for the USB device unless I chose to change my contract to a poorer version. My current plan has unlimited data downloads. While browsing EBAY, I found the device for $10.49 Plus $10 postage. I just had Sprint activate it (for free) and it’s working fine.
What a deal.
Again, I shouldn’t complain that the weather in Yuma is actually cooler than it was in Palm Springs after seeing the snow in the rest of the country but it’s all relative.

We traveled the day before Christmas and were worried about being able to shop at Wal-Mart, but with great surprise there was not much of a crowd.
Christmas day here in Yuma the Park had a potluck dinner that we were invited to without having to do any cooking. Danny and I had a delicious dinner with 85 of our newest friends.

Tom and Mary befriended Peter and me on our Mexico caravan 6 years ago and we have maintained contact. They happened to be in Yuma the same week as us.

They picked us up and we went to the movies (Up In The AIR) and then had a casual diner afterwards. We caught up on the basics and discussed what RVers always talk about when they get together. It was a great day.

We will be leaving here on the 31st going a short distance to Winterhaven, California. I don’t know but assume they will have some kind of New Year’s eve party.

Till next time,

091205 - Tammy & Kurt

091205 - La Quinta, CA

Dec 5, 2009
Lake Cahuilla
La Quinta, California

Most of the modern world keeps track of time with clocks and calendars.
For people like us, there are much superior and more reliable methods like the moon and stars, the sun and the seasons.

It is hard to believe that we have been on the road for more than a year already. It seems like Peter and I were just saying goodbye a little while ago and now it is the winter season again and a young new highway guy, Danny, has taken the place of his late predecessor.

With only a few unpleasant incidences and moments of peril, we successfully circumnavigated the western states, visiting old friends, making new ones and seeing some new sights.

The beast and its owner are a little the worse for wear, but maintain a good attitude and with the aid of some good mechanics and doctors, we will continue on our travels.

We recently made a much-needed pit stop for repairs. The engine-overheating problem was accurately diagnosed by Redlands Truck and RV Center as a faulty fan clutch. I didn’t know I had one and now I know they cost $600 to replace. We also had the suspension beefed up with new springs, tires and a much needed alignment. This should keep us safely on the road for a long time.

We had a delicious thanksgiving dinner with 100 of our newest friends in Desert Hot Springs at one of our member RV resorts.
The weather was warm and sunny as we dined around the pool area. Danny was on his best behavior and was rewarded with a bowl full of turkey hand delivered by the cook.

We have some wonderful neighbors who are very helpful and friendly. Some travelers I had met least year at another place have become frequent dog walkers for Danny. My new little blue scooter is working fine and giving Danny some much needed exercise.

A few days ago we had a visit from my nephew Kurt and his fiancée Tammy. The weather was warm and sunny and we spent the day togrther as Danny worked his magic.

Being a former New Yorker, I always feel strange commenting about winter in Southern California. We never worry about blizzards and subzero weather and seeing snow is an option we chose to avoid. For my friends in the northwest, midwest and east coast, I feel your pain. I love to visit your areas, but I am seasonally selective, and winter is the big No-No.

Our plans for the winter usually keep us south of Interstate 10 in the southwestern portions of California and Arizona. Even so, we still have to be alert to weather changes that drop the temperature below freezing some times. Both beasts (big and little) and myself are sensitive to temperatures below 32 and none of us want our pipes to freeze, which can be painful and costly.

As we will be in a sort of partial hibernation for the season, excitement and sightseeing will be at a minimum therefore our travel reports will probably be infrequent and maybe even a bit mundane till spring thaw. I apologize in advance.

We will probably be in or near the following areas in the next few months:
Palm Springs, Yuma, Casa Grande, Tucson, Benson, Green Valley and points in-between. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding these areas, feel free to write to us.