Wednesday, November 2 to Tuesday, November 8, 2022 (Fortuna de Oro RV Resort, Yuma, AZ)

Our first week in Yuma has flown by and was filled with both routine chores and lots of fun stuff! It started off with grocery shopping Wednesday. Leslie and I left the guys to do their own thing and headed to Fry's, a great grocery store not too far away. We had as much fun as one can have grocery shopping and also managed to hit Senior's Day, receiving 10% off...bonus! Apparently it is the first Wednesday of every month, so I guess that is the only Senior's Day we'll have here.

Dinner was at our place as I had some spaghetti sauce in the fridge that needed to be eaten. We made it a complete Italian dinner, with Caesar salad and garlic bread...

How's this for a set-up? We spotted it while out for a walk...wow!

Thursday (Nov. 3) was super windy and the start of a couple of cooler days. There is a huge storm system spreading across the whole west coast and we haven't been spared. A couple of cooler days and wind is at least better than the wind and rain they are getting back home!

We thought we'd get out for a drive and see if we could find a park that was sheltered so we could try a walk. But first we went to Arizona Game and Fish to get our non resident OHV stickers for our ATV's. Look at the wind blowing the sand across the street! 

After a little research on the "AllTrails" app, we decided to check out West Wetlands Park ...

The West Wetlands Park is a public park at the northwest edge of Yuma, Arizona. It is located along the Colorado River within the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area. The park opened December, 2002  on 110 acres of city-owned land. It was partially constructed by community volunteers and has been regularly voted Yuma's best park. The West Wetlands Park is currently managed by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Corporation, a non-profit organization, and maintained by the City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department.

We started on a trail that was open to wind and really not that pleasant, but then found one that was closer to the Colorado River and a little more protected...

It wasn't a real long walk, but it was a good start to some exercise and we now know where some good walking/bike riding trails are! 

Of course, it was now time for lunch! Dave and Leslie had never been to Prison Hill Brewing Co. so we headed to the Old Yuma district...

Good beer, good food and great company!

After lunch, we took a walk along Main Street, unfortunately a lot of the businesses have closed.

Friday (Nov. 4) Steve and I got out for an early morning walk and took pictures of the resort. This is the Sports Complex that has lots of Pickle Ball courts...

Tennis courts...

Shuffle Board...

Bocce Ball...

And a huge area for social gatherings...

The Bar and Grill...

And pool and hot tub (where they have daily happy hours with a band)...

A very cool golf cart...

At least the wind had settled down today...still breezy but not as bad as yesterday. So after lunch, we went to Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. We had been there years ago, but Dave and Leslie hadn't. 

The backward sign reads "Territorial Prison 1875"

Display showing the prison as it used to look. Only a third of the prison now remains due to the construction of the bridges and roadways across the Colorado River...

Cells on both sides...

Dave and Leslie...the Dark Room was not a place you wanted to spend in solitary!

Women were also housed here...

The yard...

How about spending time in an outdoor cage in the heat of the day!

We climbed the Guard Tower...

Views from the tower...

They were getting tents set up in front of the entrance for the "Pint Fest" that we missed by a day. 😕

Steve hadn't planned on taking so many pictures but couldn't help himself! To view more in depth pictures of our previous visit click here.

During our walk this morning, Steve and I had noticed a huge number of tables and chairs set up in the parking lot by the North Hall. We found out that Fortuna de Oro was hosting a 'Welcome Back' party this evening. Tickets were free and included an Italian dinner, beer, wine and a band (Moondance). So, of course, we decided to partake! There were apparently over 800 residents at the gathering! It was a chilly evening with the cooler temps but everyone bundled up and had fun.

Lots of folks up dancing...

A nice couple from Cranbrook, BC, joined us at our table. It was great meeting Linda and Pete...and they even knew some mutual friends of both Dave and Leslie back in Alberta as well as friends of ours Dave and Diane Kersey when they had a park model lot in Palm Creek Resort in Casa Grande! Such a small world!

Well, with all of the beer and wine flowing freely last night, it seems some of us were a little slow Saturday (Nov. 5) morning! LOL!

Leslie and I decided it was time to get our laundry done, so we loaded the back seat of the truck and drove over to the laundry room...and spent a fun filled couple of hours! It was back to warmer temps, so it was a hot job getting the bed made up and clothes put away once finished. 

Our steak dinner tonight...

Late Sunday (Nov. 6) morning, Dave asked if we wanted to go to the pickleball courts and try hitting a ball. Steve and I have never really watched people play pickleball let alone played! But sure, we'll give it a try. Dave and Leslie have their own equipment and luckily Fortuna de Oro have paddles you can use...perfect! We had a blast...we really enjoyed it, but once my knee sent a warning signal that it had had enough, we quit. Next time I will wear a knee brace!

That afternoon Steve brought out the Core Crash (Molkky) game and introduced Dave and Leslie to it. As you can see, we are hiding in the shade...yup, the heat has returned!

Heading to a full moon in a couple of days...

Monday (Nov. 7) morning walk. (Steve here)...these folks spent too much time in the sun! 😉

We played more pickleball and it was hot...24C/75F!

...and core crash...

Tomorrow will be a full moon...

and a beautiful sunset...

Tuesday (Nov. 8) morning Steve and I headed off at 11:00 for our dental appointments at Bernal Dental Group in Los Algodones, Mexico.

Crossing over the Colorado River on the way...

We parked the truck in the huge lot ($8/day) and walked across the border, arriving at the dentist office just before our noon appointment. 

The reason we are here today...well, I had the start of an implant (the post inserted) back in January, 2020 and then Covid-19 hit and we hadn't been able to get back down. Yes, we did go to Quartzsite last winter but did not feel comfortable going into Mexico at that time. So today, I had my post prepped for the crown and an impression taken.

Over the last couple of years, Steve has had to have 2 teeth extracted, so he is now getting implants started. He had a 3D x-ray taken today and an exam. Thursday, we both go back...me for the crown and Steve for the post implants.

It was just after 2:00 when we finished at the dentist and we were starving, so we stopped at a taco stand for a couple of shrimp tacos and then headed to the border. 

OMG...were we ever surprised to see such a long line of people waiting to cross! And it's only early November! In the past, we have found that it doesn't get this busy until January. It took us one hour and 15 minutes to get across! That sure puts a damper on going across, especially if you're just wanting to do a little shopping!

While in the line, Steve noticed a fellow in front of us with a "Yuma Howling" t-shirt on. We have heard of the howling but couldn't find any information on it. Tonight is a full moon, so we got all the particulars about what and where it was.

Just before 6:00 we headed out and had no problem finding the spot where it was taking place about 9 minutes away. It was packed! It was hopping with a band playing, a bunch of food trucks and of course, tables where t-shirts, etc. were for sale. We took our chairs and found a good spot and set up...and then I sat while the others walked around checking it all out. 

The band playing and folks dancing...

From the front, looking back...we're sitting way at the back on the right-hand side (no, you can't see us LOL). 

Food trucks were set up at the very back...

For some reason, we were under the impression that there would be a beer garden selling beer, but nope! Steve had packed a few so we had those. 

It wasn't long before the moon started to peek over the mountain...and the howling started! Steve was a little late catching most of the howling as the moon rose but managed a short 12 second video...

As soon as the howling was over, people started packing up and leaving! Well, we certainly got our timing wrong...I guess, it is more a late afternoon thing and people arrive early. This is a monthly celebration of the full moon rising, and apparently many make an afternoon out of the event bringing BBQ's and propane firepits.

We all managed to get something to eat from the food trucks, gobble it down and then we headed home. It was very windy, so not very pleasant anyway! We can at least say we have now been to a Yuma Howling!

And that concludes our first week in Yuma...