Considering the wind continued to howl all night, we slept fairly well...only being roused occasionally by strong gusts (predicted to be 80-90 kph/50-60 mph) that rocked the trailer. But today, Wednesday (Feb. 22) would be another inside day due to the wind.
Unfortunately, Greg and Debbie's tent didn't fare too well though. They are visiting friends in Mexico for a week so we're all keeping an eye on their trailer for them. Jim had pulled his small motorhome beside it hoping to protect it but it just wasn't enough. Steve had parked our truck beside our trailer for a wind break so we didn't have a view of the tent. Steve went over to check things out and discovered the tent had been taken down, but the tarp was billowing in the wind. He took it down and folded it over everything as best he could. Apparently Dave, parked further behind Jim, noticed the tent was coming apart, so took it down and anchored it down with rocks.
Thursday (Feb. 23) morning started off with a beautiful sunrise...
We were back before the storm hit...lots of rain and wind, but we did get a beautiful rainbow! Thanks for the heads-up, Dave M! (Dave and Leslie's future site)
Friday (Feb. 24) morning the wind was calm and the sun was shining...but this is the calm before the storm, as more wind is coming in later. We managed to get out for a walk which was nice after being stuck inside for so many days.
By mid afternoon most of the clouds that had come in late morning had been blown away, so Steve and I decided to get out for another walk. We headed out into the desert this time, walking about a mile and then turning around.
At 4:00, it was sunny and not too bad wind-wise against our trailer, so we thought we'd give sitting outside a try. Dave and Cheryl joined us for happy hour...so nice to finally sit outside in the sunshine!
Saturday (Feb. 25) morning we had clear blue sky with calm wind. However we knew it wasn't going to last as another wind advisory has been issued...."South winds 15 to 25 with gusts up to 45 mph expected from 11 am this morning to 8 pm this evening".
And they were right in their prediction...by late morning, the wind had really started to pick up!
Dave and Leslie arrived about 1pm...and it was howling out! They had lots of fun setting up in it.
Happy Hour was inside today...unfortunately we can't get everyone in. So much easier when it is nice enough to gather everyone outside. Dave and Leslie brought over the fixin's to make Mai Tai's...
Sunday (Feb. 26) was much nicer, with a breeze but not the winds we had yesterday. We went for a walk out into the desert with Dave and Leslie and then pretty well 'chilled' for the rest of the day until 3:00.
Dave and Leslie have positioned their trailer in a way that provides a big area behind it...hopefully it will work as a wind-break. It worked pretty well as the gang gathered over there for happy hour...and games of "10,000"...new to everyone but Steve and I. Remember...we played it quite a bit during the month of November in Yuma that we spent with Dave and Leslie.
We finished the last game at about 6:00 and everyone headed home. I quickly put together a salad and Steve and I returned for a delicious pasta dinner at Dave and Leslie's...
Monday (Feb. 27) morning we had a cool start to the day but the sky was a bright blue and the sun was shining! We had been watching the weather so we could pick the best day for our beer tasting get-together. We are running out of time, as Harry and Vicki plan on leaving Friday. Although it is supposed to be fairly "breezy" this afternoon, we decided to make today the day.
Steve and I went into town in the morning...Steve needed a haircut, and I went with him to pick up a couple of bags of ice for our cooler, plus a couple of other things. Back home, all the beer was put on ice, so it would be ready for our 3:00 gathering.
Steve parked our truck to help as an extra windbreak since the wind would be mainly coming from the southwest...
It worked pretty well...except we had to move the table where we lined up the empty beer cans/bottles over to behind the trailer as there was still enough of a breeze coming through that the cans kept blowing over.
Leslie...she made her beer selection at Total Wines by the picture on the can, LOL...
Dave M's turn...
Steve with a chocolate ale, a hit!
We moved our circle once as we chased the sunshine, but eventually it disappeared behind the truck, so we brought out Harry's propane firepit...
The 27 empty samples displayed! We started putting them in order of the most liked but quickly got into trouble when there were so many we all liked! The few none of us cared for were delegated to the very back...especially the non alcohol one! 😁
The 27 empty samples displayed! We started putting them in order of the most liked but quickly got into trouble when there were so many we all liked! The few none of us cared for were delegated to the very back...especially the non alcohol one! 😁
Although it was a chilly start to the day, Tuesday (Feb. 28) morning Steve was out just before 7:00 pumping and dumping the holding tanks. He did not want a repeat of last week when it basically took him 3 hours because of the number of people dumping. He was done by 7:45!
For something to do today because again, it was a fairly windy day, Steve suggested to Dave and Leslie that we go to Cibola National Wildlife Refuge. Something new to them.
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge in the floodplain of the lower Colorado River between Arizona and California and surrounded by a fringe of desert ridges and washes. The refuge encompasses both the historic Colorado River channel as well as a channelized portion constructed in the late 1960s. Along with these main waterbodies, several important backwaters are home to many wildlife species that reside in this Yuma Desert portion of the Sonoran Desert. Because of the river's life-sustaining water, wildlife here survive in an environment that reaches 120 °F (49 °C) in the summer and receives an average of only 2 inches (5.1 cm) of rain per year.
Steve here...we started off at the Visitors Center...
There's a nature trail behind the visitor center to a viewing area of the fields below with lots of birds!
This lizard posed long enough beside the trail for a photo...
From the Visitor Center we proceeded to the Auto Tour Road. We stopped at the 1 mile long loop nature trail that leads to the waterfowl viewing area. On our walk in I got a shot of this Turkey Vulture...
Looking to the right of the viewing blind...
On our way back to the truck...
We continued on the Auto Tour and spotted these Sandhill Cranes...
A little further along we spotted a larger flock...
American Kestrel Falcon, the smallest of Falcons
These are the birds we could see from the Visitor Center...
Snow Geese in the foreground...
Sandhill Cranes...
Missing this year were the Burrowing Owls. The roadside has lots of nesting areas built for them but all were empty. Unfortunately all of the birds were a long ways away and this was the best I could do with my Nikon telescoping lens and cropping during photo editing.
Since it was nearby, we wanted to show Dave and Leslie where we camped beside the Colorado River at the Oxbow Recreation Area BLM years ago. Hard to see but there's a small bay along the right shoreline with a small campground. There have been many improvements since we were here last. A lot of the brush has been cleared, washroom buildings added and an improved boat launch...
We were home just before 4:30 and decided to see if we could find a spot behind Dave and Leslie's trailer that was sheltered from the wind. Not a lot of success but it was a little better. So Harry, Vicki, Dave M, Marilyn, Colan, Steve and I joined Dave and Leslie for happy hour. We really wanted to take advantage of being outside today because another storm is coming in tomorrow...including some rain!
Is that beer tasting #7 or 8? I cannot believe that wind! Well we can as we experienced it as well. This has got to be the windiest winter ever.
ReplyDeleteKeep on having fun with Dave, Leslie, Vicki and Harry!
Too many beer tastings to recall over the years. You guys are a good influence and missed at these events. Cheers!
DeleteAre we in J&B old spot? Aren’t we special! Thanks for saving us a great location. So good to be in the quiet but breezy desert with a great bunch of people. We have never done a beer tasting with the originators of the event. Life goal for sure. Lots more fun coming up. Look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteDave & Leslie
Actually you are camped between Earl and Allison’s and Art and Jan’s old sites. J&B we’re in the next one east of you. So glad you guys returned to Q for a final visit.
DeleteThey just built a new Total Wine and more in Surprise. Seems all the other stores have gone dry. Now it makes sense! 😆. You’re sure enjoying your time with friends. These storms have been awful. We head back to even more awful tomorrow back home.
ReplyDelete😳 What are you insinuating? 🤣
DeleteYou guys have certainly had your fair share of ugly weather too while traveling. Safe travels!