Thursday, December 1 to Friday, December 9, 2022 (La Posa South LTVA, Quartzsite, AZ)

Well our month in Yuma has come to an end...with big hugs, we said goodbye to Dave and Leslie. So glad you decided to spend the month here with us! We saw lots, did lots and had a ton of fun! We're sure going to miss our happy hour games! Looking forward to the next time we can share Mai Tai's!

We pulled out of Fortuna de Oro RV Resort at about 10:30...
And pulled into La Posa South LTVA at noon...
After purchasing our permit, we proceeded to the water station and filled the tank before heading towards the area we usually camp in.  Bob and Sue, ATV friends from Prince George, BC had suggested a site not far from them which was on the wash but unfortunately, it was just too small and had several ant colonies they hadn't noticed. Thanks anyway! So we left the rig there and decided to go for a walk east, and were surprised to find a site we have camped in many times before, empty...sweet! So I stayed there to hold the spot while Steve walked back to get the rig.

We got the trailer parked where we wanted, unhitched and got started on our set-up routine. By the time the main stuff was done, we were tired and ready to relax! 

Good night from Quartzsite...
Friday (Dec. 2) a beautiful start to the day...
The entire month while in Yuma I had been suffering on and off from sinus issues...I figured it was just the dryness of the desert, and all of the wind and dust. But yesterday and today it was much worse. I was completely stuffed up and had a horrible sinus headache, so I thought I would take a COVID test. Well, I must admit I was surprised at the result...positive! Well, that sucks!

I did what I could to help Steve finish his outside setup. He went up on the roof to clean and tilt the solar panels. While up there he took some pictures.
Looking west...
Looking south. Greg and Debbie will eventually be parked in the upper left...
Looking east...
Looking north at the site Earl and Allison had for years... 
Outside mostly set up...home, sweet home for the next few months!
Greg and Debbie, friends from Logan Lake, BC arrived Friday afternoon. Steve rode my quad out to meet them at the water station but when it was time for him to lead them over to a spot near us, my quad wouldn't start. Dead battery! So he hopped into their truck to direct them to their spot.

After welcoming Debbie and Greg, Steve and I rode his quad over to tow my quad back...guess I'll be getting a new quad battery for my birthday tomorrow! LOL!

Although not feeling terrible (Tylenol/Advil taken regularly helped with the headache and nasal spray worked wonders for my stuffed up nose) I spent my birthday (Saturday, Dec. 3) sitting in my recliner reading and acknowledging all of the wonderful birthday wishes I received on FaceBook, texts and telephone. Bob and Sue had invited us to Silly Al's Pizza for my birthday but it will have to wait until I test negative.

Steve and Greg went into town to RV Lifestyles to get a battery for my quad. They are also a CFMOTO Dealer. On the way back they stopped at the flag shop to get new flags for our ATV whips. Once home Steve installed the battery and my quad fired right up...sweet!

Another beautiful Arizona sunset!
Unfortunately, Steve started not feeling well and after a very rough night Saturday, he took a COVID test Sunday (Dec. 4) morning and it was also positive. I like to share...LOL!

It was a windy day...just can't seem to get away from wind! A dust devil blowing down the road behind our rig...
Another sunset...
Consequently, the rest of the week has pretty much been a blur. Being sick we didn't do all that much other than basic chores around here. We rode the quads over to La Paz Valley to pick up the poop-mobile from storage Monday (Dec. 5) morning. We had been getting a little worried because we hadn't been able to get in touch with the fellow who stores it but he finally called back Sunday afternoon.

Once I tested negative (Tuesday, Dec. 6), Debbie and I went grocery shopping in Parker. While we were gone, Steve pumped and dumped and also put up the Christmas lights outside. 

Wednesday (Dec. 7) morning we had a spectacular sunrise! Last winter we didn't have any spectacular sunrises or sunsets due to the lack of clouds...
It ended up being a down day for Steve...he overdid it yesterday. 

Thursday (Dec. 8) morning the trailer inverter decided to quit working when Steve turned off the power bar to the TV receiver. After reviewing the troubleshooting section of the manual with no success, Steve left a call back number with the manufacturer. Luckily by the end of the day, he got a phone call back from Zantrex who walked him through the settings and discovered two that had mysteriously changed on their own. After correcting those settings the inverter was working again. YAY! 

That afternoon, after not having had a happy hour since we got here, we invited Greg and Debbie over and had a great visit sitting outside. We see them every day but it was so nice to just sit down and catch up! Unfortunately we forgot to get a picture of our very first Q Happy Hour. 

Friday (Dec. 9) morning, Steve tested positive again (he also took a test yesterday). So it was another quiet day for him. He seems to feel better but just doesn't have much energy. We got out for a morning walk and I think that tuckered him out! Sure hope he is all better soon!

Someone had set up a "duck pond" next to the road...too funny!
Since we forgot to take a happy hour picture yesterday, Steve snapped a selfie this morning...
Debbie and I went over to Rainbow Acres to check out the Christmas Boutique Art and Crafts show. We enjoyed wandering up and down the street looking at all the items the crafty folks had produced!

They even had a band playing...
We'll finish this blog update with a picture of our decorations inside...

Love this ornament that Angela and Chris gave us 4 years ago when Isaac was born...
Our very first Christmas decorations...before we expanded our collection. The little tree was given to us by Earl and Allison, and the Santa from Charlene and Dennis...
And a short video of our lights outside...



Wednesday, November 23 to Wednesday, November 30, 2022 (Fortuna de Oro RV Resort, Yuma, AZ)

It's hard to believe but our final week has come! Wow...time has just flown by! It's been fun as we continued to enjoy our time with Dave and Leslie...and we even reconnected with some long time RV friends! 

Wednesday (Nov. 23) we met Bob and Karen at Wheezy's Restaurant and Bar for lunch. We first met them back in 2012 at the RV Dreams Rally held at Harrisburg, Oregon and have taken every opportunity to get together whenever we are in the same area each winter.
We had a great time catching up over a delicious lunch and then afterwards, we went back to their place at Carefree Village Resort, where they are staying for a couple of weeks. 
After continuing our visit, we walked around the resort...great facilities! And we even ran into Darrell and Kelly, friends from BC who had joined us for happy hour last week. Since we have to return to Yuma in March for Steve's dental appointments, we decided to book a week here. So we'll be a few sites down from Darrell and Kelly when we return.

We had such a great visit with Bob and Karen...looking forward to getting together again before we all leave the area!

Thursday (Nov. 24)...Happy Thanksgiving to our American Friends!
After a fairly calm day or 2, we're back to stronger winds today...gusts to 30 mph. It's been very windy here this month...we're hoping it's not going to be that way while in Quartzsite!

We fueled up Buster....$5.10/gallon, picked up a few groceries and spent the rest of the day inside doing odd jobs.

Dave and Leslie decided to celebrate Thanksgiving with Mai Tai's...so we headed next door at 4:00. So delicious, Dave! But very potent, LOL!
After finishing our Mai Tai's, Steve went home to grab a couple of beers for us...meanwhile Leslie and I decided we wanted a "splash" of amaretto over ice. Consequently, I ended up "2-fisting" 😄 Oh dear...but after a couple of drinks, we were home and I was cooking dinner. A great happy hour, inside this time, out of the wind!
Friday (Nov. 25) morning the wind was calm...yay! Steve and Dave are going out on a quad ride so Leslie and I decided to go for a hike. As the guys took off on the quads, we drove the short distance to the base of the mountains and hiked the trail Leslie and Steve had done last week. Thankfully after a couple of days of ice and elevation, my knee was back to normal...and I was able to get out for a hike!

Not the best selfie...but here we are!

What a great hike...I thoroughly enjoyed getting out! Thanks Les! Meanwhile, Steve and Dave are out on their ride...I'll pass it over to Steve...

Today we rode most of the mountain trails north between the resort and highway 95 that takes you to Quartzsite. We came across a desert Inuksuk...
We rode to the base of that distant trail and decided not to proceed as it looked a little iffy half way up...

This trail ended in a dead end. Got to watch those old fire pits when driving in as they are usually full of nails...and they were!
Dave checking out a small cave...
We continued on...




Me in my GoPro bra...thanks for the pic Dave!
We had heard gunfire from the Blaisdell Firing Range. As I rounded the corner I noticed the firing range backstop in the distance. They were shooting in our direction so we quickly turned around!
We came upon our first group of shooters in a different location from the firing range...
It was safer going up beside this rough trail...
Dave taking the same detour...


Down we go!

Final break before heading back... (Dave's photo)
The shooters we passed by earlier in the distance...
We stopped for a quick chat about all the shooters we passed by, four different groups spread out throughout the area. One guy was setting up in our direction below the road we were on which was a little unsettling! We were glad to be out of there...
That was another great day on the trails and we managed to not get shot! 😉 For those interested I made another GoPro photo album. If you click on individual photos any comments will be visible on the bottom left of the photo.

We ended the day with 'Core Crash' and adult beverages...
...and then headed into Dave and Leslie's where Dave made us "Mexican Hats" for dinner. What is that, you ask? Well, it's a slice of bologna topped with a scoop of mashed potatoes, shredded cheese...and baked. Unfortunately, they didn't turn out exactly how Dave had hoped...the bologna is suppose to curl to make a hat brim. I think it is because the slices of bologna are much smaller than 'back in the day' when he used to make them and they are normally done using the broiler!
Served with baked beans and salad...delicious! 😋
Saturday (Nov. 26)...and the wind is calm again! We all headed out for a little shopping...the guys wanted to go to Harbor Freight. Leslie and I went to the Dollar Store next door to take a look.

Lunch was at Lutes Casino...
A spot that Steve loves to go to whenever we are in Yuma...
The mountains are gorgeous as the sun goes down...
Sunday (Nov. 27) afternoon Bob and Karen came over just after 3:00 for happy hour, games and dinner. Steve had raked the "playing field" so that it was all ready for Core Crash...
Bob taking his turn...
and Karen...
Me...
Next up was the game 10,000...you have 8 small bean bags to hit these holes. After each turn, you add up your score and the first one to hit 10,000 exactly, wins. 
We played teams...Steve/Karen, Bob/Leslie and Dave/me. Steve taking his turn...
Bob...
A fun time playing the games, but as the sun went down, it cools off quickly, so we went inside our place. Time to get dinner going anyway!
What a great afternoon and evening! 

Monday (Nov. 28) morning we all piled into Dave and Leslie's truck and made a run to Costco in El Centro...slightly over an hour's drive. Time to stock up before we head to Quartzsite and Dave and Leslie to an RV park outside of Casa Grande.

Tuesday (Nov. 29) afternoon we met Bob and Karen for lunch at Wheezie's again...it was Taco Tuesday and their margaritas were also on special!
We all chowed down on various types of tacos, along with margaritas...well, Dave and Steve had beer instead.

Another great gathering...it has been so nice to spend more time with Bob and Karen during this visit!

Wednesday (Nov. 30)...and our last day here in Yuma! It was a work day as we get ready to leave tomorrow. Leslie and I did laundry while the guys did their thing outside, preparing to leave.

Dave made Mai Tai's for our last happy hour together and after a couple of games of 10,000, we went inside our place for dinner.
We have had an absolute blast the last month with Dave and Leslie! As usual, the time flew by but we did lots and really enjoyed great company!