Dec 26, 2005

Routes to Nogales and San Carlos

#1= This is the approx location where we get our visa to visit Mexico and they check our insurance.
#2= San Carlos, about 20 miles North west of Guaymas, staying at Totonaka RV Resort

Hello again, well it was a fantastic Christmas day! We had a great dinner with good friends. There were 5 couples including us. Lots of laugh and good conversation. Christmas morning we went to Ron and Donna's place and had a Scandinavian breakfast consisting of cones, oysters, egg omelet, bacon, sausages and lots of different jams.

Today, I am staying home while the rrest of the crew went golfing. I woke upthismorning with a slight fever and a sore throat. I guess the flue has finally caught up with me. We will do a last wash later, load the clubs and get the 5er ready for the road. Tomorrow we head for our final destination with a stop in Nogales to do a last minute purchase of things we can't buy in Mexico including wine. Also going to pick up vehicle insurance and some pesos.

I am writing this now because we won't get access to the net until we get to Totonaka, San Carlos on the 29th. It will be nice to be stationary formore than a couple weeks. Looking forward to seeing everyone down there.

See you on the road,

DECEMBER 25, 2005

Just a short note to wish everyone a very very MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We are off to friends for a Christmas morning breakfast. Tucker got a new toy from Santa compliments of Bud and Judith.

Dec 18 to 23

An uneventful week it's been. We've been shopping, golfing a couple times and just basically relaxing. Got our mail from home so brought our books and finances to date. We are doing very well in that department although we've blown our budget but not by much.

My golf game has not improved at all. I definitely need some refreshing lessons. We are going out again today. Have not taken any pictures yet as we've been here before and there are lots in our pictures of Mexico 04.

Heard from the Holder's and they are coming back sooner. We are meeting them in Sonoita, Arizona on the 27th and will be crossing on the 29th. Also heard from the kirkby's and they are anxious to see us all. Guess happy hours haven't been loud enough without the group there. Haven't heard from Craig and Cathy lately but I understand they should be there by mid January at the latest.

Dec 15 moving to Phoenix

1= our site in Lake Havasue
2= Nellie Desert Cafe
3= Bud and Judith, south of Phoenix

We had a late start but then we only have 3 hours to drive. After packing and hooking up, we left around 11 a.m., took Hwy 95 to Quartzsite then took I-10. Stopped for lunch and arrived at Bud and Judith around 4 p.m. Sunny and warm. 62 F
Drove 150 miles,
Altitute 1100 feet.
12mpg

Dec 11 to 14, 2005

Temp is 64 F (17 C) and sunny. In Lake Havasue at the Colorado River RV Resort. A nice campsite with trees and about half full. Moved the clock one hour ahead. Went for a drive and visited the London Bridge and the English village. We found a big dog park so took Tucker there and let him loose. It didn't take him long to make new friends. The park was very nice. Trees and big rocks and lots of grass.
From there, we went to Starbuck to bring our blog to date. Watched the final episode of "Survivors" then went to bed.

Monday the 12th, we took a drive to Parker Dam and Nellie Desert Bar. We drove on this gravel road for about 5 miles only to find out that the bar was closed so couldn't see anything. Apparently, this place is only open on week-end. Whished the lady at the tourist centre had said something when we asked about it. Oh well, it was an interesting drive and saw this big wooden cross in the middle of nowhere with a name on it.
Went to the Dam which was interesting but much smaller than Hoover. We were told that this dam is mainly to contain water for Californai, Arizona and Nevada. They pump the water up the mountain approx 900 feet then down canal to different location as far as San Diego. Half the power from the dam is used for the pumps. Amazing! We also saw a couple of small oasis along the river. Very picturesque.
The country side here is very rugged. You would think that the devil himself has let loose. The mountains are very craggy, volcanic with no rythm to them. The rock is black from the volcanic era and very little vegetation. It's really fascinating considering that the Colorado is right there.
Came back home and decided to go see Narnia at the movie theatre. Now Val is eager to read the whole book which she got from the kids

Tuesday the 13th was another sunny and warm day 65 F (17 C) The wind is blowing which makes it a bit cool. We took a ride to the casino on the California side which is located on a Indian Reserve. We had lunch and beer for $1.50 (a glass) The lake was placid so the ride was smooth. We didn't gamble although all the machines were pennies and nickels. Came home to enjoy the sun and watched the last episode of the "Amazing Race"

Wednesday the 14th turned out to be the most interesting of our visit here. We took a drive to Oatman about one hour drive from here and we were rewarded with wild burrows and an old western mining town with gun fighting to boot. Drove on Hwy 95 then took the famous and old route 66. A bit rough but fun to drive with all the curves and dips. We had a good time going in and out of all the neat little shop and even bought a souvenir. Val fed the burrows who kept nudging and following us for food. Every store sold bags of carrots to feed them. It was really neat and we took lots of pictures so make sure you visit our "my picture" link on the right. From here, we drove on route 66 up and over the mountain where we stopped for lunch and saw a wild burrow on top of one of the mountain. On the way down, we saw people mining on the side of the road. Not sure what they were looking for but they were equipped with picks and hammers.
In Kingman, we visited a route 66 museum which was fairly big and very interesting. It was free to boot. See the pictures.
Drove back home and arrived in the dark. Fueled up at $2.34/gal. Tomorrow, we move to Phoenix

Dec 10

Got up at 7 a.m. to another sunny day. It's 57 F today. after loading the rest of our stuff, we left at 10 a.m.. As we were leaving we saw Roy and Linda, whom we had met at Pahrump. Didn't get to talk but did wave to each other. Took Hwy 95 to I-40 then down 95 in Arizona to Lake Havasue. Arrived at 3 p.m. local time. We have moved our clock one hour ahead. It's WARM here 64 F ( 17C) Fueled in Searchlight, Nevada for $2.33/gal. We are camped at Colorado River RV resort for $8./night. Got a hold of Bud and Judith and firmed up our arrival date. Now it's time to explore
Averaged: 14mpg due to tail wind
Altitude: 865 feet

Dec 4 to 9

It's been a while since I wrote. At times it is hard to find a WIFI or a connection that is free. In Vegas, it's impossible. I am writing this from Lake Havasue but let's hear the story first.

Dec 4 saw us leaving Pahrump at 10 a.m. and we arrived in Vegas at 11:30 a.m. A quick trip even though we travelled at 50 mph. It was only 50 miles and we averaged 13mpg. We stayed at the Oasis RV resort for a cost of $10/night with RPI It's a very nice park with trees. Very quiet too and we are only 15 minutes from the "Strip". That night, we went to a local casino for a buffet whcih cost $9.99 each. Saw a huge aquarium with lots of ocean fish and three show girls giving an underwater show. It was an interesting way of starting our week.

Monday the 5th was cold but sunny Only got to 54 F (12 C) We went to see the Strip and left a message at the MGM for our friends Bob and Kitz. MGM was awsome. Big and beautiful Saw two guys in a glass cage playing with 4 lions (young ones) Apparently, they have 13 of them that they rotate on a daily basis. THey also had a huge aquarium with mantarays and other ocean fish. We drove the end of the strip. Coming back to our site, we drove at night which made the strip all the more glamorous.

On tuesday the 6th, we went to the hoover dam via Boulder, Nevada. Paid $7 for the tour which was not worth it. We walked then drove the dam It was really interesting.
Got a call form the Kirkbys. They drove on to Lake Havasue...we were hoping to see them but I guess they are in a rush to get to warmer climate.

On wednesday, we heard from Bob and Kitz and made arrangement to meet for lunch. We went to see MGM again, New York and the Brooklyn Birdge, had a beer and a bite to eat at the Irish pub, then on to Monte Carlo, Belagio with all kinds of X-Mas decorations and a polar bear made of real carnation flowers. From there it was on to the Ceasar Palace and lunch. It was absolutely AWSOME! Teh ceiling was painted blue with clouds and the lighting made it come alive. We even saw the light dim and the moon rise....SEE THE PICTURES, It's worth it. We saw a show with mechanical statues of Neptune and his daughter and son. Fire, steam and the works It was awsome. It's really amazing the amount of money that is involved in these places. I've never seen so much beauty and extravanganza in one place as this. We also saw the Flamingo, Harley cafe, Paris and Val got her picture taken with Elvis. She was all full of joy!!!
Came home tired but happy and full of awsome memories. It really was an incredible day.

Dec 8 we met Bob and Kitz for breakfast and had a wonderful visit. We spent the day together and made promises to see them in Wisconsin next year. we saw the Venetian Casino with them and gondola and Venice in a miniature decor. Absolutely wonderful. We left them around 4 p.m. and we came home to Tucker who was quite content to having stayed home but glad to see back all the same.

Friday the 9th, we stayed around home, caught up with laundry and got ready to leave tomorrow. We mailed X-Mas cards to the family and met some folks from Okanagan (full-timers also) Went to a local pub and that was the day!

Tomorrow, we leave for Lake Havasue.

Dec 1 to 3(Saturday) 2005

Today is a gorgeous sunny day albeit a bit cool but I am sure it will warm up later. We don't have any plans except getting ready to leave for Las Vegas tomorrow. The trees here are just starting to lose their leaves. Most still are green. Quite amazing when I hear of home and all the snow they are getting.

We have met a lot of wonderful people here. We even met old friends such as Rick and Carol from the Shuswap where we live and whom we had met in San Carlos last winter. Others are Stan and Irene in a 5er from Alberta, Don and Shirley in a Pacer motorhome from Michigan, David and Alcea from Wash, also in a 5er, Hubert and Ethel from OK Falls in the Okanagan and full-timing in a 5er, Roy and Linda from Red Deer, Alta.
On Thursday, we went out to the Nugget for dinner with Rick and Carol. A full buffet and drink for $8.99 for both of us. Very windy tonight.

Friday was cloudy and it looked like it was going to rain but didn't. Temp dropped to 60 F ( 15C). Went out to Terrible on the Lake for sinner and had a 12 oz. Prime Rib for $7.99 Worth every penny. That included free beer. Val a T-bone steak and brought the bone home for Tucker (you thought I was going to say "me", didn't you? ). He was in heaven.