May 26, 2013 - Needles for the day

Yep, we finally got out of Arizona. Thought we wouldn’t make it, but we set the alarm for 6:00 and were pulling out of the RV Park at 7:30. That, I must say, is the earliest we have ever gotten started. It is nice to know that we can do it. Just don’t plan on making it the norm. We had about a 4 hour drive to Needles, California with 2 stops on the way. One to get out and walk, the other to have breakfast. It was slightly hazy today but, still in the 90’s. The drive was through the Sonoran Desert with lots of flat land. We had virtually no...

Apr 6, 2013 - Welcome to California...BOOM!!!!!!!

. Well, I have to say that today's travel wasn't in the least boring. Twelve miles into California I noticed a small change in the tire pressure on one of our trailer tires. While I was trying to analyze the information that I was getting from the tire pressure monitors, I got a real bad feeling in the pit of my gut and began to let off the throttle. Just as I did, I heard a big boom, saw pieces of rubber flying to the rear in my side view mirror and got the screaming alarm from our tire pressure system. Fortunately the roadway shoulder...

Mar 9, 2013 - Needles, CA to Rialto, CA

From 3/8/13 thru 3/10/13, Vince and Maryann went from Needles to Rialto following the oldest alignment of Rte. 66. We were very surprised to learn that there are a great number of points of interest/history still in the desert between Needles and San Bernardino that include another Wig Wam Motel (Rialto) and the very first McDonald's in San Bernardino. There's an unofficial McDonald's museum along side a WWII museum at the site of the first McDonald's - well worth a day trip if you live in So Cal. The whole segment is well worth the 2-day...

Mar 2, 2013 - Final visit to Laughlin

We are now into our final week here in Needles. We have booked this site again for next year. This was the first time we have stayed in one place for so long and found it went quickly. The last night here will be March 6th The bikes we brought with us were only out once for a variety of reasons. To much to do here in clubhouse,cool temperatures,the wind, and seeking wider smoother roads to ensure our safety. We returned to Laughlin for the last time tonight to see Gretchen Wilson March 2. She is billed as a country artist but the show was...

Feb 25, 2013 - Winterizing in Reverse

Coming from the north we are used to winterizing our RVs. We had no idea that RVs left here over the summer months have to have the opposite procedure done to protect them from the intense heat and zero humidity. Rubber seals around the unit must have a type of lubricant rubbed on them to prevent them from drying out. Fridges,oven seal, slide out seals and of course covering the tires we already know. Containers of water must be left in the RV to help it moisture the interior protecting the variouis woods and panelling. Applying a type of...

Feb 17, 2013 - Wedding Cake

We just had Valentines dinner at the clubhouse and this parks very first wedding festivities. Denny and Beth, our parks hosts announced last month that were getting married and would share their wedding day with us . Being where we were along the Ca/Az border meant a long 200 mile trip west to get a California marriage licence as there were no facilities locally for such things. That option was not to be in the cards,and we wonder if anyone in Needles Ca. would do this and elect to go to Vegas. The obvious choice was either Las Vegas...

Feb 8, 2013 - Final month here

We have entered our final month being here, and to date have had lots of fun. After 2 months we finally got our bikes out. Found a place near the river and peddled 10 kms return with a storm a brewing and lots of wind. After not riding for the last year Ed welcomed this wind and convinced Marion to turn around and head back to the truck. Ed has already started planning the next places to go after we leave here.Those final 6 weeks will include Desert Hot Springs ,Palm Springs,Yuma, Ajo. and finally Apache Junction before we turn north...

Jan 10, 2013 - Things to do - confirmed

After a rather cold start to this trip our bones are thawing out and we are ready to start doing stuff. Plans are drawn up and tickets have been purchased.We were concerned that staying 3 months in one location would be hard for us as we are wanderers. But it's been a month now with no itch to move. Taking off for Quartzsite on the 17th for a couple of days. This just happens to coincide with the annual RV show. While there we hope to find Wayne & Pauline who we visited with last winter over in the Palm Springs area. We will spend a few...

Jan 1, 2013 - Expectations

December has come and gone with many Bingo and Pokeno games played here. We attended a Pot Luck dinner and some new receipes were gathered for future dinners. And we wrapped up the year at our Resort's Casino night on New years eve. The place was packed again with a fun auction held at the end. A few trips to Laughlin of course with Christmas Day and Dinner at the Tropicana. The 2013 Winter Visitor (Lower Colorado river) guide has just come out and it looks like we will have lots to write about in the coming weeks. Bluegrass Festivals,...

Dec 17, 2012 - Dec 17

We had a great visit with Chuck and Echo who have now left for Mesa.They came in the other day with their own gremlins shutting down the electricity in their RV for no apparent reason. After having a RV Tech check out their trailer wiring they were no better off as he found nothing! So, no repairs until it shuts down permanently. I think almost everyone has had one of these situations pop up in their lives at one time or another ,so frustrating. On Sunday we showed them around Needles then went to Laughlin for the day. Of course we hit a...

Dec 14, 2012 - Dec 14 update

First week back and its like nothing has changed. Some faces missing this winter but that also opens up meeting new faces who have now discovered this place. Marion has already played Texas Hold-um and we attended a pot luck dinner in our clubhouse last night. We are going to get someone to come to the campground to wash our rig because it is so dirty from the long wet trip coming down here. Due to water shortages here we cannot wash the vehicles on site. These guys bring in their own large tank of water to wash your rig and that is OK....

Dec 7, 2012 - Needles - settling in.

Left Bakersfield this morning under cloudy skies with drizzle. As soon as we reached the top of the Tehachapi pass the sun made an appearance. It felt so good after not seeing it since well before we left on Nov 28th. It was along drive today 5 1/2 hrs including our lunch break. Marion drove from the Edwards Air force area to Newberry Springs today,about 2 hrs.This was a good highway for her to get some hands on driving time just in case I cannot for some reason.She had some some 2 lane ,4 lane as well as blending into I-15 from I-40. I...