Yuma, Arizona 7

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Yuma, Arizona 45 degrees some clouds but changing to overcast during the day and winds picked up in the late afternoon into evening. Temperature went to a cool 65 with the gusty winds.

Ranch Hands at Bob's Rig

Kathy, Bob (sitting) John Bonnie (back) Trudie & Jean
I went into the casino for breakfast after eight this morning and that line that was there for dinner last night was still there, the breakfast line this morning surprised me. Well sometimes it does not take much to surprise me either. After breakfast "The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie) talked Kathy G she was on her way to do laundry.

Mike's Rig & Bob's Rig

After we returned from the Yuma indoor marketplace another "ranch hand" had arrived, Mike & Lamie E had come from Quartzsite. They had moved to another chapter area at the 99 mile marker, La Posa South BLM camping area.

Yuma, Arizona 6

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Yuma, Arizona 45 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 75 mostly sunny, beautiful day.

"The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie) saw another "ranch hand rig" Roy & Kathy G parked two rows over from our parking place at the Paradise Casino. The crew went to the casino for dinner tonight we though we would be there early enough for a short line but no there was a good size line at 4:30 PM. The line was two parts first part to pay second part the food and if that got too long they stopped accepting money. The line to pay never let up while we were there shrinking some ten or twelve people. The meal, Prine Rib, was good food.

Yuma, Arizona 5

Friday, January 28, 2011
Yuma, Arizona 46 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 77 mostly sunny, very nice today.

"The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie) had lunch at the Quechan Casino today. After lunch George and Bonnie went to the super Walmart on the east side of Yuma, the newest and largest in the area. After we arrived back at Buster took it easy Friday afternoon.

Our view out Buster's right side

Yuma, Arizona 5

Thursday, January 27, 2011
Yuma, Arizona 49 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 75 mostly sunny, lower wind. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Arizona Marketplace from the parking lot

"The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie) had breakfast at the Paradise casino today. Later we went to the Arizona Marketplace, (vendor market) east of town.

Arizona Marketplace front row

Yuma, Arizona 4

Wednesday, January 26, 2011
(To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Yuma, Arizona 48 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 73 mostly sunny windy all day.

Buster at Paradise Casino Yuma, AZ

Buster on the right side of the picture. Bob & Jeans coach is in front of Buster.
Late lunch today at Golden Coral for "The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie). Near the end of our lunch another couple from Escapees Benson, Arizona co-op (Jim & Linda) park noticed Trudie and joined our table. We all visited together for another hour. Jim & Linda are from Medford, New York not far from where we lived in Terryville, NY.

Paradise Casino at dusk

Yuma, Arizona 3

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Yuma, Arizona 48 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 74 mostly sunny very nice day.

Buster,  Bob's rig & John's rig

Today it was time for Chinese buffet for lunch for "The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie). From there we were around town checking out some stores.

Yuma, Arizona 2

Monday, January 24, 2011
Yuma, Arizona 52 degrees mostly sunny. Temperature went to 75 mostly sunny very nice day.

Bob & George at Quechan Casino

"The Lakewood Crew", (George & Bonnie, Bob & Jean and John & Trudie) went to the Quechan Casino (The Q) for lunch today the food was just as good as last year not as crowded as the two for one special has ended.

We came back to Buster after lunch and chilled while John & Trudie checked out the Paradise Casino and Bob & Jean did some shopping.

Yuma, Arizona

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 60 degrees mostly sunny to 72 degrees this afternoon in Yuma, Arizona. We had a wind at our back all the way to Yuma. AZ.
I went into Quartzsite to dump our trash and a last pancake breakfast. I also stopped at the Split Rail campground to talk with Lucie B.

Pancake Breakfast

Buster stopped in Quartzsite to relieve himself, fill the water tank and empty the black & gray water tanks. Dry camping in Quartzsite eighteen days this year with 4.6 hours per day average generator use.

US 95 south to Yuma, AZ

As buster arrived in Yuma diesel was filled before going on to the Paradise Indian Casino parking area. John & Trudie and Bob & Jean were already parked here. We had lunch here at Paradise Casino remodeled buffet.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 17

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 43 degrees mostly sunny to 70 degrees, very nice day today.

Bonnie & George went into Quartzsite for pancakes at the RV dealer then to the big tent RV show.

Outside Big Tent

While at the RV dealer having our pancakes Bob & Jean came in then latter John & Trudie came in for pancakes.

Leaving Quartzsite today we stopped in High Jolly BLM camping area and visited with Chuck & Nettie H. who are here from The Ranch in Lakewood, NM for a while.

Our Escapees Elks BoF Rally had 41 rigs and 83 people attending the rally with some rigs pulling out today to attend other group rallies in the area. Happy Hour at Bob & jeans rig today with Spunkie their dog entertaining our group. There also was a campfire at the fire ring tonight
Tomorrow we break camp for Yuma.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 16

Friday, January 21, 2011
Quartzsite, Arizona 43 degrees mostly sunny to 72 degrees, the wind was only a breeze today.

Bonnie & George went into Quartzsite for biscuits and gravy at the RV dealer. After that we went to Tyson Wells vendor area for our last run at them the crowds are up there now. We got in and out early. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Elks BoF at Grubsteak, Quartzsite, AZ

Our Elks BoF had early dinner at the Grubsteak tonight we were the first seating in the out back room.

Elks BoF Quartzsite, AZ

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 15

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 55 degrees mostly sunny to 62 degrees, windy today nice in the sun but the wind tired you out.

I went to breakfast at the RV dealer getting in before the largest crowd in the second hour. Now that the big tent show is only tow days away there are a lot more people in Quartzsite. We have been spending less time there.
Bonnie and I went to the Christian BoF camp area today there was a family group performing there. We saw Hilda C there along with Orville & Marge S. Then back at our Elks BoF we had a pot luck dinner and an auction to raise money fore CARE - continuing assistance fore retired Escapees.

Sunset Plomosa Road BLM Camp

Auctioning off things donated to our Elks BoF the auction raised a total of $ 574.00 at the rally for CARE.

After dark the wind was less and we had a camp fire with about fifteen attendees.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 14

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 47 degrees mostly sunny to 79 degrees another loverly day. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Happy Hour Music

I went to the RV dealer for Breakfast and took Bonnie to a Laundromat to wash our clothes. When I was leaving Bob & Jean and John & Trudie were coming in, I went back and had coffee with them.

John Playing a Game

Sally & Jack  were weekend work campers at The Ranch in 2009 January to May (Jack wearing tan hat)


Sally & Jack P

Latter we went to Scadden Wash BLM camping area to the Escapees happy hour, music fun and announcements. Another nice gathering of Escapee friends.

Bob G (Blue shirt)

Escapee Club members are given a member number when they join the club, all numbers are used only once, and Bob G (The Ranch lease holder) has the lowest number in attendance at the club happy hour.

Roy & Kathy G (Standing)

Roy & Kathy are Ranch lease holders

Full Moonrise Plomosa Road camp

 Latter here at Plomosa Road BLM camping area we has a small happy hour in our Escapees club Elks Birds of a Feather (BoF) Rally area. Over at John & Trudie's rig, Wally & Jo Ann M Lease holders from The Ranch were visiting they are camped down the road with another group.
The Ranch Lakewood New Mexico has a good representation here in Quartzsite, ten "rigs" of one hundred and twenty rigs are here in five different camping areas.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 13

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 55 degrees mostly sunny to 83 degrees, super day today.

Sunrise Plomosa Road BLM Camp

Bonnie an George went to breakfast at the RV dealer together today.

We went to Ehrenberg and got our mail today then to Walmart in Parker.

Our Escapees club Elks Birds of a Feather (BoF) Rally has 34 rigs in attendance now. We had happy hour late afternoon and a campfire at dark.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 12

Monday, January 17, 2011
Quartzsite, Arizona 48 degrees mostly sunny to 80 degrees, very nice day.

I went to breakfast at the RV dealer on the way into Quartzsite i stopped by Lucie B's rig to say hello she is in the Split Rail RV park, full hookups you know no boondocking for her.


Plomosa Road Camping Area

After breakfast I thought I was going for mail even got to the post office, they were closed for MLK holiday well I got Silver Sally some gasoline so it was not a total loss.
There were about twelve rigs that came into the Elks Plomosa Road BLM camping area today and tomorrow is the rally arrival day. There was social hour at Gary H's rig and at dark we had a campfire tonight.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 11

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 46 degrees mostly sunny to 73 degrees, nice day and very low wind.

Buster needed to go to town he was thursty and needed to drain his tanks. We took him late morning and Buster got a drink of water some propane gas and dumped the waist tanks. Then football Seattle at Chicago Bears and New York J E T S at New England.

Sunset Plomosa Road

We had five rigs come in the Plomosa BLM camping area for our Elks Rally group and happy hour at Gary H's Rig today.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 10

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 57 degrees mostly sunny to 77 degrees, nice day. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).




George & Bonnie went to breakfast with Bob & Jean, Mike & Lamie and John & Trudie at the RV dealer. After breakfast John & Trudie stayed in Quartzsite while the rest of us went to the Blyth bluegrass festival at the fairgrounds in Blyth, California.

There were two stages and the groups changed every hour. We need to be carful when going to Blyth at their time is Pacific time zone, an hour slower then Arizona time.

When we got back to Plomosa Road BLM camping area we had happy hour out side Buster until dark with Gary, Bob & Jean, John & Trudie there. Buster had the Baltimore at Pittsburgh playoff game on the TV.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 9

Friday, January 14, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 46 degrees mostly sunny to 69 degrees, nice day. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

George

I went to breakfast this morning and returned to sit outside with Bob. Mike and Lame came over Jean and Bonnie came out of the rigs sitting around enjoying the friendship, after one this afternoon John & Trudie T came from Parker to the Plomosa Road BLM camp.

Bob S & Mike E

Jean S & Lame E

Sunset at Plomosa Road BLM

Then after two we went into Quartzsite for lunch and visit the Too Crazy Ladies and pickup a badge for Bonnie. We walked thru the Tyson Wells vendors' area but nothing stuck to our fingers.
After returning to Plomosa Road BLM camp we had a happy hour at Gary H's rig with five couples.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 8

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 40 degrees mostly sunny to 69 degrees, nice day. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Ultra light & Buster

I went to breakfast this morning and returned to sit outside watching the ultra lights flying around the camp. Later the four of us went to lunch at the RV dealer.

Waiting for Lunch

We looked at RV at three places and toured some vendors.

Bob checking over some books

After all that "work" it was time for dinner. Fish tonight for dinner at the Grubsteak. Great day of good fun with great Escapee friends.

Jean & Bob

Great sunsets here in Arizona, looking west.

Plomosa Road BLM camping area

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 7

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 40 degrees mostly sunny to 64 degrees, nice day.

Bonnie & George went with Bob & Jean to breakfast but on the way in to town stopped at a dog groomer leaving the dog Spunky for a hair cut.

Breakfast at RV Dealer

After breakfast we drove to an antique vendor walking around there for a while before picking up spunky nice and trimmed.

Plomosa Road Sunset

Tonight it was bingo night we had no winners. There was a $999 winner though.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 6

Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Quartzsite, Arizona 40 degrees mostly sunny to 58 degrees with a north wind today as a storm pass thru northern Arizona.

I went to breakfast today by myself and latter we went to Parker for a Walmart fix. This afternoon Gary H came to the Rally area here in the Plomosa BLM camping. Mike & Lame E came over to say Hello. New Ranch Hands from The Ranch Lakewood, NM. We all had a good chat Bob & Jean S and Gary H were there also.

Mike Bob Jean Bonnie (Back) Lame

Garry H Wagon Master for the Rally has the signs out and a fire ring set for the Elks Birds of a Feather Rally Jan 18 - 21, 2011 Here in Plomosa Road BLM camping area three miles east of Az 95 on the north side.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 5

Monday, January 10, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 40 degrees mostly sunny to 63 degrees with a north breeze.

George & Bob went to the pancake breakfast while Bonnie & Jean went to the Laundromat to do wash. After breakfast George & Bob went to check out the tool vendors and stopped by the Laundromat helping to carry out the clothes. We stopped for a propane gas tank to be filled on the way back to Buster.

Today the solar panels were putting electric into the batteries at 14.5 amperes per hour, three panels 7.4 amp per hour rating laying flat on the roof. I have one panel on the left side I can adjust and did that, increasing the amp hours to 20.6 amperes per hour. I used my ladder on Buster's left side after putting the table slide in to reach the panel. Buster is headed east and the raised panel gets a better look ar the southern sky where the sun is located.

We took a ride to Bouse today just to see what is up the road from our camping location. The ride was up thru the Plomosa Mountain range into the next valley about twenty three miles to Bouse. There is not much there, smaller town than Quartzsite. There is more BLM camping areas on the other side of the mountains. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Sunset Plomosa BLM camping

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 4

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 40 degrees mostly sunny to 62 degrees. A little breezy in the afternoon.

Buster in Plomoas Road Camping Area

We went to the RV dealer for pancake breakfast with Bob & Jean after breakfast we looked over some of the motorhomes there. Went to Rice Ranch vendor area walked around that for a while then headed back to Buster, on the way dropped our garbage at the transfer station on the way out of town. The transfer station is open Sunday to Wednesday and there is no problem having out of state plates on the car. They do record plate numbers and ask for an autograph.
Caught the last quarter of the early game Baltimore - Kansas City and Green Bay - Philadelphia outside with Bob. The breeze made it cool sitting there watching the TV.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road 3

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Quartzsite, Arizona 38 degrees mostly sunny to 60 degrees.

We went into Quartzsite for breakfast at an RV dealer, again. Part of the plan is water conservation, less dish washing. The water in Buster will last longer. The tank was filled Wednesday morning before leaving Gila Bend. Also the waist holding tanks were emptied there this leaves more water for our washing and toilet.

Quartzsite Vendor Area North of Kuhn Rd

After breakfast we walked another vendor area in town there are several then went to McDonald's for coffee and a potty break then another vendor in that area. Jean S called and said they were coming down from Parker I gave them directions to Buster's parking spot.

On our return drive to Buster Bob & Jean S were driving into Quartzsite later when they returned I getting my hair cut and watched some of the football game New Orleans against Seattle. Seattle Win.

Camel out front of a store

There is history in the area is of Hi Golly a camel driver of the eighteen hundreds who came to Arizona with camels that the US Army brought to move supplies across the desert. The program did not have the success desired and the camels were just released to fend for them selves.

We all went into Quartzsite for pizza at Silly Al's and the football game was on several TV's there also.
Later back at Buster we watched JETS Colts football game. George and Bob outside while Bonnie and Jean were inside watching Fox. At dark it got too cool for Bob outside and we all retired to our own rigs, good night. JETS Win.

Looking west to Dome Rock Mountains

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road

Friday, January 7, 2011
Quartzsite, Arizona 41 degrees partly sunny to 63 degrees. There were some sprinkles (63 drops over a couple of hours) in the afternoon just broken clouds.  (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (&lt;) on your browser to return to post).

Sunrise Plomosa Road

We went into Quartzsite for breakfast at an RV dealer. You register at the desk and get a name tag then there is a pancake breakfast (2) coffee and juice FREE. From eight to ten. We met a couple from Alberta CA. And shared a table then drove across the highway to a vendor area roaming around there the rest of the morning.
This evening there is a fish fry at the Grubstake Bar & Grill. We ate there way to much food we couldn't finish eating the first serving. Since I started taking a new to me prescription my appetite has slowed down even at the casino yesterday I only had one plate of food for lunch and no dinner.

Quartzsite, AZ - Plomosa Road

Thursday, January 6, 2011
Quartzsite, Arizona 39 degrees mostly sunny to partly sunny and 60 degrees today.

Sunrise Scadden Wash

Buster got "paneled" three solar panels now 405 potential watts (22.2 amps) of 14 volts DC power to charge the five batteries in Buster. (To enlarge pictures; Click on picture to enlarge, click return button (<) on your browser to return to post).

Solar panels right side

Buster was back to Scadden Wash before 11 am. The other ranch hands had left Scadden Wash and went north to Parker, Blue Water Casino 34 miles. We moved Buster to Plomosa Road 14 day BLM free camp area five miles north of Quartzsite. We will be rallying here with the Escapees Elks Birds of a Feather chapter of Escapees, starting on the 18th.

Ranch Hands Rigs

After Buster got to his spot we left him and went to the Blue Water Casino and had lunch with our two ranch hand couples, John & Trudie T and Bob & Jean S. There was poor service in the buffet but the wait staff is tasked to bring drinks to the table. We waited so long for drinks Bob got up and got them for us. Latter the manager came and gave us a complementary meal one for each couple.
We all came out of the casino one at a time I was the first to leave not interested in playing, Bob S was next the Jean S then Trudie T and then John T. We then sat in our chairs in the parking lot by their rigs and had Happy Hour.
Back at Plomosa Road 14 day BLM free camp area we set Buster for the rally and deployed the jacks put out the slide outs and put up the TV antenna and captures this sunset today.

Plomosa Road Sunset

Quartzsite, Arizona

Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gila Bend, Arizona 33 degrees mostly sunny to 60 degrees today. Sunrise in Gila Bend.

Holt's RV Park

Travel day Gila Bend to Quartzsite, Arizona 139 miles for Buster on AZ 85 northbound and interstate 10 westbound 19 miles from California. We went to check on the awning shop and they do not do the work we want.

AZ 85 Northbound

I 10 Westbound into Quartzsite, AZ

So it was off to the solar dealer and we have an appointment for 9 AM tomorrow to add one more panel, Buster will then have three. We were going to stay there on their lot we thought the paper attached to the information page said it was ok to park there. But the staple was thru the NO parking on the lot overnight. We took Buster to Scadden Wash as Buster turned in there we noticed two Ranch hands (Rigs from the SKP Ranch in New Mexico) John & Trudie T and Bob & Jean S.

Buster, John's an Bob's Rigs

What do SKP's do when they meet? They go some place to eat a meal, today a sandwich at Subway.

Sunset in Scadden Wash