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Full-time RV travels in the United States and Canada
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January 1 - 15, 2006 Jan. 1, 2005 - Happy New Year everyone! I hope that this is a very Happy and Prosperous Year for everyone that reads this.
We won't be seeing this sign of Ehrenberg Ghost Town anymore. It is close to being a true ghost town. Very few residence here. There is a post office with none of the long waits that everyone experiences in Quartzsite. It would be worth the short drive to Ehrenberg to avoid the long line ups in Quartzsite. You could drive to the Ehrenberg Post Office and back to Quartzsite and still save time in the busiest part of the winter season there. Besides, it is a nice place to visit for part of an afternoon. Part of the Arizona experience. No tourist trap here, but there is a pioneer cemetery just west of the stop sign when you come off I-10 and go towards Ehrenberg. Turn left at the sign for Colorado River Oasis and the pioneer cemetery and right to go to the Post Office. This is our new lot for the next three days I say lot because it is a big parking lot with hook-ups in-between I-I0 and
the Business loop of I-10 for Quartzsite. It is not a place where we would
like to spend the winter. Not a quiet place for sleeping in-between the
two roads. It is a good spot to experience the true flavor of
Quartzsite. Everything is nearly close enough to walk to. There are
still lots of place that are not open yet, but soon everything will be in full
swing. Actually took some photos,
There are also old buildings that have found modern day use. We went looking for the Bouse Fisherman again. This time we were more successful. We didn't find him on the way to Bouse, but we did find this interesting sign and historical spot for Quinn Cistern. I am sure any source of water was very important. The Quinn Cistern helped many people survive in this arid climate.
We drove on to Bouse and still did not find the fisherman. This was my
last chance and I do not like defeat. We spotted a Library sign and
decided someone inside must know where it is. I parked the car and before
I even reached the library, I spotted a lady that looked like she should know
where the Bouse fisherman is. After a few seconds and several questions we had
a good idea where to finally find him. We had been in the parking area for the fisherman and just hadn't
looked in the right spot. With a quick thank-you we were on our way back
over Quinn Pass. Beautiful scenery. The fisherman isn't far away now We spotted a movement on the hill to the right of our car. It was a big horn sheep.
Can you see him in this photo? He continued to run across the hill, around and up a trail. He popped down over the backside of the hill, we pulled into a parking area and there he was again. He had come back up on top of the hill and was having a good look at us. Can you see him on the path, at the top of the hill? He was leading us right to the Bouse Fisherman.
We can see parts of the fisherman, or we think we can, but that is all. We are still happy we took the time to find him. We have seen lots of beautiful scenery and also the fisherman plaque and the big horn sheep. Finding him was the adventure. Tomorrow, January 4th is moving day. We are going south on SR-95 to Yuma Lakes, in Yuma, AZ for two weeks. We are up early and on our way. Next stop Yuma Lakes. We took a
drive down there last week, so we know where we are going. In less then two hours we were driving through the Yuma
Proving Ground we were passing the entrance with the big
guns. A very sobering site to see those guns. cultivated field
lettuce field
entrance to Yuma Lakes
We have a few things that we want to see over the next two weeks. One of the things we want to do is visit cousins Marlyn and Emer. They are here from Mosart, SK for a few months. We met them last summer when Uncle Joe took us to visit them when we were visiting Uncle Joe Burch in Lumsden, Saskatchewan. Another thing we want to do is go and see Yuma State Prison. Yuma Lakes is a Colorado River Adventures park and part of the Coast to Coast Deluxe membership system. We are here from Jan. 4 to 18th. Yuma Lakes has an active social calendar, with lots to do everyday. Several times a week, in the morning, RV dealers brings units in for display. You can go up, walk through the units and have a free coffee and donut. It is an interesting social gathering. Everyone stands around visiting, discussing the difference in the units and just having a good time chatting, while enjoying the coffee and donuts. There are also dinners, crafts and lots of other things to keep a person busy. We called Marlyn and made arrangements to have lunch with them on Jan. 15th, shortly before we leave this area for our journey east. We will also be going to visit them one day at their park model.
It will be a full day of driving and sight seeing, but we will be seeing lots
of new scenery. The first after starting north on SR-78 is fields of
sheep. The handling of livestock is quite different here. They put a very large number of sheep in a field for a few days then move them to another field. The fields are small, by our standards, and the sheep are rotated between fields often. It works for them, that is what counts. Next came the sand dunes. Entering the dunes we saw numerous businesses all related to making an income from the dunes. There were places to rent four wheelers, maintenance shops, restaurants and other tourist businesses. Many of them were in mobile stores. I don't think many people would want to be here in the summer heat. One thing we find interesting about this park is the BLM
land. It is just outside the entrance to this park. Numerous RV'ers who
have home park memberships with this park, stay in this park for their two weeks
and then stay on the BLM land for a week. They still can use all the
facilities (showers and activities) in this park as part of the membership. Every morning we see a
steady stream of people walking down the driveway with their towels and shower
bags. They are coming from their parking spot on the BLM land to have their
morning shower. They also join all the social activities. The only
difference is they are parked outside the park entrance and they don't have any
hook-ups for the week. It doesn't cost them anything either. Their stay at Yuma Lakes
is also free, because this is their home park, but the rules
say two weeks in, one out, so they go out onto BLM for a week and then
back. Watch for the article that I will be writing about maximizing your
Park Membership A very inexpensive winter with all the
conveniences of home, two out of three weeks. This is a photo of the their
view, while on the BLM This photo is such a contrast. In the foreground you see one of the first RV's, minus its canvas roof and also the dryness of Arizona. Then you see the lake and our modern RV's in the distance. The RV's have none of the modern conveniences of water, electric and sewer but at the same time they are so much more comfortable then their forefathers, because they have all the water holding tanks, solar panels, and generators to keep them comfortable for their out week. This is one of my favorite photos so far this winter. Yuma Lakes has numerous other antique implements to look at. You can see them here. Before we leave this area we want to go to the Yuma Territorial Prison. You can see our photos of our visit here.The 15th of January rolled around quickly. We went to see Marlin and Emer. This is the street that their park model is on.
and this is their park model
For some reason I have a reflection in this photo, but it gives you an idea of their winter home. Very nice. They brought some of their home with them. The rock garden in front has a small grain elevator with the name of their home town in Saskatchewan on it. Really cute. I thought I had a photo of it, but....... Anyway, we went to a real nice buffet then they knew about. It was all great home cooking. I should have wrote the name down. I am going to have to start carrying a notebook with me. I believe it was called Mom's Cooking or something along that line. It was real good. If we ever get back here in Yuma, I know how to find it We had a real nice visit and lunch with Marlyn and Emer. All to soon our pleasant afternoon was gone and it was time to return to Yuma Lakes.
We have been enjoying the antics of a small visitor, or maybe it is several small visitors. Anyway, we enjoy watching their antics. This one gets very aggressive when any of the other ones come to the feeder. He better get his fill in the next couple of days or find a new one place to dine, as his buffet is leaving real soon.
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