DESERT GOLFING

Feb 19, 2017

Another strange thing we saw while geocaching in the desert near Quartzite was desert golfing. We have seen desert golfing before, but the whole area has been cleared of brush and there are  green areas where the holes are. I know nothing about golf, so can't remember the official name of the areas. This golf course wasn't cleared  or smoothed out at all, just scrub brush everywhere. The holes didn't have any green whatsoever.  I'm not a golfer, but it seems like it would be very hard because of all the rough dirt, sand and brush. Wish I had a picture to show you but didn't have my phone with me.  In my blog a few weeks ago, I showed a picture of the courses we are used to seeing. We have never seen one of these courses before. There were 3 people playing. 

I doubt if we will ever go back to Parker again. We have been coming for several years and at one time had lots of friends here. We first came here because a cousin of Denny's wintered here.  Most of the friends and Denny's cousin have all left to go on to different places. It is a great park, but internet is terrible, so it is time to go elsewhere.

HOUSES IN PARKER

Feb 18, 2017

Parker, AZ is just a little town. It only has a Walmart, Safeway and CVS pharmacy for shopping. But, it is on the Colorado river for the big tourist draw. Most people here are boaters or have ATVs to go  offroading into the desert . It is amazing to see so many big houses here. Even with all boaters and ATVs, can't quite see the big draw for all these homes.

 Most of these houses are for vacations and weekends. Not many live here full-time. There are no big  companies and the commute would be too far. The closest town is over 30 miles and that town doesn't have much either. 

All of these pictures were taken from the park we stay at across the river.

We drove into the area to see them up close. Can you imagine living in this house on the edge of the cliff. Looks like an accident waiting to happen.

Offroading with an ATV  in the desert is something else I don't understand. You see people covered from head to toe, with a bandana covering their faces, except for their eyes. They wear goggles to protect their eyes from the dirt and dust.  What is the draw of going into the desert to get o dusty and dirty. 

 We went offroading in a jeep in the Colorado Rockies a few years ago. It was fun, but  very scary. Checked it off our bucket list, even tho it was never really on it. I don't think we even HAVE a bucket list.  No dust or sand to get in the eyes, just beautiful scenery. We were up over 12,000'. Some places were were right on the edge of the road with a 600' drop. We were above the snow line.  I would certainly do that before I would go in the desert. So lucky that Al, our friend who was the driver, is very skilled at this.  I was yelling alot.  Kim and Al are friends we first met in Palm Springs, but visited them in Colorado. They are full timers and offroading is what they do.

The people walking up the hill are Menonites. We were surprised to see them. 

PANNING FOR GOLD

Feb 18, 2018

I haven't posted anything for a long time because out Internet  in Parker was almost nonexistent. I finally gave up trying to do the blog. We are now in Palm Springs, so need to catch up.

While we were in the desert geocaching , near Quartzsite, we came upon some guys panning for gold. There is no water anywhere close, but thousands of years ago, this area was all underwater.  Can't imagine a harder way to make a living, hopefully they were only doing it as a hobby.

The holes you see in the pictures below are where they have been digging with 5 gal buckets. Each picture is a different area where men were working.

There were 5 guys in this group. The man below is sifting the sand to hopefully find gold. Certainly dusty, dirty work.   NOT FOR ME!!!!

IT'S A HEAT WAVE

JAN 31, 2018

We are finally getting some warm weather. The average temperature in Phoenix right now should be 69 degrees. For the past few days, we have had it in the low to mid 80's.  That's almost 20 degrees warmer. It will continue on for several days.  We leave for Parker, AZ this Saturday, where it will also be in the mid 80's. I can finally pack away my sweatshirts.  YAHOO! Since we left, we have had temperatures from 22 to 83 degrees.That is quite a span. 

In a Motorhome 2 sites down, we saw something we have never seen before. A picture of a  man in the window of the door going into the RV. Why would you want a picture in the door? To each their own, I guess.  Even if it was to honor someone that had passed away, it just seems weird to us

When we first started traveling, everytime I saw a beautiful sunrise or sunset, I would run out and take a picture. I have so many of those pictures, I could fill  many albums. Rarely do I do it now, but a couple days ago, I took some. The first is the sunrise, 2nd is the sunset.

RV parks have some strange speed limits. They always have a half speed. This park is 14 1/2 MPH. Another is 9 1/2 MPH. I understand they want you to go slow, but what's with the half MPH. Who can do that? You can go 14 or 15, but not 14.5 or 15.5. Another thing that just seems weird to us.

TRAVELING TWO MONTHS

JAN 20, 2018

As of yesterday, Jan. 20th, we have been gone 2 months. We left Nov 20th.  Doesn't seem like that long, 3.5 months to go. We are at Sunflower RV Resort, our 4th park, in Surprise, AZ.  It is a suburb just NW of Phoenix. 

 We have many family and friends to visit here.  The main thing I have been doing  is geocaching with my friend, Bernie.  He is from Oregon. We first met him in Casa Grande, AZ, then Palm Springs. A few years ago, he started staying here for the winter. He also loves geocaching, he has over 9500.  Denny loves it when I can go with somebody else.  Denny  is not into as much as I am, but, he is very good at finding them.  We also have family on both sides to catch up with. Plus friends that moved from Kirkland to Scottsdale a few months ago.

We came here from Cottonwood. Our site up there was sloped quite a bit. We had to have our back tires off the ground to get the RV level. We have never had the wheels so off the ground. Always seems strange to only see 3 sets of tires on the ground. At times, we have seen 3 out of 4 tires off the ground to get it level. 

Our Internet  is terrible. We bring our own, so we usually have good reception. It was bad in Cottonwood, but, I thought it was because we were up in the mountains. I thought it would be excellent here since we are right next to Phoenix. BUT NO!!  I had planned on doing this blog yesterday at our 2 month point, but couldn't even get on. It has been very sporadic ever since we got here.  So frustrating, when you re paying good money to get it.

SPOOKY CLOSET!

Jan 17, 2018

At home, I went to BattleRope Bootcamp (alot like Crossfit) 3 days a week for 6 months.  I asked the instructor to show me some exercises to do on the road.  I thought he would send me a few, but, oh no. He sent a full 6 week program, everyday being different. Seeing them written down, I can't believe I have dome them all. I brought 10 # dumbbells and 15 and 25# kettlebells.  I started the exercises a few  days ago. For some odd reason, the dumbbells and kettlebells got heavier sitting in my closet. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!!!

My clothes also got smaller in the same place. What is going on in that closet?  Surely it can't be that I haven't done any excise since on the road.  I have been eating more, drinking more and doing no exercise, but there has to be another reason. I have lots of willpower at home, but on the road, it disappears. 

WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT CLOSET!  Seems spooky to me!

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!

Jan 3, 2018

We drove up to Cottonwood, AZ on Dec 30th.  It is in the mountains,  about 100 miles north of Phoenix. The elevation is 4000'. A few days ago we woke up to 22 degrees. Yikes, a tad cold. Thankfully the daytime temps were in the low 60's. The next few days, we had a heat wave of 28 and 29 degrees in the morning. Today, 40.   We have been coming here for several years and  have always been told to let our water drip at night so the pipes don't freeze.  On Dec 31, 2014, we woke up and it was snowing. Snowed all day to a total of 4-5".  Much sooner than in Washington, but not this year. Our house  in Washington got 6" of snow the day before Christmas. We would rather have cold than snow. Of course, this is wonderful weather compared to everywhere else in the States. Glad we are here. 

Dec 31, 2014

On our way here, we saw something that we had never seen before. At rest stops, there are separate areas for trucks/RVs and for cars. For the first time, we saw a disabled parking spot for truckers.  Our truck and RV are to the left. Seems like we are always seeing new things that we had never heard of.

When we are in this park, I feel very close to my parents. They traveled in an RV for 20 years. This is one of the parks they spent alot for time at. Over the years, we have been in alot of the same parks, but this was one of their favorites. The other one  they spent alot of time in is in Palm Springs, also one of our favorite parks.

In a previous post, I talked about recycling in parks. Some do it alot, others not at all. This park recycles everything, but does something I have never heard of. You bag it separately, but put it in the garbage. The recyclers separate it. Usually you put everything in a separate recycling bin. Seems like alot more work for the recyclers.