Short Visit to Old Yuma, Quiet Day, Friends for Happy Hour, Horse Races

Pilot Knob RV Resort, Winterhaven, CA

It wasn’t my plan to be awake from 4:30 to 6 on Tuesday, Feb. 25^th but that is exactly what happened. Bill got up at 6 and then I dropped into a hole of a dream. It was not a fun dream as I was back at work – for a day – before realizing that I wasn’t under any obligation to be there and told my boss that I was leaving and not coming back. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when I woke up!

Good morning!

 Bill and I went for our walk together and were both pleasantly surprised with the mild temperature. It was windy, between 8 – 11 mph, but a nice walk up and down the lanes and around the perimeter of the park. Back home, we each got washed and I had my creamy tea. Some mornings it tastes so much better than others. At 9:30 Ken and Kim drove around and picked us up.

Beautiful bougainvillea in the park

Old Yuma was our destination today for their Tuesday market as we hadn’t been yet this year. I wasn’t that keen on it last winter but was willing to try it again. There weren’t a lot of vendors but still a decent number. They didn’t have covers on their pavilions as the wind is expected to get very high. When one lady said they were all prepared for 35 mph winds, we totally understood why they didn’t have all their wares displayed. That’s too bad for an outdoor market. It took us all of 20 minutes to walk up and back.

Entrance to the closed flea market street

Rather than leaving the area so soon, I suggested that since we were close to City Hall where the City of Yuma (Aeronca Sedan airplane) was on display, they might want to see it. You may be interested to google the story here as we found it quite interesting. We wandered around and took some pictures before taking the drive near the historical Yuma Territorial Prison then over the new Ocean to Ocean Highway bridge for a scenic tour. We wondered ‘where does that road go?’ and were about to find out.

The entrance and lovely courtyards at the City Hall

There is an rv park back in there about 4.5 miles and Paradise Casino which also seems to offer overnight parking. We never knew it was there and now our curiosity is satisfied. From there, Ken got us back onto Hwy 8 to home. It wasn’t a long morning but at least we did what we set out to do and have the rest of the day to relax. Back home, I made us sausages and eggs but really was feeding an appetite that I didn’t have. Some mornings, I'm just not hungry enough to eat much.

Kim pointed out this unusual flowering shrub
Then we learned it is a Baja Fairy Duster from a booklet we picked up

 The winds have already gusted to 24 mph and if things aren’t pegged down, they will be gone. Our Sienna Breeze mat, on the other hand, is one thing that never moves. It seems to stay in place, no matter how strong the winds have gotten. We sure picked the right one 4 years ago. After dishes and some blog catch up, I made my coffee and sat in my recliner. I felt exhausted and I guess that was because of my early awakening. Bill had a nap upstairs and after reading some of my book, a snooze was in order for me too.

Paradise Casino and parking lot

Despite the strong winds, I moved outside to a patio chair and read more of my book. J.A. Jance definitely has my attention with this one and even though the chapters are long, I’m hooked. At 2:30, we started packing drinks for Happy Hour into our cooler. I had enough ingredients to make up one more batch of Beer Margaritas so did that. I poured enough into one of my shaker containers and we pushed into the wind to walk to the Wilson’s.

Happy Hour
Higgins, Jo-Anne, Patsy, Kim, Ken, Doug and Yuma, Bob, Bill's chair

Doug and Yuma joined us from the blm area and then soon after, Bob and Jo-Anne drove in from Westwind RV Park in Yuma. They are enjoying their time there and we are keeping in touch although not together in the same campground. We had a nice catch up visit together. Higgins and Yuma were very good throughout the hour and a half and we wouldn’t expect any less. They are both good dogs. We'd heard from Keith earlier and he is now set up at Emerald Cove RV Park near Parker, AZ.

Higgy enjoying his bed in the semi-shade

 At 4:45 Bill and I got up to head home. We had already agreed to leave a bit early as we were planning ribs for supper. They take some prep time and a decent amount of cook time. I made up the rub and coated both sides before standing the 4 sections on the trivet in Madame IP. Cooking for 20 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot and that is why I did the NR for 20 minutes. Bill lit the Weber to crisp them up after they are done.

Yuma stays close to Daddy

The sun sets, viewed through our door screen

On the stove, I cooked carrots for me and did some mixed veggies for Bill in the microwave. We were eating by 6:15 and the ribs were done perfectly and tasted great! We were stuffed. Bill offered to do the dishes and sent me on my way. Mary and Loyal were hosting Horse Racing, a card and board game. I’d never played before but Mary personally invited me to join the ‘fun’. So, I took the few nickels Bill had saved and away I went for 7 o'clock. 

This was delicious!

Proof of a wonderful rib meal

There were 11 players plus Loyal, who was the jockey moving the horses. The game was explained, the horses in place and soon they were off! It was a fun group, a few I knew from around the park and others were newbies, just like me. Sadly, although I won in the first game, that was it for me. Good thing I had a good time as I walked home with only 25¢. Bill made note never to send me to bet on horses again. Ha ha. Now, I'll have to collect the nickels for next winter.

The group at Horse Racing
Mary in the pink on the left, LaDonna, Loyal, Rod, Charlie

I walked home at 9 and it was a mild night. I’m glad I wore my sweater up though, it wasn’t ‘that’ mild! Bill was watching American Pickers so I sat to work on my blog post. Too tired to post tonight though. This was a pretty low-key day and we still had a great time.

These 3 pictures are from our home spot
The Ridge entrance

A picture from Bill's Hangar facing the Corral

Looking from the point of the Corral up towards our spot
Things to be grateful for - we are not here (yet)
Good night!

Thanks for the pop in.

Slow Start, Sleepyhead, Old Historic Yuma, Lots of Chatter Today

I woke around 6:30 on Tuesday, Feb. 19^th and Bill was already up. I could hear him stirring his coffee so he hadn’t been up long. I remained in bed listening to the dump truck lifting and emptying the bins. If I hadn’t taken my ear plugs out, I likely wouldn’t have heard them. They are just down on the corner so very close. At least our bedroom is at the north end of our site and they are on the south. When I rose at 6:50, I just got dressed and went for my walk.

Good morning, Mr. Moon
(taken on my phone camera)

The weather station was telling us that it was 44F and 0 mph winds. Usually one layer on my arms is enough with my vest but I slipped on my wind breaker as well. My phone said it was more like 38F but no matter, it was a beautiful morning with clear skies and to the west, the gorgeous full moon to say good morning. It was so pretty but our little camera didn’t do it justice.

A pretty colour this morning
(taken on our little Canon power shot)

I walked the front streets of the park and then cut back through to the wash. Looking for a new adventure, I walked on the path on the west side of the sandy wash area. This took me along the base of the backyards of some park model homes. I could tell who really looks after their place from looking at the backyards. Some were set up very nicely for morning or evening sitting, others left to deteriorate.

Walking along the wash towards the south bridge

At one point I had to cross over as the path ended and from there, I walked back towards Frontage Rd. along the front of the two parks. Up the embankment and back into Sundance’s entrance. Oh, first I walked past just so I could take a picture of our units from the road. Returning home, I made my tea and sat with Bill reading blogs. 

Rob knocked on the door and came in with an invite to visit Old Yuma this morning.

This was a nice yard, with prickly pear cacti flourishing
What a nice area to sit and watch the sun come up

This morning's temperature as reported by Mr. Owl

There was no rush as plans were made for 10:30 when all shops would be open and the temperature will have risen a few sunny degrees. We are looking for 60F today and hope the winds remain at bay for some outdoor sitting later. I made us poached eggs on toast and during that process and after dishes we took turns getting cleaned up. Clemson, our little sleepyhead, had a great night. He went to bed with me at 10 and slept in until 9:15!

Bill noticed that the bathroom sink drain was running slow so took the drain plug out for a good cleaning. It is crazy how clogged up with dirt and grime they get. It isn’t even mostly hair, which maybe we would understand. Anyway, it is good to go now for another few months and a small chore out of the way. We’d talked about doing one or two loads of clothing laundry this morning but with this chance to see Old Yuma, the clothes can wait. We’re trying not to build it up for too long this time. Then we’ll just have one small bunch to do before we leave.

On the other side now, closer to the bridges

A neat tree to hide under if you were an animal or as a child

And the sun rises

And I never walk alone

So, at 10:30 we met at Rob’s truck and he drove to Old Yuma. We had forgotten, if I even knew, about the Farmer’s Market on Tuesday. No wonder there were so many vehicles! The main street was blocked off so we walked through the open market and checked out the vendors. Nothing we needed, just nice to look. Bill did eyeball a cool wind vane but it didn’t come back with us.

Old Downtown Yuma
Couple of street walkers on the far side

Oh, that's better! It's just us - the street signs

And there are our buddies too

Perusing a very jammed antique shop, I was intrigued
by this sewing rocking chair with a pull-out drawer under the seat
Cool!

Don't tell anyone, but Rob and I have what you call
a 'rolling pin' relationship

Two buddies by the tree

We walked back to the parking lot and the City Hall. It is also the Parks and Recreation Centre which is the home of the ‘City of Yuma’. The City of Yuma was the plane that put Yuma on the map by setting a record for nonstop hours in the air (according to the history). Military aviation in Yuma ended when WWII did. The local Jaycees wanted to spotlight Yuma’s perfect ‘flying’ weather.

The record of 46+ days, 1,124 hours in the air were made possible by volunteers and the pilot’s wives who passed food and fuel to them from a 1948 speeding convertible. Woody Jongeward and Bob Woodhouse were ex-military who were ‘volunteered’ as the pilots for this endurance test. It now hangs above our heads in Yuma City Hall. Everything is free in the Hall including a video of their very interesting story.

We went from there to see the 79’ Southern Pacific steam engine located near the Hilton Garden Inn at Pivot Point Park. You can read about it on your own at yumamodelrailroaders.org. Bill and I had seen it often from the highway but never up close and personal. I sure wish we could have walked right through, that would be so cool but of course, that wasn’t feasible. Not without full-time security to ensure its preservation.

 We walked around reading all about the Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge that was the first hwy span over the lower Colorado River. I’d be so much happier with myself if I could retain even ¼ of what I read. That is another story you can google here. (www.visityuma.com) From there we drove home and the temperature had done what it was supposed to today. Our station was reading 60F with 6 mph winds. I made us each a coffee and we sat and relaxed for a bit.

I downloaded pictures from the morning and wrote more on my post. Clemson was good while we were gone and didn’t hesitate to tell me it was time for one of our block walks. At 2:30 I invited Pat to join me for a walk to the office for laundry change and to the puzzle room. Clemson is pestering for his supper so I’ll leave with Daddy to take care of that. Can you call it supper at 2:30? At least he settles down after he eats. LOL

There is a peacock puzzle on the go, 1000 pieces. One peacock with its feathers outstretched in true ‘peacock form’ so if you can imagine that, you can imagine how difficult this one will be to work on. There were 3 people working on the 2^nd one and it had the odd ball pieces that are fun. Pat and I sat at the challenging one and wished we brought vodka in our bottles instead of water. Wow! We’d be lucky if found any pieces.

I will be very surprised if this puzzle ever gets completed

 I know she found a few, surprising her, and I didn’t do badly either for every piece looking almost the same. When the other table vacated, we gave our eyes a break and moved to the one with all sandals. It felt so easy peasy to me, not bragging, and we just set a goal to finish it. At 5 we did, yay! and we walked back to our sites to see what the guys were up to. Bill had watched a movie and did some Google research on a few things in my absence.

This is the picture on the box
I like a challenge but this is ridiculous!

We were hungry, a cheese stick for a snack when I got back from the puzzle room settled my grumbling tummy. Tonight, was going to be an experiment with IP. We had a very thick steak in the freezer that I purposely neglected to take out. When we have steak, we like it from a restaurant or a master chef who makes them all the time and has a 95% success rate. When we grill one and it turns out perfect, we rejoice! It doesn’t happen often, no fault of the chef either.

This Flip Flop one was easy - I enjoyed it

I wanted to test the powers of my ‘Magic’ IP. That is what Ken calls them, Magic. 😊 Because it was frozen and not flat on either side, I couldn’t sauté it first so instead I put the trivet in, added a cup of water, onion and then the spiced steak. Testing 1, 2, 3. No idea how long to cook it for so I started with 5 minutes. Centre was still frozen. Then I did 5 more minutes, vented and it was still too red inside. One last period of 3 minutes and it was done nicely.

It didn’t look the way a steak should look so I removed the trivet and juices and sautéed it until a bit brown on both sides. Voila! For our side tonight, I made up some dressing rather than a salad or a vegetable. With steak, we always have a baked spud and mushrooms but it is usually too much food at one sitting. The steak wasn’t ‘perfect’ but we both enjoyed it very much. I ate my whole piece which is a feat in itself. I’d do it again but I’d thaw and then sauté it first next time.

And another pretty truck for sale

After dishes, we watched some of our Tuesday night programs and a recorded one from the previous night. Rob popped over for a discussion about televisions going bad and we called our youngest daughter, Jess, to catch up on her news about her ‘little oven bun’ and work situation. She is doing pretty good, in her last 40 days of pregnancy, keeping an eye on a couple of things. She is doing great on the work front, being offered full-time permanent upon her return to work next March. Yay! Congratulations, Jessica!

Walking this morning, I took this picture of our homes from the road outside the park

I couldn’t keep my eyes open by the time our last program ended and went to bed at 10 with Clemson. Another good day for the books. No complaints here in our world.

Thank you for stopping for a visit today. I enjoy hearing from you if you have time to leave a comment.