Winter in Yuma Arizona - Part 2

Hello again. Our last chapter concluded on Sunday, February 2nd, the big Super Bowl weekend, while we were in Yuma, Arizona. This was just the beginning of our three month stay here. Monday was a stay at home day for me. Jackie and Peggy went out for sushi, which is something I don't really care for much. They also did a little shopping as the sushi place was close to Yuma's shopping mall area. I did a few chores and spent an hour and a half on a conference call with the members of the Executive Board of the Military Veterans Chapter of FMCA. I am the Vice President of the Chapter and members are scattered all over the country so it was an opportunity for the board to talk about some admin issues. After the girls got back we relaxed for the rest of the day.

Tuesday, February 4th, we left the coach about 11:00 and headed back to Algodones, Mexico so I could continue my dental work. We first stopped for lunch at a new restaurant for us, Mariscos El Paisa. Jackie had a shrimp chili relleno that she said was excellent. I had some fish and carne tacos that were as good as those we get at our place in the Foothills. After lunch we went to the dentist. Today was a root canal on one of my bottom teeth. After getting the root canal the tooth was prepared for the new crown and they took a bunch of impressions. They also have to rebuild my lower partial. The place was very crowded, as it always is during the season, so it took forever to get into the chair. We finally got out of the dentist at 6:30. The good news was that nearly everyone had gone home already and there was NO line at all at the border. We walked right up to the building and there were three people in front of us at the door. We finally got back home around 7:00. Peggy, bless her heart, had dinner waiting, a nice meatloaf. We had a great meal, talked for a while, then went back to our coach and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Wednesday, February 5th, happy birthday to ME! Yea, hung on for another year. Although my tooth didn't hurt last night, it did this morning. Around 11:00 we went out for lunch, this time to a place called Wheezy's in the foothills. It is a sports bar and grill. We had been to this building about four years ago when it was a different restaurant, but they had a fire and never reopened. Wheezy's opened in the renovated building last year, but we didn't get around to coming here. Peggy as with us and we met Dick and Millie there as well. The five of us had a great meal. My tooth hurt a bit, so I didn't enjoy lunch as much as I should have, but the food was great. We will come back. After lunch we stopped at Fry's for a few things, then went home. Jackie spent the afternoon making a pot of clam chowder for tomorrow. About 5:00 the three of us drove to Carefree Village RV Resort to visit with our friends Clark and Judi McKay. Clark and Judi are members of what used to be the gang of eight, us, the Babcocks, the Bullocks and the McKays. However with both Vernon Bullock and Ray Babcock passing away last year the group is getting smaller. Peggy is still traveling, but Suzi Babcock is not and is selling their motor home. We had a nice visit with Clark and Judi, whom we had not seen since last winter. About 7:30 we left and went back to our coach, Peggy went home and we watched TV until bedtime. Thursday was pretty much a stay at home day. We and Peggy did have the clam chowder Jackie made yesterday for dinner tonight. It was wonderful and I ate way too much.

Friday, February 7th, our 16th wedding anniversary. We didn't do much during the day, but we did go out for a “date night” wedding anniversary dinner. We went back to Icon's to see how the dinners were. Jackie had the scallops and shrimp served over a bed of sauteed spinach. She said it was very good. I wanted prime rib because several people have told me it was the best. However, they had run out, at 6:00 on a Friday. They also ran out of the salmon dish. Not good planning on their part. I had the rib eye steak, which was good, but not the most tender cut of meat. I am still disappointed in Icon's. They did give us a free desert for our anniversary, a huge cookie with chocolate sauce and ice cream on it. Yum! After dinner we went home and relaxed with the TV until bedtime.

Saturday, February 8th, technically another anniversary for us. It was February 8th, 1998 when I reconnected with Jackie after 22 years. We were up and out of the house about 11:00 and headed over to the Palms RV Resort for the annual Boomer's car show. This is a big car show that we always go to when were are here in February, and they have silent auction items where you buy tickets and put them in the bucket for the item you want. Jackie won something two years in a row a couple years ago, one was a huge booze cart with lots of liquor, the other was a $250 gift certificate to a furniture store. We used it to buy a new side table for the living room of the coach. Last year we didn't win anything, and this year we didn't either. Oh well, the cars were nice to look at and I got a tee shirt. After the car show we went back to the coach and had lunch, then at 3:00 there was a free concert by Kelly Hughes, a well known country entertainer in the Yuma area. They had it on the street at our park, just yards from our coach. It was a great two hour concert and we had a wonderful time. After the concert we went back to our place and I did a lasagna for dinner for us and Peggy. After dinner we watched some TV and went to bed.

Sunday, February 9th, we were up and out of the house, along with Peggy, by 9:00, heading to the west side of Yuma for the annual South West Arizona Geocachers (SWAG) Mega Event. This is a sanctioned geocaching event and is a Mega Event because it draws more than 500 participants. We have only missed one of these in the last eight years or so. Once we got there we met a number of our geocaching friends and spent some time walking around, looking at vendors. I did the poker run, where you go out and find five very easy temporary geocaches and gather five playing cards. I never get good hands. Today was two pair, the best I have ever had, but far to small to win anything. I got the tee shirt for the event and we exchanged some travel bugs. After a couple hours we were ready to leave. We stopped at Da Boyz pizza place downtown, since it was close, and had some pizza for lunch. We then headed back to the RV park and relaxed for a while.

About 5:00 we left and went to Wheezy's bar and grill in the Foothills and met some RVing friends for cocktails and dinner. Mike and Darlene Neighbours and Geoff and Johanna Matthews. Peggy went with us as well. Both couples are full time Rvers, and Mike is the current president of the Full Timers Chapter. Geoff and Johanna were vendors for many years, doing satellite TV. They sold that business and now sell insurance at FMCA rallies. Mike and Darlene also work part time with them on insurance sales. We had a nice dinner and chatted for a while. We saw both couples in early January in Indio at the FMCA rally. After dinner we went home and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Monday, February 10th, we were again up and out early, this time a little after 8:00, heading to Algodones for another day of dental work for me. While I was getting my teeth worked on Jackie went to the eye doctor to have them check her new glasses. She was having trouble seeing with her right eye. Turns out they botched the prescription for that lens, so they took them in to get them right. Jackie also went to another caching event at one of the Algodones restaurants. I had two root canals done, had prep work and temps for five crowns, and had a four tooth bridge that I have had since 1970. We didn't get out until almost 6:00, but like last time that meant that there was no line to get out of Mexico. Between the three hours of heavy rain and the late hour everyone was gone. My mouth hurt so we went home and I just took some pills and relaxed, had some soup and watched TV. Jackie went over and visited with Peggy and Clark and Judi for a while. After She got back we watched TV and went to bed.

Tuesday, February 11th, we had a stay at home day. In the morning we did our laundry at the park's laundromat. About 3:00 or so the Shade Pro guy showed up to install our new blinds in the front of the coach. He got all the windows done, but when he went to install the big shades in the front of the coach he found that they were about an inch too long and wouldn't fit. He said they would remake the shades and he would be back on Friday to put the big shades in. He worked until about 7:00 and after he was done we went over to Peggy's and had some soup for dinner. She made a taco soup that was quite good and easy for me to eat with my compromised mouth. We also invited Ryan, the Shade Pro guy and he came over too. It was nice because these guys live in San Diego and work in Yuma and only get home on the weekends. During the week they all share a house in the Foothills and Ryan was happy to have a home cooked meal. After dinner we went back to our coach, watched some TV and went to bed.

Wednesday, February 12th, we left the coach about 10:00, with Peggy along this time, and drove back to Algodones for what is supposed to be my last appointment with the dentist. We got across the border and I got into the chair around 11:30 or so. Peggy and Jackie went shopping. They got my bridge and crown in and did all the adjustments, then did an epoxy job on one small tooth that needed a small hole filled. After they were done it was great and I was finished! Yea! After the dentist we did a little shopping and then went to have lunch at one of the Mexican places down there. After lunch we got in line to go back to the USA. The line was really long today since it was mid afternoon, but it went fairly fast and in an hour and a half we were back in the states. We went back to the RV park and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Thursday, February 13th, we stayed at home doing chores until about 3:00 when we left, with Peggy along, and drove into the main part of Yuma to meet friends. Regular readers may remember that our good friend Ray Babcock died suddenly about six weeks ago at his home in Menafee, California. We have not seen his wife Suzi since several months before that and she was coming to Yuma for the weekend to see us, Peggy and Clark and Judi McKay. Her daughter Wendy, whom we had never met but heard a lot about, was also coming. They were staying in a hotel near the shopping mall area. Suzi never drove their motor home and had no interest in learning or continuing to RV after Ray's death. We arrived at the hotel and met up with Suzi, Wendy and their two dogs. We sat around the hotel room and talked for a couple hours. Clark and Judi were also there. Around 6:00 we decided to go to the Angry Crab seafood restaurant which was in the hotel. We had been to one of these in the Phoenix area several years ago and it was OK. This one in Yuma was a terrible dining experience. The food was fair at best and the service was horrible. Will never go back to this place. After dinner we went back home to the coach and relaxed for the rest of the night.

Friday, February 14th, Happy Valentine's day and happy birthday to my granddaughter Courtney. We left the coach about 10:30 with Peggy and drove back into Yuma to the Ninja Sushi restaurant, which is right next door to the hotel the Babcock's are staying in. We met Suzi and Wendy there, along with the Clark and Judi and the seven of us went in for lunch. Everyone likes sushi except for me and Clark, so we had teriyaki dishes. We had a great lunch and after lunch we all went to the Arizona Market Place outdoor market to do some shopping. We spent a couple of hours there, bought a few things, and then headed back home. About 3:30 the Shade Pro guy came and installed the large, front shades in the coach. We also had him measure for some additional shades in the bedroom and kitchen. About 5:00 or so Suzi and Wendy came over to visit us for happy hour. The McKay's were not there as they were going to a Valentine's dance at their RV park. After cocktails Peggy served some shrimp Alfredo for the five of us. We visited with the Babcock's until about 7:00 when they went back to the hotel. We watched some TV and then went to bed.

Saturday, February 15th, we went out after lunch to do a Walmart run. About 3:00 I took all the karaoke equipment down to the clubhouse at the park next door, Sunset Palm, to do karaoke. As I mentioned in the last episode, I couldn't get the activities director in our park interested in karaoke, but the one in the neighboring park was delighted to put it on the schedule. It's no big deal because all four of the parks around us are part of the same management group. I got everything set up and started karaoke about 4:00. Our friends Len and Debbie Forrest were there as were Dick and Millie Duffin. At one point we had 13 people in the rotation, plus a couple songs by groups of people. We had a really good turnout and things went pretty well. The karaoke only runs two hours, so at 6:00 everyone left, I packed up the gear and we went home. I was really bushed, so we just relaxed, watched some TV and went to bed.

Sunday, January 16th, we spent the morning doing chores. Around 1:45 we, along with Peggy, drove over to the lot in the Foothills where the Duffin's were parked for another of Millie's “Dilly Muffin” parties. Today was also Millie's birthday. There were quite a few people there, including two other couples we know from Pahrump, Jim and Paulette Woolridge, and Tracy and Julie Filippini. We all sat around and talked, had some snacks and then played some games. The party broke up around 5:00 and we went back to the coach. About 7:00 Jackie and I went to the Day Breakers restaurant for dinner. After dinner we went back to the coach and relaxed with the TV the rest of the evening.

Monday, January 17th, Happy Presidents Day. We had a fairly relaxing day, going out after lunch to Fry's to get some supplies. About 5:00 we had happy hour on the patio since the weather was nice. Clark and Judi drove over and joined us and Peggy and we had a nice time talking. They left around 6:30 and the three of us had some steaks on the BBQ with sweet potatoes and asparagus. After dinner we relaxed with the TV until bedtime. Tuesday we were up early and on the road by 9:00, heading for Algodones again. This time I didn't have anything I had to do there. Peggy had a dental cleaning appointment at 10:00 and Jackie had to pick up her new glasses, which they had to remake because the lab messed up on one of the lenses. We were both finished about the same time, did a little bit of shopping and were headed for the border by 11:00. Since we got in early and were leaving early there was no line and we were out in ten minutes. After we got out we stopped at Sprouts, the local version of a Trader Joe's, for a few things that we have been unable to find in other stores. We then went to El Charro, a local Mexican restaurant that just won the local newspaper's “Best Mexican Food in Yuma” award. We have been there before, but it was several years ago. Other than being very loud because was crowded and small with no sound deadening material inside, we had a great meal. The food was excellent and worthy of the recent award. After lunch we went back to the coach. We had happy hour on the patio with Peggy and then spent the rest of the night in the coach after she left.

Wednesday, February 19th, we went out with Peggy about 11:30 and went to another of our favorite Foothills places, Mr. Fish for fish and chips. We had a great lunch, then ran some errands, including the post office and a couple of RV supply stores. We also managed to pick up one of the few Foothills geocaches that we haven't already gotten. After lunch we relaxed at home for the afternoon. We had happy hour on the patio and then Jackie made fried cabbage and beef for dinner. We had a great dinner with Peggy, then after she left we watched TV until bedtime. Thursday was a stay at home day. We got some chores done and some cleaning. In the afternoon the Shade Pro guy came back and installed the last of the window shades in the coach, the bedroom and kitchen windows. He also did some adjustments on a couple of the others. We had cocktails with Peggy and then we did carne on the BBQ, both chicken and beef. We had a nice dinner and after Peggy left we watched TV until bedtime.

Friday, February 21st, Jackie and I left the coach just before 1:00 and went to get our toes done. I just had a trim, Jackie got a full pedi. After the nail place we went back to the coach and relaxed for a while. Around 3:30 we left again, with Peggy along, and drove to the far East end of the Foothills area to have a happy hour with members of the Overland Trailblazers Chapter of FMCA. We went to Lewie and Carol O'Harra's place where we met up with about a dozen or so members and former members of the chapter. The O'Harra's have one of the big, double RV lots on which they have a park model on one side and usually put their RV on the other side. For the short term, however, one of the OTB members, Russ and Claudia Hill have their RV parked there. We had a good time, some cocktails and light snacks and chatted with everyone until about 6:00 when we went back to our coach. We had cocktails at Peggy's coach and Peggy cooked a tamale pie casserole for dinner. We had a great dinner and by 8:00 we were back in our coach relaxing with the TV until bedtime.

Saturday, February 22nd, Jackie and Peggy went out after lunch to do some shopping. They are in charge of doing table decorations at the Monaco International rally next month in Benson, Arizona. I stayed home and did a few chores. One of the sad things I had to do was transfer all the Babcock's geocaching travel bugs to our account. Ray was the big geocacher and Suzi really has no interest in it now that Ray is gone. After the girls got back home we had happy hour at Peggy's and then had the left over casserole from last night for dinner. Peggy had spiced it up with some green chilies and jalapenos and it was pretty good. We talked for a bit after dinner then went home and spent the remainder of the evening with the TV.

Sunday, February 23rd, we left the coach about 11:30 along with Peggy and drove into Yuma to the Asian Star restaurant. This is one of our favorite Chinese places in Yuma and has also won the “Best in Yuma” survey for Asian food. We had a great meal and then went out and did some geocaching. We had to DNF the first two caches we went to and were getting a little down, but then we were able to get eleven finds in a row, making for a good afternoon. After caching we went back to the coach and relaxed for a while. About 5:00 Clark and Judi drove over for happy hour and we sat out on the patio and talked until about 6:30 when they left. We then did some burgers on the BBQ for the three of us. After Peggy went home we watched some TV and went to bed.

It has now been three weeks again since we published. We have another three weeks or so here in Yuma until we leave to go to the Tucson area for a couple of weeks for rallies. We then return to Yuma for a couple weeks before starting our summer travels for the year. This is a good time to close out this chapter and get it published. Until next time, ponder the words of novelist and futurist Arthur C. Clarke. “I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.” See ya soon.