Monday, January 23, 2006
We (Phil, Joyce, Sharon and I) were rolling toward the Agua Caliente Casino this morning about 8:45 and another fabulous Breakfast Buffet. We had held off for the last 2 weeks because of the increase in price since last year. We were paying $12.84 for two last year and this year it's $17.22. Quite a jump, but the Breakfast is still worth the cost but not as often. This is our last day here for awhile so we had to give it another shot. And we weren't wrong about the quality of the food. By the time we left we were feeling a little fatter to say the least.
On the way home we took a couple of side trips sightseeing. One was in our own park. We wanted to see where the Beaver towing the Hummer, that came in today, finally ended up. We found it in the Upper Campground. Our mission was over and we drifted back home.
Tomorrow would be moving day and I started picking up some of our outside stuff today. I also had to wash the windshield and the front of the motorhome for the trip in the morning. Sharon had decided that the whites in the laundry didn't quite get clean yesterday so she took them over to the campground laundry to do them over.
We were both ready for the pool by the time 2 o'clock came around. We got a chance to say good-bye, for now, to all our friends. We'll be back in just over 4 weeks. We'll spend 5 days 1 mile up the road at Desert Pools and then we'll be back at Catalina Spa for 2 weeks.
We weren't ready for supper tonight so Sharon made up a batch of Chocolate Chip Cookies that we munched on. "24" was on tonight so we weren't planning on getting together with anyone, although Phil and Joyce stopped over to see what time we were leaving in the morning.
We settled in front of the TV for "24" right after they left. We were on the edge of our seats for the whole hour. Man that show is a cliffhanger every week.
By 9 we logged on to the Internet to check gas prices and Sharon read her newspaper. Shortly afterward the Bewitching Bell was ringing and I heard it loud and clear. We went to bed anxious to get on the road tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
It was moving day today and not just to a different campground. We would be making our annual trek to Quartzsite today. 148 miles from Desert Hot Springs and a comfortable campground to the Desert and no hook-ups. W would be joined by Len and Rose Schultz from home and Henry and Arlene Leduc and their friends Norm and Frieda, also from Michigan, but full-timing. It seems that we always have to come 2500 miles to meet people from Michigan.
We stopped at Carl's Jr. Along the way this morning to see if I could download the virus software that I needed for the computer but I had trouble dialing into my server at home. So after a quick Breakfast Burrito we were off again. The Burrito was really good and something that I'll try again. We also had an order of little Tater Tot Hash Browns to go with it.
As we drove past the Flying J at Ehrenberg, AZ we noticed the line of cars waiting for gas and it was at least a block long with several motorhomes in it. Judging by the length of the line we decided that we didn't want to spend a half hour waiting for gas. We knew what the price was in Quartzsite so we drove on to pay the extra penny. As luck would have it, the station between the Flying J and "Q" was selling it for the same price as Quartzsite and there was no wait as the pumps only had one motorhome in it, and we could drive right in, as we did. 10 minutes later we were back on the road for Mile Marker 99 and our site for the next week.
Henry and Arlene were waiting for us as we arrived and Len and Rose pulled up about 10 minutes later. Henry took off to bring his friends over and soon we were a little 4 unit circle. We sat and talked for awhile, ate lunch, and then gathered outside again and Henry lit the fire. By mid-afternoon, more friends from Michigan, The Browns and Parents stopped by for a beer and a quick visit. They had suggested they might stop but we figured by the time they got done shopping they might just want to get back home to Desert Hot Springs. So this was starting to become a convention of wayward Michiganders. After they left we all went to eat our Dinner and Henry built up the fire for the evening.
Sharon had put a whole chicken in the Crock Pot yesterday with our own homemade seasoning and the bird had turned out exquisite. She toasted up some Garlic Bread and we ate half the chicken for our Dinner. Yummmmmmm!
We were back at the fire in nothing flat and enjoying the heat from the larger blaze. By now it was pitch black and the fire was our only light. The wind which had been blowing in gusts all day had also died down. We were fighting crosswinds all the way to the top of the Chiriaco Summit and then they started to subside some. It was only blowing about 10-20 miles per hour here until now when the died down all together.
Except for Dinnertime we stayed out until about 9:30 sipping on the "nectar of the Gods" and talking, and just plain enjoying the fire. I don't know if we've got enough wood for the week but tonight was very enjoyable.
After coming inside we went directly to bed, did not pass go, and did not collect $200. Although it hadn't been a particularly busy day, except for the driving, we were certainly ready for the bed when we finally made it there.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
We stayed up late last night and consequently slept late this morning and got a late start. I went into town with Len this morning to mail his letters, check on church services and look for a place that I can download my virus software before all hell breaks loose on this computer.
By the time we got back Clay and Jerie Nye had come up from Yuma. They usually stop on the way back home after touring the Good Sam Tent, but this was better because we decided to go in to "Q" in the afternoon and at 1 we took off with Len and Rose and toured the tent. We heard from one vendor that the tent was now 40% wider than it was previously. There are 3 aisles inside and vendors on both sides and the ends of the tent. The size of the vendor area has definitely increased, but by how much I can only think it is substantial.
We ate in town and the food was quite pricey to say the least. At least at the Good Sam area. It was $7 for a sandwich and there was nothing cheap that we could find. It took us a couple of hours and a couple of purchases later we were on our way back home again. Clay and Jerie stopped in for a beer before they headed back home and Henry and Arlene stopped over with a beverage also. After everybody left, Sharon and I went into town to pick up some beer and Buns and a couple of other things. By this time the traffic was gone and it took us about a half hour to take care of business.
When we got back Henry already had the fire going and it was starting to get dark. Pitch black is the real condition that it gets here. With the fire being the only light available. We were at the fire for about an hour before Len and Rose came out and joined us. We suspected they were taking a nap but didn't ask. In any event, it was a short night because there was a slight breeze blowing tonight and it was a little chilly.
We all retired to watch a little TV about 8 and just let the fire die out by itself. Generators had been running for the past 2 hours charging batteries. Sharon pretty much went to bed to do some puzzling and I stayed up til 11 watching a fabulous show on Criminal Minds. By 11 it was a little late to run the generator, but as I turned mine off, I could still hear at least one running in our group. It ran until after I went to sleep so I don't know how long it ran. It wasn't a bother as the din has a tendency to put one to sleep.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
We got a leisurely start this morning by going into town about 10 and almost immediately finding a parking place at Rice Ranch. We, The Schultzes and Leduc's went in and shopped til noon. I managed to pick up some pegboard hooks that seemed to be a good price. Sharon found a Terrycloth bathrobe for $4 that she thought she would use at the pool at Catalina when we get back.
We all had Indian Tacos for lunch today. Indian Taco is a fried bread puffed up and loaded with refried beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. It was very good and Sharon and I also had Indian Fry Bread for dessert. Also very tasty. Indian Fry Bread taste somewhat like a Funnel Cake.
After lunch we took in Prospectors's Panorama before we finally decided to call it a day. We drove past Silly Al's Pizza place to see if they were having Karaoke tonight, but no luck. They were having live music for the rest of the week. So we swung by the Quartzsite Yacht Club and they were having it tonight. We had decided that we would go in for the Karaoke if anybody was having it. It was about 2 o'clock by this time and time for a Miller or two. We all went back home and lit a match to the campfire and sat there for the next couple of hours sipping nectar. Norm and Frieda brought their bird Bubba out by the fire and Sharon tried to get it to talk for her. She finally got it to say "oh, oh." A real conversation.
The fire started to burn down by about 7 so the 6 of us (Schultzes, LeDucs) got ready to go to Karaoke. The Yacht Club was absolutely overflowing by the time we got there but we did manage to find a table after about 10 minutes of standing. The only trouble was they had at least 40 singers so it took at least 3 pitchers of beer before I got up to sing. We decided to finish off the evening with a fourth pitcher before we finally went home. Sharon was thinking of inviting people in for a beer before she finally thought twice about it. We needed another beer like we needed another hole in our head.
We both couldn't get to the bed fast enough when we got inside.
Friday, January 27, 2006
We got a leisurely start this morning because we wanted to shop the Tyson Wells area. We left about 10 and found a good parking place in the back corner of the block an started into the market immediately after we left the car. We've been fortunate with parking places this year having found them whenever we needed them. It seems that the crowd may actually be larger this year but it's hard to tell.
For lunch today I had a giant Corn Dog made from a ¼ pound hot dog. It was as big around as a Turkey leg. Sharon had Giant Onion Rings and Len and Rose shared an Indian Fry Bread.
I found a couple of places that showed how I got screwed on the Shake and Shine Flashlight I bought at the Good Sam Tent. Clay and I bought them 2 for $20. The lights I found today were 2 for $10. They were the mid-size light. The small ones sell for 3 for $10. I told Sharon that if I ever buy anything at that tent again to "kick me in the a__." The food was expensive over there also but we didn't realize it until we ate first at Prospector's Panorama and then at Tyson Wells. Things used to be a good price over there and the food was reasonable also. Not any more. I'll still visit but I'll buy and eat somewhere else.
We rode into town with Len and Rose and we also made a quick trip to the grocery store when we were done shopping. That didn't take long and we were on our way back home before long.
We lit the campfire as soon as we were settled. It burned rather evenly tonight even though we had the "free" Tamarisk as the majority wood to burn. It just seemed to burn more evenly tonight, maybe because we had smaller pieces to burn.
We didn't stay out very late at the fire tonight having been short on sleep for the last two nights. We were in and watching the tube by about 8 and by 10 both of us were ready for the horizontal hula. We thought it would be a good night to catch up on the zzz's we had lost since we arrived here.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
We were up early this morning and off to the Queen of Peace church for the Pancake Breakfast. Henry and Arlene were ready to head toward Phoenix and we passed out hugs all around. We won't see them now until next year. It was fun while it lasted.
The Breakfast is Scrambled Eggs, Sausage and 2 Pancakes for $3.50. Actually I think the "pancakes" are all you can eat. The breakfast is quite good. We were surprised by the number of people who showed up for it. It seemed that there were more people when we first started going to it just by the number of tables and chairs that were set up or maybe they just serve it faster and don't need the extra tables.
On the way home we thought we'd stop by the Bakery and see what they have to offer, but when we saw the line waiting to get in, we decided that we would just go home instead. We turned North on 95 to check out a Garage Sale that Rose had seen a sign for, but it wasn't much. We also checked out our favorite place for propane but it looked like it was closed. The big tank was still there but the site looked like it was abandoned. I'll have to check again on Monday. They sold it for substantially less last year than anybody else in town. And with the prices of fuel this year a few cents less a gallon would be appreciated.
We came home and lazed around til about 1 in the afternoon and then lit out for the Main Event. We thought we'd take a couple of hours and do half of it before we came home. We couldn't find a thing we couldn't live without so we shopped for two hours and that was it. "We shopped."
We had the other half of Sharon's Crock Pot Chicken for supper tonight. She also whipped up some Garlic Bread and we finished it off with a salad. There was no wine in our future tonight cause Sharon was off to church almost immediately after we finished the dishes.
I managed to print off a single Newsletter while she was gone and she proofread it after she got back. And as usual, she found a couple of things that the Spell Checker didn't find. She can't spell worth damn but she can always spot my mistakes like a hawk zeroing in on a rabbit. Go figure.
Our official fire starter (Henry) was headed to Phoenix and it was also a little nippy out for a fire, so we just retired to our own units and settled in for TV instead. We only have a little wood left anyway so maybe we'll have a fire tomorrow and the next night.
I had found a special on NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) on the History Channel that was quite good. The only trouble was that it was 4 hours long and I found it about and hour and a half into it. It was, however, a very good show from what I saw. At 10 they were actually running the first part over but I could only stay up til eleven when my eyes slammed shut. It was only a short walk to the bed so I took it.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
We lazed around this morning and at a big breakfast of Bacon, Eggs, Hash Browns and Toast. It had been some time since we hd one of those and it was great. We skipped lunch of course and then went into town about 1.
Rose wanted to look at motorhomes so we humored her for about an hour or so. We stopped at LaMesa and looked around and went into the building that had served as the Silver Buckle Saloon to look around. The inside of the building is about the same but it's purpose had changed dramatically. It now serves as the luncheon room for LaMesa's customers & staff. They serve lunch 7 days a week So if you just want to look at the atmosphere of the old Silver Buckle it's still there. What WAS the Silver Buckle is gone.
After our visit to LaMesa we took off to do the west half of the Main Event which we had not done previously. We shopped for about 2 minutes when we found a "Fire Dept" sun spinner. We scooped it up and returned it to the car post haste. Later on I managed to find a Spray Gun for my projects back home, including motorhome graphics if the need arises. We walked all over and finished up the section about 4 and Leonard suggested going to Silly Al's, which we had planned, for our pizza then. None of us objected since we hadn't eaten or snacked since 10 this morning.
I think we managed to get into Silly Al's just in time because the people started rolling in just after we got seated in our booth. There was also a table next to us that had at least 30 people at it all ordering pizza. We figured we'd be waiting forever for our pizza to arrive, but we actually got served before some of the people at the large table. We did, however, sit for 3 pitchers of beer before we finally left. Silly Al's was having Karaoke tonight but none of us felt like waiting for another hour til 7 when it started.
We headed back home and Leonard had the fire going nicely in about 10 minutes. The Tamarisk we were having a hard time burning was flaming like dried cedar tonight. It was relatively warm tonight so we all sat out until about 8. And then like it was "on cue" we all got up and went inside. We wanted to watch Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy. "Housewives" was a repeat and "Grey's" didn't come on til 11 just a little past my bedtime. I need my sleep and not entertainment at that time, so we caved just a little after 10.
