Yuma week 2, and learning how this place works.

Seems like we are stationary as we really are here in Yuma, but we are still moving in many directions as we stay here in one place. While here we are slowly looking around Yuma, and will make our way to Mexico this next week sometime. We have visited a new to us restaurant, Chinese food, and really good food, made just a little different, and good service. We will visit another this week Mexican food, with friends we met next to us sometime this week. Mostly we eat at home, and treat ourselves less when in one place. Polly likes to cook and try different ways to make things, I like to eat and am such a lucky guy.

Weather changed this week, rained Tuesday night while we slept, and the week has been much different, cooler and cloudy. I haven't experienced this in the desert before, when I got up and went outside truck was wet so I could see that it rained, and there were some pools of rain left, but the ground looked dry, although the air felt like I was on the west coast, was kinda nice to feel the moisture.

Before the rains wind and cloud came fast

Don, Rob and I have been going to poker 3 times a week, Mon, Tues, Thur, and has been much fun, we have been winning all in all, and met a few good players, and lots of good laughs at the table. I look forward to poker, and also plan for days when we have no plan too.

Polly and I had plans to make a few purchases when we were here in Yuma and this week we shopped for a new couch, which took a few trips to town, and some figuring as we had a certain length we had to fit it in as was in the slide of our home. Also shopped for a quilt and couldn't find what we wanted in the stores, so Polly went to the internet shop, and we ordered one there, will get it later this week all going well. The love seat we got yesterday, looks good, and feels great, we are happy with our change to our living space.

I learned about negotiation again, Polly has what she wants, and I have what I want when we shop. Not always do we want exactly the same thing, but we work through it and give ourselves time to make the best decision as we go forward. This time we got some of what we wanted, but some was left out as we couldn't find what we wanted that would fit in the space we had. We got comfort, price, looks, colour, simplicity and ultimately happiness. Every time we shop for something, I learn.

Room for a couple drinks while we watch TV

When stationary it feels kind of like we are home, and not seeing much as we entertain ourselves with what the resort has to offer. Swimming, is one of my best things I like to do. Polly comes sometimes, but mostly I go by myself. I meet people where ever I go, and in the pool, especially in the hot tub, conversations are very interesting, as there are more than just American and Canadian people here. I stay away from politics mostly, but this week I had an opportunity to get into it with a couple that were looking for information from a Canadian. The man said he stays away from politics with other Americans, but likes to know what people from other countries think. I gave him just a little to think about, and he gave me something to think about too. Was a very good opportunity to learn just a little more about how close we are in our thinking, Canadian or American.

Pool at the Palms RV, will try that one out tomorrow

Happy Hour is another time we all get together, sometimes at the pool, and sometimes at another RV. This week we went to the pool once, and to Grant and Caroline's place, and between the 3 of us at Don and Chris's place. Jo and Lorne arrived Monday, was a fun time to get together, and laugh and reconnect. Lorne takes pictures, and has such a funny sense of humour, Jo is also funny, and was nice to see them. We went to Grant and Caroline's, about 300 feet away, and was a good time to talk and get to know each other. I got to talk with Caroline, and got to know her. Was fun, as all our happy hours are. Duane, a man the moved to Port Alberni from Saskatchewan, (he organises poker) stopped in, he was so funny, joke after joke, till he ran out, and as fast as he came, he was gone. LOL was sure funny, laughing to myself as I write this... LOL

Chris gets a chewing from neighbours new pup, Jasmine

Cute

Dawn took a turn too

Cute again

Cute x 2 Polly

Lorne and Jo stop by for Happy Hour

Yes Lorne put the strawberry in your ear

Do you like this one?

Pictures! I have been taking many pictures, as I usually do, but most with a cell phone, which is OK, but I like to use my camera, as can get close and much clearer. I felt bad not using it, but it is a little inconvenient. Yesterday I decided I had time, and wanted to walk to the end of the road beside the RV park, to see if the desert had something to offer that would make my interest in the camera better. Below are a few of the pictures, nothing stellar, but I did like the opportunity to capture the Quads that ride around the desert and mountains.

Moisture on the hills like at home, felt nice.

The wash as it is called here, where the water runs when it rains hard.

I start out here is what I see

1/2 way up the road looking north west

Sign says no vehicles here, hmm think it is ignored

Looking north

Looking south

What the desert looks like here

Quad action, they ride all over here.

Ocotillo cactus that had it's day

Live Ocotillo cactus in bloom. 

They line up like they want a picture taken

I'm off for a walk now with Bosco, and will make time for a swim today for sure, will be sunny again today. Loving this wonderful life we have chosen Polly and I.

Yuma, Our first weeks adventures

Donkeys we saw near Parker came to the car for a handout

Mountains so steep here

Our trip here from Quartsite was short, but packing up & and setting up is same it takes time, and there is always anticipation, and some nervousness. Once we get on the road, we both talk, at first about how it feels good to be moving again, and then about what we liked about where we were, then about what we look forward to. Seeing familiar faces is always a good feeling, and Don and Chris, & Rob and Dawn we stayed with last year, so will be fun surely. Polly has known them for years, me I'm still a newbie to the group, but that never stops me from having fun.

The desert we pass is mostly bleak looking, mountains in the distance look beautiful. the sun shining and warm, the cars, trucks, and RV's passing. Traffic is steady but slower paced. 2 lane highway, and you can see miles ahead of you most time. Polly likes this kind of travel, no tenseness, everything can be seen for miles, and seems like no surprises could, or would jump out. GPS is on even though we don't need it, we both like to see on the screen what changes on the road ahead, so always on when we travel now. So much nicer than using a map all the time, but we still manage to take a wrong turn, but we know that we can find our way out of anywhere, as we have many times before.

Bosco jumps down as I write, and does a few back and forth on the floor, "Hmm whats with you I say?" He still won't talk, darn dog, I pat his bed beside me and he jumps up, I give him a squeeze and say "Whats with you? No hug and greeting this morning, yes I guess I missed that this morning." So I give him his hug, and pet him and tell him all is good, and he lays down again, as happy and content as can be, and as close to me as possible, a little  chilly in here this morning. Back to sleep!

As we get closer to Yuma we pass an army base Yuma Proving Ground it says, not sure what that is, but will take a look while we are in Yuma. Not long after we miss a turn, and get a little off course as we approach Yuma, we make the next left and get back on track quickly, we are now in farming country, and it happened fast, from desert to vegetables and orchards as fast as a snap of the fingers, WOW such a difference. Then over a small hill, and we have housing, and all in a few miles the landscape changes. Now we talk about how the water diversion has changed this area. Without the water diversions in the Colorado river, none of this would be here, just desert as before. Still shaking my head thinking about this.

A detour now as we make our way to the foothills area, and we make our way through a subdivision, and check out the nice houses, while we pull our trailer. Always something new, we have gotten used to this, and we laugh as we go. The unexpected is what we like I think, as we both seem to be OK with a change we don't expect, and just adds a little change to the scenery. Now back on track, and we get to our RV Park, Fortuna De Oro, in what is called The Foothills, in Yuma. This is about as far east as Yuma goes, and close to the mountains, close Interstate 8. Home for a month or so.

I leave the truck run, AC on, and head into the office to check in. Line up of others, hmm not liking this already, and a man with a resort logo on his shirt says "You checked in?" "No I say, but I do know my site #, so could go and come back later" Great, and off we go as I learn again how to avoid the lengthy lineups that suck the goodness out of me as I know me well, and lineups are a killer for me. He gets in his little cart and says "Follow me" and off we go as Polly says "Gee that didn't take long" I explain as we make our way to our site, and all is good.

A back in site and there is lots of room, so he shows us which one, leaves us to make the in and out back up, with a few in and out of the truck checks, but this time actually goes well, we both comment later how easy it went. Setting up can be very stressful, and as we go both Polly and I are working toward making this easier. This time was good.

The girls are home, and the boys are at Poker as we setup, time for a "Hi how you doin" before we get too setup. Is nice to see familiar faces. We finish our setup, and get all where it should be, then a little lunch, and then go register. No lineup this time, gee that worked just perfect. When I get back the boys have returned winners, Rob did best today, and we now have the traditional Happy Hour, and sit between the trailers in the shade and yak it up for awhile, feels good.

Our first evening in Yuma

Many lights in front of RV's here

As the week goes on we have a few things we want to get done while we are here, Polly always wants to get groceries, me beer, next was a wash and wax on the truck and trailer, and that I set for  Thursday. Tuesday boys went to Poker at noon, the girls went to water aerobics, later in the afternoon we compared notes. I won today, actually we all did, was a nice way to start our first full day there. As for the girls, was good but Polly wants to get some flotation exercise equipment, which she ordered and came to the door a few hours later, she was surprised how quick.

We spent the week very relaxed, and did some walking around, Chris usually in the lead, as she is our walking pace setter. The Lunar Eclipse was early this morning, Polly woke me to get a few nice shots, was a good clear view we had.

Camera shook a little here

Just as sun was about to set

 We went to dinner at Eats a Chinese Buffet on Wednesday, and was real good food.

Trailer got done on Thursday as planned, and turned out very good, sure need it. Groceries we have fetched at least 3-4 times, beer needs a refill today. We went to the Yuma Market Sunday morning, was not too much bought, but boy those women can shop. I sat with the boys after our look around, and played cards, easier on me as wasn't into buying anything today.

Rob and I attended the Superbowl Party, at the saloon on Sunday was fun.

That's our first week here, laid back time, nothing earth shattering. Will look at getting a new chairs/couch? this Wednesday as we take the day and look around Yuma.

Polly wants to book a show, Blues Brothers for next week, but yet to do. Dance this weekend for Valentines is Saturday, should be fun. Oh and I forgot to mention we did attend one Happy Hour at the pool this week, was fun, they have them every day. Just cant do everyday yet, have to wok into that I guess... LOL

Loving this life!  Not a holiday, Nope, This is our life now! Sure is nice...