Category: Places I’ve been

I moved further south to the BLM-VFW in Yuma where it’s warmer but noisy sandwiched between trains, planes, automobiles and RVs.  Celebrated Thanksgiving twice, I have much to be grateful for.  Good friends, a roof over my head that doesn’t leak, wheels under that hold air, propane in (lousy) tanks provide heat, cooking, and refrigerator (when working) for the ice cream I can still (barely) afford.  What more could a Geogypsy ask for?

As much as I love staring at the changing light on the Kofa Mts, I needed to be warmer than 36° mornings.

After researching and looking at the map I decided to drive to the BLM-VFW in Yuma, at least for the night.  Boondocking is behind this building.

Arrived about 12:30pm and parked near where I was last Spring, next to an invasive Tamarask tree.  Lots of mostly large motorhomes and 5th-wheels parked in the open area with only a few scrubby creosote bushes.  The “back row” under the trees, full of small to moderate-sized units and several tents.  That area tends to attract the long-timers because of the shade.  I went to an area not conducive to very large rigs.  Though the wind was a little cool the 75° temperature felt nice with windows and door open.

It’s a noisy place.  SR95 is easily in sight to the east maybe 300 feet away and is parallel with the railroad tracks.  Long freight trains pulled by 3-5 locomotives go by every couple of hours.  To the west, out of sight, is a small airport.  I’d guess there’s maybe 100 RV/campers.

Waking to 50° felt a bit chilly but only took 30 minutes to warm up the camper to a doable over 60°.  With the promise of 75° high and Joann at her winter home in Yuma we decided to explore Mittry Lake.  She picked me up and made a quick stop at a produce stand and food store before taking me to her new digs.  Very nice mobile home in a quiet park.

After lunch we drove the road to Mittry Lake and along the way discovered a BLM boondock I preferred to the BLM-VFW camp.  Then further on, the lake area is pretty with very few (full) sites along the water and other designated areas like parking lots.  It would only get more crowded over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday weekend.  No thanks.  US Fish & Wildlife rules only camp 10 days out of one year.  So different than my first experience there 25 years ago.

Stopped at the “Shoe tree” or as Joann calls it the “Tree of old soles”.  Fridge was off when I got back and gave grief until almost bedtime.

After a noisy night of trains and planes at the BLM-VFW camp I moved to the previous day’s discovery, not the lake.  About ten miles north of Yuma, within sight of the Laguna Mountains to the east, the Gila canal carrying water to the agriculturally rich valley to the south, and in the distance the Cargo Muchacho Mountains in California to the south west.  Very open terrain resembling a rock quarry, with lots of pretty rocks.  Only two other truckcampers when I arrived and a van joined later.  360° video here.  Delightfully quiet, had some breeze but the sun was warm.  Pretty sunset.

Bumper collection

I had figured to stay through the holiday weekend, but plans changed.  When Gayle called to say she’d gotten a dentist appointment in Mexico for the day after Thanksgiving and would be camped at the BLM-VFW I returned there so I could go with her across the border.  She’s working on a dental procedure that began eight months ago.  Parked in the same location and immediately invited to Thanksgiving at noon the next day located just a few camps away.  Gayle pulled in as I sat soaking up sunshine.

Gayle and I joined a gathering along with many other RVers and enjoyed the full Thanksgiving spread.  Well I did, she doesn’t have her teeth yet.  Later in the afternoon, Gayle played her fiddle at the community campfire area.  I have video but not sure I can load any of it on this weak signal.

Fridge went off again for about 15 hours.  Freezer held mostly because it was packed solid.  Then came on again about bedtime.  I keep moving the retainer probe when it quits.  (That white thing on the fins.)

Friday morning, we took Gayle’s car to the US side of the border parking lot and walked across the few blocks to her dentist.  I always forget to take photos because I’m busy constantly saying “NO” to the multitude of vendors selling trinkets and suggesting pharmacies, liquor stores, eye glasses and dentist offices.  Like hawkers at a carnival.  Their sales areas line both sides of the sidewalks creating a dark tunnel.  I’ll try to take photos and video next time, because yes there’s a next time in a couple weeks.

Once again back at the BLM-VFW camp I finally got a blog post written but not uploaded.  There’s barely a signal here and it could be because there’s no bandwidth with so many RVers trying to get online.

As luck would have it, I was invited to join Joann and her granddaughter for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday and she has a great signal.  I also took advantage of the long hot shower and doing laundry.  After desert first because we can, Perci and I went to the pool but I don’t own a bathing suit so didn’t go in.  It would have been warm enough so I may have to invest for future visits.  After dinner and a movie, Joann brought me back to my BLM-VFW camp where I planned the next day’s trip to town for chores.