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Mexican moon & Tequila Elf

light poles full moon Quechan prkg lot border MexicoMoved camp to a parking lot and watched the Mexican moon at the border, then back to BLM-VFW campsite in preparation for yet another move.  And the Christmas elf has been moving every night, until…

light poles full moon Quechan prkg lot border Mexicolight poles full moon Quechan prkg lot border Mexicolight poles full moon Quechan prkg lot border Mexico

I picked up supplies and the calendars on my way to the border parking lot where Gayle and I would spend the night (360 video) before walking to Mexico in the morning for her dental appointment.  Was a rather different experience watching the Mexican moon.

elf in freezerGood thing I bought ice cream because that greedy elf ate almost all of the opened container.

Cosmetic & implant dentistry ctr Algodones MXIn the morning, we walked across the border to Gayle’s dentist office.

xrays Cosmetic & implant dentistry ctr Algodones MXShe was in surgery for almost two hours while the upper implanted posts were removed because her body rejected them.

vendor with bag Algodones MX

purses Algodones MXI went for a quick walk through the tunnel of merchandise that encloses the sidewalks outside of the storefronts, optical shops, and more dentists.  Feels like walking the gauntlet.  These pics are all taken from a video.

poles moon Quechan Res Mexican borderBack to the border parking lot for the night.  Unfortunately, low clouds obscured the actual horizon line of the Mexican moon.

elf on toiletThat’s what happens when an elf eats almost a half gallon of ice cream.

Tamarisk tree BLM-VFW camp Yuma AZ

broken bark Tamarisk tree BLM-VFW camp Yuma AZInvasive Tamarisk trees have thick bark

Returned the next day to the BLM-VFW camp for Gayle’s recovery.

elf hanging upside downElf feeling pretty good the next day.

beggar bead neclaces

cuffsMade a jewelry sale from a “memory” photo posted on Facebook.

elf by calendarI spent the weekend addressing envelopes for calendar shipping.  No help from elf.

trees sunset clouds BLM-VFW camp Yuma AZClouds built in the evening.  Rain was predicted.

elf in bedA good morning to sleep in.

desert mts mammatus clouds BLM-VFW Yuma AZGayle left Monday for Tucson.  I watched as mammatus clouds filled the sky and enjoyed the light rain.

sunset clouds BLM-VFW camp Yuma AZClouds were clearing out at sunset.

elf on hookJust hanging out.

Joann picked me up Tuesday morning and I used her rig to get to the post office, along with hordes of others.  I’d expected that.  Only took an hour.  Fortunately I was able to use a case on wheels to haul the heavy pile of calendars.

elf by AZ mapStill have a few calendars left if you’re interested.  $25 each includes shipping in the USA.  No guarantee they will be shipped by the end of 2022 because I’m camped in the middle of nowhere once again.  I am a happy camper.

desert sunset clouds halo BLM American Girl Mine Rd Felicity CANote the rainbow halo

Wednesday morning after a little shopping, found me moving to another location with lovely views of the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.

Christmas tree in camperAs it is unlikely I’ll get another post out before Christmas I’d like to wish you all Happy Holidays!

I tried to warn him.

Algodones, Arizona, Mexico, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , 24 Comments

Trains, planes, automobiles and RVs at BLM-VFW in Yuma AZ

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?

desert Kofa Mts sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd AZAs much as I love staring at the changing light on the Kofa Mts, I needed to be warmer than 36° mornings.

Kofa Mts from SR95 S AZ

VFW SR95 Yuma AZAfter 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.

truckcamper camp VFW-BLM Yuma AZArrived 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.

RVs sunset clouds VFW-BLM camp Yuma AZIt’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.

Mittry Lake USFWS Yuma AZWaking 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.

Mittry Lake USFWS Yuma AZAfter 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.

Shoe tree SR95 Yuma AZStopped 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.

sunset clouds BLM camp Laguna Mts & Gila canal Yuma AZ

sunset clouds BLM camp Laguna Mts & Gila canal Yuma AZAfter 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 rock collection camp Laguna Mts & Gila canal Yuma AZBumper 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 playing fiddle camp VFW-BLM Yuma AZGayle 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.

retainer probe in camper fridgeFridge 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.)

flags at borderFriday 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.

Christmas decorations Joann's Yuma AZAs 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.

Arizona, Mexico, Places I've been, RV life, United States, Yuma , 20 Comments

Helping a friend with Dental in Mexico

breakfast Los Algodones MexicoI was glad to have somebody with me when doing dental in Mexico many years ago.  The work is professional and good, the English was better, but communications were still lousy.  Maybe it’s cultural.  Manana…

Gayle & Gaelyn RVs Quechan lot AZ-Mexico borderWith a Thursday 7:30am appointment for dental in Mexico, Gayle and I moved our RVs to a huge parking lot at the Arizona/Mexico border the afternoon before.  This is actually run by the Quechan Native Americans and they also have a casino/hotel just up the road.  Not the most glamorous camp this winter but convenient, and fenced with security.  We parked for least sun on windows and most breeze in preparation for several 99° days.

parking lot sunrise border AZ MexicoI set the alarm so we’d have plenty of cool time in the morning.

crossing Mexico border

reception detal office Los Algodones MexicoTook off walking at 7am and were across the border to Los Algodones, Mexico, and in the dental office in 15 minutes, and before most of the staff as they actually opened at 8am.  By 8:30 Gayle was whisked away and I was told to return at 1pm.  However, I didn’t have any plans to leave and even packed snacks and a book.  Was shown to a waiting room where I had a phone signal and messed around online.  (Verizon doesn’t charge extra for being across this border.)

cow plaza Los Algodones MexicoAvoiding the crowds

After a couple hours I ventured out looking for breakfast.  Unfortunately, that means wandering the crowded sidewalks lined with vendors selling hawking jewelry, clothes, dentists, leather belts, jewelry, medications, hats, jewelry, eye glasses and more.  Lots of things I neither need or want and many “No gracias.”

restaurant Los Algodones Mexico

menu Los Algodones Mexico

singers at breakfast Los Algodones MexicoBreakfast was cheap and delicious including a serenade by two men exquisitely crooning with a synthesizer for music.  I took video and will try to share some of it somewhere.

By noon the dentist was done pulling 23 teeth, and completed a small area of bone graft.  It did take about 1 ½ hours more before Gayle was ready to leave.  She had been told a free shuttle service would return us across the border to our RVs in the parking lot.  In reality, the free shuttle took us 1 1/2 blocks to the waiting line to cross the border.  Ah, dental in Mexico.  Thank goodness for shade cover and benches because it took another 1 1/2 hours to actually cross the border.  From there we could have called a taxi but instead walked the block back to our parking lot camp.  What a trooper.  It was HOT!  Especially being parked on asphalt.  Yet Gayle was able to eat some ice cream and take a nap.  I sat outside, moving my chair around the truckcamper to stay in shade.

Sadly, we had to return the next day for her temporary dentures.  Another miscommunication as she’d been told she would leave with those the first day.  Dentures are made somewhere in town, and I’m sure orders come from many of the over 350 dentists in Los Algodones.  We were told the dentures would be there at 11am.  Nice that we didn’t have to rush that morning.  When we arrived at 10:45 we were told her appointment was for noon.  So we went to the air-conditioned waiting room, for over two hours.  Once the dentures were “fitted” in Gayle’s poor swollen mouth she took them out and we returned to the border, with no waiting line, and back to the RVs.  No way she would be driving anywhere that day so paid for another night and I chased the shade again that afternoon reading until too dark to see.

empty parking lot Quechan border AZ MexicoI really wanted a photo from the far end of the parking lot but it was too hot to walk there.  Part of that Friday evenings entertainment was watching hours of cars in line to cross the border to Mexico.

line of cars SR186 S to MexicoSaturday morning at 62° almost felt cold.  I’m kidding of course.  But it certainly was an improvement over 99° outside and well over 100° inside.  I know, it’s a dry heat.  But a RV is sort of like a sauna without the water.  We left the parking lot around 10am going opposite the over mile-long line of traffic headed to possibly dental in Mexico, but more likely going home or vacation.

truckcamper VFW BLM camp Yuma AZI returned to the BLM camp adjacent to the VFW along AZ95, north side of Yuma and Gayle shopped along the way.  Fortunately a RV had pulled out of a place with a little more shade and space for us both to park for who knew how long.  I wouldn’t leave until Gayle felt good and knew she didn’t have to return for more dental in Mexico.  Actually, she will return next fall for implants and click-in dentures, but that will have to be a different story.

shade camper VFW BLM camp Yuma AZShade under an invasive Tamarisk/Salt Cedar tree

I looked forward to a slight cooling trend.  Yes, I said cooler not cold, because you know I hate cold weather.  But there is a fine line for comfort, especially living in a RV off grid.  I plan on adding at least one 12 volt fan to move air around inside the camper and that would also help move heat when it’s cold.  But with a high predicted for 92° and no breeze it was unbearable to sit inside at the computer by 10:30 Sunday morning.  I’ve tried a couple times to use the laptop outside but the light is awful on the screen.  Besides, birds are frequently distracting.

Early evening found Gayle—with her teeth in—and I visiting with a neighbor who had been parked in the same location for several months.  We also met Olaf from “USSR/Ukraine” but has lived in the US for many years, whose English is not great. He didn’t stay long then Scott came over for a break from his packing to leave in the morning after many months here also. Far too social around here.

Gayle wore her new teeth for about two hours and they look great. Then she had a little trouble getting them out and removing the too much glue. We laughed like crazy, because what else can you do.

late light Tamarisk tree VFW BLM Yuma AZ(as above)

The next day was at least 10° cooler so I could work inside on the computer processing photos and writing a blog post.  I gave thought to another video and will share more about that.  Plus it’s almost time to make a plan for the next move.  And because I was running low on ice cream, it wouldn’t be long before I HAD to go to town, not a favorite activity.

Besides, Gayle needed to go to town the next day and spared me the chore by picking up a couple things.  Thanks girlfriend.  Another reason I didn’t want to drive to town was predicted high winds, and they blew dust around so thick I could barely see the nearby mountains.

That afternoon I started to smell propane, a sure sign one tank is about to empty.  So I switched to the full tank and immediately noticed a leak on the hose to that tank.  Not good but is repairable.  Turned it back off and switched the good hose to the full tank.  As many of you know, I’ve struggled for almost three years now with the “new” propane tank style with only part of that problem being the hoses too long.  And that will be fixed after I get home.

Mesquite tree flowers VFW BLM Yuma AZMesquite catkins

With Gayle’s mouth healing and feeling better, not 100% good, I started thinking more about my next move.  But with Easter weekend approaching I wanted to be in a comfortable place as I don’t like to travel on holiday weekends.  Plus after over a week in noisy camps I wanted peace and quiet.

Denny's menu Yuma AZ

Goodwill Yuma AZYogis Grill Yuma AZ

Couldn’t resist

thrift store globe from Yuma AZSo, Thursday morning I packed and rolled to Yuma for groceries. But first breakfast and a thrift store fix where I bought a globe that presumably lights up.  Not as old as the globe borrowed from Berta many years ago and later lost in the Yarnell Fire.  When I get home, we’ll see if it works.  Then better to buy groceries when not hungry, and found diesel fuel at $4.79/gal.

desert haze SR95 N AZFinally on the road by 1pm headed north on AZ95 to…

Kofa Mts Palm Canyon Rd AZ…where else, the BLM adjacent to Kofa NWR, my go to south of Quartzsite.

Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZAnd a marvelous place (watch the camp video) to watch and photograph the full moon.

And that meant using the big camera again as that didn’t happen for almost a week.  I just wasn’t motivated in the Yuma camp and the phone worked for going to Mexico.  Plus I’m trying to take video.  That’s still a huge learning curve and I really don’t want to just rehash what I’m writing here on the blog.  I’ve watched more RV traveler videos in the last month than my entire web-life.  I need a niche, a grabber, logo, and introduction.  Plus probably more that I don’t know about yet.  So right now, I’m just trying a little bit of everything.  Please, let me know what you think.

HELP!  What do you want to see?

Arizona, dentist, Mexico, Places I've been, United States, Yuma , , , , 19 Comments

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