Indio, CA

Indian Waters RV Resort

Site #55 - $155/week, p/w/s, Internet, Temp 33C

We are all set up at Indio. I was beginning to wonder if we would get in. We arrived before noon and the RV Resort gate was closed with noone in the kiosk. Phone numbers were available which is fine and dandy if you have a phone. Anyway, we were trying to figure what to do when two units showed up behind us. They had reserved sites and therefore they had gate codes. There is an inner office and we drive there. Noone is around. Finally a lady shows up at our RV. (and of course she wonders how we got in) Apparently the gates and offices don't open until 3 pm... unless of course you have a reservation. ;)

eyeing up the pools

Anyway, the park is very nice and the price is right, so we are here for a week. It was so weird driving in. This is a HUGE RV Resort but it is pretty much empty right now. Row after row of empty sites. I have mentioned before that we are pre-season, right?

We get to our site and this annoying man shows up in a golf cart to 'assist' with our parking. Ron and I have done this ourselves with no problem, many many times, but this guy has plenty of 'helpful' advice and the back up does not go so smoothly. We have the one site in this empty loop that has a drain cap that we have to avoid. Anyway, we FINALLY get backed in, but Ron isn't quite straight on the cement pad and is asked to pull forward AGAIN and straighten up a bit. Ron says you know we are only here for a week. I rather expected this annoying man might get a measuring tape out of his pocket and I almost asked him if he had one. (Yes, we are in a much classier joint than we are used to!) I just hope we can *ahem* measure up. The guy leaves and Ron and I are looking at each other and wondering if it is beer time yet. And I'm wondering if we will get a notice about our truck that isn't perfectly straight on the 'vehicle' pad beside us!

That's our lonely RV in background!

Oh well, it can only get better! These 'digs' truly are very pretty. We are parked right beside the pool which we will certainly take advantage of, there is a clubhouse with plenty of amenities and it is 32C. A whole week of perfect!! I look forward to exploring the area. Laundry will wait until morning!!
 
Driving US111 Indio to Palm Desert

Leaving Blythe Tomorrow

And my laptop has crashed again. I had so hoped it would at least get me back home, but no such luck. It doesn't look like it can be revived this time. Big sad face here. I must now fight for time on Ron's laptop. :)

The family group left on Sunday morning the campground got pretty quiet again. Seriously, they were a great bunch. There was no foul language or late night partying. It was just SO much activity and we were smack in the middle of it. I must admit that I did like their music though. It was as if we were back in Mexico again. The music went very well with my margaritas!

We continue to enjoy the activity from the fields around us. It would appear to be Sandhill Crane hunting season. There have been numerous flocks passing over and we can hear shots being fired. Ron drove his bike to the area, but came across a sign saying: "Caution. Hunting in Progress. Take an alternate route." He listened.

Also, they have busy baling hay in the adjacent field to the campground. There were at least five baler machines working late in to the night last night. Today they are busy loading bales. I was hoping to see some of the cotton harvest while we were here, but I guess it is too early for that. There are lots of cotton bolls in the fields ready and waiting.

Full "Hunter's Moon" - Oct 18

It will seem strange packing up the RV and heading out tomorrow after two weeks of 'homesteading'. Ron says he hopes we can remember how to do this. We will miss the beautiful sunsets. And our birds. Except for the Grackles. There are way too many of those here! If all goes according to plan, our next update will be from Indian Waters RV in Indio. First up on the agenda? Laundry!

busy weekend?

For two days last week, we had the LA Firefighters 'camped' beside us and doing some River Rescue Training. About 30 fellows with boats, jet boats and an inflatable raft boat. Interesting activity that made for some good entertainment. Unfortunately most of their actual 'rescue' training exercises took place further up the river, so we didn't get to see that aspect.

Only one fellow had a tent and spent the night in the campground with their equipment. The rest of the crew had hotel rooms in town. (He must have 'drawn the short stick and it was one of the coolest nights we've had here at only 7C when I got up! I can't believe that it can be 30C everyday and drop that low at night. (It is usually around 15C.) They left and we were continually commenting on the quietness surrounding us... So awesome... It was like we had this entire campground to ourselves. Until today . . .

A beautiful almost 'empty' campground

Loved these 'retro' chairs that are perfect with the old RV!

Last night and this morning, a large group – 30 to 40 people including young children with tents and trailers arrived and set up camp directly behind us. SO much activity. And noise! We are between them and the washrooms so it has become grand central through our campsite. (Yes. We may becoming those grumpy old people!) It is just such a change from what we have experienced here. I suspect this will be our weekend now.

We have continued to go for bike rides and have been on a few driving tours around the area. Just north of Blythe, there are supposed to be some very large 'geoglyphs' or pictographs created by the Mojave and Quechan Indians and dating back to about 1000 AD. No luck finding them. Today normally would have been a laundry day, but after counting up our gotch, we have decided that we can wait until next week when we move. 

An early morning visitor at my window

Anyway, nothing exciting planned for the weekend. Checking out of here on Tuesday!

Still here

This week has flown by. We are enjoying the quiet of the park. And the birds. Yes, I may have already mentioned that.

Enjoying this bird on Thanksgiving Sunday

A few people have come and gone, but for the most part we are enjoying our 'private' very quiet little campspot. Once again we are getting quite comfortable in our rather lazyish routine. So much so that we have decided to spend another week here. There are no sewer hook-ups in this park but they come by twice a week and do a pump out. (This is included in your $125/week camping fee.) We didn't know this and it rather startled me the first time the truck pulled up alongside our trailer and began pumping! Ron has since had some informative conversations with "Buck" the park resident/volunteer who provides this service. We have learned this place is 'jammed full' in November. Who knew?

We were curious about all the hay stacks in the area. We haven't seen a cow, but hay seems to be a very big business. There are stacks and stacks of hay bales everywhere along the country roads. It turns out they grow alfalfa here. Six to eight crops per year. They ship this to South America. Mainly to Argentina. Who knew?

Fishing boats on the Colorado at Blythe County Park

We drove to Quartzsite one afternoon and came to the conclusion that there really wasn't a spot there that appealed to us. We 'googled' camping spots around Palm Desert and Indio. There are some nice RV parks, yes, but the camping is far more pricey then we are used to paying. We will probably pack a lunch and do a day trip to the area, but I don't see us spending time there. It just doesn't appeal to our *ahem* rather cheapish budget. The Joshua Tree area looked intriguing, but that is a National Park area and therefore currently closed. This is the first time we personally have had to reconsider due to the shutdown. Oh well, another visit.

And so begins week two at Blythe.

More pretty sunsets from our campsite

more Blythe blather

Our first day here was a little ugly with blowing dust. Now? Perfect! Warm and windless. It makes such a difference when there is no wind. It would seem we have reached that weird time of year however. At night and first thing in the morning (11C) you feel the need for a heater. During the day (25-30C) you could use some air. Typical desert living.

Colorado River



View down river from our Park

I haven't really mentioned any of the people we meet along the way. That is always an interesting part of our travels. Yesterday we had a brief chat with a neighbor who is here digging for gold in the area. He and a buddy (son?) head off to the mountains with their quad everyday. His wife and a dog remain at the campsite. He says he has been finding some – enough to live on for the past 5 or 6 years. (Most gold diggers are pretty close-lipped!) The trick, he says, is to find places where a claim hasn't already been staked. He doesn't have a river / boating permit, so sticks to the mountain areas. He's been digging in AZ, CA and Nevada. Today they were moving east to the Salome area in AZ. It would have been interesting to chat with him more.

 

Someone's backyard down the road - see giraffe!

We have been for some bike rides, had a couple propane fires and we've been treated to some beautiful sunsets. We are enjoying the birds in the park. The brilliant red "Vermilion Flycatcher" flits around our campsite grabbing bugs out of the air. Fun (and pretty!) to watch. There are owls hooting above us every evening and some large 'birds of prey' that we haven't identified for sure yet. I think Prairie Falcon, Ron thinks not.

The Vermilion Flycatcher

We've been to town a couple times for groceries and Ron finally got a hair cut. Actually, we have noticed there are a lot of long haired big-bearded males in the last few places we've camped, so he would have fit in just fine without the cut! He will be awhile 'catching up' now... buzzed!

Cotton Picker

  

This weekend we will be thinking of you and celebrating Thanksgiving on Sunday with Roasted Chicken and Dressing. Our American neighbours will have their "Columbus Day" on Monday, although I don't believe California recognizes it as a Public holiday. Anyway.. right now I am very thankful for this sunshine and I must go enjoy! Have a great weekend!

Forward Ho

Mayflower County Park

Site #13 - $125/week ($30/night) p/w, Internet

Well, we decided to put it on "Go South" rather than "Go Home". We looked at Quartzsite, but then we looked at where the Colorado River flowed and we decided to find a spot on the River.

Pretty skies last night in Havasu

We are now in Blythe, California. It is only about 1 1/2 hrs. south of Lake Havasu. We are not that far from Quartzsite and we will likely do a day trip there.

 

Metal sculptures at Park entrance

We are camped at Mayflower County Park just out of town. They maintain, water and cut a very large grassed park area. We aren't quite sure why as it certainly is not very busy. There are huge picnic and day use areas that look like they are never used. We are one of only four units parked in this area of the campground, although there appear to be some permanent residents in another loop. Maybe it gets busy in the winter months? Once again we will take advantage of the weekly rate of $125. which even includes internet.

Mr. Relaxin'

Mayflower County Pk, Blythe, CA

I haven't mentioned the fact that we are having a difficult time keeping up with the time changes and trying to figure out the correct local times. The three nights we spent in Flagstaff, our clocks were wrong. We really weren't intentionally the early risers in the campground. When we headed off to do things at what we thought was 9 am, it was actually only 8 am. Anyway, we think CA and AZ are the same time right now even though my phone tries to tell me AZ is an hour later than it really is. Confusion much!

Unfortunately today is a 'Wind' day but it does look like great weather the rest of the week.

last day at Havasu

Yesterday we did a town tour and our obligatory London Bridge visit. It is quite amazing how quiet things are in Lake Havasu. Or not? I suspect things will pick up in another month or so. We are probably just early for the busy 'winter' season and the arrival of the snowbirds. Still it was strange to see only a handful of people enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches on a Sunday with 33C weather. But also, this town certainly gives the impression that it was a dream that never quite materialised. There are so many boarded up businesses and empty buildings. There are numerous land developments and residential expansions that show signs of start ups but that have now been abandoned. The "Shops at Lake Havasu" is a beautiful outdoor shopping mall development on the edge of town but more than half the stores sit empty. It is sad really.

beautiful quiet beaches

London Bridge

Back at the campground, things got very busy. Two bus loads of teens were dropped off with their camping gear and the road between the upper camping loop and the lake has been a steady stream of comings and goings.

Love a guy with ice cream on a hot day!

This morning at 17C was the coolest we've seen in our 1 1/2 weeks here. There were even a few rare clouds in the sky today. A few days ago we were commenting on how there wasn't a cloud to be seen.

Tomorrow we move on. We are still undecided as to whether we will head a little further south to Quartzite or choose "Go Home" on our GPS.

wind and rants

This place got pretty busy this weekend. And windy yesterday and today. It is not so nice at the beach. Yesterday ended up being a good day to visit the laundromat. Three big loads and we are good for another couple weeks now.

Also? We are surrounded by dogs. There are over a dozen in our immediate vicinity. The only time we have seen the couple from the motorhome across from us is when he or she brings out their FOUR Scotties for a campground walk about. (In various combinations of 1 to all 4 of them). Yipping noisy Scotties. That first night? All. Night. Long. The host spoke to them and it was better last night. Their van was gone this morning so maybe they were just driving them about all night? Another couple got the boot after their first night here. Their much larger dog was even worse. He went absolutely crazy every time a dog walker went by. And yes, that would be constantly. We will be glad when the weekend is over and it gets quiet in the park again. We really miss that private space we had for those first four nights!

A couple people have asked about the Government Shutdown. We haven't been aware of anything in this area. Nobody is even talking about it here. We certainly would have been upset if we had arrived at those previous National Parks we were at – the Arches and Canyonlands - and found them closed. How devastating for those people who have come from all over the world to visit and see them. I can't even imagine what it is like around Moab right now. That is one busy place in the midst of numerous National Parks and so much of the daily business is providing rentals and access (jeeps, bikes, bus tours etc.) for tourists in to the Parks. Even their websites are shut down right now.

That is about all from here. Ron went on a bit of a hike and I will head to the beach shortly. We haven't come up with a plan for when we leave on Tues. yet.

NOTE: These photos are from our 2010 visit here. They are some of my favourites photos ever. The flowers and the butterflies are in abundance once again this trip..

this is the life

Not much to report from down south. Our days are getting pretty routine. A leisurely coffee and breakfast outdoors. Internet time at the beach. Lunch. Back to the beach to sit in the lake with our lawn chairs and umbrella. Home for margaritas and / or cold beer. You get the idea . . . The temperature is still 26-30C when we head for bed in the evenings and we have made good use of our air conditioning while here. Just plenty of hot lazy days.

view from under my umbrella

ducks and crocs

One of these days we will have to search out a laundromat although one really doesn't require much more than a bathing suit in this weather. We don't even want to think about going home. Beach bums are we!

made us laugh - beach bum

more from the Cove

We weren't able to come up with a campspot that we liked as well or for the same price on our drive to Parker yesterday. So we have opted for the weekly deal and will remain at Cattail Cove. Unfortunately someone had booked the site we were in, so we couldn't stay there. (Just when we were getting very comfy and enjoying the privacy.) Have I mentioned how much we hate this Reserve-a-Site system?? This park wasn't on the reserve system when we were here the other times and one wouldn't have encountered this situation. Once you chose a spot you were good to stay.

Sun setting on the Cove

Anyway... We were able to come up with another site that was open for the week and we have now made the move. We are all set up and ready for another hot hot day.

Yesterday in Parker we stopped at a Safeway. They had liquor in store. We bought a bottle of Jose Cuervo that was regular $26. but with a Club Card, it only cost $12. What a deal! That is what I will be sipping on these hot afternoons! 

peck peck peck

Also? I thought I had my laptop up and running okay, but today I am getting "Hard disk drive failure is imminent. Back up your data immediately". Plus my back up drive comes up with an error and says it needs to be re-formatted but I can't reformat it. So there is that. I may need that tequila sooner than later!

Good news above - Bad news below