Wellton Coyote Wash

The two months we've already spent here in Yuma have just flown by.

When you wake up to blue skies every day, it's takes a bit to remember that lots of Northerners are in the middle of winter. I just think back to those many, many gray skies in Cleveland during the winter months. Being just-down-the-road from Lake Erie all those winters one finally realized there's no escape unless you head SOUTH.

Some friends, Art and Susan Wilson, who ...

We did it!!!!!

We made it to downtown Yuma by 7 a.m. this morning to view the Balloon Ascensions that started at 7:15 a.m. It was something to see. We were able to walk around on the field among the participants. It was chilly there this morning, but warm again this afternoon.

We have arrived in Yuma at 3:30 p.m.

The Yuma Balloon Festival begins tomorrow morning, with the first launch at 7:00 a.m. and who thinks we will be there for the first launch? On Saturday and Sunday they launch at 6:00 a.m. We decided we wanted to view these balloons way back in Texas, it was ...

... not many of the snowbirds have arrived yet. Saw a small herd of wild burros outside of Q'zite. They were the first wildlife we'd come upon in many- a-mile. Our site here at the Park is quite nice with lots of room to spread out and enjoy the weather here this winter.

For years I have heard "Someday I would like to explore the back roads". This week a friend said "To bad you don't have time to come to the desert tomorrow". My ...

... is set up for each loved one. Each altar consists of marigolds -their distinct smell and vibrant color help guide the spirit home-, and traditional food -e.g., tamales (corn cakes wrapped in corn husks), and pan de muerto (day of the dead bread). The altar is then personalized with pictures of the deceased person, favorite foods and drinks, and other things the person enjoyed while on ...

... sizes, the smells are strong, and there is garbage everywhere. I wanted to get a visitors card, a temporary permit for my motorcycle and some Mexican pesos so I did a U turn and ended up in line to go back to the USA with no way out. As I approached the border crossing a US border crossing employee said that since I was on a motorcycle and in California, I could split lanes and encouraged me to ride between the rows of cars. So I was able to jump ahead of at least twenty cars ...

... in your hand doubled or trippled the price of any given item! Back streets had there own amuzing features I stepped into a jewelry store in Al Gadone and saw this iguana that was just sitting there. I thought it was stuffed . . .and then all the sudden it MOVED . . sure was pretty.

So today we got the urge to head out of california and start our RV trip. Being in California and along the coast just didnt feel like we were on vacation yet. So we spent the day driving south through San Diego and then out to the desert. Stopping along a couple of border towns along the way ending up in Yuma AZ. A long day in the RV but it felt good to be out of california. A highlight ...

... travel around the world for about a year. So why does one decide to leave family, friends, and a comfortable lifestyle to go on this journey?? Well, that's something I hope this blog will be able to answer as time goes on. For now I am just preparing for the first leg of my trip which will take me through South America and begins in Cusco, Peru.