Super 8 Motel Yuma

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.

... direction on the correct street. Of course, only after all this did we realize our Lonely Planet guidebook conveniently contained a very well marked map of downtown Tijuana! As we found the route we should have been following, however, we began debating going back to find the government office at the border crossing where we were supposed to have procured our tourist cards.

In the end, fairly exhausted from already having been lost at least ...

... at home were probably doing the same thing. We also found a Casino that also provided us with amusing entertainment. That reminds me, once we had been in this city for a couple of weeks you become pretty confident on being able to get around. Well one night we decide to go out to the casino ( about a 20 min drive) and we get lost, ends up taking about an hour and twenty minutes to get there. It was quite scenic with us going past the state penitentiary and ...

... for the night and continue another eight hours the next day. They also install the new front springs which turns out to be a gruesome job. Sore, bleeding, worn out hands do not hamper the joy that Dom feels at finally having Eve well again.  From here we make our way to Sacramento to pick up solar panels. The weather is warming and it seems we are finally free from the grasp of winter. We do not take the time in Sacramento to install the panels and stow them safely until we ...

... We lasted 2 hours. That is pretty good for us and socializing. I can only talk so long. No games were announced and that was a bummer for a lot of us. Our path was lit with lumminates on both sides of the road as we walked home. The moon was so bright in a black sky. A good time was had by all, but everyone's bedtime is probably around 8 pm!!!! JK. Dale and I wish you all a Happy New Year and may God bless you richly throughout the year.

... we drove out of the desert and spent a week at Mountain Lakes Resort in the Lytle Creek. Mountain Lakes is a peaceful campground located not far from San Bernardino in a secluded, scenic valley surrounded by majestic mountains. Contrary to Indian Waters in Indio, where they were ending their 'season' and were actually closing for the hot summer months, Mountain Lakes although they're open all year, they did not ...

Well we spent 2 nights in Yuma (trailer park capital of the universe) in order to wait for a satellite part and stock up before the crossing at Mexicali into Mexico. See some pics of the park and area. It is a pretty flat and desolate place with a few casinos and very near the California line. We had a good time anyway....they got a great super walmart.