We've Moved

  Bouse, Arizona, United States
Thursday, January 15, 2009

For the last few days we have been busy. Busy going, busy seeing, busy hiking, busy talking, and busy eating.

Friends of ours showed up to stay a couple of days. Carole and Jack are in Arizona touring. After they got set up, Kathy, Terry, us and Jack and Carole went out to dinner.

Dinner out with friends

We found a "Mexican" restaurant. I use that word loosely. We thought something was wrong when we hear Oldie but Goodies on the radio instead of Mexican music we usually hear from our special Mexican restaurants at home.

The next day we hit the road to see the surrounding area and to meet up with a man who knows about solar as an alternative energy source for our rig when we boondock. The drive took us to Bouse (rhymes with house) about 25 miles north of Quartzsite. This town was started around General Patton's tank training. We also found a great place to camp for the rest of our vacation.

Carole and I took a walk while the men talked, we came upon this gnarly cactus. He's been around for awhile.

Gnaly Cactus

We stopped in Bouse to have lunch and had four choices of restaurants. We picked the one with the most cars - right - locals eat there so must be good. We had a variety of dishes, tuna sandwich, hamburger, chicken strips and a Denver omelet. Alas, Dale's was the only lunch that came out awful. Dale told us I could teach the cook how to make an omelet! Theirs was burned and they really did serve it!

Lunch at a Bouse Cafe

We then moved on to Hope. We took a loop around this area of Arizona back to Quartzsite. We had dinner together and said our good-byes as they were leaving on Wednesday morning.

Wednesday, was laundry day. Not a day I or Kathy was looking forward to but one that was an absolutely necessary. We were blessed to get to the laundry and find 5 washers free. We got our laundry done at the same time, which was nice. Then off to Joyce's Crafts. She had most any craft you would want but we were interested in the monk cloth and patterns and card embroidery. That didn't stop us from looking at everything though.

We returned home to have lunch and then take off to Palm Canyon south of Quartzsite. Palm Canyon is in the KOFA (King of Arizona) National Wildlife Refuge in the Sonoran Desert.

Sonoran Desert

We learned that Palm trees do not have rounds so you can tell how old they are. So the Palm trees in this canyon are over 100's of years old because they are native to Arizona. They are called Fan Palm trees.

Palms

We drove on a very rutty dirt road to the parking lot just below the canyon. Then we had to hike up the mountain about one-half mile.

Palm Canyon

We happened to do this hike on one of the hottest days in January. It was wonderful. I think it was the best day so far in Arizona this trip. We have been blessed with very warm days and little wind - except for the first dinner of our rally!

KOFA Mountains

Dale and Morgan arriving at the Palms

On the way home to our rig, we were called and informed about dinner out with our Chapter at "The Best Mexican Food" restaurant. Eighteen of us went. Again, we had strange food. Well, not like what we get in Oregon. The one good thing about Arizona, the food is priced less than in Oregon. I guess I would rather have "good" food and higher prices!

Today, Thursday, we took off early to get a free breakfast at La Mesa RV Sales and Service! Yes, you heard me right. Terry went the day before and said the pancakes were really good. So we gave it a try. It was fun. And the pancakes were good. They also served juice and coffee. While we were waiting for our pancakes in a long, long line, I asked the woman at the counter if she was a work camper. We had a nice discussion but in the end she didn't really know what a work camper was and got the job through a family member whose best friend's friend works there. It is all in "who you know."

Free Breakfast wtih Kathy and Terry

As we were walking out the door I came face to face with Jack and Lora! They worked at Howard Prairie with us a few years back and Lora and I have kept in contact. I was floored to see them in Quartzsite. They are living in Lake Havesu. They were down purchasing a Fleetwood Discovery coach and were excited about getting out of the "tunnel" coach they now have. Yep, they don't have any slides in their coach and are looking forward to 3 slides and more living space. I know we like our 3 slider 5th wheel.

We got back to our rig, hitched up, said our goodbyes and headed for Bouse. We were excited to get out in the desert, away from everyone and just do some R and R time alone. We haven't had that yet all these days of our vacation. So far, we are truly blessed with a great spot, wonderful sunsets and Dale is urging me to go out to see the Arizona sky. It is completely dark here. So, see you later.