Yuma for New Years

I spent Christmas in Mesa this year with Max and some of his family. Found a nice little church and attended candlelight Christmas Eve services and got to sing all my favorite carols. We even went to see the new 'True Grit' movie, which I would recommend. It was great. But following Christmas we headed down to Yuma where many of our friends were hanging out.

No trip to Yuma is complete without at least one stop across the border at Algodones. Here are a couple of us having fun at the Green Door,

While the rest of the group looks on.

But New Years Eve finds the group having its traditional finger food buffet out by the campfire.

 This year there were over 100 people attended some part of the WINs Christmas/New Years gathering. Many were parked on BLM land located behind the VFW. This is a favorite hang out in this area because the VFW has live music and dancing every day from 2-6. We can just walk over whenever we want. The VFW also had live music to ring in the New Year. They also had a potluck, so we didn't go hungry New Years Eve.

 

Out by the campfire earlier in the evening of New Years Eve. Notice the coats, hats and gloves? I know it wasn't as cold as much of the USA, but in my opinion it was cold enough. I wonder how far south I have to go for shorts?

And the party begins over at the VFW. Live music, food, dancing and good friends to ring in the new year.

Nowadays you don't have to have an entire band to sound like one. This couple, which are snowbirds down from Canada, sounded like they had an entire band to back them up.

But of course, the WINs provided a bit of entertainment too. Bagpipe Bob (Bob McCourt that is), brought out his bagpipes and played a few tunes.

And of course there was the dancing until midnight.

But there is always the next morning. And here are some us, bright and early, out for our daily hugs. Happy New Year to all my friends and family.

Quartzsite in December

We stopped at Quartzsite for a few days with our friends. Besides doing a little shopping in town, we took a couple of off-road trips.

On top of the hill overlooking the small mountains around Quartzsite.

Another trip was out to the Cinnabar Mine. This building was just down the hill from the mine.

It looks like this ole gal is the only one inhabiting the place nowadays.

What's left of the mine. The mine was discovered in the 1880s, but not actively mined until 1904 through 1914. Cinnabar was the primary mineral, although mercury was also mined here. The main shaft was 640 feet deep with 7 levels.

Cinnabar, or red mercury and sometimes called dragon's blood, is a common ore of mercury. It is found both as a granular, earthy form or as crystals, from bright scarlet to brick red in color.

Another trip took us out to another old mine located east of Quartzsite. But instead of a mine, we ran across this gravel pit. One of the workers was out grading the road and told us we could take a look around.

There was no equipment in the bottom to show a size, but that road is not a foot path, but a road for the large tractors used to dig out the gravel.

They dig and sort the gravel and every couple of months haul it all out.

More from the Slabs

After being gone a week, I arrived back at the Slabs to this wonderful sunset. The sky looked like it was on fire. It was beautiful.

We even had Christmas lights.

And a campfire in the evenings.

Here is our decorated creosote bush in the daylight hours. It's prettier at night.

The Slabs 2010

I'm not going to repost a lot of photos from the slabs, but if you want to learn more about the slabs, check out my blog from back in 2008: http://ladynomad2005.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html#3730086707774098488

Since 2008 the tanks have been repainted, or should I say, just updated and refreshed with some minor modifications. This tank has lots of dinosaurs and other animals. The tanks are within walking distance of where we park.

Here is where me and my friends all park out in the desert at the Slabs.

Some of my friends put on a short 'play' for the group. The production was "Cinderella".

The producer

The narrator

Prince Charming

One of the ugly stepsisters

The other ugly stepsister

Cinderella

The fairy godmother

It wasn't your typical version of Cinderella, but sure was funny and enjoyable. A great big Thank You to all the participants for sharing your talents with the rest of us.

And then it was back to the Phoenix area for a few days.

Joshua Tree National Park

After returning from Oklahoma, Max and I headed out of Phoenix and ended up at Joshua Tree. Although I had been some years ago, I didn't remember much, and Max could only remember driving through, so we both wanted to explore some more.

Cottonwood Springs is on the south side of the park. From the 1870s to about 1910, Cottonwood Springs was a refreshing stop in the desert for Indians, miners, travelers and cowboys. Although the Indians had been camping here for centuries, it was the miners who came to the area who changed the land the most.

Using water from the local spring, the minors built places like this to crush their ore.

We hiked to Lost Horse Mine, which was a 4 mile round trip from the parking area. Legend has it that Johnny Lang found the mine while searching for his lost horse. Whether that is true or not, Johnny and his partners filed the claim for the mine in 1893. It operated full time until 1908.

Looking back on the trail and in the distance you can even see a snow capped mountain in the background.

This 10-stamp battery, ore mill and hoist processed 9000 ounces of gold during the mine's operation. Notice how bundled up I am? It was only in the high 40s, maybe low 50s and the wind was blowing 20-30 mph, making it feel much colder.

At one time their were hundreds of small claims and mines operated in the area which is now Joshua Tree NP. This is what is left of the Silver Bell Mine.

At Keys View you can look over the Coachella Valley and see the San Andreas Fault line.

Although the park is named after the Joshua Tree, a member of the Yucca family, they are only found in the northern part of the park. The park is actually comprised of 2 different deserts, the Mojave in the north and the Colorado in the south, each having its own plants and landscapes. Much of the park exists in a transition zone, where species from both deserts are found.

Here the Joshua Trees are so thick they actually do remind you of a forest environment.

But it was very windy the entire time we were there, so after several days we headed south towards the slabs, hoping to find better weather.

It's been a tough year..

For those that follow my blog, you all know I lost my father back in August. Then my mom collapsed at his memorial. Well, I lost my mom just a week before Thanksgiving, only 3 months after my dad. I guess, after 64 years of marriage, she didn't want to live alone. Her health just never really came back after her collapse. So here is a small tribute to some great parents. I loved them and will miss them.

Some have wondered where I get my adventurous spirit, but I know. It was from my parents.

We started camping when I was only 6 years old. They always encouraged me to try new things and to live life to the fullest. I can remember my parents playing cards and dominos with their friends and all of us kids having our own party while the parents danced away in the other room. After my dad had been medically retired in his 50s, he bought his first motorcycle and he and my mom joined a motorcycle club. (It was a club my late husband and I introduced them to) I even remember a great costume party we all attended one year for Halloween. And there are many more memories just like these. The way they loved to entertain, to take people out on the lake fishing, and how they enjoyed going out with their friends. And especially the last 15 years, how they enjoyed their friends and activities at their local church.

My mom and dad several years ago.

My mom and myself just a few weeks before her death.

Nascar at Phoenix International Raceway

Sunday, November 7, found us in a line of approximately 500 RVs, 5th wheels, trailers and popups, all waiting for entry into PIR (Phoenix International Raceway). We talked to some people about number 3 in line and asked how long they had been there. They said, 'almost two weeks'. Some people must have no life at all.....

The next morning they started letting people and by noon we were set up for the week. It's pretty empty right now.........

But by Thursday it had a few more people in the campground.

The Marlboro exhibit offered the opportunity to ride with a professional driver in a new mustang on a small track. One lap around and then you drifted the next 3 laps. We were checking the place out trying to find out how to get a chance for a ride when a woman, De Anne Dwight, came up and asked if one of us (Max or I) wanted to be their guest for a ride. At first I thought she was kidding, but when I realized she wasn't, Max told me 'go for it'.

The ride lasted only minutes, but what a ride......

De Anne Dwight, her husband Jeff, his father and me, before the ride.

There are always the unusual. Here they rented a 28 ft u-haul to carry all the stuff out for their tail gate party. You can see the large BBQ grill and they had a large patio table (iron and glass) with chairs, 2 bars and enough firewood to have bonfires every evening.

This was the Royal Ride car, a mix of look-a-like Rolls Royce front end merged with a VW Beetle to make the limo.

Side View.

And of course, there were the shopping cart races in the evenings. Max's son and grandson had a good run and won.

And I even found a place to dance at the Camper Appreciation Night Event at the Speed Cantina.

Max got to sit in his favorite driver's seat. Jimmie Johnson, you better watch out!

We never did find out who the tire treads belonged to.....

We went to the truck race which was held Friday night under the lights.

But it was bright and sunny Sunday afternoon for the big race. And the stadium was full.

Here they go.......

And the winner was.....Carl Edwards, car 99.