Hola San Felipe

We are actually back in the US, but haven't been able to do any blogs as WiFi only available at the restaurant at Pete's Camp and we only used it a few times to read emails. Anyway, after our pre rally, we left in groups of 5 or 6 RVs and made our way across the border at Mexicali. They waved us through, though they did ask questions of some of the others in our group. We also were waved through at the check point. Nice! We had a few hour drive through typical desert landscape, getting a small view of the water the closer we got to San Felipe, which is on the Sea of Cortez. We arrived at Pete's Camp, our destination.

 

The Escapees parking crew directed us to our spot, which is right on the water. We can walk out our door and step right into the sand. Perfect.

 

There are houses right in back of the rv area that are part of Pete's Camp.

Here are some pictures of our camping area.

 

 

There was one mishap in the parking where one motorhome got stuck in some soft sand. Everyone worked together to get them unstuck the way all helpful Escapees do.

 

Savannah has been reunited with her boyfriend, Reggie, who belongs to Alan and Ellie. We spent time with them on last year's trip and Savannah and Reggie had a ball chasing each other and wrestling. Savannah ran right up to Reggie when she first saw him this trip and started jumping all over him. She doesn't normally do that and so we were sure she recognized him. It is true puppy love. Of course there were other dogs. When Miles was out he and Reggie, the two boys, played and Savannah watched them. She is more of a one dog at a time girl. All the dogs were in heaven being off lease in the sand.

 

Savannah and Reggie

 

Reggie and Miles

 

We had happy hour every day at 4. There was a ATV and Loretta, whom we met last year, gave me a ride. It was her first time driving it and she drove really fast but it was a lot of fun. Joe would love to get one of these toys some day.

 

 

Take a ride over the sea

It was $40 for a power para glide plane ride but we didn't take advantage of it. It looked like fun though. We had dinner at the restaurant as a group the first night. I'll post some of the things we did in another blog. However, i want to talk about Escapees Chapter 8 Mexican Connection, the group we are taking this trip with. In addition to be just a fun time to explore new areas of Mexico with friends met on previous trips and meeting new people, one of the main purposes of the chapter is charity. Every time the group goes to Mexico, some of the group will investigate different charities and then present them to the whole group with information on them and how much money will go to them. The money is raised by a live and silent auction of items donated by the members of the group and by cash donations as well. You can also donate clothing and other items that will go to some of the poorest San Felipe residents. There is a lot of poverty in this and other areas of Mexico and the people are so grateful for the Escapees help. Several orphanages were visited and chosen to receive monies as well as the manager of Pete's Camp, who feeds the poor from donations he receives as well as giving of his own money. Escapees are wonderful caring people and it makes us proud to be apart of this group. We had the auction later in the week and it was fun as people often overbid on items but calls that it was for the children kept the bids going up. More on the trip to come.

 

 

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On the Way to Mexico

I got lazy and didn't do a blog post and we are crossing the border into Mexico today. We left American Girl Mine Rd and spent one night at the Quechan Casino near the border. We met some of the Escapees Mexican Connection people, we are going on the trip,with at the casino and went into Los Algodones, Mexico to get our visas. This is a place where many from America, especially full and part time rvers, get their dental and eye treatments. They are much cheaper than even using insurance and many are very good doctors. The next day we went to the Imperial Valley Expo in Imperial, CA for our preralley. We met up with some of the people we met in last years trip and also made some new friends. We had 4 days here having meetings on what to expect in Mexico, activities available and even a little spanish lesson on some common terms. WE had a Mexican "potluck" where everyone had been assigned something to bring for a big taco salad. We brought refried beans. There were salad makings, olives, guacamole, chorizo, tortilla chips,etc. Also margaritas and beer. We watched the Super Bowl on an outdoor tv one of the rv'ers had on Sunday. More snacks and beer and wine flowed. We won't have cell service or internet in Mexico. There will be wifi at various places, of course, but I am not sure if I'll be able to blog while there. We are staying at Pete's Camp in San Felipe. I'll hopefully have some great pictures and stories to tell sometime in the next week or so.

Adios amigos!!

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Quiet Time in the Desert- American Girl Mine Rd, Yuma

Before we left the huge crowds of Quartsize for a quieter less populated spot in Yuma, we took a drive to Lake Havasu. We had made an appointment for Savannah for a vaccination needed and a health certificate for our Mexico trip which is coming up soon. We had made it very early as we had planned to kayak after. Of course the weather changed sooner than we thought and rain was due so those plans were dropped. We got up when still dark ): and took the drive north on the 95 which includes the lovely drive from Parker to Lake Havasu. Savannah was a good patient at the doctor's and now is up to date on shots and has her papers in order for the trip. We drove back partly on the California side. We stopped at the Bill Williams Wildlife Refuge which now has a visitor center. We kayaked from here down the Bill Williams River that starts from the lake on one of our previous trips.

 

 

We saw some wild burros walking down the highway.

Friday night was a rainy one but we had no problem leaving our boondocking spot at Dome Rock and drove a few hours to our next destination in Yuma. We had read about a few BLM boondocking spots off Ogilby Road, in Wheeling It's blog, that sounded nice and found a great spot on American Girl Mine Road. What a difference from Quartzsize. There were only a few other motorhomes in the area and we have unobstructed views out all our windows. Very lovely and very quiet.

View from window

 

 

One morning we walked down the wash below us. There are remains of the mines around this area. We saw a bunch of old tin cans that must have been from mining days in the past. I am not sure why they were in this one spot. There is also gold in these hills. This was a booming mining area in the 1880's. Sadly we haven't found any and are not now part of the 1%ers :)

Savannah is enjoying being off leash to do her exploring.

 

 

 

 

I never get over the awesome sunsets. Oh, the beauty of nature.

I love the way the light changes the coloring on the hills near sunset.

 

 

 

 

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Put up a Tent and RV'ers Will Come

We said good bye and see ya later to Borrego Springs and Anza Borrego and made our way out of California to Arizona. We decided to go on Hwy 78 which we don't remember ever traveling on before. It was a nice scenic drive. We passed through the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area and Glamis. This is a major area for sand toys. such as ATVs and other off road vehicles.

 

 

 

This might be a place to spend some time at in the future. We only had a few hours drive to reach Quartzsize. We actually found a spot at Dome Rock, about 5 miles outside of town. We were here a few times last winter, including spending some time during the big show, which is now going on. Quartzsize is a small desert town with a population of around 3,000, a town you would normally barely glance at on your way through. Once a year for several weeks, though, it turns into a major gathering of hundreds and thousands of RVers. A huge tent is erected and filled with vendors with all types of rv items. Outside is a swap meet/flea market where artwork, jewelry, and knick knacks galore are sold. It is a crazy scene, but all rvers should do it at least once. There are also many social gatherings, such as the escapees rv group who have several different get togethers. One we went to last year was the Escapees Chapter 8 Mexican Connection, which is the same group we are going to San Felipe at the beginning of February. We thought they would have one this year but didn't after all. We went to the show a couple of times and got a few things, such as more led lights which are almost done buying as replacements for the less energy friendly light bulbs that came with the motorhome. We also got some shelf organizers for the kitchen area cabinets. Always trying to find ways to make our home more organized.

Quartzsize Swap Meet

 

Thousands of Boondockers

More Boondockers

Below is Dome Rock, which we can see from our site. We are parked on a upper level off of Dome Rock Road with nice views of the hills and lights of the city at night.

Dome Rock

Below is a picture of our backyard.

 

Love the desert sunsets.

 

 

 

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