Hope you don't mind the park reviews I stick in between posting about our travels.  There are some people that need to know that stuff.

We went out to dinner with Karin and Jack the last night in Rio Bend.  We went to Applebees! And because we were leaving so early in the morning, we said our goodbyes then.

Hope I don't repeat.  May 30th, we left Rio Bend.  The temp was 66 degrees at 6:05AM and a beautiful warm sunny morning.  By 9am the temp was 89 degrees.  That's the reason we left so early in the morning; we were trying to beat the heat.  We have/had no idea how the motor home would do in that heat (going over 100 degrees in the desert) and climbing the mountains.

Our first night was in Parker, AZ and we stayed at a park for ONLY $27.43 for the night!  That's a great price.  We also got there really early in the day, still morning, because we only drove about 150 miles.  We DID beat the heat.

The second day, May 31st, we left early again and it was already 78 degrees.  By early I mean about 7am.  We went through Lake Havasu City, the road was very good and the scenery was beautiful. 

We stopped for fuel in Havasu ($192 at $2.93 a gallon).  7:45 AM 88 degrees!

We hit junction I40E and 95 north of Havasu.  The road was pretty good and pretty much straight.  Then all of a sudden the road turned to crap.  I was trying to catch a nap on the bed, which is bumpy anyway, and it was really bad.  A person could have gotten sick quickly.  We were climbing and bouncing.  6900 feet and the temp was 89 degrees at 10:15 AM.  The road was rough all the way off and on.

During the day, I tried to nap and got in some reading.  That's why I needed a nap as reading always puts me to sleep except at night when I need to sleep.  

We only drove 248 miles yesterday.

June 1, 2015

We stayed in Flagstaff, AZ last night at Black Barts RV park.  $33 for the night with full hook-ups.  Cozy and quiet.  They have a steakhouse there but we stayed home and enjoyed watching TV and resting.  Traveling can tire you out.  Especially Chuck.  He drove 319 miles today.

We left Black Barts about 5:55am this morning.  We were supposed to be able to sleep in but Chuck found out the temps were going to be too high to not leave early again.  At 5:55am the temp was 50 degrees.  It did only get to about 89 today so maybe we could have slept in this morning.  For sure I want to tomorrow morning.

We'll be heading to a little city between Salt Lake City and Ogden UT called Clinton tomorrow where we'll get some maintenance work done on the motor home and will be there for a couple nights.  Not sure how little it is, though.  

Tonight we are in Marysvale, UT.

Happy trails,
Kathy

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Black Bart RV and Steakhouse

Black Bart RV and Steakhouse in Flagstaff, AZ was our next stop for the night.

 2760 East Butler Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Phone number: 928-774-1912

This park has seen better days but we thought it was fine for one night.  We were put in the front row away from the older trailers.  BE CAREFUL coming in as the road has some huge speed bumps or it's just a plain unkempt gravel road.  The whole park looks worn out and sad but it was quiet and we felt safe.  The sites weren't especially level but then lots of parks are that way.  The concrete pad was on the wrong side of the motor home!  Weird.

The steakhouse has a musical review that starts at 5:30pm.  Reservations are highly recommended.  Be there at 5:00pm so you get a good seat.  They have a full menu with specials.  The show is free and from what I understand, it's the waitresses and waiters that do the musical review.  The brochure has a 10% off coupon for dinner.  I would not call that a General store!  It's a joke but then we were not there for anything from a store.  

They are open year round.
175 full hook-up sites
42 pull throughs (25x50')

There is some discrepancy from ad to ad so it would be best to call ahead.

It's easy location, right off of 140E so it is a good easy in and easy out, except for the unkempt gravel road.

Happy Trails!

Kathy

Lazy D RV Park

We left Rio Bend at 6:05 AM on May 30th.  The temperature was 66 degrees and it was sunny.

We were heading to Parker, AZ.  We had a nice slow day and only drove about 153 miles.  Getting up and getting going that early in the day was because the temperature was going to hit 100+.

LAZY D RV AND MOBILE HOME PARK

Phone number:  928-669-8797

No website

Lazy D RV Park is also a mobile home park.  This is the important information you need and then I'll give my review of the park:

Camp information:
212 Sites with some pull through sites
Full Hookup sites:  100
Pets allowed:  yes but there are breed restrictions
Age Restrictions:  no
Extended stay:  yes
Shaded sites:  yes
Big Rigs: yes
Will not take credit cards
Power: 50 and 30 AMPS
Restrooms:  yes
Showers:  yes
Laundry:  yes
Clubhouse:  yes
Horseshoes:  yes
No Pool

The clubhouse/rec hall was a nice size and looked pretty new.  The managers/owners were very friendly. We had a very pleasant stay and would go back.  They have good paved interior roads.

We paid only $27.43 for the one night.  We love Parker, AZ and went to Walmart.  It is not a super Walmart but sufficient for most things.

We asked about monthly rates, for the winter, and she said $275 a month, 8cents a kil for ele and you get 6000 gallons of water for free each month.
They were found in the Trailer Life Directory.

Happy trails!

Kathy

The directions were a little off

Park Reviews Coming Back

We're on the road again and it's kind of sweet/sour, happy/sad for me.  I have to leave Jack and Karin behind but we have been here for 7 months and it's really time we flew this coup!

Zumba ended in March, I think it was, and yesterday was Chuck's last day here.  We'll be traveling north and I will try to do some reviews on the parks we stay at in case other travelers have a need to know.

So for now, till next time anyway, happy trails.

Kathy

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Ready for the hot sun

The beautiful pool!  I love it!

We're had a wonderful wonderful winter in El Centro at the Rio Bend RV and Golf resort! We participated in so many fun activities and functions since we arrived on Halloween day in October.  The weather was glorious, with a few days of rain, but mostly warm sunny throughout the months since then. Evenings get cool but then it was winter, you know.

Just one of our beautiful sunsets

Zumba class went ok. There were about 9 ladies and one gentleman that attended, some coming and going and new ones almost every class because people would come into the park, stay awhile and then leave. What a fun way to meet and enjoy your friends. We have a wonderful time on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings dancing outside under the portico.  I received lots of compliments and gifts from my ladies when we ended at the end of the season.

Chuck was super busy during the winter, and still is, helping out with all the projects that popped up in the park last summer. He seems to love being so awfully needed and does a great job doing what he's doing. They installed 15 towers, I think they're called, for internet connection in the park and he did it in just one month. He had help but all 15 holes were dug, posts set and they were readied for Tengo Internet to come in and hook everything up. I swear he spent more time at Home Depot than he did at home.

                          This is the bar. See me?

I played ping pong, helping the activities department with all the functions like bingo, decorating the clubhouse/cafe/portico, meetings, dances, pub night, welcome back party, pool party, Veterans Day Celebration, Thanksgiving dinner, craft sale and so much more. I  even attended the water aerobics on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The days I did't have Zumba. I also played cribbage on Wednesday nights and helped and/or played bingo on Monday nights.  When I wasn't playing, I was the "caller".


 They never did start bocce ball because there just wasn't enough interest.  I pouted a bit about that.  I tried  to get out there early in the morning for pickle ball. I'd have to skip a water aerobics one morning to do so but it's great exercise and worth it, but I really never made it.  Just too early in the morning for me.

After the holidays, I added a Saturday Zumba class and all it did was make the class smaller with a choice of three days a week. Many returned home for the holidays but returned in January and had to get try to build the habit again to come to class.  It wasn't as successful as I wanted.

Our motor home at site #293

If you get down to southern CA, please stop by.  El Centro isn't that far from San Diego or LA.

Kathy  (sorry the pics are so big.  I'll do better next time.

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March 2015

After watching the Blue Angels yesterday, Chuck and I went to Algadones, MX for lunch and decided to have lunch before shopping; I need new glasses and we need a few things from the Purple Pharmacy. Lunch was awesome; 2 plates of food and two huge margaritas for $35! We were invited to sit with a group of people from Canada and Minnesota. They boondock or dry camp right on the US side of the border. We had to go check that out. It's awesome! Only about $200 for 6 months paid to the Indians as it's on their reservation. We hope to try that one day as Chuck has always wanted to get solar panels. They also have WIFI there and TV!

From there, we stopped at the Q for dinner. It's the casino. We got home and Chuck went to bed. It was still quite early so I went up to the bar. See the pics down below the jets. Beautiful, isn't it. I sat with some Zumba peeps and their spouses and danced a few dances. One of the gals decided to jump in the pool and before she had a chance, she was pushed in! One wife after another were pushed in. It was only a matter of time. That pool, the bar, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I was the next to be pushed in! It was so fun! Luckily, I had asked a friend much earlier in the evening, to hold my phone as I had no pockets and I didn't want to lose it while dancing. Not just lose it but forget where I put it. So being thrown in didn't hurt a thing! Talk about second childhood! So much fun.

What will/could happen next?

Yesterday, I was sitting at my laptop, early, only about 7am, that's real early for me, waiting to GO SEE THE BLUE ANGELS PRACTICE! We were invited with some friends that are retired military and able to get on the base, NAF, anytime they want so a few times every year at this time, they take a van load of friends on the base, right up close and personal, to watch the Blue Angels practice! We stood right at the gate where the pilots walk through in their blue jumpsuits to go to the jets. They talked to us even! Nice young men that aren't just pilots but gorgeous young men that we can all be extremely proud of. We are told they live to fly! They are Blue Angel pilots for only 2 years and then step down so others can take their place. It's quite stressful not only on their nerves but their whole body system. Can you imagine going at those speeds, not just normal flying but upside down, flipping over?!

It was truly an awesome experience and one I'll never forget. Wish every American could experience this regimented beautiful process.

Valentine's dinner was so yummy! Chicken Kiev,I think. Anyway, super good. I didn't stay for the dance because there were soooo many people there, the dance floor was full and I was tired. It was a huge success.

Yesterday the ladies got in the pool for their water aerobic class and the pool overflowed and flooded the portico dance floor so there was no Zumba. I mean at least 1" of water in the low spots and, of course, where we usually dance. So I went for a walk with Barbara.

Today is Mardi Gras where we'll have a parade, potluck and street dance. I am not in the parade this year with my Zumba float. I want to see the parade this year. There'll be lots of fun prizes. The temps are cooperating and will be about 80 today.

So I better get going and help with setting up tables for the potluck. Happy Mardi Gras everyone.

Our beautiful pool when the sun is setting. Valentine's dinner is on Saturday and we're going to attend. Till then, I have a Zumba class this morning and one on Friday. The temps are climbing already so we're shortening the class to 45 minutes and see if that helps. Wednesday is the only day we could possibly be inside where there's AC. Normally, we're outside under the portico (you see the portico in the photo below) but if there's no breeze, it gets pretty warm. Moving inside will probably happen if the temps keep climbing. It was 88 yesterday and today will be 84.

Finally went shopping at Macys at the mall and had a great time with Karin and Jack. I haven't shopped for clothes for so long it was actually fun.

OK, it is now February 5, 2015. We've been here for 3 months and have been through lots of warm days, some cool days and some rainy days. we're back to the warm days in the 80s with more sun than you have ever seen!

Since I last posted, I've helped decorate for Christmas, the dinner and dance and for New Years Eve. Things get started early here and most people are home in bed by 10pm, even on New Years Eve. We had a different kind of dinner Christmas eve, but not completely bad, and a wonderful dinner on NYE. The best part is you always get a dessert!

Right before Christmas, Chuck drove up to Seattle to get Jack and Karin so they could start anew down here with jobs and a place to live. They made it back Christmas eve to have dinner with me.

Jack is pretty much doing what his Dad does for the park; lots of maintenance, building steps for the park models, making signs, fixing the lighting, etc. Karin works in the kitchen is doing a fabulous job! They both love it here. They've gotten their first paycheck and are in 7th heaven! They both even get in overtime every pay period which is a real plus. Jocie, their little Jack Russell, really loves the warm weather, too, and loves to go in and out of their rig, home, on her leash, of course, at will. No cold feet anymore.

We've been using the hot tub and lthe pool which id really fun after dark. It's right next to the bar and makes for a fun evening. I haven't played a lot of ping pong lately nor been able to get out for pickleball. I've added another day of Zumba, not Saturday but Fridays. I have a good solid 10 ladies now and we have such a wonderful time. We've even added some line dancing as our cool down.

We lost a few people, help, in activities so I've been doing a little more. Don't have a lot of time for ping pong nor can I find anyone that wants to play. Jack loves the game but works and Chuck won't play. Bob, my usual ping pong partner, came back to the park but haven't seen him. He brought his lady friend and he's busy showing her the sites around the area. I missed cribbage last night, I have forgotten for a month now, so hopefully will remember next week.

For several weeks I was doing a lot of watercolor painting. I love all the arts but watercolor especially and there was a craft sale coming up in the park, so I spent some time getting ready for that. I did sell two paintings!!!

I only have to cook about two days a week when the cafe is closed. Otherwise, we get vouchers for food in the cafe for our work, plus other benefits, so we eat lunch there everyday and what I cook on Tuesdays and Wednesdays usually holds over for dinner till the next week. What a life, huh? You just can't beat it!

So let's see what else........we had a lady impersonator come in for a show and she was terrific. Actually, she chose Chuck to come up on stage to be "Daddy" when she was Marilyn Monroe and she sang to him. It was the funniest thing ever. We had The Piano Man, not the real one, come in a do a Las Vegas quality show! All Elton John and Billy Joel music. AWESOME!!!

Well, that's about it for now. I feel pretty caught up on the news for you. Wish you all were here and could experience this wonderful life style. Our doors are open if anyone wants to get away from the cold winter.