The Stinger "B" Starts The Slow Trek East

(Clicking on the pictures should open them larger in a new window.)

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

We are presently parked in the High Chaparral RV Park in Casa Grande, AZ. Tuesday when we arrived and today were about removing the dust accumulated while we boondocked in the desert. Though, if you RV you know removing the dust is a loosing battle that is never won and you do not have to be in the desert to have it accumulate. It is part of the adventure and something you learn to live with but it always feels good to refresh the inside and make room for more dust...lol Tom vacuumed and I dusted while our washer dryer combo is washing away.   Then Tom moved outside to set up our patio area and wash the Stinger B's nose of the bugs it had accumulated. While he had that fun I defrosted the freezer. I bought a thin plastic placemat to put in the back, a hint from Nancy to stop the frost. I am hoping it works because if there is one thing I do miss about a residential refrigerator is the self defrosting freezer! No pictures today but what follows is Tuesday's trip here and I took way to many pictures. 

Tuesday, March 29, 2022

We opened the curtains this morning to a perfect cloud watching day. A little to chilly to sit outside and watch while drinking my morning coffee which was just as well because today is a travel day and things needed to be stowed inside. So I had to be content to watch through the window while I drank my coffee and started doing what needed to be done to pull in the slides and get our wheels rolling. Once we had everything ready to roll I stepped outside and started taking pictures of the views around us. Between the clouds and the wind the views are constantly changing as the shadows dance across the mountains.

The Stinger "B" ready to take us down the road 
and the new adventures that lay ahead.

I know I say this a lot of the times at the beginning of the blog: fair warning there is a picture overload below. Today is another one of those days between the clouds, which I love to sit and watch on a day like today, and all the wonderful views along our path I took way to many pictures. I always do...😎 I will not be adding a lot of words today because I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

These first pictures are the views surrounding where we called home the last 16 days. These views were wonderful every day but the big white fluffy clouds surrounded by blue, blue sky added another layer of beauty today. The temptation today was to say to Tom lets stay one more day but I knew it was time to move on so I never said the words out loud. We have reservations starting tonight in Casa Grande and we have a limited amount of days before we need to be in Indiana and then Michigan. Since we prefer to not to have long travel days and have time to stop every few days it truly was time to go.

 

While Tom finished hooking up the Jeep
I took these last pictures.
We left this spot at 11:15AM.

Two last stops in Quartzsite. Pit Stop to top off our propane.
Then the Arco (One 9) to top off our diesel.
Actually, there was a third stop at a Taco Truck just across
from the Arco where we decided to have lunch.

We merged on to I-10 pointed East at 12:20PM.

We passed one vehicle today. 

As always I-10 was busy.

The flag unfurled in the wind against the clouds was beautiful!

 

It looked like this cloud had sunglasses on.😎

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station near Tonopah.
We stayed at the Saddle Mountain RV Park, near here,
several years ago and some days that steam would
rise up and form clouds that would slowly float by. 
Sadly, we have heard that park is now closed.

Turning on to AZ-85 which bypasses Phoenix.
Not long and we had a short ride through some construction.

Then there was green.

We have driven by Gila Bend and are now on I-8.

We are now driving through the Sonoran Desert National Monument. Driving through here on either side of the Interstate you can see Saguaros as far as the eye can see. I took quite a few pictures the first time we drove through here and every time since I have told myself you do not have to take that many pictures but.......I still do.

The mountain is black on the left and then

by the time we were driving by it the shadows had 
moved on and it was now in sunlight.

We are now close to reconnecting with I-10
and our destination.

The Stinger "B" merged on to I-10
and then took the first exit.
Home for the next 5 nights.

Tonigh.t's sunset through the palm trees and
over the RV's across the way. Quite a difference
from the last several months. 
Beautiful just the same.

It was a great ride for this passenger; the clouds were so beautiful. I know I am not hiding how much I love the clouds from anyone...lol For Tom it was a windy drive especially when we turned on to the bypass. Just the same he got us here safe and sound. 

It is nice to have the full hookups but we are already missing the wide open space of the desert. It always seems strange the first couple of weeks as we head back east to not be able to look out and see the openness that seemingly goes on forever. In a few days there will no longer be Saguaros out the window and at some point as we head east there will no longer be mountains in the distance. Yet at the same time we look forward to every mile of the journey ahead. Soon green forest and the beauty of the Great Lakes will fill our vision. No matter how much traveling we do, no matter were we land and call home, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan will always truly be home. Plus, and most importantly, we will get grandbaby hugs and children hugs when we get there! 

 

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Last Days in Quartzsite

Fair warning photo overload.

Monday, March 28, 2022

This is our last full day parked out in our spot at the Roadrunner BLM. Tomorrow we will start the slow trek back to Michigan. I always find it bittersweet when we point the nose of the Stinger "B" East. Somewhat sad to leave the desert and the mountain views yet at the same time looking forward to the journey ahead. 

We started this morning pretty much like every day with mugs of coffee. The sky out the windows was completely cloud covered and there was a prediction for some rain today so Tom went out and finished picking up our patio area. We had plans for a late breakfast with friends this morning so before long we were getting ready and heading out the door. 

Leaving Roadrunner a little before 11:00am under clouds.

This morning's breakfast spot.

Bottom pictures: Left, Patsy and Bill...Right Gail and John
Top picture was one of several selfies to successfully get us
all in. There was a little bit of a breeze and a few raindrops.

Breakfast with this group was a wonderful way to spend part of our last day here in Quartzsite. The food was good, the company special, the conversation non stop, and the time flew by. All to soon it was time to say our see you down the roads and with hugs all around we parted ways. Until next time take care and travel safe.

Decided to make one last stop at Gem World. 
Leaving this flag looked lovely flying in the wind.

The sun lighting up the desert floor while 
we could see dark clouds towards the south.

Remembered to get a picture of "Q" mountain.

To the south we could see blue skies.

Back home and the wonderful views around us.

The clouds cast beautiful shadows 

on the mountains.

The contrast of the light and shadows is beautiful.

As the day wore on the clouds moved on

and soon the sky was mostly blue.

Towards sunset more clouds were moving in
and it set behind the clouds this evening.

Though the sun's light did give us some

clouds filled with light.

Then there was some lovely rose color
just above the mountains.

As I sat there watching it did 

start to move up 

into the clouds.

Then just as quickly it was gone.

Night descended  and it was time to go inside.

The wind was with us throughout the day and we did get the predicted rain. I was hoping for an afterglow tonight but it was not meant to be. No complaints though because the clouds were beautiful. It was a good last day in this spot in the desert.

Catching up. I still have more to add to February but I had to many pictures I wanted to add to our memories of these days.

Sunday, March 27, 2022

It was hot not as hot as Friday and Saturday but we did see 90's and there was a good breeze. We actually spent a pretty lazy Sunday. 

I almost missed the sunset. 

By the time I walked over to this Saguaro to include
it in the picture the sun had slipped behind the mountain.

Saturday, March 26, 2022

We made a last minute decision to head over to Blythe, California to attend 6 o'clock Mass at St, Joan of Arc Catholic Church. 

I took this of the mountains to the east as we were 
leaving Roadrunner. 

Looking east near LaPosa South.

Just coming into Blythe.

The sun went down while we were in Mass. Afterwards we had a quick hamburger from Jack in the Box. We then made a stop at Albertsons for a couple of things before heading back home.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Today was Tom's last dental appointment to have his two crowns put on. Looking at the weather it mentioned record highs for the day and as luck would have it Tom had an afternoon appointment, basically from what we could see it meant walking to and from the border to the dentist office during the hottest part of the day. So we made the decision that I would drop Tom off at the border and then come back for him when he was through. While he did that I went back tracked into Yuma and did some shopping. Yes, it is true we all have to make sacrifices...lol Luck was on his side when he left as he said there was no line. Except for the stop to have his passport checked and his picture taken he walked right out. 

The following are pictures of some of the views as we drive south on US-95 towards Yuma. Today was the last time we will take this ride for this adventure. Though I never get tired of the ride or the views along here.

Not long after passing by the entrance to the Yuma Proving
Grounds you are riding by agricultural fields.

There are fields being picked, ready to be picked

and just picked.

We ride buy fields plowed and ready to be planted

and others with tiny plants just peeking up through the ground.
It is a never ending cycle. 

This is at the corner of US-95 and the street 3E.
We have turned here many times and for the first time

today I noticed this business. A lot of piping
used for watering all the fields we drive by.
Isn't that a great name?

On I-8 and we are going over the Colorado River and in the
distance I can see the the St. Thomas Yuma Indian Mission.
This is a lovely little church and the views from their 
upper parking lot are fantastic.

Then we are again driving by fields of vegetables.
That is an RV Park surrounded by the growing fields.

In the distance the Cargo Muchacho Mountains.

Those engines are actually at the end of the train.
I miss cabooses!

Exiting I-8 and heading towards Los Algodones.
Signs along the way, the Colorado River and the
bridge ahead goes over the All American Canal.

They started rebuilding this RV Park last year.
There are quite a few RV parked in here, all the same type.
The park itself is not open.

Dropping Tom off at the border and he is off 
to his appointment.
On his left is the parking area where we usually park.

All American Canal

The All-American Canal is an 82-mile long aqueduct, located in southeastern California. It conveys water from the Colorado River into the Imperial Valley and to nine cities. It is the Imperial Valley's only water source, and replaced the Alamo Canal, which was located mostly in Mexico. The Imperial Dam, about 30 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona on the Colorado River, diverts water into the All-American Canal, which runs to just west of Calexico, California before its last branch heads mostly north into the Imperial Valley. Five smaller canals branching off the All-American Canal move water into the Imperial Valley. These canal systems irrigate up to 630,000 acres of crop land and have made possible a greatly increased crop yield in this area, originally one of the driest on earth. It is the largest irrigation canal in the world, carrying a maximum of 26,155 cubic feet per second. Agricultural runoff from the All-American Canal drains into the Salton Sea.

Heading back home. That is US-95 in the upper left.
I believe those are the Gila Mountains.

Riding by I filled in the lines and I could see a Pirate Ship.

T-Rex is still there.

Kofa Mountains

Stone Cabin. We have been told that at one time 
they sold the best hamburgers.

Palm Canyon in the distance.

Back in Quartzsite we saw some wonderful color in the clouds.
Then we stopped at Silly Al's for Pizza.

So ended our day.

Thursday, March 24, 2022

Another day of these beautiful views parked in our spot in the desert.

We had a Hummingbird visiting our feeder.

The views out here never get old.

It is hard to tell in the picture but the clouds looked 
like dust hanging in the air. 

Dust in the distance towards the Dome Rock Mountains.
The ATVer's are having fun.

Just a sliver of sunlight left over the Dome Rock Mountains.

We have enjoyed our time parked out here in the Roadrunner BLM. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains in the distance. Looking out over the beauty that is this place and spending time with Saguaros in view. As I mentioned in a previous post this time was a "detour" for us but it gave us the opportunity to visit with friends we did not think we would see again this adventure and a chance to spend another two plus weeks in this beautiful spot. Going with the flow and accepting the unexpected is all part of this adventure of life we are on. All moments to be cherished and placed in the memory book of this our retirement dream.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.