We arrived at Quartzsite. December 28 to 30

Friday, December 27th we left Casa Grande in the rain  ... big hugs to Wayne, Karen, John and Sandy. Thanks for the great time.

First stop is Walmart in Casa Grande for a few staples ... well a lot of staples, lol as we will be in Q for a month, before heading out on the highway to Quartzsite. We also had a quick breakfast at McDonalds to tide us over for the 3 hour drive. Not the best but filled the "hole". The rain had quit for my shopping run which was nice. Ray walked Freya while I spent an hour shopping.

With the groceries stowed we backtracked a short ways to I-8 towards Gila Bend. We hate driving through downtown Phoenix on the I-10 so this route is much nicer even if it is about 10 minutes longer according to Google. All you need is traffic congestion and it would eat up this extra time easily.

 Within minutes of getting onto the I-8 the rain began again. It rained, then showered and stopped multiple times. Good thing we hadn't washed the coach yet. lol

A stop at Gila Bend for fuel and propane and back on Highway 85 to the I-10 bypassing Phoenix. It actually poured until we were an hour outside of Quartzsite before the skies cleared and the rain stopped. We plan on staying for a month so need our fuel and propane full for the duration.

Once we paid for our pass, Steve met us at the garbage bins and we followed him in the car to see where they had saved us a spot. It was a great location in relation to them but the hard gravel and big sharp rocks would have been really hard on Freya so we parked the rig and then checked out other areas along the wash. We were able to snag a spot close to where we used to camp. Bonus. Right on the wash for Freya and Ray's walking. We can see Steve and Dianne's unit in front of us but it's far enough we will drive there in the car with our happy hour offerings. lol

CAMP ART GECKO, someone took the time to make one with the white rocks.

Kastle shining in the morning light after her bath. 

Once we were set up it was going on 4:30 and time to head over to Steve and Dianne's for dinner. She made us her wonderful lasagna and a salad with garlic toast. Yummy. Nice to not have to cook when we first arrive. A lovely evening spent catching up as we had not seen each other since August ... even though we talk just about everyday on messenger. lol Ray was not grumpy ... just moving food around his mouth and got caught after 5 tries of taking a picture! Ha Ha Ha.

Headed home about 7:30 pm. Turned on the generator to watch some TV and it did not switch to charge!!!! So ticked off we just went to bed after Freya was walked. We will deal with this tomorrow.

Saturday morning we woke up at 7 and while I started coffee, Ray went out to check the breaker on the generator ... Bonus that's all it was. The guys fixing the inverter breaker in Tombstone must have shut it off for testing and of course we have not used the generator since.

Looks like a beautiful sunny day. It will be nice to see the sun again after nearly a week of clouds and rain. Sure looking forward to spending some relaxing time here in the desert with space for Freya to romp around.

The next two weeks weather here looks to be mostly sunny skies although just high 50's F in temps. At home starting next Friday is a whole week of snow! Glad to be here.

First thing Saturday morning I called Robert's Mobile RV Wash. The said they would come at noon. I spent some time getting our solar lights up although some couldn't be done until after our wash and wax and Ray cleaned out the car with me helping with dumping out our firewood.

The Robert's crew showed up on time and 3 hours later the coach and the car looked much better after their wash and wax. We also had the roof deoxidized as well with Meguiar's® Marine/RV Oxidation Remover. Seems to work pretty good. The roof was definitely in need of it since it had been 2 years since it was last done.

Once the pressure wash part was over Freya stayed outside on her mat. Ray and I were inside as it was extremely windy out and very cool. I started my prep for our dinner tomorrow night.

After Robert's crew left, we managed to sit outside for an hour and our neighbours at the front of the coach, Gloria and Warren, came over for a visit.Warren commented that no one seems to sit outside here ever ... I think they find it kind of lonely. This is the first and the last time they are coming here they say. Certainly this has been an unusually cold and wet winter this year here.

Earlier this morning our neighbours behind us, Katie came over with a plate of Christmas Fudge and welcomed us to the neighbourhood. Her husband Carl works 6 days a week at La Mesa RV in Q. Katie also volunteers at the BLM Office two days a week. Long-time visitors to La Posa South. I think they were here the last time we had this spot next to this one about 4 years ago.

Sunday, once the sun came up, it turned out to be a beautiful day with minimal wind. Yeah! That meant we could have a campfire before my big ham dinner with friends. While I was getting the prep work done for dinner, Ray hauled out our extra tables etc and got the kindling made. I finally sat down to enjoy some sun about 1:30 pm.

We noticed the Goodyear Blimp flying by from a football game yesterday in Goodyear we were told. And now it was on its way to Pasadena California for another football game tomorrow.

At 3 pm Jim and Barb arrived and soon after Steve and Dianne. We spent a couple hours at the fire having a beer tasting event ... Barb kindly brought her sample glasses. A little chilly with the wind so the fire was built up more and I handed out some blankets and an extra sweater. lol

At 6 dinner was ready. Thankfully everything turned out okay. First time cooking a ham in the microwave/convection oven. I finished cooking the scalloped potatoes in the barbeque on top of the pizza stone to even out the heat. We all piled into the coach. Ray and I had managed to squeeze in another small table so all six of us could sit to eat ... and drink some more. lol

I think a few adult beverages were had. lol

A fabulous time with friends with lots of laughs. I even managed to get Jim to eat a vegetable ... some glazed honey carrots. Told him to try one and he could spit it out in the garbage if he truly did not like it. Used to make our kids do the same thing so they would try stuff. He actually took another scoop and said it was the first time he ate carrots since he was a boy. Wow ...

It is amazing that we only met Jim and Barb 4 years ago here in Quartzsite and have kept our friendship alive simply by reading and commenting on each other's blogs. This is only the second time we saw them face to face during this time. Love this RV lifestyle family we have become a part of.

With dinner finished it was time for my shortbread and Baileys. Everyone certainly enjoyed dessert ... the whole jug of Baileys was just a distant memory by the time everyone went home. I don't think anyone was feeling any pain. lol  A great evening. Thanks guys for coming over. I really enjoyed cooking for you all. Did not realize until we were eating that Jim's birthday is tomorrow ... so Happy Birthday!

A beautiful Arizona sunset.

Monday morning woke up to a spectacular sunrise, of course as today is supposed to be really cloudy. lol Ray took these pictures. This sunrise was actually all 360 degrees. We have never seen this before. The whole sky, no matter which direction you looked was fiery.

Ray and I went into town for the first time since we arrived on Friday, to have breakfast and pick up a few things for the big Happy Hour at Steve and Dianne's for Jim's birthday. Quite a crowd has made it here for the winter so far in their group, with more arriving every day. Shower day for us before we left so I also went and filled up our water jugs at the spigot.

The afternoon was spent creating "Tater Tot" appetizers. Tater tots are one of Jim's favourite foods, I was told, and the last time I made them especially for him 4 years ago he was not able to come. lol (Pictures from Google as I was too busy making them to take a picture :) )

Ray and I packed up our stuff and put on warm clothes as it was cloudy with a small breeze. Very cool today at 47F. Headed over to the big fire pit area Steve created for everyone. Thankfully he pulled his truck there to use as a windbreak. Around 5:30 the wind settled down and it became much warmer ... the fire was also warmer. :)

L to R, Lisa, Dino, Marilyn, Jim and Cec.

Dianne, Steve, Jim and Barb

R to L, Pam, Ted, Earl, and Cec.

At about 6:30 pm we all called it quits. Time to go home for dinner. All my appies were gone so they must have liked them. lol Another great day in the land of the Quartzsite in the Arizona Desert.