Happy New Year - 2012

January 2, 2012

Christmas was spent at Rancho Ventana in Blythe, California.  Although it was different, we had a great time.  About a week before Christmas a children's choir came to the clubhouse and sang Christmas carols for us.  The kids were between 10 and 16 and did a great job.  Afterwards we all enjoyed cookies brought by various people from R.V.  Gord and I had helped decorate the hall prior to the event and most RV's and park models were decorated as well.  Between the brilliant stars shining overhead and all the LED lights, it was a fantasy land.  Definitely made it feel Christmasy. 

Christmas eve we spent the evening with neighbors, Sue and Al from Calgary for happy hour followed by pizza.  About 20 or so people were there and we had a great time.  Christmas day was the hottest so far and after opening our stockings and gifts we enjoyed sitting in the sun with short walks on the desert.  Dinner was fabulous - full turkey dinner put on by volunteers from Rancho.  We paid $8. each and sat with people we had never met before.  Donna and Rick were from Chemainous, a couple from Summerland and a young University student from Prince Albert.  Great conversation with fun people and a great meal. 

Friends from Vernon, Doug and June MacGregor, arrived on the 28th and stayed overnight in Blythe.  We had a fun time together and decided to leave early from R.V. and join them in Yuma.  The drive was only 1 1/2 hours and D & J checked out some RV resorts near them and we settled into Shangri-La.  Who wouldn't!  Doug and June were staying at Doug's sister's house which was on the edge of a golf course and quite nearby.  New Year's eve day we went to the flea market and wandered around all the tables.  Fortunately, it was covered or we would have fried.

New Year's eve we sat outside playing Attack Uno on the deck.  June and I made a shrimp dip which was amazing followed by beefy pepper dim sum.  At 10:00 pm we had steaks, baby potatoes and caesar salad.  This was followed by peach pie courtesy of Fry's grocery store.  Although we made it to midnight, it wasn't much later we headed home.  New Year's day we sat outside in the sun and relaxed.  Doug and June picked us up later and we went out for Mexican dinner which was also very good. 

Today, January 2nd, D & J picked us up about 10:30 a.m. and we headed to Imperial Dam to check out the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) where we plan to go in about 3 weeks to meet my aunt and uncle, Joyce and George, from Saskatoon.  We will  boon dock with them out on the desert without benefit of electricity, water or sewer hookups.  A challenge.

Arrived at Castle Dome Mountain ghost town about 1:00 or so and after a quick pit stop followed by our picnic lunches we enjoyed a self guided tour of the town.  All the buildings had been moved here from various locations and the displays were excellent.  We spent the afternoon in the hot sun (high of 27) wandering in and out of all the buildings. 

We also saw a huge white blimp floating above us at one point.  The blimp is used by the border patrol to search for illegal aliens from Mexico.  We travelled past the Yuma Proving Grounds (military area) and saw a large display of tanks, missiles and big guns from W.W. II and later.  A helicopter (Viet Nam era?) was also on view.  Very deadly looking.

Happy New Year everyone.

Colleen and Gord