Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
6/12/10
Hi Everyone
As we mentioned last blog, we haven't had any internet connection to send off our blogs and photos but I have been trying to keep a record for you all, although it has been fairly quiet here, especially while in Yuma.
We hope that everyone is keeping well as we are.It has been really cold here, even in Yuma, although mainly at night and early mornings.We have been down as far as -2oC and only up as high as 20oC during the day and it is only the beginning of winter.The cold snap is continuing - yeah!!!!!We're going to have to buy more warm clothes I think.....The days are lovely though, except for when the breeze picks up.
Sorry this is so long but will try and keep up when we have internet connection.
Until next time, please take care of each other.
All our love to everyone!
Pam & Noel
Blog update:
27/11/10
Last night we went to the most fantastic show in Las Vegas called "Vegas the Show".It was a musical looking at the history of entertainment in Vegas and it was fantastic.We would thoroughly recommend this to anyone travelling here.It's also a show you can take kids to - which is rare!
Today we had a quiet day looking around at RVs at various venues around Las Vegas.If only we had money.............The price of them here compared to Australia is ridiculous although the majority are still outside of our price range.This afternoon we went to the Las Vegas Outlet Centre at the southern end of the strip for a look around in there.There are heaps of sales around at the moment so the shops are really busy.26/11/10 (day after Thanksgiving) is black shopping day.It's like our boxing day sales but bigger.Some shops open at midnight with huge sales and then opening hours stagger right up until normal opening times so that everyone can get to the different shops for the bargains.They line up and sleep out for days to be there for opening times even in the freezing weather.There are still heaps of sales on although the big discounts are only on 26/11.
Tonight we had a quiet night and spent most of it in our room.We packed our bags ready to leave Vegas in the morning
28/11/10
We left Las Vegas just before 9am to start our drive to Yuma, Arizona.We travelled on a road we haven't been on before, which was interesting.The scenery here is just spectacular with the mountains in the distance that just look like little hills until you get closer and see how high they are.The drive was really nice and we passed some unbelievable RVs, 5th wheelers, caravans etc.There is definitely still money around.
We arrived at Roy & Monique's around 4.30pm Arizona time and after a quick chat we got into cleaning up the motor home.Inside was a bit dusty but not too bad considering.I dusted and cleaned inside while Noel and Roy put the battery charger on etc. and looked at the outside.We had stopped and picked up basic groceries on the way here so we cooked dinner around8pm, made up the bed and crawled in around 10pm exhausted.
29/11/10
This morning we didn't even wake up until around 9am so we were obviously tired (or just relaxed after finally getting to our motor home). We got up and I finished cleaning the inside of the motor home and then unpacked our bags.We got someone to come and wash the outside as it was really dusty from sitting.Noel and Roy still couldn't get the motor home started and had to go and buy a new battery because one wasn't charging, so we are now up and running and we were able to move the motor home at Roy and Monique's so now have full hook ups and we are parked in the sunlight (not under the tree in the shade bbrrrr....)Noel has been doing general maintenance all day getting things ready.Tonight we went out for dinner with Roy & Monique to the Golden Corral which is a buffet and has a large variety to choose from including steak (not an extra like at Sizzlers girls)
30/11/10
Today we took the motor home out for a run and Noel wasn't happy with a few things so it looks like more maintenance tomorrow.We also went and had a look at some motor homes for sale down at the foothills.One of them was exactly what we are looking for but we are a few $ short and they wouldn't come down on the price so had to walk away.We went and did some grocery shopping then came home and cooked dinner and had an early night so a fairly quiet day today.
1/12/10
Hello winter!It is now here officially but I have a feeling that it is going to be a long winter here this year.Noel spent the morning doing more maintenance and we had to go into town to get some parts so I went for a look around at Walmart while Noel went to get what he needed.He then spent the afternoon under the motor home while I pottered around the yard with Roy doing bits and pieces.We then went out for dinner with Roy and Monique at the Home Town Buffet.
2/12/10
We went over to see the motor home show at the RV Park this morning and had coffee and donuts.They have some lovely motor homes and only brought second hand ones out today but still way above our price range.Noel is still doing bits and pieces to the motor home and we got the exhaust system fixed today so it doesn't sound like a tank anymore!We are still looking at others for sale here although we haven't found what we'd like in our price range yet.They are a little more expensive that we had hoped which is due to the increased demand here in USA for second hand motor homes and also the fact that people are hanging on to their old ones a little longer before updating but we'll keep looking.If we don't find what we want we will just have to come back again....... now wouldn't that be a shame!
3/12/10
Well we decided last night that today was the day to leave Yuma and got packed up and left around 9am.Don't know exactly where we are heading to but decided to head north to Phoenix for now.Our plans didn't go quite as we had hoped as Noel wasn't feeling well and then suddenly he was hit with a tummy bug while travelling along the highway.Just as well we have a bathroom on board.I took over the driving but was so stressed that we only went as far as a little town called Gila Bend and booked into an RV Park there.Poor Noel he was so sick!He had a really high temperature as well so not sure what it was because we had both eaten the same thing the past couple of days.He finally settled into a deep sleep and I just looked around the RV Park and started this blog because we were supposed to have internet connection, which we did for about 2 hours and then it dropped out and I couldn't get back into it and of course the office was closed by then.I had just managed to check my emails though which was good as I hadn't done that for a week.This RV Park really is in the middle of nowhere but it is a lovely park and the recreation hall is all done up for Christmas which was nice as we haven't really had the change to think about Christmas as yet.
4/12/10
Noel is feeling much better today although he says he feels like he was hit by a Mack Truck.We headed off again for Phoenix and arrived there around 2pm and booked into an RV Park in Tempe which has the light rail running past it.We were 4 stops from the end so went for a ride all the way to the other end to have a look around Phoenix, and that took an hour.We met 3 lovely ladies who assumed from our accent that we were tourists (we tried to tell them that it was them who had the accents not us..... but they wouldn't believe us)They come to Phoenix each winter and meet up here.They are from Alberta, British Columbia and Montana.They told us about a few things to go and see but there really isn't too much to do in Phoenix on a Saturday.The shops all shut on weekends - even the visitor information centres don't open here on weekends.Now that makes sense doesn't it!So we had a reasonably early night and have decided to keep heading north in the morning.
5/12/10
We left Phoenix around 11am although we unhooked to leave at 10am but the guy next to us in the park came out to have a chat with Noel so that was it.I know, not like Noel to stand around and chat is it....................We went up to Scottsdale which the ladies yesterday recommended to us and it looked a lovely area but they don't provide parking for RVs so we just headed off up the highway.The scenery is spectacular in Arizona.We went through the mountains, continuously climbing, until we arrived at a little town called Camp Verde.We went to see the Montezuma Castle which isn't really a castle but it got that name and it has now stuck.It is the ruins of a 5 storey village built into the rock face by the Sinagua tribe many years ago.I've attached some photos for you to see it.It's amazing to think that in the 1100s they had the knowledge for such amazing architecture.We were going to keep moving on to the next town but decided to stay overnight in an RV Park here in Camp Verde.It is a lovely park and we will be staying here a couple of days now and looking around the area.The people in the street they put us in are amazing.We arrived as they were just starting their PSA (pleasant Sunday afternoon) although this apparently happens most days of the week.They are all full time RVers which means they live in their RVs and just wander around the USA.This is what they call a working RV Park which means that the long term tenants can work to pay for their rent, LPG, etc. which works out well for everyone.The ladies work in the office, clean bathrooms etc . and the men do maintenance around the park.They are from all over the place and we had a lovely evening chatting with them and they all wanted to know about Australia of course and we wanted to know what was in this area so we help each other out.One couple even offered us their car for a day to have a look around instead of unhooking our motor home which is really lovely.We started the PSA in shorts and T-Shirts but quickly started putting the layers on once the sun went down.It's averaging 0oC to 14oC here this week.The further north we go now the colder it will get so don't plan on going any further north than Flagstaff then will head east into New Mexico I think.
6/12/10
Well I'm not sure what we will do today as it's only 8am and Noel is still asleep.I know I am not going anywhere until I finally get this blog sent off........They have free wi-fi here which seems to be working well.Sorry but it looks like I have picked up Noel's tummy bug so didn't get this finished this morning as I had hoped but have spent the day in bed!Feeling much better now though.Please take care of each other as we are here.Lots of Love to everyone.Pam & Noel
- comments
Jane Toohey Sorry to hear you have been crook. Too much of the good life no doubt. Get well soon. Your trip sounds amazing so far. It has been raining here for 1 week. We have had about 2 inches of rain. More to come too. Take care and enjoy your trip. Jane & Peter.
Barb & Ernie Know how you feel with your stomach bug, I have had it for a week from both ends, been to doctor 3 times and had to have test etc, good way to loose weight, feel much better but will eventually pick back up again. We are having a great time on the Great Ocean Road, spending quite a few nights at different places so we can tour around all the sights, beautiful forests, waterfalls etc in the hinterland. Too wet to stop at the 12 Apostles today so will do another round trip up into the mountain tomorrow and do them on the way back to the van. Sound like you are having a great time, take care. Love Barb & Ern