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Hi Everyone from soggy California
We are currently in an RV Park near Disneyland and it is pouring rain outside.The fireworks were cancelled because it was too wet - glad we didn't pay to go inside to watch them!We hope the rain has stopped at home by now also.We have seen the flooding in the Bundaberg area on TV here and they have mentioned that a lot of Queensland is under water.
We've had a few busy days seeing the New Year in and then getting to LA in the old motor home.
31/12/10
Today Noel went into Cottonwood with George and Paul and collected good old "Thunder Pig" (thanks for the name Scott - everyone in Camp Verde loves her name and it has now stuck forever).We have decided to call the new one "Matilda".Noel then brought her out to the camping grounds so that we could transfer the things that we are sending home with her and also what we need to take with us to LA.He also wanted to do a few bits and pieces to her before she leaves and see what else we need to buy here before she leaves as parts etc. are so much cheaper here.I went for a lovely drive with Sandy today and we went shopping in Cottonwood and then on to Sedona for lunch with one of her friends.We both had a lovely day and then we had a fantastic evening.We went with our group of friends from the RV Park over to the Casino which is on the other side of the highway from where we are.The shuttle bus came and picked us all up and it was so funny because when the first shuttle bus got to us the driver couldn't get the door open.We were outside freezing out butts off waiting for him until finally we all went back inside the Reception area and he went back for another shuttle bus.So we eventually got over to the Casino and had a fabulous evening.There were 12 of us in the group and we got tables at the inside venue.They had two.One in the permanent lounge area of the casino and the other was outside in a tent which they had put up especially for the evening.We had access to both with the tickets we had bought.We felt like teenagers again with our orange wrist bands on.....Tickets for the night were $25 and that included:access to both areas and there were bands playing in both so you could dance or just sit and listen to the music.Everyone but me danced the night away as my knee was already sore so I didn't want to push it.We had snacks (nibblies) all night long and they kept filling the food tables all night long.Plus everyone got a champagne glass which wasmarked with the Casino name and 2011 New years etc.They filled them just before midnight.We also got a hat, beads and a blower.The night was great and we really enjoyed it but the best part was the fireworks.We saw the New Year in inside then went outside to watch a fantastic fireworks display outside.There were a lot that we hadn't seen before and they went on for ages.It was a great show even though it was freezing outside.We got back to our motor home around 1.30am after a great night.
1/1/11
HAPPYBIRTHDAYSTEPH
HAPPYNEWYEARUSA
The New Year saw the coldest morning so far for us and we woke to a nice frost and clear blue skies and sunshine.What a fabulous way to start the New Year.We had a bit of a sleep in after our late night so left Camp Verde much later than we had planned as we wanted to catch up on the washing etc. before we left as we will be gone for a few days.We didn't leave until around 1pm and then drove on down to Yuma.It was a clear run though with great weather (although chilly outside).The traffic wasn't too bad on the highway except a bit busy around Phoenix area.We got to Roy & Monique's in Yuma around 6pm and sat and chatted with them for awhile before heading to our motor home and having dinner then off to bed.We only have the bare essentials with us and roughing it in sleeping bags and it is even quite chilly here so we had the heaters (gas furnace) going full blast all night to keep us warm.
2/1/11
We left Yuma around 9.30am and made our way to Anaheim today.The road was really busy.We have never seen so many 5th Wheelers/Toy Haulers as we did today.The Yuma area is well known for their sand hills and these areas are BLM (Government land), and is free for the public to use. Thousands of people obviously spent the holiday period in the sand hills with the ATVs (quads), buggies and trail bikes and I mean thousands.There were motor homes and 5th wheelers/toy haulers parked everywhere around the Yuma sand hills and over into the California sand hills.It was amazing to see.We can now truly imagine what Quartsite looks like in the middle of winter when everyone dry camps there.Unfortunately for us though a lot of them were pulling out to head back home so we had a lot of traffic heading back to LA with us.We went up past the Salton Sea which is a massive inland lake but because it is below sea level the water is salty and the lake is so huge that it is more like being in the ocean.I'm not sure if it has sand or just salt around the shore line but it looks like the beach from a distance.We also drove up through Palm Springs and saw all the snow on the mountains there also.They say it is the only place where you can snow ski on the mountain and then come back to your hotel and swim in the pool, all in the same day.I think it was a bit chilly for the swimming today though!They have the largest wind farm we have ever seen here and even though we've seen them before it is still amazing.They generate enough electricity for the entire town.As we drove we could see that we were driving into rain but it didn't start raining until we got close to San Bernadino.We had to go there as it was the only Camping World near where we were travelling and we wanted to get a few things there to send home with the motor home.We got to Anaheim around 4pm and went to have a look at a couple of RV storage yards as we would like to leave the new motor home in LA to make things easier for family and friends to access the motor home when arriving in LA and we think Anaheim is a good place as it is much cheaper than closer into LA and is still accessed by shuttle buses from LAX airport.We parked up in the RV Park near Disneyland then went for a walk (in the rain) into Downtown Disneyland where all the shops and restaurants are and we had dinner at iHop then came back to the motor home and now off to bed.It definitely isn't as cold here as Camp Verde even though it is raining so we'll enjoy the warmth a bit before heading back there to collect the other motor home and bring her to Anaheim.
Tomorrow we have to drop the old motor home at the holding yard of the company that is bringing her back to Australia for us so if everything is all in order we will catch the train to Flagstaff tomorrow night, but if we get delayed there we will stay in LA overnight and catch the train the following night.See what happens!
We are both keeping well and can't believe that we only have just over a week before we fly out of here.It seems to be rushing up on us now.Wont be long until we start planning the next trip over here!!!
We hope that everyone else is keeping well also.Thanks to everyone who has sent us messages again.It is so lovely to get little snippets of news when we are so far away.
Well will finish now for this blog.I'll send another one when we get back to Camp Verde and onto the internet again in a couple of days.From there we will head off to do our last little bit of sightseeing around before we come home.We are visiting friends we met on our last trip (Raeleen & Russ) in Apple Valley on the way back to LA but they are the only plans at this stage.
Take care of each other and PLEASE be careful on the roads.
Lots of Love to everyone
Noel & Pam
- comments
Valjene Proctor Hi Pam & Noel, Glad you have had a great holiday see you soon.All well here off to Greenslopes this morning, Love Valjene xx
Jane Can't believe you only have 1 week left. I am sure you have made the most of every second. I love reading the blogs, keep them coming. Cheryl and I are on the countdown.......5 weeks and 4 days. We both can't wait. Take care you 2. See ya back in Aus. Love me. xxx
Stephanie Saxton Hi Pam & Noel - Happy New Years and thank you for the birthday wishes!! It's sad to think that your trip is almost over, I'm not sure what I will do during my lunch break now :) It will be nice to have you back home again. We finally had a few days of sunshine back in Oz and took the bikes out for a ride (I had my 1st stack and came back epically sunburnt), Tim had a good time muckin about with Sandy, Simone, Tori and Jack. Sam and Lynn even jumped on the back of the bikes too. It's overcast again today. Love to you all and look forward to the last few posts for this trip. Much Love Steph and Tim xoxo