Saturday, January 15, 2011

Out West: Windy, Warm Winter Weather - Wow!

Although the weather was improving at Tombstone Territories RV Park we decided to move on to the Yuma area on Tuesday, January 11th. With an elevation of some 4,000 feet, the area would likely remain cooler than we like.  While I had really enjoyed the time in the park, Wayne didn't have the same appreciation because of his continuing sciatica pain. The campground staff and the guests at TTRV were very friendly and the site itsef was terrific but Wayne suffered outside due to the cool temperatures -- I know how pain can make everything uncomfortable.  Two neighbors in particular, Connie and Dave, were super nice and they are folks we'd like to run across again.  In better health, of course.

We didn't pull out of the property until mid-morning and we didn't expect to travel any great distance.  We traveled west to Tuscon into the land of the beautiful sagauro cactus. The desert continues to change but the magnificent mountains remain always along the horizon in the distance. The land is even more flat and there is little vegitation except for the succulents that I think are beautiful. 






At Casa Grande we took the I-8 split to Yuma.  The exits are few and far between in this part of Arizona. We stayed overnight at Augie's RV Park in Gila Bend. The campground was typical for the area. There's no grass or trees. 

I took this picture through the windshield with the sun's glare reflecting.

Sunset at Augie's RV Park
Arizona has spectacular sunsets!
The following morning, the trip to Yuma continued the straight, flat route passed the Painted Rock Mountains and along the Luke Air Force Range into the Yuma Proving Grounds area.  Finally, I-8 wound through the Gila Mountain pass and opened up into Yuma's surburbs.  

We'd heard about the great numbers of retirees who RV into Yuma each winter but we were not prepared to see the unbelievable number of RV Parks!  RVers are truly "catered to" in this area as all kinds of RV and camping services are advertised. 

Our campground, Arizona Sands, is located in a growing area not far from Araby Road. The daytime temperatures are in the mid-70's and expected to go higher by weekend. Nights are in the 50's.  We put away the winter wear.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Happy New Year From Tombstone Territories RV Park

Snow on the mountains.
This is the view out the front window of the coach.
Happy New Year! 
Last week's bitter cold is slowly moving out and we're wrapping up the first full week at Tombstone Territories RV Park. Days are finally sunny and warming -- although only into the mid-50's and the nights are still below freezing.  All the regular winter visitors say this much cold weather is not typical for winters here.  Nevertheless, it's been awful for us and we would have left if there had been a chance of finding warm weather anywhere within a day's drive. 
The days are warming to the 50's in this picture.
Taken New Years Day 2011
2011 came in for us the same way all new years arrive: Quietly.  Wayne's sciatica remains troublesome and he is still unable to stand or walk for much more than a minute or two.  Not that we would have done anything if he had felt better. As is customary for us, we rang in the new year with a snore at best. For us the best surprise is no surprise.

We had planned to pull out this morning, after seven nights here at Tombstone Territories, but we've almost decided  to stay on here for awhile.  The campground is nice, the area has a lot to see and do (if we can get well enough to see it) and the weather is cooperating.  There's no real rush to move on today.