Sunday, February 04, 2018

YUMA TO TUCSON AND WE’RE STAYING AT SOME PRETTY DARN FANCY DIGS FOR THE NIGHT

DSC_2333
YUMA SUNRISE LOOKING TOWARDS MEXICO
Yuma certainly felt hotter Friday afternoon than Borrego Springs did while we were there.  Way too hot for us so we have to keep the big wheels rolling until we find cooler air.  
DSC_0004
HOPE TO SEE YOU LATER THIS YEAR OGILBY
DSC_0005
JUST KEEP IT BETWEEN THE CEMENT BARRIERS AL AND EVERYBODY GETS HOME ALIVE
DSC_0007
YAY WE CAN NOW TURN OUR CLOCKS ONE HOUR AHEAD AGAIN
A quiet night with a good sleep for both of us.  Nice sunrise and it wasn’t long before it was time to say good-bye to Jean, Skip, Sophie, and Louie.  In this semi Nomad kind of a lifestyle friends generally live thousands of miles apart and may only see each other for brief periods of time and especially if your quiet loner people like we and our few friends are.  Always difficult saying so-long because it’s never a certainty whether folks will ever meet up again.  It was around 9 a.m. when we slowly rolled out of the desert onto Ogilby Road and headed the short drive to Interstate 8.  Wasn’t long and we were east bound into Yuma.
DSC00407
SEEN IN A WALMART PARKING LOT A FIRST EVER CROCHET TIRE COVER
DSC00406<<< WONDER WHERE THIS LITTLE BLACK DOG SITS ON HIS DAD’S MOTORCYCLE
Picked up some fuel at Love’s Truck stop then a little further east we rolled off I-8 and made our way to Walmart.  I always enjoy popping into Walmart stores on our travels.  It’s my kinda slight touch with fellow human beings for half an hour.   I don’t bug anybody and nobody bugs me.  I like that. Plus I like wandering up and down the aisles looking at all the neat stuff.  Grabbed us a coffee and burg to go at the indoor McDonalds and we were soon back out to the rig and gone on down the road.
DSC00403
NOT ONLY COFFEE CUP HOLDERS ON SHOPPING CARTS NOW BUT SMART PHONE HOLDERS TOO….WHAT’S NEXT, SURROUND SOUND AND GAS PEDALS
DSC00405PICKING UP SOME COFFEE AND SNACKS AT McDONALDS >>>
From Yuma to Gila Bend on I-8 there really isn’t too much to write about.  The interstate is mainly straight with nothing too interesting to jump out and grab one’s attention.  Picked up some propane in Gila Bend and headed south for Ajo.  In Gila Bend I would recommend the Chevron station near McDonalds for dumping tanks and taking on propane.  Big flat easy access area and the gas pumps are angled the right way for large rigs.  A clean modern facility and not as busy as the Shell station at Gila Bend’s east end.
DSC_0008
HEADING EAST OUT OF YUMA
DSC_0010DSC_0013
KELLY CHATS WITH HER MOTHER IN SPENCERPORT NEW YORK WHILE WE HEAD EAST ON I-8
DSC_0017
HEADING SOUTH FROM GILA BEND TO AJO ARIZONA
DSC_0020
We were just north of Ajo and planning on overnighting at the fairgrounds when luckily Kelly remembered reading something not long ago.  The Ajo annual Fiddeling Contest and Quilt Show was on this week-end and guess where it was being held??  Yep, the fairgrounds.   Well that was it for that because we knew there would be a ton of people all crammed into the fairgrounds for sure.  We quickly tried to come up with a Plan B and before we could we had had already driven right through pretty little Ajo Arizona.  Temperatures were still too high for us so we kept on rolling on down to Why then hung a left for Tucson.
DSC_0022
ROLLING THROUGH AJO
DSC_0024DSC_0025DSC_0027
HANG IN THERE DARBY WE’LL BE BACK
DSC_0029
I ALWAYS LIKE SEEING THE AJO MOUNTAINS ON THE HORIZON
DSC_0036
THE DRIVE BETWEEN WHY AND TUCSON ARIZONA IS ONE OF MY FAVS
DSC_0034DSC_0038DSC_0047
YEP WE’RE IN THE SOUTHWEST ALRIGHT
DSC_0045
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE KITT PEAK OBSERVATORIES TOP RIGHT
We had no hard and fast destination when we started out today except to move ourselves further east.  We are not heading ourselves directly home yet.  Winter is still going on full blast there and will still be doing so for another couple months.  Our eastern travels will take us across country to visit Aunt Jean in Sarasota Florida and it will be a few weeks yet before we leave the Southwest behind.
DSC_0048
PULLING A RABBIT OUT THE HAT WE CAME UP WITH THIS DESTINATION FOR AN OVERNIGHTER
We decided to head for an overnighter place we had never been before.  Doug from Miss Adventure Travels had blogged about a spot he likes to stop on his RV travels back and forth.  And so it was we pulled into Casino Del Sol in the southwest end of Tucson on West Vallencia Road.  Wow, if there was one RV parked in here there was about 50 or more.  But no matter, still lots of room for the Bayfield Bums.  Nice place here for sure and again we felt like the Clampetts in Beverly Hills.
DSC_0056
THE CENTER BUILDING WITH THE DOME ON IT IS THE CASINO AND YOU WILL SEE PHOTOS BELOW OF WHAT THAT DOME LOOKS LIKE FROM INSIDE
DSC_0051
WE FOUND US AN OKAY SPOT FOR THE NIGHT…..A LITTLE DIFFERENT FARE FROM OUR USUAL OVERNIGHT SPOTS
DSC_0052
YEP WE WOULD DEFINITELY COME BACK HERE AGAIN
DSC_0053
Drove around for a few minutes before finding a spot.  I especially like it here because the parking isn’t all regulated like and RV Park.  It’s simply a big paved nice looking parking lot and you just find a spot you like and that’s it.  And how nice it was to be just in the right spot at just the right time to help out a little lost dog this afternoon too.  As we stopped I saw a dog kinda running around by itself.  Some people came by and tried to catch it but to no avail.  Kelly stepped out of the coach with Pheebs and the dog immediately came came right to Pheebs and they started to play.  Kelly was able to grasp it’s collar then we grabbed a leash and the people got on a cell phone and called the owner.  About 5 minutes later a very happy lady came over and had a very happy reunion with her equally very happy  little dog:))))))
DSC_0049
WITH OUR LEASH THESE FOLKS ARE HOLDING THE LOST DOGGY UNTIL THE OWNER GETS THERE
I have walked through many Casinos in Las Vegas a couple times years ago but have never felt compelled to do what what it is everybody seems compelled to do in a Casino.  No gambling in my blood and I have no interest in that sort of thing whatsoever but oh how I love to walk through Casinos looking at everything I can see.  What a piece of colorful eye candy Casinos are with all their ritsy décor and opulence.  I love the lighting and all the blinking and bubbling machines.  Neon lighting everywhere.  For anyone who’s never been in a big Casino I suggest you go, take a walk around and look at everything, then get the heck out of there fast before the bug snags ya.
DSC00438
Kelly checked the Casino Del Sol restaurants on-line and we decided one called Mobys looked like our kind of place so we decided to walk over and have us some supper.  The eye catcher in this place is the overhead Blue sky dome.  But it’s not a real sky, it’s a painted one and I liked the way they did roof lines all around to give one the impression you were outside.  At Mobeys Kelly had ‘Chicken Fried Steak’ and I had turkey dinner with all the fixins.  Lots of food, tasted great, and the price was right for us and we were back to the rig by 7 p.m.
DSC00409
HEADING INTO THE CASINO
DSC00416
COMFORTABLY SEATED IN MOBYS WAITING FOR OUR GRUB
DSC00419DSC00420
KIND OF A GROOY PLACE
DSC00421
HERE’S MY TURKEY DINNER AND THAT ROUND BLACK THING IS A SMALL DISH OF CRANBERRIES AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT BUT WHATEVER THOSE VEGGIES WERE THEY EVEN TASTED GOOD AND I ACTUALLY ATE THE DARNED THINGS
DSC00424
AND HERE’S KELLY DIGGING RIGHT INTO HER CHICKEN FRIED STEAK and yes we brought half home.I have never understood nor will I ever understand people’s obsession with gambling.  Can’t even begin to get to first base on that one.  As I walked around just as I did in Las Vegas I looked at the people bleary eyed in front of those slot machines.  It is if they are possessed.  They are in a world of their own as they stick their debit cards into those money gobbling machines and go crazy repeatedly pressing buttons over and over and over again.  There are many things I do not understand in life and gambling is one of them.  And  my other observation……the majority of the people at those machines were elderly Seniors.
DSC00410
KEEP IN MIND WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A PAINTED CEILING AND NOT THE REAL SKY….THE BUILDING FRONTS ARE MADE OF REAL MATERIAL
DSC00411
KIND OF HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS ALL INSIDE THE CASINO AND NOT OUTSIDE
DSC00414DSC00413DSC00427DSC00428DSC00415DSC00429 DSC00412DSC00431DSC00432

DSC00436DSC00433 DSC00435DSC00437DSC00441
GROANER’S CORNER:((
In light of the rising frequency of human - grizzly bear conflicts, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is advising hikers, hunters, and fishermen to take extra precautions and keep alert of bears while in the field. They advise that outdoorsmen wear noisy little bells on their clothing so as not to startle bears that aren't expecting them. They also advise outdoorsmen to carry pepper spray with them in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch out for fresh signs of bear activity. Outdoorsmen should recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear dung. Black bear dung is smaller and contains lots of berries and squirrel fur. Grizzly bear dung has little bells in it and smells like pepper.
--------------------------------
When a teacher closes his eyes, why should it remind him of an empty classroom?
Because there are no pupils to see!
How did Vikings communicate?
By norse code!

What is a forum?
Two-um plus two-um!
============================

16 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful casino, thanks for the pics. Great timing and lucky for the dog you had Pheebes and a leash to get them back to their human. A drive up to Kitt peak and a tour is a fun and cool thing to do, I enjoyed it anyway.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, Kitt Peak is a scenic drive up to see the all the Observatories. There are more up there than can be seen from the ground below. Did that back in January of 2007 one time.

      Delete
  2. Love that drive from Why to Yuma as well will be eventually heading that way our selves.
    And wondering about the casinos is always and interesting experiences with all the bright flashing lights.
    We always get a players card at a new casino when we stop and have had many free meals and free slot play just for signing up.
    Your meals looked very tasty, hope you enjoyed you night there.
    We always enjoy casino parking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. it was so good to see you and Kelly amd Pheebs. Enjoy the rest of your travels/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Safe travels guys and remember that RV spot we have.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks like some kind of squash to me Al.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you might be right but it's a good thing I didn't know that or I wouldn't have touched them.

      Delete
  6. Now don't you two be goin' all highfalutin' on us... :-))

    www.dictionary.com/browse/highfalutin

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a beautiful place - that I've never heard of! Interesting that they have RV parking across parking spaces. I'm guessing they have plenty of parking for cars! I agree that drive from Why to Tucson is a favorite - hoping to get through there this year.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great Pictures as usual. We have stayed at Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson nice parking lot there. Don’t think it is as large as Casino Del Sol. I hate the smoke in the casinos.

    ReplyDelete
  9. After all these years of finding the good spots you recommend, I'm so glad I provided you with one. Never been inside though. Afraid I'll catch that gambling bug🤓

    Don't think you're going in the right direction for cool. Florida is not cool, but I'm glad you're doing it to visit Aunt Jean. She's getting up there and I'm sure you will cherish this visit.

    Safe travels as you cross this great country.

    ReplyDelete
  10. We pulled our Cougar up Kitt Peak a long time ago..like idiots. Not a good idea. Our first clue was that we were the only RV at the top...and the ride down was white knuckle all the way...We did, however enjoy the free tour..My advice would be to park the motor home and take the jeep up if you do it again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We left our 5th wheel parked close to the entrance and I took our pick-up truck to the top back in early 07.

      Delete
  11. Yup... A REALLY good reason to put your cell phone number on your pet's tag and not your home number. Glad you were able to help! We don't like to gamble either. I tell people "I work too hard for my money to give it all away!" hahaha I think we have only gone three or four times with family. Won a little and quit and cashed in and came home!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just wanted to say that I saw that same jeep with the knitted tire cover at the Arizona Marketplace in Yuma Saturday morning. How practical is that? Of course, we never get rain here. ha ha

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is a nice Casino. I have gone to it when we were parked on BLM land within eye sight of it. Snyder Hill BLM if memory serves me correctly.

    ReplyDelete