Bin Laden's Son Urges 'Talking' For Peace?

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You have got to be kidding! George Bush and Bin Laden sitting down at a table over a cup of tea and talking peace? The sound is all too familiar. Many liberals believe that worldwide peace can be achieved if we just 'all love one another' and 'talk about it in a calm fashion.' Aint' never gonna happen, folks!

I find it interesting that out of nowhere comes Bin Laden's son, (who bears a scary resemblance to his crazed father) and he has the solution for peace?

He really should go back to the hole he crawled out of.

Off topic, I know, but....

Quartzsite

We saw 6 to 8 Wanderlodges...they are gathering
for their rally next weekend and are expecting
60-70 of them! We even got a tour inside one of
them. Pretty cool!


Took the Volvo for a day trip to Quartzsite. The show opened yesterday, and wow! Motorhomes of all sizes parked in the desert, people milling around everywhere, and nowhere to park.

Of course, we did find somewhere to park, then away we went, in to the Big Tent, where all the vendors are setup. We spent all day looking, eating, and even ran in to a few people we know. One couple we had worked with two summers ago in Sedona, another couple we were parked next to in Yuma.

BlackJack got lots of attention (as he always does) from most everyone. Must be because he is just so darned cute!

We really enjoy Quartzsite and the excitement, so it was a fun day. AND....on the way there, guess who drove the truck? ME! I definitely need to drive it more often, but what fun!

2008....Wow!

Already 6 days in to a new year! My mom always said that the older you get, the faster time goes by.....how true!

We are back in Yuma after a quick trip to Phoenix. An entire day spent waiting for the repair on our truck. We needed a new kingpin, which is about a 4 hour job. Also had the truck aligned and got an oil change. I loved being able to see our daughter again, so the traffic in Phoenix was worth it.

The truck is ready for another long trip (and so am I), so at the end of this month we will start down the road again. Vegas sounds like fun....a stop in Laughlin for a couple days, maybe Reno....then west in to California?

Life is Good!!

Not bad for grafitti

We are putting things away and preparing to hitch up. We have to be off this lot by the 1st, but still need to be in the area until at least mid-January, so we have rented a different lot which we will move to. The best part is, we'll be driving to Phoenix on the 1st so I'll get to see Amanda! I guess we're buying a couple new tires for the truck and having it aligned.

A road trip!! I love the traveling!

Some Parting Shots of Baja

another gorgeous sunset


A house in Tecate-viewed from the highway
at the border


Palm in lights-Guerrero Negro
from Maramino's


Sand Crane at Cocos Beach -Bahia Concepcion


Saul's in Mulege (the grocery store) -This is an
english speaking store that caters specifically
to americans and canadians


San Felipe-Bird sitting on statue's head





San Ignacio
view from the corner

A kitten in the window in Guerrero Negro

Day 15, Guerrero Negro

Excellent restaurant, Marramio's in

Guerrero Negro



Headed home. We've got over 700 miles to drive back to Arizona, and Christmas is close. So, we decided to head back.



It took us only 3 days to get to the border at Tecate and this is what we found.

The traffic was backed up for over 2 miles at the border. We could not believe it! We waited 3 hours in line, and wouldn't you know, we would be the vehicle they decide to search. 25 minutes later, we were AT LAST, back in the U.S.!

It's good to be home.

Day 13, Loreto

It's BlackJack! Resting his arm on the steering wheel.
Pelican...just bathing in the sun.

A day trip south 50 miles to Loreto was fun. Loreto, we found to be a much more americanized city. Condos are being built, property being developed all targeting american and canadian tourists. I guess we didn't take any pictures of the city itself, so thought I'd show you one of Jack.

What??!!

Mark & French

French's Quad

When Mark and French, and 'Mimi' (their puppy), pulled into Las Cocos on Dec. 9th, we thought 'what in the world!'. They were traveling with two Quads. One pulled a small trailer which housed their pop up tent. Her quad carried all their food, kitchen supplies and water.

They are from Quebec, but began their one year journey out of British Columbia, this past July. They traveled south through Montana, Idao, Utah, Arizona and then into Mexico. They plan to continue all the way to Cabo San Lucas, then return north along Mex 1 back in to the United States. Fascinating couple with a true sense of adventure. We enjoyed visiting with them and plan to follow their trip on their website at www.quadtrek.net

Baja, Days 7-14, Bahia Concepcion

Playa Los Cocos

Beach camping


When we arrived at Bahia Concepcion we felt like we had finally arrived! The bay in the Sea of Cortez is beautiful and the beach was nice. There were about 15 other rigs on the beach, so we decided to stay awhile. We paid for 7 days and were able to setup the trailer about 8 feet from the water. $6.00 a night, but no hookups.
We were invited to go for dinner at El Burro, Bertha's, a restaurant up the highway. A seafood platter of scallops, shrimp and yellowtail; add two marguritas and $17.00 later, we had dinner. (This was probably the best deal in all of Baja that we found).
Another plus about Los Cocos is that vendors come right to the beach with fresh shrimp, scallops, tamales, and even blankets.
Relaxing in the sun at the beach is what we primarily did for the next 7 days.

Baja, Day 6....San Ignacio

Baja, Day 5....Catavina

Mama's, a popular restaurant and stop for
the Baja 1000 participants, in El Rosario

We tried the burritos and they were excellent!


Catavina, an overnight drycamping spot in the
middle of nowhere for $6.00 a night.

Three couples we had met in San Quintin had told us about the overnight spot in Catavina, so
all three of us traveled the same day and spent the night here. A short 100 mile drive, some interesting rock fields along the way. I will have to post a couple pictures of them.

Days 3 & 4, Baja...San Quintin

Now....that's a beach!

And....a Sunset.

Lucky us!


El Pabellon Campground, the 'Whale'

Miles of sand dunes

Our beach chairs at sunset

A short drive today, only 100 miles. But what a stop! The El Pabellon (means 'butterfly') Campground. The ocean is at our doorstep, and the sand dunes are amazing! We let Jack loose, took our sandals off and walked along the beach. Hot sand between the toes! Is there anything better? It is incredible that there is so much beautiful beach with NO people!
SO NICE - we decided to stay a second day! We were able to sit in the sun at the beach for an entire day. It doesn't get any better than that. This would be a definite 'must return to' place in our book.

Baja, Day 2, Santo Tomas

Our breakfast consisted of some chicken tamales purchased from a street vendor. We had our coffee outside and let BlackJack off his leash to run the beach. What fun watching him! We left San Felipe around 11:00 a.m. and made our way through the mountains and Ensenada, a city of about half a million people and incredibly filthy. We passed right through the city and stopped for the night in a small town called Santo Tomas. We were the only campers at the campground, which is a big 'no-no', but there we were. We had no problems and nobody bothered us.
P.S. Another offer from someone to buy BlackJack.

Baja, Day 1...San Felipe

Fishermen boats and the lighthouse


On our way!


Our Beachside camping spot in San Felipe


We headed from Yuma to San Luis, Arizona to cross the border. As we approached, we got the green light, which meant two things. No need to stop, but the second we did, we had no clue where to go. We know we needed to locate the immigration office for our tourist cards, but didn't know where to find it. After three rounds, we finally found it! Henry was able to obtain both his and mine while I waited in the Jeep with Blackjack.
We arrived in San Felipe around 3:00 p.m. and found a campground with an oceanfront site.
Nice little town as we discovered the next morning.
P.S. The guy at the Pemex (gas station) offered to buy Blackjack.

Making Our List, Checking it Twice

We are finally off to Baja! The plan is to leave this afternoon, and head towards San Felipe. We will head north and west towards San Quintin from there, make our way south all the way to Cabo....stopping at San Ignacio, Bahia Concepcion and LaPaz along the way.

We are really hoping for some awesome weather. Lots of sun, and very warm temperatures. The weather here has cooled down to the low 70's, and just a bit cool for us.

Merry Christmas to our friends and families!!! AND...Welcome baby Madeline...our third grandchild to be born December 3rd!

A little Geocaching...A little Jeeping

On the wrong road, but the view was great!

On top of Tootsie Roll 'Mountain' - 1st find

Our Baja trip has been postponed until December, so we decided to check out the trails and caches in the area. Turns out, there are over 400 geocaches, so we better get on it!

The first find was Tootsie Roll "Mountain"....a big rock on the top of a hill that resembles a tootsie roll. Then, on to Brown Bear, which entailed lots of skinny trails...you know, the kind that as you approach the top, you cannot see IF the road continues on the other side, or if it is a dropoff. Of course, they all continued on, so we decided on a 3rd cache for the day, which was called 'way down there'. An appropriate name indeed! We parked at the 'way' top, and walked way down into the gulley. We found the cache, always making it worth it.

As the temperatures are cooling here, in the seventies, I am even more anxious to head even further south!

Jack O Lantern aka BlackJack

BlackJack is now 1 year old, and finally weighs over 7 pounds. He is all of 8 lbs. 4 ounces!!

We are thrilled that despite his medical problem; liver shunt (liver disease), he has actually gained over a pound since diagnosed. Finding creative ways to disguise his medication and coaxing him to eat is a daily challenge, but, he is doing fantastic!

In this photo, we had just returned from the vet and the groomer. He's ready for Baja!

Our Baja Accomodations

Inside

And Out.

It's painted white, the stripe is brown, 19 feet front to back, Second hand from a guy in Quartzsite. I rode up with Henry when he went there to get it. Put on a wash, added a shine, A fold up stove and a 3 way fridge. It's just an 'ol '84 Starcraft, 19' flyer, 13" tires.....

And, just our '92 Jeep, with 3 1/2" lift.....5 speed transmission, 167,000 miles.....

Turn it left, steer it SOUTH.......Look out BAJA, HERE WE COME!!!!

The Trip South

Amanda and Tyler

Dad and daughter on the boardwalk
to Liard Hot Springs


Almost a month since our last post, so here goes.

We pulled out of Alaska the 15th of September, with two 20 year olds, our daughter and her fiance. The Alaska Highway was good traveling, with no snow, some rain, and excellent roads. Even the diesel prices were not too bad. It took us only 7 days this trip, as we had to be in Tacoma to pick up Tyler's car.
Gig Harbor, WA.: 1 week in Gig Harbor, while the kids hung out with a couple friends of theirs, and did some shopping. Again, the weather was pretty nice, but a bit on the cool side.
Onward towards Phoenix: After our jeeps arrived almost a week later, we began our caravan southbound. Both kids driving their own vehicles following behind us.
As we got to the Hoover Dam outside Vegas; Amanda and Tyler drove their last 300 miles in to Arizona, and we felt a bit lost as to what we would do next, and very sad as we said our goodbyes to our daughter. Do we ever stop worrying about our kids?
But, nevertheless, we managed to continue on down the road, traveling a mere 160 miles the first day, and 113 the second.
Yuma is home for a couple days at least.....temperatures are in the mid 90's, and we've got some catching up to do on our tans. We feel pretty white in comparison to everyone else we've seen.

Isn't It About The Adventure?

The truck is cleaned up, the trailer is ready for its six new tires and both jeeps are ready to be shipped. No double towing down the highway this time.

I am ready to head for warmer weather, although I must say, the temperatures here have been above normal for this time of year. But, with only 14 hours of daylight now, and the northern lights making an occasional appearance, I know Old Man Winter is just around the corner.

Alaska is a beautiful state and to those adventuresome enough to travel here, I applaud. Yes, the highway has some rough spots, but no worse than lots of highways in the lower 48, (parts of Oklahoma for example). Yes, it is a long way to travel, so take your time, the scenery is breathtaking and the wildlife is not to be missed. Yes, the price of gas/diesel/food is a bit higher, but what's a few pennies more, when you're not paying sales tax.

I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting those this summer who have made the journey. They came from literally all over the world; by motorhome, by motorcycle, and by bicycle. I admire their spirit. They came for the adventure and took home with them an experience of a lifetime.