Yuma, AZ Has Grown On Me

Another great sunset in Yuma

It’s time to wrap-up our time here in Yuma so we can make it to the big show in Quartzsite. This is our second trip to this area and I have to admit it’s grown on us. Yuma is, in many ways, an odd kinda town…it’s a rather featureless valley that’s a huge snowbird destination, mostly for its costs and southern location. When you drive through town you see packs & packs of RV parks (many 55-and over) with RVers mashed together surrounded by flat desert, a spattering of flat farmland and somewhat nondescript strip-malls. At least that was the impression I had first time I came through here.

Who’d want to winter in Yuma….really?

But if you take a bit of time to look around, you realize there’s more to it than  meets the eye, and believe it or not it starts with nature. Once you get down to it Yuma has tons of open space around town for exploration. In the west there are the impressive Imperial Sand Dunes and the rich gold history by the Muchacho Mountains. In the north you have large wildlife refuges (the Imperial Wildlife Refuge and the enormous and rarely visited KOFA Wildlife Refuge), and in the east the landscape opens to pretty foothills and some excellent hiking (for more trails check out this PDF download too). Add onto that some pretty decent golf courses and a bike path along the Colorado River and you’ve got quite the diversity of outdoor choices.

Hmmm…this place ain’t looking so bad after all.

Oh yeah, that’s my kinda fiery heaven

Yeah, this is the life!

Taggart enjoys some afternoon warmth

And then there’s the boondocking….ahhhh….the boondocking. This is really what clinches it for me. I don’t think I would enjoy staying in one of the big RV parks in town, but once you get out into the wilderness it’s a whole other story. The area around here doesn’t have nearly the scenic beauty of some of our other favorite spots, but there’s so much space that you can easily find a secluded spot to spend those perfect winter days all by your nature lonesome. And when the winter weather does what it’s supposed to (which means a nice sunny mid-70′s during the daytime) and the wind isn’t being crazy (which it does get out here) it’s simply the most relaxing place. Walk the hills in your flip flops, bike around and explore the dirt roads in your shorts and then knock back in a chair with an appropriately adult beverage to watch an eternal horizon of fiery sunset.

Oh yeeees….I can see the draw now.

Boondocking w/ buddies. That’s us, Alex&Ellen (behind) and Watson’s Wonder in the far left background

And finally there are the quirky little things that make Yuma…well Yuma. Things you didn’t even remotely expect and that might even save you some dough:

American Gold Mine just west of Yuma

Crazy Los Algodones…I love it!

• Inexpensive dentistry just around the corner in Los Algodones. What a deal!
• The cheapest place (in the US?) to get your rig washed and hand-waxed. Can you say ~$40 for a wash and ~$130 for wash/wax of a 40-footer!!
• The salad Capitol of the US (~90% of all leafy veggies in winter for the entire country are grown here) with no less than 3 weekly farmer’s markets (here, here and here).Who would’ve thunk?

Ok…you had me at hello.

When we first came here we never thought we’d come back. Then we came back anyway, then friends came to join us (The Lowes, Alex&Ellen, OhThePlacesTheyGo, Watson’s Wonder all came by to visit…plus RV Sue, Ivan&His Kitty, & Metamorphosis Road have blown thro’ this joint in the past week!) and then we were hooked. Yuma has grown on us and we’ve decided we’re probably going to come back every year. I mean with so much going on, who wouldn’t want to winter here…really?

My great new smile!

Update On My Los Algondones Dentist Appt 1/21: I got my new crown installed yesterday morning and I am over the moon. This crown is 100% better fit than my old one (which always felt too big & awkward in my mouth), feels perfect and looks great. Dr. Urena did an outstanding job making sure the fit and look was just right. She even sent out the crown for some re-work in the AM to re-file the inner side and improve the fit. No-one can tell which tooth is the crown unless I point it out. We’ll see how this holds up, but for the moment I am very, very happy with the results!

An evening fire at our boondocking site

Playtime in the desert!

Gold in the hills

Gold in the sky

A Little Bit Of This, A Little Bit Of That – Eugene, OR

Paul hangs out by the lovely Willamette River in Eugene

Since we swept ourselves inland and off the coast several days ago we’ve had a busy time doing a little bit of everything. Whether it’s the shock of suddenly having over 40 different shopping options or simply being back in the buzz of “the city”, everytime we come here we seem to go crazy with activities and plans. Being a bustling RV center Eugene also inspires RV projects, which lead to more RV projects, that trigger yet another slew of potential RV projects…and finally end in the thought that if we only had unlimited time, unlimited muscle and a large barrel of cash we’d be SET. Alas (or perhaps rather thankfully) we’re only here for about a week which limits the amount of damage we can do, but does keep us rather busy….

Tucked in for the night at Cummins Northwest in Eugene

We started our week at Cummins Northwest for our annual engine & chassis service. After our excellent experience in Idaho last year, we’ve decided to make this dealer part of our yearly stop. In Coberg (just north of Eugene) they have several overnight parking spots (electric/water) where service RVs can stay for free. It would actually be an ideal (and rather sneaky) boondocking spot if it didn’t also serve as the nightly Sysco truck depot providing the company of large and noisy diesel truckers…ALL night long. We may not have slept much, but the beast enjoyed herself and got an oil change, chassis lube, air filter change, hydraulic filter change, air dryer service and (even) an engine warranty service, all for a mere $800. It’s alot of moolah, but a happy and humming RV is…as they say…priceless.

Paul tackles the RV roof

After our internal cleansing we felt the beast needed outside beautification too, especially after 2 months on the salty coast, so we parked at our favorite Eugene park (Armitage County Park) and embarked on a major RV washing. By cunning plan our RV pals Alex & Ellen were also in town, so we enlisted their help in a communal RV bath and got not just one but BOTH rigs sparkling clean. A very crafty and productive effort, if I may say so myself.

And prepares to tackle the macerator (no, it’s not as much fun as it looks)

At this point my inner RV monster was fired up to keep going so we took on several other long-pending RV projects including a complete macerator overhaul (if you don’t know what a macerator is, you don’t want to know…), removing and cleaning our roof Maxx Air Vents (which had transformed from clear plastic to a decorative black), changing out some internal drawer clasps, flushing out our grey tank (including a vinegar flush to sweep out some annoying calcium deposits) and doing a mini-wax with ProtectAll (part of our regular 1/2 yearly “easy” wax). We also got our ever-helpful pals from Elite Repair and Remodel out for a few items we couldn’t manage ourselves and even completed a rather exciting internet connectivity upgrade  (but that story will have to wait until I can dedicate a full blog post to it).

Phew…..! And you probably thought we were just hanging out, eh?

Paul and Brett over for a chat and wine

Despite all this activity we’ve crammed in a bit of fun time too. Since we’ve been at the park we’ve met no less than 3 couples of blog readers. Brett and his partner Paul, both avid week-end RVers (and potentially future full-timers) hung out for an evening of chatting and wine. We stopped by to visit Susan and Dave, a couple with 2 lovely dogs on a year-long RV adventure who happened to be staying here to visit their son. And we bumped into our next-door (literally) neighbours also happen to be blog readers. Who knew that Eugene would be such a hot-spot of RV socialites all with such excellent blog-reading taste?

It’s blackberry month in Eugene…oh, YUM!

And then of course there’s everything we love about this town. Great bike riding, good hiking, good food, and fabulous farmers market. We’ve gorged ourselves on extra-tasty gluten-free Pizza, played by the river and even managed some golfing (well, Paul has anyway). September is blackberry month too so we’ve been walking and munching our way around the trails while we enjoy the warm weather and sunshine. We’ve got another 4 days or so here before we caravan off with our buddies to Crater Lake so we’ll be cramming in a few more RV projects, some outings and (who knows) maybe even a couple of extra social visits before we head on out. It’ll have been a busy week but we’ll have full bellies, happy souls, a spanking clean RV and be ripe and ready to get lost and dirty in the boonies. Perfect!

Last Trails, Last Sunsets -> Adieu OR Coast (‘Till Next Year)

We’ll be back…oh yes we will

We’re winding down our very last few days here on the gorgeous OR coast. On Monday we’ll be packing the rig, waving our last teary coastal goodbyes and moving inland. Current jello plans have us in Eugene for a week, then Crater Lake and then (possibly) another fall drive down our favorite highway in the entire country (spectacular Hwy 395) before we land our jacks for a month of spa at Desert Hot Springs. After then? Likely some random boondocking in the SW desert, maybe a little jaunt to San Diego and possibly some adventures we’ve not even thought of yet…we’ll see…

Hiking north beach at Cape Blanco..all alone too!

View from one of the many great trails at the Cape

Staying on the coast this summer has been one of the best decisions we’ve made in our 3 years of RVing. We’ve hit perfect temps, near perfect weather (getting better each month), discovered our new fav city on the coast (beautiful Bandon) and experienced something we’ve wanted to do for a while -> lighthouse hosting. After a personally tough start to the year, this summer was a soul-soothing balm and has only solidified our love of the wild and wonderful OR coast. It was also wonderful to slow down, enjoy the space and soak in the full experience of the southern coast with time to spare. Our month in Bullards Beach was fabulous and this past month at Cape Blanco has been enchanting, poetic and gorgeously wild. We’ve throughly enjoyed the park, the lighthouse job, the trails and yes…even the crazy weather!

Soaking in the view by Battle Rock at Port Orford

The Crazy Norwegian…go for the fish and chips

Our time at Cape Blanco has also given us the chance to discover nearby Port Orford, the oldest city on the coast. It’s not quite got the charm and size of Bandon, but it’s a neat little town with a mix of eateries (go to the Crazy Norwegians for lunch and hit Red Fish for an evening glass with a view), history (the Lifeboat Museum is a “must see”), natural beauty (Port Orford Heads is a fabulous short hike with jaw-dropping views), art (several galleries in town) and even a cute little Sat AM farmers market (the locally caught fish and pastured pork are amazing). Given time it’s a town I could grow into….and it gets bonus points for having a RedBox too.

Late afternoon view from Port Orford

Between the stunning nature here at the Cape, nearby Port Orford and lovely Bandon we’ve been totally satisfied and have practically turned into locals. I now order “the usual” at the local coffee roaster, have exchanged recipes with the pastured pork vendor and am on a first-name basis with the fish monger….what more could you want in life?

This won’t be our last Cape Blanco sunset

But alas our nomadic itch  is scratching and despite sad adieu’s we’re excited by the next stage of our fall plans. We may have seen our last OR coast sunset this year, but it certainly isn’t our last time here. We’ve signed up for another 3 months lighthouse hosting next year (including Sept…our FAV month) and almost can’t wait to come back.

Adieu beautiful OR coast. We’ll see you again soon…and maybe you’ll join us here next year too?

Just another crowded day on the beach

And just another great sunset

A misty morning at the Cape

Cute downtown Port Orford

Simply pretty

Simply green

Another great beach day

And another great moody one

Green, Green, Wet (And Did I Mention Wet?) – Eugene, OR

Green, green, green on the trail in Eugene, OR

You can’t be in Oregon, especially not this side of Oregon without developing a very intimate relationship with rain. It reminds me of an encounter I had last year while walking Polly right here at Armitage County Park in Eugene, OR. It was raining, of course, so I huddled up in my waterproof gear and forced myself outside. Halfway through my wet walk I met a young gentleman w/ pooch and struck up a conversation.

“How about this rain” I observed, stating the obvious (my many years in England having honed this approach as the perfect conversation starter)

“What rain?” replied the guy rather puzzled “Oh this…” he dismissed, waving his hand around in the steady downpour ”This isn’t rain. Noooo, you ain’t seen rain yet” he added, with a knowing chuckle

Polly poses at the summit of Spencer Butte

As they say the Eskimos may have 100 words for snow, but that don’t compare nothin’ to the Oregonians spectacularly broad view of rain. We came to understand the gentleman as we travelled along the OR coast last year and we were happily re-introduced as we entered Eugene last week-end. This is Western Orgeon baby and if you ain’t prepared for rain, you ain’t prepared to be here.

But there’s a beautiful side to all this too. It is GREEN here, and by green I mean deep, luscious, thick, sweet-smelling über-rainbows of green. If you’re patient and wait for the weather to break you’ll be rewarded with brilliant bursts of aroma and color. It’s almost like seeing sunlight for the first time after a long winter…the earth is vibrantly alive and you soak it all up like a long, beautiful kiss.

Russ & Donna from Travels in Therapy

We’ve been hanging in our favorite County Park, huddling inside during the downpours and speeding out to take advantage of the breaks. Eugene is a great little university town with excellent outdoor hiking/biking (our fav hike is the scenic 5-mile Spencer Butte), a fabulous weekly Farmer’s Market and some pretty cool restaurants (this time around we sampled Belly thanks to a tip from our RV friend Jil -> great local restaurant!). It’s also a popular RV crossroads. Our blogging buddies Where’s Weaver recently passed through here (we just missed them!) and local part-timers Travels In Therapy came out to the rig for an afternoon chat (great to meet you guys!).

Yours truly enjoys a rhubarb cooler at Belly Restaurant

Oh and the other thing about OR weather is that it’s the perfect place to figure out if you have any leaks in the rig. One of the many reasons we come to Eugene is to take advantage of the excellent RV services in the area, especially our outstanding friends at Elite RV Repair. We’ve got a few things going on with them that I’ll write about in another post.

But in the meantime we’re taking advantage of the indoor time and making the most of those rare outdoor moments. It may be the end of spring in Western Oregon, but the weather is only just beginning!

Did I mention how green it is here?

Ferns are happy campers in Western Oregon

Shooting The Breeze – Borrego Springs, CA

“You should come over and try our bed” offered the husband, most generously I thought. I glanced over at Paul who was nodding in sensible agreement.
“Oh yes, in fact both of you should” added the wife enthusiastically
“We are most definitely taking you up on that offer” I concluded, to the happy endorsement of all

Hanging with our new buddies at their boondocking spot in Borrego Springs

We had just met two of our blog readers and an instant bond had been formed on the topic of beds. Or, rather more specifically the Sleep Number bed. I’ve had a hate-hate (did I mention hate?) relationship with this thing since we got the rig and our new friends (who also own a 40PDQ) were instantly in agreement.

Richard and Ginger's rig is beautifully silhouetted in the desert

Libby is a cutie

The lovely couple was Richard and Ginger (with doggie Libby) who just happened to be boondocking around Borrego Springs with their friends and had managed to hook up with us through the net. It’s another of those fabulous impromptu connections that form on the road and, as always happens with folks who travel and enjoy the same kind of lifestyle, we had an instant connection. Paul and I went for an afternoon drink, met the whole gang and…yes…went to lie on their bed which is a super-comfy memory foam mattress that they installed right after throwing out the old bed. A relaxing a lovely afternoon with food for thought on the mattress….thanks, guys!

One of the local shops selling arts and pottery

But that’s not the only lounging we’ve been doing here in Borrego Springs. This tiny community of ~2,700 people is a quirky desert town completely surrounded by the beauty of 600,000 acre Anza Borrego State Park (in fact if you look on the map, Borrego Springs is literally a hole in the middle of the State Park). It was California’s first “dark sky community” (the nearest stop-light is ~50 miles away) and the place stays true to that image by keeping things rustic and simple. A tiny downtown with a few key shops, a single grassy circle (aptly called Christmas Circle, because honestly the lush green grass is such a gift in the arid desert) and a few RV parks.

Christmas Circle is an oasis of green in the middle of town

But it’s got its little surprises too. There is a rather ritzy golf course, a couple of spas and a whole wealth of hidden art. Besides the fabulous Galetta Meadows, the town hosts multiple excellent events at its tiny Performing Arts Center, offers Art Walks and has other impromptu performances throughout the year (one of my favorite is the annual Peg Leg Liar’s Contest that we managed to tag our first year here).

The fabulous Friday morning farmer's market

And then there’s the farmer’s market. Every Friday morning from Nov-June, twenty or so vendors set-up in Christmas Circle and offer their wares. For such a small market it’s got just about everything you could want from organic vegetables to grass-fed meats, raw honey, fresh breads, food and crafts. If you’re here it’s a not-to-be-missed event!

Even the cats love it here!

This time of year is literally the PERFECT time to be here. Moderate temperatures, long sunny days and plenty of open and gorgeous spots for boondocking. There are people who come here every year simply to soak in the fabulous serenity of it all, and having spent a week here already I can totally see how you get hooked. Not a bad spot to shoot the breeze….and think about beds….

Paul sinks lovingly into the bed in Richard & Ginger's rig

The friends' pooch Lexie poses beautifully for the camera

Fresh honey at the market...yum!

Afternoon shadows at our boondocking spot