Graffitti Hill

On Tuesday, 11 of went out to the California desert to go 4 Wheeling. This was not a difficult trip but you see the cars did some rockin' and rollin' along the way. Our destination was Graffitti Hill. Local lore tells us that before WWII, the U.S. Army sent out a couple soldiers to be on the alert for invaders from Mexico. Hum...WWII...soldiers sitting out in the lonely, deserted, California desert. What to do? I know, let's leave messages in the sand using...rocks!!! Well, they did, and so did hundreds of visitors since then. The area is two miles long and covers the undulating hills on both sides of the sand track.
If you use Ctrl + you can enlarge the pictures and get more detail. Ctrl - shrinks the pictures back to normal size.

Loves of all ages leave their own statements.
Donut Dunker and Toots?

Sidewinder Red?

I would like to know a man named Fiddle Red. There has to be a story there.

...and Payton is a very proud Texan!

So, this is how we spend many days. There are always new places to see...and wonderful friends to share the experience. Life is good!

Foothills Lighted Parade

Every year, fun loving residents of the Foothills decorate their vehicles with all the 12V lights and blowups they can manage. Imagination flourishes!!!!!!!!! For three nights they parade through the streets and RV parks in the Foothills, drawing the residents out to cheer and wish "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" The picture quality is not the best, but moving vehicles are hard to capture. I think I only have one good shot. But if I censured for quality, you wouldn't get to see all these lights!

My favorite!!!!!

Famous Dave's

It was a normal Thursday afternoon at Famous Dave's, or so they thought. A party of 5 arrived around 4:30, and ordered. A few minutes later, another party of 5 arrived and the hostess started asking, "How many more in your party?" The answer? "We don't know. Whoever shows up!" Little did Famous Dave's know that when the WINs are in town, the word is spread and singles gather from all corners of town. Thirty-four showed up last night and a quiet Thursday evening in a local bar/restaurant turned into a major reunion as friends enthusiastically greeted friends even if they had just seen them the day before. There is NOTHING like a WIN social gathering. I borrowed Ted's camera, and had a crash course in operating it. Here are the results. The quality may be poor, but you get the idea!

We have a busy social life, although much of it is impromptu! Everyone enjoys a party!

Living Christmas Tree

Over the years I have been motorhoming, being away from home (Michigan) during the Christmas holidays has been the hardest. I have a very small family, and we have always gathered on Christmas Eve. So, in 2000, when I was to be away from home for the first time, Ted and I searched Yuma for activities that would fill the gap, or at least try to. We found the Living Christmas Tree and have returned each year. A local church, Community Christian, performs a holiday concert in their parking lot several evenings each December. The "tree" is a 35 foot series of platforms, stairs, music stands and flat panels, covered in 22,500 mini lights. While the choir is singing, the lights are dancing, horizontally, vertically, up the tiers like a birthday cake, in panels, virtually in any configuration the computer program can handle. It is amazing and I've often wondered what local drivers think as they drive by this fascinating array.

This is a picture of the tree before the choir arrived.
Now you can see the outlines of the choir members standing in front of some of the mini-lights. Each of the 65-80 choir members wore a knitted red hat and white surplice. The TV screen on the left allows everyone to see the narrators and soloists, a nice touch.

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Everyone was dressed for "winter!" Even though we are in Arizona, it gets cold after dark. I had two layers of silk shirts, two layers of fleece, my jacket, hat and gloves...and a lap robe!!! Yes, MI friends and family, I still wear all my winter duds...though not as often. It began to feel like Christmas was coming and we are both anticipating being in Show Low next winter where I will decorate our home with Christmas cheer and the snow outside will really feel welcome!

Algodones...again!

Today was our second trip to Algodones since Thanksgiving. Remember, We went 3 times before Thanksgiving to take care of my dental issues. Then, Ted decided to have a crown replaced and I decided to get reading glasses. (I can't get the cheap kind because my eyes are so different.) So, today Ted was to get his crown and I picked up the glasses I ordered last week. It only takes 1-2 hours for the glasses to be made but we didn't want to wait. So, today was the day. Well, the dentist decided that more porcelain needed to be added to Ted's crown so it was sent back to the lab. We were told to return in an hour. Try to get that kind of service in the U.S.

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We decided to go to lunch and had an excellent meal for $8.00. We have eaten in several of the restaurants, and Ted swears the push cart vendor's shrimp tacos are the best anywhere. No one I know has ever gotten sick from food in this town.

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We had extra time after lunch so we wandered into a liquor/convenience store on the main street. They were having a tequila tasting in one of the aisles! I don't drink tequila unless it is in a Margarita, but we could have tried all 4 kinds. I was so shocked to see this display! We knew we weren't in the U.S. anymore!! Amazingly, no one was lined up at the table. There were multiple tiny cups already poured and everyone passing by noticed, and kept going! I really expected someone to imbibe!

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Anyway, we did some price checking on Brandy Alexander and Baileys, and didn't buy anything. We headed back to the dentist. The crown was back from the lab and we only had to wait a few minutes for the dentist to be available. I asked Leticia, the receptionist, how many patients the dentists saw during one year. She looked puzzled then said, "During October, November, December, January, February and March they see around 50 patients a day! During the other 6 months, maybe 10 a day. Do the math. Six months times 24 work days a month, (They work M-Sat.) equals 144, times 50 patients a day equals 7200 patient visits during Oct-March!! During the summer they work 5 days a week, or 120 days times 10 patients a day equals 1200 patients. Total--8400 patient visits a year!!!! And they remember my name!! SCARY!!!! They do so many crowns, bridges, partials and dentures that they are experts in what they do. The lab in town does the same work for the 100 or so dentists in town, and they also, are very good at what they do. No wonder that people fly down here from WA and OR to visit relatives during the holidays and have their dental work done here before they return home. This is the destination of 1000s of winter visitors as well. Cost for Ted's crown??? $170.

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The pharmacies are the other main reason for the tourist traffic. If you are interested what your U.S. prescriptions would cost at the Purple Pharmacy in Algodones, e-mail them and ask. info@grupo-liquis.com

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While I waited for Ted, I worked on a small cross stitch project. My new glasses are great! I can see up close at 20/20 which I have never had before. My exam, frames and lenses??? $100. Works for me!