Moving day. Heading up to Ehrenberg, AZ. for one night then on up to Needles, CA. Elks Lodge for two nights.
We have had another good visit here at Naval Air Facility El Centro. Got to meet some great people at the Mirage Club, got some minor dental work done in Los Algodones, Mexico and took the 12 day trip to Florida plus going on the cruise. We were also blessed to have Ed and Cindy Kopic come over from Arizona for a visit. But, it’s time to move on up the road toward Oregon. Read our review here: http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/california/discussions/review?id=9931
March 3, 2018
On Thursday we had planned to leave El Centro and head up to Ehrenburg, AZ. After pulling out of our parking site and getting ready to hook up our CRV I turned on the water pump. Well guess what? Yep, the darned thing would not work. I checked the fuse and it was OK and there was power to the pump. Ain’t this just dandy.
I called the guy that put in the new pump back in January and he said bring the coach down to his shop. When we got there and after again checking the fuse and power they had to replace the pump…again. Took them a little over an hour get it changed.
So we then jumped on Hwy 111, then up Hwy 78 to I-40 east to Edrenburg and the Arizona Oasis RV Resort, a Passport America affiliated park where we had a pull-through site for $22.
After getting set up our neighbors, Barry and Chris Bryant invited to sit a spell and have a drink. They are from Alberta, Canada and head south when the weather gets nasty. We had a really nice visit with them and exchanged business cards.
Yesterday morning we headed up Hwy 95 to Parker, AZ where we got some diesel fuel and then on up thru Lake Havasu and finally to the Elks Lodge in Needles, CA. They offer six parking sites with full hookups for $20 a night.
We went up to the lodge to pay for our site and have a cold one. Barbara, the bartender is a four-time Exalted Ruler here and will be in that chair again next year. I had asked her , “Why Needles”? After graduating from the California Highway Patrol Academy she didn’t want to serve in LA, Oakland or another big city so she picked here. She sent her whole career in Needles and retired a couple of years ago with 34 years of service.
Since the lodge didn’t have anything going on for supper Barbara recommended the Valdez Mexican Grill over in Mohave Valley, AZ. Excellent food and huge portions. We brought home enough food for another meal.
March 4, 2018
Yesterday we drove over to Golden Valley, AZ to visit our friends Keith and Joann Taylor. Joann fell not too long ago and broke the femur bone in her right leg. She is doing well and on the mend but we picked up fixins’ for tacos and Joyce made supper for us. We had a very nice visit.
March 5, 2017
Today we drove over to Kingman, AZ and met Keith and Joann who drove us around the area. They took us into the Hualapai Mountains which were really beautiful.
After that we had a nice lunch at Ma and Pa’s Hot Rod Cafe’. We had another nice visit and we hope to see them again soon.
March 7, 2018
Yesterday we made the two hour run to Nellis AFB, NV. Fought strong crosswinds most of the way.
A couple of weeks ago Joyce scored us a room for two nights at Caesar’s Palace that came with $190 free play, free valet parking, $197 food credits and free internet. All we had to pay was $88 for resort fee’s and taxes. So as soon as we got setup in our parking site we drove down to “The Strip” and checked in the hotel.
Caesar’s gave us a very nice room on the 27th floor that had a very nice king bed and of course Joyce loved the large jetted tub.
Last night we enjoyed a very nice dinner at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill. Joyce had the Ancho Chile-Honey Glazed Salmon dish the she said was delicious and I settled on the Grilled Porterhouse Lamp Chops, the best lamb dish I have ever eaten anywhere.
March 8, 2018
Yesterday we drove up to Mesquite, NV to check out the Del Webb Sun City Community. The area is nice but it is a long way from from Las Vegas. Not much out that way.
March 9, 2018
We left Nellis AFB around 11:30 this morning, making the 75 mile run to Pahrump, NV is just under three hours. The traffic on I-15 in the downtown Las Vegas is terrible with long areas of construction. So, we decided to go around all that mess and take “the new” Hwy 215, then get one Hwy 159 to Hwy 160 north. Much less stress and the drive through the Red Rocks Canyon was beautiful.
March 12, 2018
On Saturday and Sunday we didn’t do too much, just checked out the local area. As most of y’all know Joyce loves to watch HDTV and look at new homes. So we toured a couple of new housing developments in Pahrump.
On Monday we visited Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the lower forty-eight states. Our first stop was at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center where we picked up an updated map, checked out the small museum and planned our day.
Since we only had a few hours we limited our tour to just the south end of the park. First stop was at Devil’s Golf Course and then Badwater, the lowest point in North America. The salt flats there are 282 feet below sea level. Joyce made the 3/4 mile walk out onto the flats but I decided to stay behind. Next we made the very beautiful nine-mile loop drive of Artists Palette.
We didn’t get to see all we wanted in Death Valley so we’ll plan a trip back some time. The park is just too big to see it all in just one or two days. Here are a couple of recommendations:
- If you are going to camp in the park, make reservations the day they open up. I tried the day after the reservation system opened up the camping sites and everything was full.
- Try to spend at least three days in the park.
- Take all the supplies you need. Prices are very high in the park, specially gas and fuel. Water, water, water!
- Have a good camera.
Devil's Golf Course
Mountain View
Salt Flats. The lowest point in North America.
See the sign? That is sea level.
On the Artist's Palette drive.
Yesterday we hooked up and headed toward Mojave, CA. Our original plan was to stay at Edwards AFB but after reading the reviews we decided to just spend a quick night at the Sierra Trails RV Park. When Joyce called there they were full so we went to plan three, the Elks Lodge in Lancaster, CA.
The lodge has about 22 sites, all back-in’s with 30 amp electric and water service. Great place for an overnight stay.
On the way Joyce got an email from our friend Melay Marcrum-Gates who lives in Lancaster. After getting off work Melay and her husband John met us at the lodge for drinks and then we had a nice supper at a local Mexican restaurant.
March 15, 2018
On Tuesday morning we left Lancaster about 10:30, bound for the Fresno Elks Lodge for a six day visit with my mother and brothers.
If you haven’t driven Highway 99 up through the Central Valley in a motor home or pulling a trailer, don’t if at all possible. There were several times that I think we were lucky to not blow a tire after hitting some of the pot holes. The traffic is always very heavy with everyone trying to get just one car length ahead of you and believe me, some of those folks have no idea what it takes to stop a 40,000 pound motor home.
Until next time.
Barry & Joyce
No comments:
Post a Comment