Our Day From Hell!

First we could not get another day at the park we were at, ok, we said we would live with it and head to the Casino and dry camp for a few days before we begin working.

Then we printed off the directions from one of the websites we use…we usually use a variety of the websites that offer this service and each time we have run into the issue we did today. The road they advised us to take to the Casino was a long and winding road that climbed then plummeted down a 7% steep grade. Oh my goodness…we actually used some other choice words but hopefully you get the drift. I thought only the San Francisco area was like this…well so is the San Diego county area we are now. There have been a few times that we had been scared in our full-timing lifestyle and this was definitely one of those moments. I just do not understand why they would take us up and down that road when we were on a perfectly great road that when we later looked at a map, would have brought us to the same place without all that excessive pull and fall motions we had to deal with.

Once we made it off that drive…I had a total meltdown…something I had been leaning towards for days now…not knowing how we were going to make it through this very rough patch we were in and all the stress of the drive just got the best of me. The tears began and were uncontrollable and then the babbling began…poor Jerry, he just let me go on and on. Finally, after a good nights sleep, things are definitely brighter and we will be heading out in the morning to our new adventures. Will keep you all updated as much as possible but in the meantime, I am thanking the heavens above for the best husband in the world.

These are the photos of the area we are boondocking for a few nights.

Could It Be Any Better Than This?

This is why we do what we do…we decided since we were so close to the ocean and it was time to hookup that we wanted to be on it for the night. We found the perfect spot…San Elijo State Beach. Apparently we got lucky…since after all…it is Spring Break! We could only get it for one night…believe me we tried for a second night but they are full.
We took advantage of what was given to us for the time allowed and walked along the beach looking at the spectacular view, collecting very few shells and taking photos of the breathtaking sunset. Be sure to click on this title to take you to all of our photos we posted. We slept with our windows open even though it was a bit crisp, we wanted to hear the sound of the waves all night long, as we did.

One of our plans to save money is to boondock for a few nights, then hookup at a campground for a night and repeat. At first I was a little upset about having to do this but now we see it as a great adventure. Think about all the many campgrounds we will be able to visit while we are here instead of staying stagnant in one, we will get to experience many more of them and share our findings with you all. There is always a silver lining to every cloud and for this time, this is ours.

The water has always been my serene place with the sounds and sights being so magnificent, I now understand why it will remain my peaceful place, the place I go when I need to get centered.

Perfect Timing for This Phrase

Yesterday is History
Tomorrow is a Mystery
Today is a Gift
That is why it is called a Present

VieJas Casino

This is a great place...in a great location. If you are ever in the area, make sure you make it a point to spend the night.





We had a great time so we stayed a few extra days.
Be sure to check out our reviews for all the scoop on this place...it is really a great place.

Now that we are in California…

Gas is outrageous, so the more we boondock the better. We are not going out of our way to stop and spend the night, so we may only travel a few miles a day at least we are moving towards our goal and are able to enjoy some of the things along the way.


Our next stop was Campo, California at the Golden Acorn Casino where they flash the “RV’s Welcome” sign. They do not have any designated area but since their parking lot does not fill up they advised us anywhere would be fine. We did make the mistake and followed the truckers path which was located in the rear of the Casino but if we chose to we could nestled up between them. We chose instead a place in the parking lot out of the way of anyone except of course the bright lights and the neon flashing all night long. We also had very poor phone and internet reception so we chose to stay just one night. But, we did sign up for the card and received some free play $, which once again we won a small jackpot.

The LaPosta Casino was located on the other side of the freeway, “head up the short hill” as they described it. Do not let that fool you…it is a very steep hill and very windy but once again we made it up without a problem. We signed up for their card as well and again hit a small jackpot. Our fuel fund is filling up a few bucks at a time but we are really pulling this off.

We felt safe and had a good nights sleep and started off very early the next morning.

Slight Change of Plans

We have plenty of time to get to San Diego but our funds are low so we are being very creative. We left the Cocopah Casino early in the morning and headed just a few miles to the Paradise Casinos. We signed up for the Players Card, had a good breakfast for 99 cents, got our free play $ and hit a small jackpot…off we go!

Our plan is to boondock a few days, then one at a campground, then boondock a few more and back and forth. We learned that the RV Parks in California are really highly priced so we are planning on moving around a bit while we are there to ease that burden a bit so that we can get our fuel fund filled up again to get us to North Carolina in May. We love staying at different parks anyway, so we have turned this into a review marathon while we are there.

We checked out our discount card books to get a deal so we could hook up for a night, we found one in Winterhaven, but as we have been noticing more and more, the discount was no longer valid at that park. This is going to be an entirely different article and into more depth about this common problem.

We could have chosen to stay and pay the high price as we usually but this time it was a bit different, the clerk was downright snotty, so because of her attitude we opted to move on down the road. This was of course a blessing…we went into Steely, California and found the perfect park for the same price and even though the discount was not valid, her attitude was so inviting, we chose to stay and enjoy this very nice 5 Star Resort. Be sure to check out our review on this one…Sunbeam Lake RV Resort…it was fabulous!

The drive on I-8 was interesting and a wide variety of landscapes…it went from desert to sand dunes to mountains. There were many stops for the Border Patrol to check you out as well…thank goodness we don’t look like Coyotes. The climb was challenging but even with the Jeep hooked up we made it without any problems

Boondocking For Days At A Time...Oh My!

Left Tonopah and our last campground or park for several days. I know for some of you this is no big deal but for us we are trying to do without the hookups...not sure if this is our kind of way of camping or not.

We drove into Quartzsite...what a difference a few weeks make in certain areas. What was a flourishing town is now a desolated area.

We drove 95 into Yuma...if you have not been on this road before let me just say the bumps and thunks and rattles may be worth it one time because the scenery is really nice but what a TERRIBLE road!

Cocopah Casino is located Southeast of Yuma and once we arrived we were quite impressed.



There were designated sites that were huge and very flat. We paid $5 for up to 3 nights but we only stayed for two, just long enough to do our laundry at one of the many local laundromats and enjoyed the buffet special on Monday for $4.95...the price was right.

We felt safe but of course the lights are bright and the neon signs are flashy. We didn't have good phone service for some reason which also meant our internet was not the best either.

Finally Able To Leave Phoenix

Have you ever had a day where nothing goes according to plan? Well for us that day seems to be every single day of our lives. We choose not to complain about it since we do have so much more than many people out here in this world but just for a time, we would love for things to go a bit easier for us...especially our finances...actually that is the only problem we tend to have. If we did not have any financial challenges...we would have the most splendid life.

Once we learn to get out of our funk...we will be...without a doubt...the happiest couple in the Universe. When we do argue which is hardly ever...but when we do it is over the frustrations of not being able to do the things we both want to do because we are not able to do them financially so we have to go with Plan B. We are so sick and tired of Plan B and for once in our lives would love to go with Plan A.

But of course, how can we complain when otherwise we have it all...we have our health...we have sound minds(this is of course up for debate)...we have joy...we have laughter...we have our home on wheels...we have our toad...we have our sense of humors (which we use constantly to get us through)...most importantly we have a love for one another that nothing or nobody can ever take away!

We got hooked up...for anybody who has ever boondocked for over a week in the desert...we are sure you understand. Before we get comments on this remark...please understand that our rig is not set up for boondocking for more than just a few days. When we are able to upgrade we will indeed put this as a high priority, as well as gas mileage. Anyway, we got hooked up and cleaned ourselves and the vehicles. We were going to do our laundry as well but the campground we checked into took the weekend off...imagine that.

Life is still good...we were clean...able to watch some TV...relax and soak in all the good things hookups add to this life and sustain enough until the next time we would be able to hook up again. We had a choice this year due to the high costs of gas...we either had to settle in at a place for a few months or find another way to save money for the higher prices of traveling many more miles. We chose to save in other ways...one was campground expenses...follow our adventures to see the creative ways we learn to save a buck and continue with our NASCAR events.

Jerry Goes Way Out of His Comfort Zone

We were asked to volunteer some of our time to help them out since many of their regular volunteers were at Rawhide this week for a special event. I was more than happy to help out in the store area, as for Jerry they were in need of an extra cowboy. He had to be coaxed...a lot...finally he agreed. He admitted afterwards that he really did have a great time.

A very lucky photo...catching the Sheriff's smoking gun. 

 This is my Favorite photo...he is so handsome. I am so proud of him since I know how difficult this was for him but he made it look so natural.

AZ - Pioneer - Gunfight

Click on the above photo or the title to be guided to all of our photos of the gunfight.

Our Morning Adventure

 This morning while drinking our coffee...we heard a familiar noise...only this time it was...closer...then ever. We opened our door and looked up and there it was...going right over our heads...landing just feet away from us. This is what happens when you boondock out in the desert. We love this lifestyle!
  

This Is What This Lifestyle Is All About

We worry so much about our finances that we sometimes forget to stop and enjoy what we have in our lives right now. Our day began with a bit of …shall we say…financial stress. We began snapping at one another, something we do not do very often since being out here on the road. Finally, after what seemed to be hours (actually only minutes), the laughter once again began and at that moment we were just North of Parker, Arizona on Highway 95. If you have ever driven this route, you know exactly what we mean when we say that this ride is breathtaking…the scenery is beyond words. At the same precise moment, we both seen a State park on the Colorado River, nestled in between several mountains and simultaneously we said, “Want to spend the night here?”


We pulled in and it was a great park…the scenery was spectacular…we found our spot…settled in and then found out there was no satellite signal at all…no TV...no phone service…no internet service. What were we to do? We were settled in so we thought we may as well make the best of it. We walked around and took pictures, met some wonderful people, including the Ranger who was also a photo buff.

When night came and we were not ready to go to sleep so early, we remembered the video games we had but had not played in such a long time. Probably not since we had our grandson with us…which is a very long time. Anyway, we spent the evening playing these silly video games, we laughed so hard and for that time all of our troubles were so far away.


Still Not Sure What Kind of Bug This Was!

We woke this morning with a new perspective on our lives and will continue to laugh, love and live our lives to the fullest at every moment. Thank you God for once again taking us to a place within our hearts where we can enjoy ourselves no matter what the circumstances going on in our lives are, we are certain that no matter what happens, we will be able to get through it.

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

We could absolutely get used to this kind of treatment…we had a blast! We worked the night shift…slept a few hours in the morning and had the entire day to browse around the many areas our credentials allowed us to go.
They fed us a really great lunch everyday from a local deli…the sandwiches were really tasty…they gave us water and some Gatorade…on the night shift they brought us coffee and goodies…we also got other goodies like, T-Shirts, Lanyards, pins just to name a few of the perks we received.

Working the night shift we did not work with many of the other workers but the couple we worked with was fabulous.

Our Leads were super and many of the other workers were really great to hang around with as well. The fans were great…but as we have learned that the more we respect other people…the more respectful they are in return. Most of the unfavorable things that are said about NASCAR fans is just a bunch of bologna anyway.

We were able to watch both the Nationwide (aka Busch) and the Cup Series from our roof.








Then if things couldn’t get any better they set up the Jumbo-Tron facing our patio just a few feet away. We enjoyed the races from the best viewpoint ever…if we missed anything while watching it live…we could check out the replay on our patio big screen.

We are so totally spoiled for all other race tracks…none will ever compare to this adventure…but we are willing to check them all out and see if they will, we have lined up many more of the tracks with many more to come.










This is absolutely the best lifestyle we have ever been privileged to live and are very grateful every day for all we have.