HOME FOR 2 WEEKS

We said good bye to our friends yesterday, and traveled the short distance from Quartzsite, to Lake Havasu, arriving back home about mid afternoon. By the time we unloaded the motor home, took the motorcycle off the back, and got our house on wheels parked under the shade cover, it was late afternoon. Now that it's out of the way for a little over 2 weeks, I have a few more projects in the backyard that I need to finish before we leave to work the Tucson Rodeo in mid February. As much as I enjoy parking in the desert, which we did for a little over 2 weeks, it feels good to get back home, and start catching up on a few things that have been on the back burner for awhile.

LEAVING QUARTZSITE

Today, starts our third week of being parked in the desert, near Quartzsite, and Yuma, AZ. Tomorrow, we head back to Lake Havasu, where several projects are waiting to be completed. We have enjoyed these last 2 weeks, visiting with our friends, getting new eye glasses, having my teeth fixed, (Not so enjoyable), riding my dual sport bike in the desert, (went for a ride yesterday), and just being lazy around the campfire. This is a time of year when the temperatures are generally in the 60's, and except for an occasional storm, the sky is pure blue. Last night with a full moon, there was almost enough light to sit outside and read a book. Camping in the desert has always been a highlight for me, going back to the days when Mike and Marc were just little guys, and we used to camp in the high desert, north of Bishop, CA, on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. My definition of camping has evolved just a little, from the days of sleeping bags in the back of a pickup, to a rolling house on wheels, with all of the modern conveniences. We'll be home for a couple of weeks, then we're off to Tucson, where we will be working the Tucson Rodeo, perhaps for the last time. We'll have to see how that plays out, but with the loss of the National Finals Rodeo in Vegas, the company we contract with, may elect not to continue with the Tucson event. We haven't seen Marc, Chandra and our grandaughter Laila since XMAS, so we're already looking forward to the trip to Tucson.

RV ELECTRICAL POWER

Perhaps, the list is never ending, but, one of the things on my list for the motor home, has been a power management device. Most, if not all RV manufacturers, do not install a device that guards against low or hi voltage. With the multiple circuit boards and electronic devices in our motor home, they are the most susceptible to low RV park voltage, or conversely, spikes or surges in AC current. Camping World sells the most popular device, with the Surge Guard brand name, and it protects against low, or high incoming voltage by shutting down the power if it is too high, or too low. What it doesn't do is to boost the voltage in the event that it's too low, as we have found at a few RV parks. As the saying goes, we've been "rolling the dice" for many years, as I have never purchased any type of voltage protection device, and fortunately, we have never had a problem. There have been multiple times however, that I have either known people, or heard of folks who have had serious problems with unregulated AC voltage, that has caused damage to their RV electrical components. Yesterday, I solved this particular problem by purchasing a Power Master voltage controller and the installation kit. After a lot of research, I had narrowed the decision down to this company, and the Hughes brand. When we went into town yesterday, we made a tour of the big tent that has transitioned from the RV show, to the Arts and Crafts show. Many of the vendors who were there last week, are still there, and one of those vendors is Power Master. My friend Jim Stebbins and I talked to one of the owners of Power Master, Todd Coffelt, who previously worked for Hughes, his current main competitor. Todd answered a lot of my questions, and demo'd his 50 amp Power Master. I'm always a bit skeptical, when someone is trying to sell a product, but after about 30 minutes of questions, I was convinced that this is the best product of it's kind. It not only protects against voltage spikes and surges, it also boosts low voltage 12%, which takes away the worry of circuit board damage in appliances like our refrigerator, air conditioners, microwave, etc. In the end, Jim and I both bought a Power Master voltage controller, and even with my reluctance to mess with electrical stuff, the installation is pretty straight forward, and I'll install it when we get home in a few days. And guess what? The Power Master is actually made in the U.S.A.!

CAMPFIRE IN QUARTZSITE

We've been parked in the desert near Quartzsite, since last Friday, the 22nd. Yesterday, our friends arrived, after they finished working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction in Scottsdale. Sitting around the campfire last night, (left to right), Jim, Len, Harold, Ellie, Betty, and Patty. Megan is the only person missing from this photo, where the marsh mellows were being roasted, and in Patty's case - mostly burned. It was a pleasant weather evening, with no wind, and nice conversation with good friends. We now have 4 motor homes circled around the campfire pit, and we'll be here until about Saturday, when we'll head for home. The other 3 couples will be here for about another week, before they travel west to Pomona, for the first NHRA drag race of the new season. Today, the big tent opens back up for the Arts and Crafts show, and that's high on Patty's priority list of things to do. Oh, almost forgot. I stopped by the window awning vendor day before yesterday morning, to find out why I didn't get a phone call from them, regarding the new awning I wanted to purchase. It turns out that in this high tech world, my information was lost, in the process of being emailed to the mobile tech, (yes, they have computers in their trucks), who was supposed to call and schedule an appointment. After a bunch of apologies, the awning got ordered, was here in less than 24 hours, and was installed yesterday afternoon.
Life is good in the desert, where the temps have been in the mid 60's, and lots of sunshine.

GETTING CLOSER

A best buddies scenario, where our new cat (Gracie), and our 12 year old Beagle (Sami) snuggle in the same bed to keep warmer, is probably never going to happen. However, a lot of progress has been made, since we brought Gracie home, a little over a month ago. There's still the occasional attempt by Sami to be the alpha animal, but a few hisses and spits from Gracie, combined with a left hook, and Sami backs down pretty quickly. We are now very comfortable leaving the two home alone, even though this house on wheels is very small, and requires all of us to be in close proximity to one another. Yesterday, we enjoyed the warm sunshine, and did some reading on our desert patio. I even took a short power nap in the sun, which almost never happens. We did venture into town, and wandered through another swap meet area near the post office. I found an old iron wagon wheel for $25, which will look good somewhere in our backyard. I also arranged for an awning vendor to come by the motor home and check a window for an additional awning that I want to install. "He'll call sometime after 5pm for directions", were the parting words from the salesperson, as we headed back to the motor home. Well, it's now the next day, and no phone call. If that person was too busy to take a couple of minutes to call and explain that he couldn't make it yesterday, I might be too busy today, and they may have just lost a sale. One of my 10 commandments as a former business owner, was to always follow through with my promise, no matter what that involved. I know, it's a small thing, but in these economic times, businesses need that competitive edge, and customer service should be their top priority. We'll see how this plays out today?

BACK IN QUARTZSITE

With most of the dental work finished, we're back in Quartzsite, at a different location than last week. About 5 miles south of town, off Hwy 95 @ mile marker 99, a large BLM area exists for RV's. This area is a little farther out of town, and has no support systems, like access to water, dump station, or garbage Dumpsters. There is however, no fee involved to park here, and right now, there are hundreds, if not thousands of rigs within a mile or so radius. We're here for about a week, with some of our friends starting to arrive tomorrow. Yesterday morning, it was all about filling out insurance forms, making copies of dental receipts, and getting it all mailed to my dental insurance company. The other paperwork that we mailed yesterday was the initial forms and deposit for a trip that Patty is taking with her son David. They're going to Greece in November, and the 10 day trip includes a 4 day cruise in the Greek Isles. She's excited about the trip, but probably more thankful that she will be able to spend some time with David. Last year it was China with her brother. This year it's Greece with her son. We found out about this trip from Lori East, who is going with her sister, and son Trevor. I'm sure they will have a great time, but that kind of travel, that includes very long airplane rides, just isn't for me. About 2-4 hours in the air is all I'm willing to endure. The picture was taken yesterday, showing my new flagpole that I just could not live without. I have a collapsible 20' pole at home, that was originally purchased for the motor home, but, it was just too big and heavy, so I only used it a couple of times while traveling. It ended up as a semi-permanent structure in front of the house. This new pole is fiberglass, collapses to about 4 feet, and with permanent mounts on the rear ladder, will be much easier to set up and take down. There's just something about seeing our beautiful flag waving in the wind, that brings out my patriotic spirit. This is a great country, I just hope that our path stays true to the traditional values that were set forth by our founding fathers.

MEXICAN DENTISTRY RECAP

Last year was my first experience with a Mexican Dentist in Algodones, just across the border near Yuma, AZ. I don't believe that there's such a thing as a good experience with a dentist. There's just something about getting needles in your mouth, the sound of the drill, and the occasional sharp pain, that negates a visit to the dentist as a good experience. Having said that, the care and quality of work from my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando, was as good as any I have ever received from the multitude of dentists I have visited in the U.S. Based on that experience last year, I returned a few weeks ago, and started a series of visits with Carmen and 2 other dentists, an Endodontist and a Periodontist.
Because of a broken front tooth, I had to have the Periodontists do minor gum surgery around the broken tooth, and the Endodontist placed a fiberglass pin in the tooth so it could be crowned.
Carmen prepped 3 front teeth for crowns, and filled 4 cavities. Total bill from all 3 dentists was $1,360. My estimate of that cost in the U.S. is about $4-5,000. When I discovered last year, that my dental insurance will pay the same percentages to Mexican Dentists that it does to U.S. Dentists, it was quite a pleasant surprise, particularly when you start looking at out of pocket expense. Of the $1,360 that I just paid, I should be reimbursed about $1,100 from my insurance company. Since I have a maximum $2,000 yearly cap on dental benefits, my out of pocket expense in the U.S. would have been $2-3,000. Quite a difference! I'm not suggesting that everyone has good experiences with Mexican Dentists. After 5 visits to Carmen, and 2 visits to specialist dentists, I can say that I will continue to take care of my less than perfect teeth in Algodones, Mexico. When I consider the cost factor, it seems to be a win - win for me.
Now that the gap is filled in, and the Bubba smile is gone, I think my IQ has now gone back up!

RAIN IN YUMA

When the jet stream recently dipped to the south, it has caused several storms to hit the west coast, and some of that moisture has made it's way into southern Arizona. Yesterday, we did some shopping at Sams Club, then ventured over to the super Wal-Mart for some groceries. When I first pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that it was almost empty, and initially thought that the heavy rain was keeping shoppers away from this very busy Wally World. When we actually got into the parking lot, we discovered it was more of a shallow lake than a place to park your car. Since it doesn't rain a whole lot in Yuma, (average rainfall is about 3 inches), it appears that the emphasis on designing adequate water drainage wasn't a top priority. There were 3 water tanker trucks in the middle of Lake Wal-Mart, attempting to pump the water out of the parking lot, and into their tanks. I suspect this is their contingency plan when it rains really hard, like it has for the past couple of days. This morning, I have my last dental appointment, and since the rain has stopped, we'll be heading back north to Quartzsite for some more flea market action, and a few days of quiet camping in the desert.

YUMA PRISON

With 3 days between dental appointments, Patty and I played tourist yesterday, and stopped at the Yuma Prison State Historical Park. I first visited this old prison site, about 29 years ago, when I started riding my Harley to Yuma for the "Prison Run". That gathering of motorcyclists is still going strong, and takes place in mid April. The spring ride to Yuma was something we all looked forward to, because the weather was always nice and warm, and often, quite a contrast to the cold and foggy central CA weather. One year, about 8 of us left Modesto in the rain, and by the time we stopped in Kettleman City, a couple of hours later, we were wet, cold, and not looking forward to any more miles in the rain. So, we rented the largest U-Haul available, and Art Mitchell drove all the way to Palm Springs, where we got rid of the truck, and rode the bikes from there, to Yuma. The truly amazing thing, was that the bikes were not tied down, and due mostly to Art's skillful driving, not a scratch was to be found on any of the bikes. That was indeed a trip for the memory bank, in more ways than one! The old prison hasn't changed in the last 3 decades, but is due to be one of about 20 Arizona State Parks to close, because the state is broke. I won't get started on government ineptitude, but it's pretty sad when the congressional leaders find hundreds of millions to make corrupt, backroom deals, and states like Arizona, don't have enough money to keep State Parks and Rest Areas open.
On a more positive note, we visited with Charlie and Bev Thompson yesterday at their winter home here in Yuma. We first met Charlie and Bev during our first summer in Skagway, Alaska. We all worked for the same company, and stayed in the company RV park, where it was like an extended family. We hadn't seen Charlie and Bev for a few years, and we had heard that they dedicated themselves to a more healthy lifestyle. They both looked great, and told us how they had lost a combined 140 pounds through better eating and exercise. It was nice to see Charlie and Bev, and catch up on the latest happenings in Skagway. It's raining this morning, and the forecast is for more of the same throughout the day. Who says it doesn't rain in the desert?

MEXICAN SPECTACLES

I guess I'm a sucker for a bargain, whether it's at a flea market, garage sale, or as was the case yesterday, across the border in Algodones, Mexico. Now, I probably have more sets of optical hardware, than any 10 persons combined, but as I said, I can't pass up a bargain. So, after Patty had picked up her 2 pair of bifocal, progressive lens glasses for under $100, I just couldn't let her out do me. It was back across the border yesterday morning, for more glasses that I really didn't need. At about 11am, I was finished with my eye exam, had picked out some frames, and they were sent off to the lab, along with my new prescription. I was going to come back and pick the glasses up on Friday, when I have my last dental appointment, but Patty suggested we hang out, and pick them up today. So, we had lunch, (that's me eating the best shrimp tacos in the hemisphere), walked around, and killed a couple of hours. At a little after 1pm, I picked up my new bifocal, progressive shaded lens sunglasses, and paid an astounding $59 for them, including the eye exam! To top it off, I have 2 weeks to get a second pair for $29.50! Being the bargain hunter that I am, I have a feeling that when we return to Algodones on Friday, I'll most likely have to have that 2nd pair of glasses for 1/2 price! The only bad part about yesterday, was we were ready to come back across the border at probably the worst time of day. The picture is the waiting line, and it goes all the way up to where the big American Flag is flying. We waited in line for about an hour, before crossing back across. The good part about the line was we ran into Art, Linda, Randy and Emily, who had driven down from Quartzsite. Not much more than a hi, but it was nice to see them again. This wave of storms moving through the southwest, hit us yesterday afternoon, and even the desert isn't immune from moisture, as it probably dumped an inch of rain in less than an hour. Glad we're hi and dry in the Indian Casino parking lot.

ALGODONES, MEXICO

The proper name of this small border town is Los Algodones, but most everyone shortens the name to Algodones. About 8 miles west of Yuma, AZ, an exit off Interstate 8 takes you about one mile south to the border crossing into Algodones. The vast majority of folks park in the huge parking lot adjacent to the border, and make the short walk into Mexico. When you leave, a $5 fee is charged by the Quechan Indian Tribe. We've been coming to Algodones for many years, and yesterday, I spent several hours taking care of dental issues while Patty got 2 pair of glasses. She had purchased one set of frames at Wal-Mart for $9, and already had the second pair in an old prescription pair of sunglasses. Her exam, and bifocal lenses in both pair of frames came to $89. When I finished at the dentist around 2pm, we picked up her new glasses (yes, that's same day, out the door service), and walked back across the border. Well, not exactly. Even though U.S. Customs has opened a new building, replacing the old single wide trailer, it sometimes still requires a wait in line. We waited approx. 30 minutes before showing our passports, and then walked back to the car. Last year, the wait could be as long as a couple of hours. I have one more visit scheduled with my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando. It takes just a couple of days for the crowns to be made, but this is the busy time of year, and the earliest that Carmen could get me back in, is this coming Friday. So, we have 3 days to relax, and then, when we're finished in Algodones on Friday, it's back to Quartzsite for a week or so.

ON TO YUMA

Even though it was a short visit, we enjoyed getting together with our friends in Quartzsite. When we were in Modesto in mid November, Linda & A.J. were in the early stages of recovery, after Linda gave one of her kidneys to A.J., who had been on dialysis. Even though they were doing well, there were a few issues, which have now disappeared. It was so good to see Linda feeling better, and she and Art able to get away for a week or so. Yesterday, we drove the 90 miles south to Yuma, where we parked at the new Indian Casino, west of Yuma, at the I8 exit to the border crossing into Algodones, Mexico. This morning, I have two dental appointments, starting at 10am. I'll be glad to get past, what seems like an annual ordeal with dentists, and get on with the fun stuff, like riding my KLR in the desert. When we're finished with dentists, optomitrists, and pharmacies here in Algodones, we'll be heading back to Quartzsite for some more camping in the desert. When we opened email last night, we were surprised to find that Patty's brother Michael, had designed and sent a "Travel by Chance" poster, which I displayed this morning. Thanks Mike, it's a great addition to our travel blog!

DOIN THE "Q"

Quartzsite, AZ is a small little community of about 2,000, that is situated in southwestern Arizona, about 20 miles east of the Colorado River. It sits in a large desert valley, and is an oasis along I10, between Phoenix and Los Angeles. This is the time of year when tens of thousands of RV'ers migrate to Quartzsite for a conglomerate of flea markets, mineral and gem shows, and an RV show under one of the biggest tents I've ever seen.
The B.L.M. has designated thousands of acres of land around Quartzsite for RV camping, and that's exactly where the above photos were taken. We're parked next to our friends, Art, Linda, Randy & Emily, about a mile south of Quartzsite, in the BLM La Posa West area. The fee for 14 days is $40, and there is access to water, Dumpsters and a dump station. We've enjoyed the visit with our friends, and one short motorcycle ride in the desert, but we are leaving today for more dental work in Algodones, Mexico. I have an appointment tomorrow to finish what was started last week. We'll most likely park at the new Indian Casino which is west of Yuma, and only about a mile from the border crossing. When I was there last week, I noticed a large area full of RV's and trucks next to the casino. As I suspected, it's OK to park there for free, and that's where we are headed this morning. It's about 90 miles from Quartzsite to Yuma, and we'll be making the return trip when we're finished with dental and optical stuff in Algodones. Looking forward to parking with another group of friends here in Quartzsite, next week.

CATS AND DOGS

It's been almost a month, since we rescued Gracie, and brought her home from Flagstaff. The first few days around the Chance household, with a new cat, were rather interesting, to put it mildly. Sami, our 12 year old Beagle, had become accustomed to being the only 4 legged child, since we lost our last cat of 18 years. That was about 2 years ago, and even though Sami was raised from a puppy with a cat, she still has the hound instinct of chasing smaller critters, especially cats. With Gracie new in the house, she spent quite a bit of time under our bed, which was a safe haven from Sami. Gradually, the two started to adjust to each other, and now, except for a few hisses, and a strong left hook (paw), they are now very tolerant of one another. Gracie, is into everything, as the pictures show. We think she is about a year and a half old, but the kitten in her is still very much alive, and her antics are sometimes hysterical. Our two 4 legged kids are doing well with each other, and the entertainment factor has gone up several levels with Gracie in the house. The weather has been typical, winter, low desert, with daytime temps around 70, and the lows in the mid 40's. We're looking forward to seeing many of our friends in a few days, down in Quartzsite.

MEXICO DENTISTRY - PART II

My appointment yesterday with the Periodontist in Algodones, Mexico, went well, and now, the infamous broken tooth is exposed enough for the Endodontist to install a post. The total charge for the minor surgery was $160. The bad news is that I have to wait about a week for the gums to heal before taking the next step. So, today, it's back home to Lake Havasu for a few days, then we will be meeting Art, Linda, Randy, Emily, Jerry, Sue, and perhaps some of our other friends in Quartzsite on the 14th. We had intended to hang out in Quartzsite for a week or so, but, I have to be back at the Dentist(s) on the 18th, to continue the process of fixing the broken tooth, and some other dental stuff. While in Algodones this next trip, we'll also be doing some optical upgrading, and take the opportunity to pick up some meds for ourselves, and a few friends. Our plan is to return to Quartzsite after all of my dental work is done, which hopefully will be around the 23rd. Another group of friends (Jim, Megan, Len, Ellie, and ?) will be arriving on the 25th, when they finish working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction. On this second stop, we should be able to stay put for a week or so, and relax a little bit, before heading back home.

MEXICAN DENTISTRY

The photo above, is a view from the U.S. side of the border crossing, at Algodones, Mexico, and I took the picture in the huge parking lot, run by the local Quechan Indian Tribe. From the parking lot, it's a short walk across the border into Algodones, where this small Mexican border town is well known for it's multitude of pharmacies, dentists, and optical businesses. Patty and I have been getting our glasses and some meds here for years. Last winter was the first time I tried the services of a Mexican Dentist, with good results. I must admit, for the first time visitor, this scene isn't one that inspires a lot of confidence in what lies on the other side of the border. In fact, if one pays attention to all of the violence going on along the Mexican border, particularly in border towns like Juarez, Laredo, and Tijuana, you might take a look at the above, get back into your car, and dismiss the idea of obtaining any services in Mexico. Despite what is happening along other parts of the Mexican/U.S. Border, we have never felt unsafe in Algodones. Yesterday, I had an appointment with my Mexican Dentist, Carmen Ovando, who I saw last winter. It turned out that my broken front upper tooth is more problematic than I had thought. The good news is that despite being broken near the gum line, it can still be saved but, a post has to be installed in the tooth. Carmen sent me to an Endodontist who after examining the tooth, said he could install a post, but, I need to have minor gum surgery, in order for enough of the tooth to be exposed. This morning, I have an appointment with a Periodontist, who will trim back the gums around the tooth. I know this is a lot of specific information, but the point of all this, is that all the dental services available at, or through your local dentist, is also available in Algodones. One of the other positives, is that you don't have to wait a week or two for crowns, or other lab generated prosthetics. Generally, your crown, or bridge is ready the next day. The really big positive of utilizing the services of Mexican Dentists, is the much lower cost. About 75% less than U.S. costs is the general rule. My dental insurance pays the same percentages, and with a yearly maximum of $2,000, I'm able to have a lot more work done, without getting into a purely out of pocket situation. I'm sure there are some horror stories out there, but so far, I have had only a positive experience with the dental services in Algodones. If you are staying in the Yuma, AZ area, Algodones is a short 5-10 mile drive. I still have a lot more work to be done, so stay tuned.

HELLO 2010

Happy new year everyone! January is going to be a busy month for us as we transition into 2010.
Right before the Rodeo in Las Vegas, (About late Nov), I broke a front tooth, and pretty badly.
Facing 2 weeks of working with the public, and no time for a dental appointment, I got out the super glue, and stuck the tooth back where it belonged. After a few minutes of pressure, it seemed to be holding, and then the problem became the excessive glue that had adhered to my gums and tongue. After a few days, the glue disappeared and the tooth was still in place. Well, this self dentistry worked for about a month, until the day after Christmas, as I was chewing on a piece of bacon, the tooth came out. I knew that it was a one shot deal, as my attempt to glue it back for a second time didn't work. Next week, I have an appointment at my Mexican Dentist, and with any luck, the toothless, Bubba smile, will be a thing of the past.
On January 16th, the Quartzsite RV Show and Flea Market kicks off, and we'll be parking the motor home in the desert for about a week. Then, we'll be headed to Yuma for another trek across the border to Algodones, Mexico for new glasses, and possibly some more dental work. We probably will be back at Quartzsite near the end of January, to meet some other friends who will be arriving, after they finish working the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction. So, the wheels on the motor home will be turning for most of the month.
My political opinion blog the other day, generated some emails that were mostly supportive. I'm not using this very small blog as a means to sway opinions, but I think there comes a time when one must speak out about issues that are important, at least to them. When I talk about excessive federal spending, and unsustainable budget deficits, it's not a partisan issue. It's an American issue that really started to get out of control under the Bush administration, and continues, way out of control under the Obama administration. I just finished reading Sarah Palin's book, and despite the pundits who criticize her, she understands the consequences of an out of control federal government. It's a good read, and if nothing else, I admire her courage to be different, and her willingness to stand up to entrenched political practices, which have become increasingly corrupt. These political ramblings will probably alienate some folks, and that's OK. The last time I checked, the first amendment was still intact, and my tolerance for remaining silent has just about reached it's limit. My son Mike sent me an email link that is very informative, and if you want to get involved in the current health care debate, I recommend checking it out - http://www.actionarmy.org