We toyed with crossing the border at San Luis but were told by several folks it may not be safe as the Cartel reins. Our google searches confirmed we’ll just visit the Arizona side.
The flat, produce filled drive
Funky apartment outside of San LuisHere we are 🙂 Hopefully we’ll find a great MargaritaThe town centre tree
Town is pretty much shut down on Sunday. Can’t get the pronouncement of this street correctly even with our 300+ days of Duolingo Spanish. Contessa you/ve got this 🙂 Behind the sign is the Mexican border
Another view of the crossing
Flowers in November, love it!
Donald’s wall!
Close up
How much did 1 mile border wall cost?
In total, Trump’s admin built 52 miles of wall where no barrier previously existed, with some wall segments costing American taxpayers up to $46 million per mile.
Trump buid 458 miles of barrier “border wall security” before Biden was elected
End of wall education!
Hot tub time 🙂 Was a fun day, perhaps next time we will cross?
Today is a no drive day so how better to start it off….
TIP! Don’t waste your money on this coffee. It’s OK with the additives without = ICK!
Not a today thing, but huge shout out to Allan. On his “dental surgery” day in Mexico he picked up this t-shirt I liked the last time we was there. Such a Sweetie!Still not about today BUT, I read a DIY tip on cleaning a dishwasher. 1 cup vinegar run on a hot cycle with no dishes. Over the last couple of months, I’ve done this 3 times with the same curious results. How does this black, gritty stuff find it’s way into the bowl but no where else!? Kyle you may be able to solve this 🙂
Finally!! Back to today! We’re setting out to find a trail we can walk to as it’s a no Bob day.
Right outside Bailey’s door we find a white feather!! Bottom right of the photo
“Feathers appear when Angels are near!” This brought the biggest smile to my face!!!! Mom/Omi, our angel is always near but so nice to be reminded!
Didn’t find the trail, we would have had to turn up a street with no sidewalks, we’re not fans of “street walking”. We opt to visit a neighbouring park, West Winds Golf & RV Resort. This park is huge with 1024 sites. We’ll easily get our 10k steps 🙂
Lots of, still vacant sites. We’ve heard Jan-Mar is the busiest time in Yuma, will it fill the park?
Spot Allan?
At just under 10k steps and to give Allan’s hip a break it’s RewardTimeThis gives me an even bigger smile, back at Bailey a few hours after the first spotting and with wind gusts over 30mph/48kph the feather is still here!!Feather is as determined as Mom always was ❤️ Sure do miss her!
Next up is the park’s complimentary turkey/ham with all the trimmings dinner
Delicious dinner shared with two fun couples. Lots of laughs and story telling
Next, of course, hot tub where we meet up with Ricky who suggests we may enjoy watching “12 Strong” on Netflix. We did and would recommend this documentary.
I moved “Mom feather” indoors Feeling happy she’ll be on our adventures with us!
To enter Barry M. Goldwater Range you must obtain a permit, even if you are not driving. Requirements: watch a video then complete an exam. Once done the permit is free and lasts from July 01 to Jun 30th. The permit allows you to explore, target practice, boondock for up to 14 days in any 28 day period. Nope, not doing that!
“The Barry M. Goldwater Range is the third largest military reservation in the United States. Since its establishment in 1941, the Goldwater Range has served continuously as a tactical air combat training center. The restricted airspace that defines the Goldwater Range covers about 2.7 million acres and contains 57,000 cubic miles of airspace. This airspace extends over most of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, but no ground-based military activities occur there.”
For our first time off roading in quite a while, Allan selects a shorter trail, Fortuna Mine. The ability to go 25 mph doesn’t last long. Click The ride beginsWe entered the facility at 1103a by 1112a we were checked to ensure we have our permits! Good he did as he also gave us an area map which kind of ended up saving us. He also checked this toy, so it’s not just us. He had a taser and a mean looking gun so thought it best not to take a photo of him.
No idea what 54 represents but love the sun
This way to Fortuna Mine!
Bob is raring to go…
Can this city born Bob make it? Here’s hoping!!
We learn in the video some ordnances may still be active. We also learn we may encounter rattlesnakes and wildlife. FF: We saw none, only one lonely bird and Allan missed it
Guidance here is by post. Our first A5We wonder how many other toys we will encounter, the first 2 are approaching
Then nothing, no more toys, no more posts. We drive and drive
Bob says “don’t worry, you are in good tires” I’ll get you back!There are two ways we can go. With no directional posts to help, we get out and each walk up the “road” a bit
We think we did an incorrect turn somewhere cause timing wise we should be at Fortuna Mines. Such exciting times, with amazing scenery.
Finally, post A6A
Drive and drive and drive some more! In the distance we see what we thing may be a cell tower. Hopefully, we’ll regain cell service!
Nope, wrong again it’s an emergency call tower. There are no markers to it, nothing on the map – what’s the chances you’ll run into distress in front of this? A directional post would be helpful.
Nope! When we least expect to, we turn the corner and there it is! Made it to Fantuna Mine!
This guy likely found Fantuna quicker than we did, LOL The road back! We are feeling a little relieved
The closer we get to civilization, the quicker we directional posts appear. You know, when you really don’t need them
To the left of the post, there it is Telegraph Hill that we still can’t believe we climbedWe’re BACK!! Will Allan remember how to drive on a real road?
Back at Bailey we check out what our friend, Miranda calls “DesertPinstriping”It sounds worse when it happens, than chalk on a chalkboard!
I’m a little leery of getting my teeth cleaned in Mexico cause I have super sensitive gums. Being the trooper I am and cause Allan has an on/off tooth issue off we go. Our friends recommended Rubio Dental, with 400 dentists to choose from in Los Algodones we’ll go with the recommendation.
We arrive at 9am, when the “receptionist” learns we wish a cleaning (instead of some major) he whisks us off to the neighbouring dental clinic he says is his “brother’s”
I feel like a sheep being led to slaughter! This is where he takes us
Here we are, having filled out their forms
Within minutes we are both in dental chairs
Happy to say it went well, we now both have pearly whites!
Allan however, needs to have a crown replaced. He has had on/off issues with it for a while now. His last Canadian dental visit they told him he was on borrowed time so we believe it is time. Question, replace in Mexico or wait till we get back? We are leaning towards Mexico. It will be $300, we are trying to determine how much coverage we have at home but Blue Cross isn’t making that easy.
Off we roam with our clean teeth. Such a colourful place 🙂
Lunch time!
Started out on the patio but the wind picked up so in we go
Doves on the roof keeping us lunch company! We are 2nd in line to get back to the States. The line ups can be horrendous which is why we do the early lunch then head back. No issues crossing back, all we bought was some hot sauce this time.
We’re lacking steps
So stop at the West Wetland Park, our first visit, we have been to the East Wetland Park. This one is bigger
We didn’t see any!
Colorado River
Preparing for a fire??
Step mission accomplished!
This happy guy HAS a beer! Trying out a new one, Kilt Lifter, a Scottish style amber ale
Today’s first adventure is to Painted Desert Trail in La Paz, Doris and Kevin, who sent us to Telegraph Hill, are sending us here. They assure us this trail is a piece of cake. In the hot tub last night, another couple confirmed it was an easy trail, walking sticks not required.
What no one told us was, the 4 mile/6.43k drive in on a very bumpy dirt road!
These roads & worse are what Bob is built for but are our bodies??
We’re here…
Pictures are worth a thousand words 🙂
The beginning of the trail
This is a ???
It’s higher than it looks
Pricky!
Half way = “Rewards”
Prior uphill climb=going back down, down we go!
We are heading to the path down there
Who’s that coming out of that cave!!
We’ve determined this is the “horse poop” capital in the States. Every few steps we encounter more poop. Finally took a photo
Guess I’m really not good at not commenting. It is super windy here but no snow, loving it!
Turn the corner and there he is! Our faithful Bob!!
Our drive out is when we thought to clock the mileage Part 2 of today’s adventure
The hot tub couple said we should go to Lake Martinez as it’s just down the road
Wish this Tiki Bar was open
What an eclectic place. There are homes worth millions next to dilapidated homes/trailers.
Wee Allan standing between the garage doors WOW vs REALLY
Those views!
Birds in the water. Now if I was my friend, Miranda, I’d know what birds. For now they are just birds 🙂
Drive back we snap the helicopter on a popsicle stickThen the Yuma Proving Grounds which will be another’s day adventure
Back home we go for left over pizza, salad, and Allan’s first attempt at fries in the air fryer, then hot tub.
See you all tomorrow, Pleasant, sweet dreams.
UPDATE: Fries were delicious as was the entire dinner
We were hoping to visit when they are operational but their site only gives scheduling till May 2022
Lunch time!
Fun fact! Owner Chris Wheeler started Prison Hill Brewing themed around the Yuma Territorial Prison not only because the brewery is less than a mile from the prison, but also as a nod to his great-grandfather, Jesus Gil, who served time in the prison because of the fallout from a poker game gone sideways.
Our dear friends, Doris & Kevin wintered in Yuma last Winter and are happy to share their last year’s adventures to make them our this year’s adventures. It’s from them we learned about “Howling at the Moon”.
We arrive at Telegraph Pass at 1034 raring to go! 5.3-mile/8.53 km loop trail/3 hours to complete.The long rocky road ahead
We’ve got this! Or do we???
1115a The stick things are starting to look like cell towers. Funky tree, photo worthy 🙂
1126a: The long road continues
Yuma, yonder wayWe walked that snake trail keeping our eyes open for real snakesSee the ants on the trail that are really peopleFor the last 15ish minutes everyone we passed going down said “You are ALMOST there” Clearly many do not know what ALMOST means. Stupid determination rules! Yep we are “mucho” wiped.
The views are cool but “to die for” as many posted not likely LOL
Deserved? Without a doubt! Remember we are the couple who hate doing UPS!!Here’s the towers
When Kevin & Doris made it here there was a flag. No more flag, we did see the bench on the way down but no flag We wanted to find the flag! This is Doris and their friend, Kevin is the photographerHow do we make this a loop like AllTrails said it could be?
106p: A lot faster going down. Ta ta cell towers
Yuma
The most deserved, soothing hot tub yet!
We should get bonus steps for all those UPS!!
Having nothing to do with nothing, here goes,,,
661-3914 😉
Yes we are still Doris & Kevin fans, what will you bring on next??
Today is our much anticipated return to Los Algodones. We love border towns…
We have 4 objectives: 1) Hair cuts 2) Mani/Pedis 3) Check out dentists 4) Lunch
3 will be a daunting task as there are so many dentists. This is the dental capital of the world with city has more than 400 dentists working in one square mile. The procedure is they give you a “free” exam then give a quote for the service required. I think it’s best for people who require a crown/bridge, etc who do not have dental coverage at home. We are just looking for a cleaning so that is likely about $50US (our portion at home is a little less) I regress, lets start at #1. We both got chopped. I’m feeling a little bit slighted as I’ve been Allan’s barber for the last 2ish years.
On to #2 When we first arrived this morning, the salon was not busy, a mani/pedi was $15. We wanted to have a margarita and cerveza while having it done as we did in Progresso, MX but liquor sales here do not begin until 11 so no booze for a while.
No problem let’s check out the sites and stuff you don’t need but will likely end up buying, At 11 our time we try again, but no it’s only 10 local time, we did not realize they are on PST not MST.
Let’s go for the mani/pedi, the rate is now $15 for the pedi & $10 for a mani. Gosh darn! Allan does a search for another salon, finds one a 10m walk away. Surely they will be cheaper. Yes, I’m that cheap! Where did the pavement go? OK maybe not this cheap! I would have turned back but Allan was on a mission! Does this look like we’ll find a nail salon?
Picture 4 above, is a victorious Allan shouting “I found it!”
Back to town we go to pay the $25
3) dentists so, so many. Think we will stick with the recommended Rubio
4) LUNCH Yahoo. So delicious!! Shrimp in garlic sauce for me, chicken fajitas for Allan
Not sure what this guy is selling but he’s doing it with a motorized bike
Now for the useless stuff we didn’t need but bought anyways. The Coffee Tequila may have been necessary! Bracelet started at $20, paid $5; not bad for gold 🙂 Cactus $45 paid $15. Tequila 8.99, chips 1.89 no haggling for these.
Almost since the beginning of having Bailey, 4ish years. our holding tank sensors AFTER emptying the tanks read Grey 3/4 full, Black 1/2 full. The toilet sensors did change to green but we normally had to “swizzle” (shoot water into the tanks, eventually they turn green)
We can last 3 days between dumps. The last few dumps the sensors would turn red after 1-1/2ish days. Time to seek outside assistance. In comes “RV Flush”
Patrick explained the issue is the “poop” turns into struvite which is hard as rock. He showed Allan a sample and banged it on his trailer. Yep, it’s hard!
Patrick in action
Within 1/2h our tanks show as ….
We use Happy Camper Tank treatment. Patrick says the product is good but use twice the amount they call for. He however, recommends TankTech SRX Probiotic RV Tank Treatment We’ll try it when we are out of HC
That done we’re off to check out Walley’s World, no not Walmart but Wally’s World full of great RV stuff
Here we are 🙂 Hopefully we’ll find a great Margarita
The town centre tree 
Flowers in November, love it!
We’ve got this! Or do we???
Cheers! Yummy!!
Hot tub time!