Bella and Mr. Toad

Raggie entertaining neighbors, Eric and Rio

Much has happened since the last entry.  The LA RV market proved too hard to resist.  We found a nice, ten year old Bounder 32' motorhome.  The prior owners bought it new and there was little sign of use though there were 42,000 miles on it.  Funny, they had a slight accident and were then unable to match the original decal trim so had it painted in USC colors.  Those USC people sure need to label themselves.  I threatened to make changing it to Bruin colors a condition of sale but in the end, I really like the colors.  I have named the motorhome Bella (Bounder). Himself took the old camper to WA where it was quickly sold and he returned to prepare for the next leg. Seal Beach has a generous provision for newly acquired RV's, allowing them on the street for 2 weeks.  That was handy for outfitting the new rig though we only needed a week.

 A trip to the Mini dealer revealed a need for more work and $ than I was interested in.  Over the last year much thought had been given to the next car, one a bit bigger, weather tolerant, good for the boys and towable.  While himself was gone, I purchased Mr. Toad, a lovely red Subaru.  Both new vehicles were licensed in WA, not without some angst but thanks to the nice gentleman at the franchise license business on the island.  I can't even imagine what it would have been like dealing with the CA DMV from another state.

Boondocking at the El Centro Walmart

Yuma Territorial Prison

The picture above is from our first night out in the El Centro Walmart.  The first of the challenges came in the morning when the bedroom slide would not go in.  Much effort by himself finally allowed a manual retraction, probably risking a stroke or heart attack from the significant exertion.  The next stop was Yuma where a mobile technician replaced two relays which allowed both slides to again work.  Yuma is an amazing place.  If you like RV parks with lots of old people it is the place for you.  Restaurants are filled with gray haired patrons.  A visit to the Territorial prison, in operation from 1876 to 1909, was the highlight.  Each small cell had 6 iron bunks, and the conditions were brutal in the summer.

The RV park where we stayed was clean and without shade.  Like most in Yuma, it is adjacent to the freeway so the road noise is constant.  There were very strict rules for pets, the back half being entirely off limits.  I inadvertently walked the boys in the forbidden section only to be severely chastised by a woman with much time on her hands.  Apparently she is the self appointed pet warden, having called the police on prior offenders.  We were happy to leave Yuma.

The next stop was Tucson where we visited friends and more work was done on Bella and the tow equipment.  Despite buying one of the top end units,  Mr. Toad caused Bella to sway on the road, making driving quite difficult.  Also, some issues again arose with the slide and leveling jacks.  The guys visited RV and towing dealers, asked many questions and then fashioned a "fix" with metal shims, welded in.  They also developed a theory that the slide/leveling problem was attributable to a problem with the safety switch.  So far this theory seems to be correct though there is more to do.  I have no idea what one would do with an RV if not handy.  A friend described RV's as earthquakes going down the road.  While the guys were working, Sherrill and I enjoyed ourselves at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.  It is a wonderful place, once a private home that was donated upon the death of the owner.  Much is in bloom in the desert and the citrus blossoms were so fragrant.

View of the Lavender Pit Mine from the back of Bella

The next stop was Bisbee, AZ.  It is a small, funky mining town now taken over with artists and people with "alternative lifestyles" plus tourists.  We have visited before and it is interesting that it is on the foreign tourist route.  A couple from France was in a rented RV in the small campground, last time we met a British couple. The campground is next to the Copper Queen hard rock mine, no longer in operation but available for tours.  The mining claim for the Copper Queen was filed in 1877 The owners found the ore was 23% copper with silver and gold as byproducts.  Most mines of the era contained only 3-4% copper so the Copper Queen was extraordinary.  Mine operations were shut down in 1975 as the quality of ore declined. 

 The back of the motorhome looks out on the huge Lavender Pit mine, in operation from 1950 to 1974 by the Phelps Dodge Corp.

Copper Queen Hotel

The Bisbee trip was finished with a cocktail on the patio of the Copper Queen Hotel, often mentioned in J.A. Jance mysteries set in Bisbee.


Next stop, New Mexico.