April 3-9 2011 San Diego

 

We left Jo Joba Hills on Sunday and moved to Escondido Moose lodge for a week's stay.Our daughter and son-in-law live in San Diego and it's only 25 minutes away so this works for us.I also have a cousin I haven't seen  in years that lives in Temecula so we went to dinner at her house on Sunday. We had a great barbecue and was able to see her mother which I haven't see in years.It was a nice family get together.   Ellen and Melba

Jill,Me,Ellen,Melba

 On Monday night Jim,Jill,Sam and I went to the Gas Lamp district of San Diego. This is a nice area with shops and lots of restaurants.We walked around and had a nice dinner of Mahi Mahi.

Trolley

Sam,Me,Jill,Jim

On  Thursday Sam and I took a ride over Encintias and Cardiff By the Sea to enjoy the ocean. We stopped at a overlook in Encintias to enjoy the view. The overlook was like a litttle park area overlooking the ocean and a nice place to sit and relax.

After driving around we decided to look for a place to eat and found Yogi's Beach Bar and Restaurant. We both had Fish and Chips and and probably wouldn't go again.The food was just ok. On Saturday Sam,Jill and I went to Old Town San Diego.Jim worked the night before so was sleeping and didn't go with us. Old Town San Diego is a State Historic Park.This Historic Park gives you the opportunity see how life was in early San Diego.There are 5 adobe buildings still in use today and many shops ,museums and restaurants. The McCoy house was reconstructed by James McCoy in 1869 who was a well to do Irish immigrant who served as San Diego's sheriff and senator.The Mc Coy house.

La Casa de Estudillo is a mansion built around a courtyard.In 1907 sugar magnate John Spreckles purchased the remains of the mansion and began restoration of Old Town.

Clay oven

Cabellors

Jill and me

We had a great day with a little bit of history and a whole lot of fun. That's it until next time.

April 2,2011 Yuma and Jo Joba Hills

We left Benson on the 24th and got to Yuma and stayed at Cocopah Casino for 4 nights.Friday we went to Algondones so I could get my teeth cleaned and get new glasses. We also had to have our fish tacos and Margaritias.

While in Yuma we met up with our friends Roy and Jan and Al and Sandy.We went to Az Marketplace and out to dinner and had a fun 3 days of visiting.We left on Monday and headed to Jo Joba Hills for 7 days.We have never been to JoJoba Hills SKP Park and it was a beautiful park. We were lucky enough to get the premier lot in the park.It was so nice and had beautiful views it made us feel like we never wanted to leave. Here's a couple photos of the lot we were on.

One day we rode into Old Town Temecula and walked around town and had lunch.They have a lot of shops and old buildings and a very nice City Hall.

On Saturday we decided to go to Julian (a town known for their pies and daffodils).Julian is a quaint town with lots of stores,restaurants and pie stores. We saw a few daffodils and had a nice lunch with apple-boysenberry pie and ice cream. On the way back to the RV I took several photos of the hillsides with all the wild flowers.

March 15,2011 New Casita

We were able to move to another casita on the front row before we leave Benson.I've taken a couple of photosof the casita. It has a bathroom and also has a front porch with a view.

March 10-13,2011 Spring Fling

This week in Benson we are celebrating Spring Fling.On Thursday we has a breakfast to die for.Bob our cook and crew made the best French Toast we have ever ate.It was not your run of the mill french toast and it was to die for.I believe he used brown sugar,cinnamon,crushed corn flakes ,and coconut.It was so good----------. Later that day we had a parade and lots of lease holders decorated their carts.

After the parade we were served ice cream and cake. The second day was game day all day and they had Blackjack tables,horse races and minute to win it along with a bar.You played for chips and after everything was over you were able to buy gifts and gift certificates.They had about 50 prizes which were very nice. Sam and I were horses for the horse races.It was a blast.Here are some of the photos.

Get ready,set,go

Place your bets

A fun time was had by all. Day 3 was the Polar Bear party and heavy appetizers. I voluntered to serve the Polar Bears. We also had Grizzly Bears. For those that have never heard of them they are made with vodka,kahlua ice and vanilla or choclate ice cream.They're a real hit in the park.After the Polar Bears there were prizes left frrom game day so they auctioned them off. They even auctioned off the auctioneers shirt. then we had music and dancing with our own musician Doug.It was afun 3 days.

March 5,2011 Amerind Museum and Gammons Gulch

We got up this morning and decided to take a drive to Gammons Gulch(a old movie set). Sam set the gps and when we started out it took us the wrong way. Instead of turing back we continued on towards Wilcox as I saw on the map we could take a gravel road out of Wilcox and still get there. We got to Texas Canyon and stopped for some photos.Texas Canyon was a stagecoach route for the Butterfield-Overland stage from 1858 till 1862.

We've passed by the Amerind Museum several times and had never stopped so today we decided since we were in the area this would be a good time to for a visit. The Amerind Foundation is a non profit archaeological and research museum. It's dedicated to the preservation and interpertation of Native Americans.They have a great collection of Native American artifacts. We lucked out as today they had the Seri Indians from Mexico there and they had a lecture about them. Very interesting.We also watched them making their crafts and beautiful baskets.They have a small area outside that you can get something to eat or just take a lunch and picnic there.

  After our lunch we proceeded onto Wilcox to look for Casabel Rd. We had some difficulty in finding it but after a few turns we were finally on the right road and headed into the Muleshoe Mts. and Gammon's Gulch.We were on a gravel road for about 25 miles until we came to a paved road.Here's a couple of photos of the area.

It was 4:00 P.M. by the time we arrived at Gammon's Gulch.They close at 5 so we didn't have much time to look around. Gammon's Gulch is a old movie set and Jay Gammons has been collecting these old buildings for over 30 years.He has a tour although we were to late for the last one so we just looked around. Several movies have been filmed here,some you might have seen. Dr.Quinn Medicine Woman and Walker Texas Ranger among others. I understand that the tour is quite good.Here are a few of the buildings.

After a long day we headed home and stopped for a ice cream.