Myron and I want to wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Our little tree
We have been pretty quiet lately, not a lot happening with us so far this winter. Just sitting back with our feet up and enjoying Yuma and meeting new friends.
Myron and I have an open-door policy. You show up with wine, we open our door! đ just kidding, we welcome everyone!!
Happy hours always consist of old friends, soon to be new friends. They come from all over the world, with different backgrounds, ages, beliefs, but we all have one thing in Common is Rving, friendship and searching for warmer weather.
We get to celebrate Thanksgiving twice a year. Canada celebrates it in October, and we get together with our family before we head south. USA Thanksgiving is in November.
This year was a potluck in Reta and Eldonâs 5th wheel, as it cool, windy. Reta and Eldon are from Minnesota, Thom from Colorado, Julia and Eugene from BC.
Thanks for hosting Reta and Eldon.
At the beginning of December, we celebrate Myronâs 59th birthday. Black Forest Cake and Angel Food cake, snack, cocktails. Burt and Kathy from BC brought over some smoked salmon, cheese, and breadsticks. OMG, the Salmon was amazing.
Julia and Reta each gave Myron homemade Jams for his birthday, and both are amazing!
We tend to do a lot of celebrating when we are south besides our happy hours, Reta and Eldon celebrated their 60th anniversary, Thanksgiving, birthdays, and the Christmas in the desert with our friends Tom and Lori.
Our spot for Christmas.
Our weather these past weeks have been quite similar to last winter on the cooler side. Christmas Eve was sunny with some wind, Christmas day was beautiful, sunny with a slight breeze.
We are so thankful for today’s technology, having the ability to make video calls. We started our Christmas morning with video calls back home to see the grandbabies open all their gifts. We were right front and center to watch the little one. It was great to be a part of it even if we were 2,300 km away.
Our friends Tom and Lori came for Christmas brunch, Mimosas, and Myron’s Canadian Pan Scrambler.
Christmas Morning Mimosa ( the only surviving photo from Christmas day)Made the best Mimosa!
Supper was Potluck style at Tom and Loriâs. Lori cooked Turkey, gravy and carrots. I did the mashed potatoes and deviled eggs.
Unfortunately, I have somehow lost all the other photos off my phone from Christmas day.
Hmmm, I did say the Mimosas were the best đ.
So instead of pic from Christmas we have these to share with you…..
Well, we didn’t have any palm trees or the ocean but we did have cactuses!I did bake some cookies for Myron and made some bear shits since they are gluten free. Known to some as coconut drop cookies, but we call them Bear Shit cookies.
We have had a great time boondocking in the desert in Southern California and visiting with our friends Tom and Lori. now it’s time to head back to Yuma to wait for our travel buddies to arrive from Canada so we can continue this next leg of our Snowbird season.
We arrived in Yuma at Cocopah Casino on November 4, the first two and a half weeks we enjoyed the gorgeous 30 c/ 86 f plus weather.
Finally the summer weather!Our ice maker was working overtime, with all the ice-cold slushy drinks.While one of us sat relaxing and reading a book, the other couldn’t sit still and decided to upgrade a hose that had a tiny leak behind the turbo.A little Snapchat filter playingSmoked ribs on the bbq, supper on the patio with our friend Thom.
It seems winter has now arrived in Yuma. This morning’s temp was much colder than we prefer.
đŠ I don’t want to get out of bed!
Looking at Yuma forecast for the next week appears the ice maker needs to get out away and the kettle needs to come out.
Still not going to hear us complain about these temperatures.
Heads make tracks to New Mexico, or tails we head to Winslow, Az.
Tails won, off to Winslow, Az we go!
Moab to Winslow US-191 south & I-40 west
Just as we left Moab on US-191, we had a road construction delay from some rock blasting going in. The sign said to expect up to two hours of delay. Thankfully we were back on the road within 45 minutes!
US-191 South to I-40 was not the smoothest road by all mean.
We arrived in Winslow just before 5:00 pm and made our way to the Winslow Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center for the night.
The visitors center have a large open parking lot they allow free overnight parking.
Winslow, Az Visitors Center does back up to the train yard, and you can hear the trains hooking up but they do not blow whistles.
Up at the crack of dawn, we decided to âTake It Easyâ! Grabbed our coffees and set out for another cross off our bucket list.
From behind the Visitors center is a beautiful walking path that takes you to the Historical Route 66 that Winslow is famous for.
First Street Pathway behind Visitors Center 1st St/ N Berry AveAlong the walking path 1st Street / N Warren Ave
Once you get to the Gazebo, you make a left and head up Kinsely Avenue to Old HWY 66.
The famous Winslow Arizona cornerMyron standing on the cornerYahoo, another thing off my bucket list!What a great tribute statue to Glenn FreyMyron standing next to Glenn Frey
It’s a good thing we decided to come tour early, within 5 minutes of arriving, 60 people must have shown up with the same idea as us!
A few pictures from our tour
Note:
⢠Plan to visit the area early before the crowds arrive.
⢠Double check your photos before you leave, incase you need to retake. ( Ask me how I know!!)
Winslow, Az it was a quick stop this time, however, we will be back.
Things to see in the area
⢠Homolovi State Park –
The primary Homolovi interpretive resources consist of archaeological sites including four major pueblos, numerous smaller structures, and site features ranging in size from one-room pit houses or simple artifact scatters to a 1200 room pueblo, and panels of petroglyphs with depictions of kachina and clan symbols. The sites date from three main periods: AD 620-850, AD 1050-1225, and AD 1260-1400. During each of these periods there was a concentrated population of people living near the Little Colorado River. Members of the Hopi Nation consider this area an important ancestral site and return to Homolovi for religious purposes.
⢠La Posada – Historical hotel from the 1930s that has been restored back to the original condition of the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture style. Have lunch at the famous Turquoise Room, southwestern cuisine that is all made from scratch.
⢠Rock Art Ranch-
is a privately owned cattle ranch that is a true wonder of the Old West. The property has more than just cattle and bison: It features excavated Anasazi dwellings, a Navajo hogan and sweat lodge, and amazingly well-preserved examples of petroglyphs carved by American natives
Meteor Crater is nearly one mile across, 2.4 miles in circumference and more than 550 feet deep. It is an International tourist venue with Outdoor Observation Trails, Air Conditioned Indoor Viewing, Wide Screen Movie Theater, Interactive Discovery Center, Unique Gift & Mineral Shop, and Collision! 4D Experience Room. Food is also available at our Blasted Bistro in the Visitor Center.
https://www.meteorcrater.com/
⢠Two Guns and Apache Death Cave
On a small patch of land near Canyon Diablo, just off Interstate 40, lies the ghost town known as Two Guns. Though there are still crumbling reminders of the town’s use a 20th century tourist attraction, it’s been abandoned for well over half a century… though the region’s Native American tribes have been avoiding the area for a lot longer than that.
According to their legends, the dead cursed the land, and anyone who dared reside there was risking the anger of spirits who met a terrible fate. Naturally, white dudes didn’t listen, leading to some eerily-predicable ends worthy of their own horror films.
The Old Trails Museum explores the history of Winslow, Arizona, and the surrounding area through free exhibits and public programs. We use our collections to interpret the Santa Fe Railway, Harvey Girls, US Route 66, and much more. We are located in the heart of Winslowâs historic district and across from the Standinâ on the Corner Park. Admission is free
https://oldtrailsmuseum.org/
⢠Arizona 66 Trading Post
Everything was closed on our morning tour, but this is a must check out.
For a quick overnight stay we highly recommended the Winslow Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. Cost: Free
If planning on staying a few days, check out McHood Park for camping.
Google Maps showing McHood Park Campground
McHood Park Campground
Cost: FREE
Notes: Fills up fast, must arrive early in the morning and wait for a spot to be open on week days!
If you love challenging hikes, you need to check out this natural labyrinth at the Fiery Furnace. The twisted sandstone walls, rock scrambling, narrow squeezes would be an exciting experience.
To enter the Fiery Furnace hike, you need to sign up for a guided Ranger your which is available May – September, or you can do the self-guided tour, but you must get a hiking permit from the park office.
Do you ever wonder how?Myron thinking we need to do this hike next timeThe layers of colour in the rocks!Just sitting for a few minutes and enjoying the view before moving on.
Skyline Arche
This is a short and easy hike that starts in the middle of the parking lot.
So close, yet so far away!!âits time to remember what it’s like to be aliveâ unknownStanding at the bottom of Skyline ArchJust two goofs trying to pose for a selfie!!Doesnât look that big, does it?
Now, zoom in and you can see hikers standing in the arch! Picture on our way back from the arch to the parking lot.I never want to stop making memories with you!
We had a great time touring the Arches and Canyonland National Parks, and we are both looking forward to our next trip back for some more hiking adventures and checking out Dead Horse State Park.
