Sam And Saundra's Second Time Around - Part 11

Sam And Saundra’s Second Time Around – Part 11

Arizona

11/1/10 – 3/1/11  - Yuma Holidays

We met up with others at the parking lot of the Big Hall as it was beginning to get dark.  Sam and I were a little hesitant as we did not have ‘traditional’ transportation. Once we were there, we felt totally at home.  Our chosen evening attire was within the dress code.  Sam had his red shirt and long jeans on and I was wearing a long red blouse and black leggings.  More and more vehicles pulled up ready to awe and entertain. When Jesse and the flat bed caroling hay ride took off, one fully decorated golf cart after another fully decorated golf cart followed.  Sam turned on his elf hat that sang, lit up and danced all over his head.  I flicked on my light-incrusted antlers, which were placed over the Santa’s cap on my head. 

All the colorful lights were shining and blinking, making the tinsel glow on our ‘ride’. Snowmen and penguins flashed happily in the rear basket, singing songs of their own. We peddled off after the spiral Christmas tree ahead of us, as the Santas followed in the last beautiful ‘sleigh’. We wove up one street and down the next, around the perimeters, side-tracked to the wash road – then back and on to the ‘new section’ to weave yet another pattern.  The night was filled with Christmas lights and Christmas music. We were amazed that people lined the streets to watch the parade. We exchanged greetings of “Merry Christmas”, waving as we passed. WE LOVED BEING A PART OF THE PARADE!! Sam’s hours spent shopping and decorating the bike were worth it.

Holiday Lights

 With grins, ear to ear, we met up with the other parade members at the Fortuna park’s restaurant for cookies and hot drink. FUN! We appreciate that the ‘Golf Cart Christmas Parade” allowed a tandem bicycle to join in the festivities. 

Not until it was all over, did I reflect on how wonderful it was to be able to greet people freely with the heart-felt words – “Merry Christmas”.  

Sam And Saundra's Second Time Around - Part 10

Sam And Saundra’s Second Time Around – Part 10

Arizona

11/1/10 – 3/1/11 Yuma  - Golf

Gremlins:  Creatures that sabotage things that are mechanical, beginning with airplanes in the late 20’s and 30’s, and graduating to jeeps and usually anything military.  Very mean-spirited, high jinx characters that love to cause problems for the front line. Stephen King thought he knew all about them, as did Rod Serling. The description of how they look varies, but the movies influence most people views on gremlins.  All prior thoughts and information on gremlins is totally wrong! I do not believe one word of it!  Well, OK, the ‘mean-spirited’ part I believe.

Gremlins reside in golf balls!  Especially, very bright colored, fluorescent golf balls.  Most of which are mine. I can line up in the best ‘railroad track’ fashion and smack that ball smartly, after a well planned, cadenced swing – and not only does Sam lose sight of it, I never get a good look at it at all.  I don’t like to whine, much, but I really like those fluorescent orange and green balls. Sam says it will get better. I am going to buy some old, used white ones that already know the game, and save my pretty ones for decorating my bag.

Sam and I have completed six golf lessons with Trentie, the pro at the Foothills Golf Club.  She is extremely good at giving instruction without making one feel harassed (or worse) while learning.  We are taking it slow, and now that I have some golf balls that I do not fear losing, I am able to keep my head down - a little.  I do believe that by taking up this game at my age, I will guarantee to provide myself with hours upon hours, upon years of anguish. I’ll share that with Sam too. 

Sam And Saundra's Second Time Around - Part 9

Sam And Saundra’s Second Time Around – Part 9

Arizona

11/1/10 – Yuma/Fortuna De Oro RV Resort

Yuma Walking Ditty

Sound off…. ! Sound Off…. !

1-2-3-4, 1..2…..3,4!

I’ve been good and I’ve been bad!

Came to Yuma with my lad!

Walking through the Park we go!

Looking for the ones we know!

Hiking up Fortuna’s sides.

Colorado River rides.

Floating on Martinez Lake,

Hoping for a big fish bake.

Driving golf balls way long far.

Oops, I think I hit your car.

Tapping right foot at the Jam.

Weaving fingers with my Sam.

Sound off…! Sound off…!

1-2-3-4, 1..2… 3,4!

Dancing on the deck with Ray.

Left foot, left foot, can we stay?

Boy that sun is none too cool.

You know next we hit the pool!

Rising in a Hot Balloon.

Hoping to return real soon.

Algodones, Mexico.

Rocks and gems that seem to glow.

It is good to not be sad.

I declare it totally Rad!

Sam is walking way too fast!

Guess I better swat his ….

Sound off…! Sound off…!

1-2-3-4, 1..2… 3,4!

Sam And Saundra's Second Time Around - Part 8

Sam And Saundra’s Second Time Around – Part 8

Nevada

10/23/10 – 10/31/10 - Laughlin and Avi RV Resort/Casino

We were able to sneak behind Sam’s Town Casino, turn

left, then left again in front of the Casino and – voila! We were on the road to Laughlin.  A heavy day of traveling is not planned.  We have about 100 miles to cover.  We did a great job. The scenery was good, but none too different. We do love the desert colors with all the muted shades of green, brown, reds, yellows, purples and more. The shadows that are cast by and on the hills and mountains keep our attention. Several of the plants are flowering. They don’t seem to care that it is winter. Sam does promote confusion about what states we were in or near at any given time.  Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona.  Sometimes the lines blur. Good thing Calvin talks to me too.

Parking Lot View

We plan to boondock in Laughlin. The River Palm Casino has a parking lot high over the main street that they allow RV’s to use free.  We find it and settle in.  We want to stay a week.  The view of the Colorado River and mountains is one I would pay to see. Sam made friends with a roadrunner, who would pop out of the brush every time he left the trailer.  A flock of doves also gathered to greet him. After the first day, we are informed that this is the year they are going to start charging for parking in the lot.  The first two days are free and after that, $7 a day.  A reasonable price. We check out the casinos, the beautiful River Walk, do a little shopping – then take off exploring the towns of Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona, which is just across the river.

Roadrunner

 We take a jet boat tour of the Colorado River to the London Bridge at Lake Havasu City. Wonderful ride, great bridge that really is the London Bridge.  After the seven hour tour, lunch at a restaurant with a close-up view of the bridge, we return to Laughlin. On the ride back we take pictures of the petroglyphs at the site where the cliffs meet the river. Along with the ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Sam says striped and large mouth bass reside at this spot in hordes and catching them is an honor, especially if you can catch a 60 pound striped bass. 

London Bridge

We decide to move nine miles south to the Avi RV Park and Casino, ran by the Mohave Tribe. We move early since the cost is the same whether we stay in the parking lot at Laughlin, or go to the resort. The RV Park guests are considered equal to the hotel guests and we have total access to all of the hotel amenities. Not a hard move. The next seven days are spent in the sparkling crystal blue pools, power walking around the park area, gazing at the clear water of the Colorado River from the beaches with white sand, palm trees and thatch-roofed palapas.  We even find a Walmart.  Relaxed, as we lounged around the pool. Before we got bored, we left.

Tiger Eye

Sam And Saundra's Second Time Around - Part 7

Sam And Saundra’s Second Time Around – Part 7

Nevada

10/19/10 - 10/22/10  - Las Vegas

Rome

We enjoyed the Venetian. We ate at the Noodle Asia Restaurant - twice.  Good.  The Stratosphere was our other great event.  We took an elevator (after paying) up 109 floors.  This structure is the tallest in Vegas and the fifth tallest in the US. Taller even then … The Space Needle.  It even has a revolving restaurant.  It was amazing that I had no difficulty going up a high-speed elevator 1149 feet. Must be the holes in my head. We watched several people jumping off the top of the Stratosphere, connected to high-speed descent wires.  Bungie-jumping similar, but different. I figured they must have holes in theirs too.  I wanted to jump, but intelligence finally prevailed.  Sam would not let go of my hand.

France

We watched one of the other high quality mega-scare rides up at the top. The Insanity ride. It looks like an octopus that is holding a rider in each arm while it flips off the top of the building and spins like crazy.  The riders get to look at nothing but little itty bitty cars moving around down below.  Sam and I calmly watched and had a beer at the highest bar in Vegas.  No, I am not bragging. The view of the whole area from the top deck is breath-taking. We could see and see and see. So we spent time looking. Worth the cost of the elevator ride. We spent three days seeing the sights, the statue of liberty, Eiffel tower, etc. We enjoyed the good parts, hated the ‘bad’ parts, and wore ourselves out.  We did not see everything, much of which does not start until after dark. But it was time to move on.