11.23.19 ARIZONA YUMA BALLOON FESTIVAL

Four fifteen came much sooner than we wanted.  There was a definite chill in the air so we all dressed in jeans and sweatshirts and jackets too.

Soon after we arrived we figured out that we got here too early.  There wasn't a balloon to be seen!  We did see a couple of the trailers but they weren't even close to unloading.

We took notice of this really cool playground at the park where the mass ascension was to take place.

Wait for it....wait for it....

Walt is always a good sport when I want to take silly pictures.

The sun is finally starting to peak through.

 Balloons are finally starting to be inflated.

We started hearing rumblings that they may not take off.  Seems the winds are too strong up higher.  What a disappointment!

And then another started to inflate,,,,maybe it will be a go after all.

Nope, not gonna happen.  Its just too windy.

The Wells Fargo stagecoach did inflate but it didn't go anywhere.

Me, Walt and Shelly.

The crowd started leaving once the official word was given that they weren't flying.  We went for a ride around Yuma.

The River Walk.

This is Southern Pacific Engine 2521

1907 -1957

In its lifetime this engine logged 2.5 million miles hauling passengers and freight through the southern states.  It was a main-line hauler through Yuma for more than 40 years before it was replaced with a modern diesel engine.  The Southern Pacific Railroad donated the engine to the city of Yuma in 1957.

Late morning found me and Walt taking a jaunt into Mexico.  You know, your typical drug run.  Drugs for gout.  Drugs for blood pressure.  

We wandered up and down  the few safe streets where are all the shops are.

We bought a really pretty flower pot for only $10.00.

Further down the street we stopped in another store, an actual store, and bought this cross.  It price started at $30 and we paid $15.  This is made from a Teddy Bear Cholla and twine.

A view of the street.

The Pharmacy.

We had to wait in line for about a half hour to enter the States again.  It seemed no one was returning to the USA  empty handed.  We saw a LOT of pharmacy bags.

We spent the afternoon back at Bobby and Shelly's.  The Moon Glow is tonight and we're going to that.  Bobby and Shelly decided at the last minute that they were going to stay home so just the two of us went.

I'll tell ya up front.  It was a bust.  The wind was just slightly too much and the balloons had a hard time getting inflated.

We have decided that we are going to seriously think of going to the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque next October.  

It was one busy day!

11.21.19 ARIZONA APACHE JUNCTION / YUMA

WHAT A NIGHT!   Strong winds, very strong winds!  RAIN!  We're talking torrential downpour, raining cats and dogs, a deluge!  Let's not leave out the thunder and lightning that kept waking us up.  The camper was definitely rockin' and rollin' with the wind.  None of us got much sleep and I for one can pretty much sleep through anything.  Not this night.

Lucky for us when we got home yesterday there was a break in the rain and Walt was able to get outside and get as much as he possibly could get done in getting us ready to roll this morning.

We pulled out of Lost Dutchman State Park around 9:30 and  this is how our day started.

 We had quite a drive to Yuma, a little over 200 miles and we knew we wouldn't get there until mid to late afternoon depending on traffic, wind and how many stops we made along the way.

We pulled into Bobby and Shelly's around three.  For those of you who didn't spend the summer in Juniper Ridge, Bobby and Shelly are former Delawareans too.  I met these two back in '05.  We met in an RV forum and then we met them at the beach one weekend when we were down.  Another couple we had met camping were also there and the six of discussed full time RV'ing over dinner.    As it turned out Bobby and Shelly were the first ones on the road.  This past summer they were in Juniper Ridge, right around the corner from our place.

They have a small home in Yuma and full hookups for their RV'ing friends.

See that brick fence?  Not once did Boss even attempt to jump over it and it certainly would have easy enough for him to do so.  Because he didn't, he had the run of the yard which he absolutely loved!

I took this picture, well, because I could.

After visiting with our hosts after dinner we called it an early night because of lack of sleep the night before  and the long haul today.  

It feels good to be back in shorts and tees and flip flops!