March 2012

3/29/12 - Las Vegas:   We've been here at the Oasis Las Vegas RV resort since the 20th.  We've been seeing old friends; Mike has been playing lots of golf and I've been walking with my girls.  Claudia and I have been hanging out together.  It's been a short two weeks - we've decided that next spring we'll spend more time here.   We're heading north on April 3rd, and weather permitting should be at Hart Ranch on the 6th.

3/16/12:  Today we took a little ride to Oatman.  It's a fun ride, and the town is so cute - with all of the wild burros begging to be fed.  The weather is supposed to get cold, windy, and rainy tomorrow, but today was perfect for riding.   They're having a trike rally here at Avi - the group is called Brothers of the Third Wheel.  I want to know where the sisters are?  Some cool trikes - especially the Star Trek (Star Trike).  It has blue lights at night.

This burro has a mohawk like Jake!

Two great looking rides in front of the Oatman Hotel

3/13/12:  Today we're saying goodbye to good friends Joe and Ellen DeRose.  They're heading up to Apache Junction, and we're heading to Avi (Laughlin).  We'll see them again next year on our travels.  We've been neighbors here in Yuma since Feb 1st, and have had lots of fun eating, drinking, playing cards, and half of us golfed a lot!

 3/12/12:  Today we loaded up because tomorrow we're heading to Avi (Laughlin, NV).  After the last loading fiasco (in Georgia) where we had to move the rig so that the ramp wouldn't be so steep, Mike figured out a MUCH better way to load.  I swear that he's channeling Rube Goldberg!

He bought a winch, which he bolts to the floor in the garage, build a frame contraption so that the rope and winch cable don't drag on the floor, and rigged up the rope so that it doesn't rub on the Spyder.  It works GREAT!  He runs the winch, and I ride the Spyder helping it in reverse, but the tire doesn't spin anymore and the engine doesn't quit.  The hardest part now is bolting and unbolting the winch.  Mike is amazing.  Here are the pictures:

The winch is bolted to the floor

See the wooden contraption to keep the cable from dragging, and the rope doesn't scrape the paint on the Spyder!

All loaded - YAY!

3/9/12:  Today friends Lee and Deb Ralston rode their Gold Wing over from Florence (east of Casa Grande - about 200 miles), and then when they got here we took a short ride into California, through some very pretty date groves, and then back to our place in Yuma. They had a very long day riding, and are staying the night at the Quality Inn, and will head back to Florence tomorrow.  We had a great ride, and will see them soon at Hart Ranch!

Lee and Deb in the Medjool date grove

Date grove