Thursday, February 25, 2016

Pueblo Viejo - 02/25/16 - Los Algodones, Mexico

Thursday – February 25, 2016
Pueblo Viejo Restaurant
Los Algodones, Mexico

We returned to Los Algodones, Mexico to finish up Sharon’s dental work. We again parked in the Quechan Indian Nation parking lot ($6.00 for all day) and walked across the border into Mexico.

When Sharon was finished with the dentist, we had lunch at the Pueblo Viejo Restaurant in Los Algodones.

We had a wonderful lunch comprised of chili relleno and beef tacos, washed down with two Corona cerveza’s.

We were entertained by a large group of women, with the Red Hat Society, having lunch at the Pueblo Viejo. When the local musician started playing "Pretty Women" several women leaped out of their chairs in unison and started a line dance. What a fun time they all had!

The Red Hat Society is a international social organization originally founded in 1998 in the United States for women age 50 and beyond, but now open to women of all ages. Today, there are over 20,000 chapters in the United States and over 30 other countries.

Returning to the United States was a shorter wait today. We entered a short line of visitors waiting to enter the United States at 1:20 p.m. Thirty minutes later, at 1:50 p.m., we cleared U.S. Customs at the Border Patrol Checkpoint.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Dental Care - 02/24/16 - Los Algodones, Mexico

Wednesday – February 24, 2016
Dental Care
Los Algodones, Mexico

Arizona residents, snowbirds from the states and Canada flock to Los Algodones, Mexico for low cost dental work, prescription eyeglasses and prescription drugs.

Los Algodones is an unusual small border town, about four blocks square in size. It is populated with numerous dentists, pharmacies and opticians. There are reportedly more pharmacies, dentists (200) and opticians packed into this four-block area than any similar-size small town worldwide! Numerous vendors, located in covered, open-air stalls, sell silver jewelry, hats, leather goods and pottery. Numerous other vendors - children, women and men – roam the streets hawking their merchandise for sale.

We parked in the Quechan Indian Nation parking lot ($6.00 for all day) and walked across the border into Mexico. There is no passport check on the entry into Mexico. Visitors merely enter through a one-way, turnstyle gate.

Sharon needed some dental work, so we had made an appointment earlier in the week with Dr. Roberto Navarro for Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. (MT). During my research on dentists in Los Algodones, I had read many glowing reports of his dental practice on several online RV forums.

While Sharon was having her dental work attended to, I decided to get my teeth cleaned. We were both very satisfied with the quality of care we received. We both felt it was equal to the care we receive from our dentist in Illinois. The cost of Sharon’s dental work was $700.00 – the cost quoted to us in Illinois, for the same dental work, was $1,850.00. The cost for my cleaning was $40.00 plus an additional cost of $100.00 for some additional work I needed to have done.

Contact Information:
Roberto A. Navarro DDS
Calle Primera 101-F
Plaza Flamingo
Los Algodones
Baja California, Mexico
USA Phone #: 928 328 1915
Mexico Phone #: 011 52 658 517 7391
Email: robnavarrodds@hotmail.com

Directions to Dr. Roberto Navarro’s Office:
Upon entering Mexico, cross the street (Mariano Marie Lee) and turn left. Walk past the Pueblo Viejo Restaurant to the first street (Calle Primera). Cross the street, turn right and walk about 400 feet. The entrance to the Plaza Flamingo will be on your left (pink archway). His office is clearly marked 101-F.

Returning to the United States can be a lengthy procedure. Today was no exception! We got into the long line of visitors waiting to enter the United States at 3:20 p.m. One hour and ten minutes later, at 4:30 p.m., we finally cleared U.S. Customs at the Border Patrol Checkpoint!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

BLM LTVA - Blythe, CA - 02/16/16

Tuesday – February 16, 2016
BLM LTVA
Blythe, California

Today was such a pleasant, warm, sunny day (typical weather here in the southwestern Arizona desert), we decided to check out a few of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Long-Term Visitor Areas (LTVA) located Between Interstate 8 and Interstate 10 west of the Arizona state line.

Midland LTVA – Blythe, California
We take the Lovekin Exit on I-10 and travel six miles north on Lovekin Road and then about three miles northwest on Midland Road to the camping area. This is an isolated camping area that has trash dumpsters and a dump station. There is no water available onsite. We understand that water is available in the town of Blythe for a fee. If you enjoy an isolated camping area this should satisfy your requirements.

Mule Mountain – Wiley’s Well Road
This area is located at the Wiley’s Well Road Exit on I-10, fourteen miles west of Blythe. We never made it to The Mule Mountain LTVA. There is a six-mile, very rough washboard, sand-based road that must be traversed to reach the camping area. We traveled less than one-half mile at 5 mph on this road, when we had had enough of the wear and tear this harsh road wrought on our vehicle’s chassis. The road is wide enough for two vehicles and we were fortunate to be able to turn our vehicle around. If we had been towing a trailer or driving a motorhome we may have been forced to drive the six miles to the camping area on this horrible road.

Mule Mountain is shown on the BLM pamphlet to have trash dumpsters, dump station and restroom facilities.

If you are looking for an isolated camping area and don’t mind spending an hour or so traveling six miles to reach your destination…go for it!

Picacho Recreation Area
This area is located on California County Road S-34 a few miles north of Interstate 8. There are no services here. Looks like a nice area for dispersed camping.

Pilot Knob – Sidewinder Road I-8
This area is located south of Interstate 8, (you can see it from the Interstate). This camping area is very accessible and close to Yuma, Arizona. Trash dumpsters are available on site. Water and dump stations are not available on site.

After completing our tour of the LTVA’s in southeastern California, we still prefer the Imperial Dam LTVA north of Yuma, Arizona where we are presently camped. Here we have trash dumpsters, water, dump stations and restroom facilities with hot showers.

Total miles traveled today: 258
Route Traveled:
North on Arizona Highway 95
West on Interstate 10
South on California Highway 78
South on California County Road S-34
East on Interstate 8
North on California S-24 to Imperial Dam

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Family Reunion P4 - 02/03/16 - Palm Desert, CA

Monday – February 3, 2016
Family Reunion – Part 4
Palm Desert, California

We traveled to Palm Desert, California with my sister and her husband to have lunch with our brother at Clementine’s Restaurant. We had a wonderful lunch with great conversation.

After lunch, we followed our brother to his home in Palm Desert and spent a delightful afternoon visiting with him and his wife.

We reflected upon the wonderful four days we spent with my siblings as we traveled back to our campsite at the Imperial Dam, BLM, LTVA near Yuma, Arizona. Their graciousness, generosity and hospitality during our visit was overwhelming.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Family Reunion P3 - 02/02/16 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Sunday – February 2, 2016
Family Reunion – Part 3
Rancho Cucamonga, California

It rained all day today. We were thankful the family reunion was held on Saturday.

We spent the day sharing family pictures, some dating back to the early 1900’s, on our father’s side of the family. I had started a genealogy on our family, during the summer of 2015, and I shared this information with my sister and two brothers.

My sister provided me with videos of her mother’s memorial service and our brother’s wedding. She also provided me with pictures she had received from our father’s sister.

It was a very memorable day; reliving our family history through genealogy documents, pictures and videos.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Family Reunion P2 - 02/01/16 - Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Saturday – February 1, 2016
Family Reunion – Part 2
Rancho Cucamonga, California

What a day! We enjoyed a wonderful family reunion with my siblings from my father’s second marriage. Family members included: my sister, her husband, their three daughters and five grandchildren, my two brothers, one with his two sons and a grandson and the other with his son.

I am truly fortunate to be blessed to be a part of this family!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.