Abbotsford to Greenwood

Got to Truxpo right on time and since we pre-registered we just had to pick up our badges and start working. I was surprised how many friends an co workers we ran into but it's the biggest event of it's kind on the Wet Coast. I even met one of the sales people at the Ocean trailer exhibit whom I've known for a long time. The whole Ocean Trailer exhibit was a retro style set up. Theme: Casablanca.
I think it was a good Idea and it was drawing a crowd. Finished shooting and interviews around 3 pm, too early to stay put, we hit the road and made it to Princeton around 6 pm. Had a very nice and quiet night and Sunday around noon we were at one of the best campsites and fishing spots in BC: Heynes Point Provincial Park. ( I know I've told you about it before.) Wife started fishing right away, weather was just perfect but no fish. Left the campground early afternoon to visit a very good friend who lives only 80 km from Osoyoos in Greenwood. He has an RV spot in his backyard, we staid there for the night and had a nice BBQ, talked about the good old times, we got close to change the world but ran out of beer so it has to wait 'till next time.

Retro is in fashion: the Ocean Trailer Exhibit with Casablanca theme

A shiny new Kenworth at the show

I had this one for a test drive

Still a month to Halloween but they are prepared

Did you know there is a Hungarian Winery just a bit east of Keremeos

Wife started fishing when we got to Lake Osoyoos

 

Later we visited a good friend in Greenwood, had a good evening and got close to change the World.

Truxpo 2012

End of September I had to take pictures of Truxpo in Abbotsford, just east of Vancouver BC.  I have been covering this truck show for years, it's the biggest such event on the West Coast. Unfortunately this year the show went on only till Saturday closing at 4 pm. Lot of people complaining about it, I think they would have had much more visitors if they were opening later. In order to be there on time we had to leave home on Vancouver Island on Friday after I loaded up the motor home. The plan was: spend the night in Vancouver, check out the Night Market then drive out to the show Saturday morning. After the truck show we were planning a short 2 week vacation, nothing carved in stone. The only thing we agreed on was: going south and no Interstate, only country roads no matter how long it takes. When we got to Richmond, home of the Night Market only found a few workers taking down the tents. Night Market was closed a week before schedule, so much about my luck. I did remember seeing a parking lot in New Westminster right down on the Fraser River at the Quay with a few RV-s on it and we drove there. 7.50 $ is not bad for 24 hrs, so we stayed there for the night, went to check out the market and the pub. Had a good time checking out a 100 years old boat and watching those giant barges floating by on the Fraser.

Our parking for the first night. New Westminster Quay

Late afternoon watching those giant barges .

The 100 year old wooden boat still going strong

Sign on the Chief Skugaid

Next morning it was only an hour to the truck show in Abbostford

Sweet & COLD home

We always come home from Las Vegas on country roads headed north. The weather got colder every mile, every hour, every day. In Idaho it was really chilly so we hit the freeway to make it home faster. Did not want to believe the forecast but on the Snoqualmie Pass we still had snow higher than the motor home.

Dinoland in Nevada at a gas station

Hwy 318 in Nevada

Last day of March on Snoqualmie Pass, WA

Wife wanted to take a picture of me and the snow. She was inside the motor home with the heat cranked up.

Final step of the trip: waiting for the ferry to Victoria

Las Vegas

It has been like that for a very long time: whenever we drive trough Nevada Las Vegas is a must to see, we always find some time for the city. Long time ago my wife and daughter won a nice amount while I was working taking pictures of the truck show. At the time we left it was all lost again,today it's only "do you remember Mom when we won in Vegas"?  Did a little research before we left and decided to visit Sam's Town and spend some time there. The only RV park on the strip is KOA for almost 50 bucks a night, for that kind of money you can get a hotel room. Sam's Town is about 15 minutes east of the strip and has 2 RV parks on both sides of the casino, over 500 spots , you are most likely to get a place. The casino has a great courtyard with waterfall and a laser show at night, they have a few restaurants, a 16 screen theatre, it's easy to get lost for a few days. We did get the Honeymoon Suit in the RV park, it got the name because it's a corner lot with basically no neighbors and a bit bigger lawn. Nice spot indeed. There is another park a bit further east but Sam's Town has a free shuttle bus to the strip so you do not need a vehicle. Great place we stayed for 2 nights before headed home.

We always stop here to take a picture, it's half way between Laughlin and Vegas on Hwy 95

 

The entrance to Sam's Town

Our "Honeymoon Suit".

...a bit of France on the strip.

The Harley grill.

The MGM at the south end of the strip.

                                             

On the way home north of Vegas at I 15 & Hwy 95. If you like taco  you have to stop here.

A few days of boondocking.

After leaving Algodones we were heading north ( and home ) on 95. Didn't make it far, Quartzsite, Ponderosa rd. looked so inviting, we just pulled over and parked for the day. Had a very nice day and a quiet night, reading a good book. It's a long term visitor area and at the entrance people leave books behind, it's a sort of library desert style. We talked to a few nice people from BC, they recommended another BLM operated campsite west of Parker. You have to cross the Colorado in Parker into California, take the first road right and along the river. After about 4-5 miles there is a resort like fancy RV park on the right (35-40 bucks a night, full hook up), the next driveway is the BLM campground, right on the river, ( 5 bucks/night, no hook up). We loved it so much we stayed for 2 nights. Years ago we have been to Bullhead City and Laughlin and wanted to go back to the very nice capmping on the Arizona side called Davis Camp. For 15 $ a night it's not really a boondocking Paradise but a wonderful place on the river. Laughlin has casino parking, at the Riverside were dozens of RV-s but too noisy so after donating a few bucks to the local economy we went back to Arizona and spent another 2 nights in the camping. Plans after that? Las Vegas for another couple of days.

Sometimes you just need a day doing NOTHING.

Quartzsite, Ponderosa Rd

BLM camping on the California side of the Colorado,

it comes with frequent visitors.

Wife loves cactus flowers

I understand you have to have your toys but what to do after a wrong turn?

 Flowering cactus on the campsite

2 steps from the river. Davis Camp, AZ

The Riverside Casino in Laughlin Nevada. RV parking OK.....

.......but we prefer Davis Camp on the Arizona side of the river.

The Riverside casino in the distance.

Viva Mexico

Algodones is booming because of Snowbirds and dentists. For the winter months about 300 Mexican dentists are moving to the little town and work there. The service is much cheaper than in the US or Canada, its good so customers are coming all winter every day by the thousands, business is booming. There is a huge pay-parking lot on the US side, and almost everybody just walks across the border. I was surprised, I did not see a single Mexican uniform while crossing the border, it was like a walk in the park and you are in Mexico. (Not so when you are coming back)
Once you are in Mexico, after the dentist appointment you can shop 'till you drop in the 4 block area, souvenir shops, folk art, cheap liquor, good food and of course a bunch of junk. We had the best fish and shrimp tacos in Algodones, those courtyard restaurants are simply awesome. Before we headed back we did buy a 1,5 litre bottle of Margarita for 3,50 US and a big bottle of Kahlua for 8,50 US. Coming back to the US side is was a bit more than an hour waiting in line but its good business for some locals. There are rickshaw like bicycle taxis, can carry 4 passengers and for 8 bucks you get a ride across the border. This way you can bypass the long line because you cross the border on a "vehicle" and business is booming. We had a good time and will visit again when we are in the area. The only thing bothering my eye is to see those really nice blankets and all kind of native art next to the baseball and hockey shirts but I understand that everybody wants to make a living.

She is making T shirts right in front of the store. She explains to my wife how to decorate it with beads.

Amigo the beadmaker.

Window in Algodones.

4 square blocks of Dentists Offices, Pharmacies, shops and restaurants, that's Algodones.

Mariachi band at the restaurant.

The courtyard restaurants are my favorites.

Coming back was an hour waiting in line.

Slab City to Algodones

Heard so much good and bad stuff about Slab City that we wanted to see it but never had enough time. Finally on this trip we could visit the place because it's only a few hundred yards from Salvation Mountain. We asked some RV-ers for directions and it was funny to see their reaction: "I would never ever stay there again, I couldn' sleep all night, I didn't like it." Others said: "It's an interesting place, you have to see it. If you grew up and have been happy in the hippy era you will love it.  Now I really wanted to see it. The place gets it's name from the concrete slabs still in the ground, the only remains of a WW II military base. Today it's called: " The Last Free Place in America." and trust me it is. You are going to feel it after you drive around and check it out. There are some permanent residents who brave the 120 degree summers but most people are snowbirds on a low budget here for the winter months. But the population is much more colorful: recession refugees from young to age of 89, hippy souls, bikers passing through, modern Gypsy Kids and so on. Some live here with family and kids and telling you: the kids are just as safe as in any big city. The whole place is a bit Wild West, regulating itself, in more serious cases the Border Patrol is always around chasing illegal immigrants. The few die hard souls living here full time said: it's not for everyone but if you like freedom this is the happiest place on Earth. But...I need a bit more time to adjust although I have a feeling for the place but....what really hurts my eye is garbage everywhere. Abandoned shelters left behind with tons of garbage around them and more garbage all over the place. I will visit next time as well maybe spend a few days there, definitely would like to meet more locals. For now we are headed for Algodones, the border town and "Mexican Dentist's Paradise". More about it next time.

Welcome to Slab City

Some brave fulltimer souls

They have their own Church, Library...., weekend concerts, dance at the campfire....

You feel like in the Mad Max movie

My only problem: too much garbage all over the place....

Washed the VW for the first time on this trip.

Spent the night ( and some cash) at the Quechan Casino. They have a huge parking lot for RV-s and it's only 1 mile from the border.

Tomorrow's plan: walk to Mexico