Warnock Lake, Atchison, Kansas

A lot has happened since we left Puerta Penasco, Mexico.  We drove rapidly from Mexico to Allen, Kansas, since Dean's mom was not doing very good.  She is 94 and needs 24 hr care.  Hospice had given her only a few days.  She lives at Tom's farm (Dean's brother) and we stayed there a week.  During that time it was warm one day, snowed two days, and terrible winds the rest of the time.  Snowing at the farm:

One advantage of being at the farm: Tom has hired three ladies to take care of Marge and they also do the cooking.  I learned to make corn tortillas and chili rellenos with Anna and Myrna.

After a week Marge was doing better so we decided to go to Oklahoma for my 50th high school reunion outside of Chickasha - Am-Po class of 1966!  Here are the classmates that could attend out of 30:

During our stay in Oklahoma we visited my brother and sister in law in Oklahoma City and my stepmother in Chickasha.  We stayed at my cousins on their farm near Chickasha, a very nice place to park:

We visited my brother three times in OKC.  I knew he was in poor health but didn't expect the sudden news as we were leaving Oklahoma to go back to Kansas that he had died of a heart attack.  We had just seen him one day earlier.  So we turned the RV around and stayed another week - making funeral arrangements, calling relatives, the funeral, the burial.  All in quite a shock.  Thank goodness my brother and his wife from Las Vegas flew out and helped.

We returned to Kansas, and since Marge was still doing ok, we decided to spend some time with the youngest daughter and her family in Gardner, Kansas.  We went to an arboretum with daughter Suzy and grandson, Ethan and granddaughter, Parker.  Here we are feeding fish and the kids posing for pictures:

We stayed at Baldwin City, about 15 minutes away from their house, at the Lodge.  It is a nice private RV park/ hotel with about 10 RV sites.  We enjoyed walking around the town of Baldwin City and eating at the Moose BBQ.

Next we moved on to the oldest daughter in Atchison.  We have been to grandson Lane's track meet, where he competed in long jump and ran the 400.  On Saturday we went to younger grandson's soccer match.  Lane running 400:

Landon with teammates and intent on listening to his coach:

We are staying at Warnock Lake park in the city of Atchison.  This is a wonderful place to park.  There are about 15 camping sites with 50 amp power, central water, for  a senior rate of $8.  The lake is beautiful and there is at least 2 gagles of baby geese.  There is a lovely walking area called the International Forest of Friendship - trees donated from all the states and many foreign countries.  Atchison is the home of Ameilia Earhart so in this area is the Amelia Earhart earth works - a likeness of her face and head in natural earth setting.  It is pretty hard to see but the website helps.  We are walking everyday in this beautiful setting and we are about the only ones here.

Sign below shows where the different donated trees are located.

Lovely area to walk:

Gagle of geese - probably over a dozen babies:

Was Ameila this tall and skinny?

This morning we had a severe thunderstorm and spend some time in the campground restrooms.  More storms predicted for tonight.  Guess we will button everything up and spend the night at daughter Stephanie's.

Rocky Point (Puerto Penasco), Mexico March 1-14

On March 1, 7 RVs traveled together to Rocky Point, Mexico.  RP is located about 65 miles from the border at Lukeville, AZ. We drove to the border from Ajo, where those that wanted to, purchased visas.  This is a gray area - you are suppose to have a visa if you stay longer than one week but most do not pay the $26 and stop to do the paperwork.  But most in our group did since we were told we "should do it".  Yes, I got one because of my very cautious husband.  But not next year!

We had no problem driving the very nice road to RP.  I drove and was in the lead.  Feeling pretty confident with my driving, thanks to Dan Shepard and my driving school in January.  We are staying at Play Del Oro located south of the fish market and main shopping area in town.

The weather was excellent during our two week stay.  After parking, we immediately established our spot at the beach wall were we met for coffee in the morning and drinks in the afternoon.

Me, Jim,  Chuck, Dean, Frank

Jan, Betty, Diane

We ate at the fish market many times.  Our favor spot is Flavo's.

Jan, Judy, Diane, Dean - first lunch.

The boys went fishing.  Frank caught one really big grouper.  Thank goodness they had agreed to share this and a few sea bass that were caught.

Joe, Frank, Dean, Duane, Chuck

While boys fished, the girls went to visit my friend, Linda, who lives in RP full time.  We had a delightful lunch at Wrecked at the Reef and then champagne at her condo, which has wonderful view of the ocean.

Linda, Judy, Betty, Diane, Jan

On Linda's patio overlooking Sandy Beach.  Diane, Betty, Judy, Linda

We drove to Cholla Bay one day to check the famous bar - JJ's -and then for lunch.

We enjoyed margaritas on the beach and the beautiful sunsets.

One day we drove to the Mayan Princess, south of RP about 30 miles.  It is a beautiful resort and we had a nice lunch and walk around the lavish grounds.

Of course, one of the reasons to come to RP - buy shrimp, relax at the beach, and be with friends.

Judy buying shrimp at the fish market.

Dean getting massage at beach.

Happy hour with the group.

We had a delightful dinner at El Capitan on the 'Rock' - one of the best views in RP.

New couple on the left - neighbors from Prescott - Chuck and Lynn.

View from El Capitan  - downtown and Sandy Beach condos in distance.

One mistake we made on this 'first annual' RP trip was scheduling during Spring Break.  We had very loud music playing each night, sometimes until 3 in the morning.  We had our own ways of coping - earplugs, fan for gray noise, drugs.  Never again will we go down during Spring Break!  Lynn, Jan, Betty and I got brave and on the last night we walked to one of the noisy discos.  We were the only ones there so we had some fun.

Our last night we had a 'cook everything that you can not take across the border' potluck.  Mainly, you can not take across the border into the US fruits and veggies.  We had a great last night together and lots of good food.

Frank and Diane dancing.  They will soon celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Last fire - Chuck and Lynn and dog Peanut.

We all want to come back next year.  But not during Spring Break!  See you then!

Ajo, Arizona - February 3 to March 1

After Quartzsite, we made a short trip to the Tolleson Freightliner to have the rig checked over and then we were off to Ajo.  We parked at the Roping arena and paid for a month - $25.  Pretty good deal!  The Boondockers were parked there so we renewed some old friendships. Mark and Judie parked near and Chuck and Jan arrived just in time to celebrate Dean's birthday.  We went to the Fiddlers contest and into Ajo to see friends Dorothy and Bill.  We had hear of the wild burros on our previous trips to Ajo but this time they walked very close to our rigs.

One evening the Mooreand us went to Child's mountain on a guided sunset viewing by a Cabeza Prieta ranger.  We took wine and snacks and enjoyed the beautiful views.

Chuck, Jan, Dean and I played desert bocce ball.  Most of the time the guys win but we managed to win and we were pretty excited!

During the last week of our Ajo stay Joe Moody, Betty and Duane, Frank and Diane, Jim and Diane arrived to stay a few days before we all drove into Mexico together.

Dean, Chuck, Jan, Betty, Diane, Duane

Joe, Frank, Duane, Chuck, Jan, Betty, Diane, Me, Dean

Jerry, Joe, Duane, Betty, Dorothy, Bill, Me, Diane, Frank, Chuck, Dean

We spent a lot of time together during happy hours and dinners.

Finally the day has arrived for our journey into Mexico.  The campground looks very empty.

Last minute dump and fill at the rodeo arena.

Now we travel the 90 miles to Puerto Penasco or Rocky Point, as the gringos call it.