KOFA KO-OP (Yuma, AZ)

We stayed a week at the Escapees' KOFA KO-OP in Yuma AZ.  Our first impression upon driving into the park is that it looked more like an over 55 mobile home park instead of an Escapees co-op.  

The second thing that came to mind is the extra living space compared to the other parks.  There are still some sites with just  a storage shed and it doesn't look like anyone turns their shed into a Casita.

bare lot with shed

Permanent homes with nice porches

Since we plan to keep traveling after we lease a site, we will not want a permanent home.  This is perfect for a couple wanting a winter home in a warmer climate and not wanting to deal with a motorhome or a trailer.

Pool and Hot tub

Other extras are the swimming pool and hot tub.  They also have clothes lines near the Laundry room.  Sandy thinks that is a wonderful idea.  Clothes would not take long to dry during Yuma's warm winters.

There is a wide variety of stores for shopping, lots of restaurants, and a Marine base nearby for the retired military.  We also heard that Algodones, Mexico has great shopping as well.  We did not cross the border to check it out.  Maybe another time if we are ever back this way.

Common areas with small gardens on 4 corners

One of the plants in the common area.

Our decision:  Yuma isn't for us. We find that we like the high desert more than the low desert.  The idea of having more living space is appealing, but the sites are a little smaller and feel just little cramped. And while the winters are nice and warm, the summers are very hot.

2 permanent homes

The nicest site

On Thursday 29 March we will move to a Coast to Coast campground in Needles CA for 2 nights, then on to the Pahrump NV Escapees co-op Pair-A-Dice for one week. After that we have booked ourselves into the Thousand Trails Campground in Las Vegas NV for three weeks to use our membership. We may not stay the entire 3 weeks, as we watch the weather up north and decide when we want to head towards Spokane WA.

Desert Museum and National Park (Tucson, AZ)

We visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson AZ 16 March before moving on to Yuma.  Big mistake on our timing for the museum!  Between Spring Break and warm weather, not to mention, a Friday, the place was very busy.  Even some of the employees commented this had been their busiest day in quite awhile.

We were already there, so we decided we might as well brave the crowds and enjoy ourselves.  The highlight of our visit was the Hummingbird Aviary.  Hummingbirds were buzzing all around us.  Adults and children were quietly walking around in awe of the little guys.

Costa's Hummingbird

There was another bird aviary with a few different birds, but it did not compare to the Hummingbird Aviary.

 We checked out the Cat Canyon with Bobcats, Mountain Lion, Ocelot, and a nearby Fox as well.  Of course, on a hot afternoon they were not moving around much.  The Mountain Lion was belly up in a deep sleep next to the window while the bobcats were bathing themselves in the shade. 

Grey Fox sleeping on fur.

We did not stick around for the Raptor Free Flight since we figured we would not get a good spot for viewing on such a busy day.

Kestral

After spending a winter with 320 acres filled with wildlife, the Desert Museum did not seem all that appealing to us.  Part of walking in the woods was the anticipation of meeting something along the way and if it was a bird or an animal we have not seen before....well, that was just an extra bonus for us.

Saguaro National Park

The Saguaro National Park is actually located in two areas.  One is on the west side of Tucson near the Desert Museum and the other is on the east side of Tucson near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.  We have visited both now and we agree the east side was a lot nicer, but the west side had wonderful vista views of the valley below with Saguaro cactus stretching out for miles in of us.

It's a good thing we visited both of these places on Friday because a cold front hit the area on Saturday night.  Sunday, we had sporadic rain and high winds.  By Monday, we were watching snow flurries.

3rd Anniversary

Today is a travel day for us.  We are heading for Yuma, AZ, but first we want to do a little reminiscing.  Why today?

Well, three years ago we started our new life on the road filled with many adventures, new friends, and interesting places to visit.  It is hard to pick out one favorite place because each one is unique in its own way.  There have been no regrets in selling our sticks & bricks house.  Look at all the things we would have missed if we had stayed in Albuquerque working 40 hour weeks with only a 2-week vacation.

Ready to start our adventure on the road.

 We would never have been able to see our granddaughters or our daughter as often.  We have seen both granddaughters do a lot of growing up in the last three years into well-mannered young ladies.

 

And some of our family has been able to visit us in our different locations.

Our son, Shaun visiting us in Patagonia

 Sandy's brother Jay visiting us in Key West 

Dan's sister and her husband visited us in Patagonia, but we never got around to taking any photos.  We'll have to make up for that next time.

Then there's many adventures we would have missed.  We would never have been held up by the Burro Gang in Custer's State Park in SD.

Give us all your apples!

 We never had views like this from our home....

South Dakota

Key West, FL

Florida

Arizona

Some places are filled with friendly people....

Saguaro Skp Co-op, Benson, AZ

 Other places are a lot less populated...

Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve

We never would have kayaked in the Florida Keys...

 or have seen the Arches....well, maybe since we did live within traveling distance for a 2 week vacation....

Anyhow.....or climbed rock fins...

 or frozen our feet to see Crater Lake...

How can you beat views like this?

Northern California

Shenandoah National Park

So much more to see and do.  It will be a long time before we get tired of our lifestyle.  Happy Trails to all!

State Park to Bisbee to Benson (Benson, AZ)

We moved to Benson AZ on Thursday.  It is nice to be back at the Escapees' Saguaro campground.  Our site is in the center this time and it is okay, but we preferred the front lots with the cattle field in front of us.  There were a lot of quail and other birds hanging out across the street.  Lots of entertainment.  Maybe when we finally lease a site, we can get one in the front row.

Patagonia Lake State Park

Sandy has added a new map page for this year's travel adventures so you will be able to see where we are for 2012.  It'll be easier for her to maintain with a new map on a new page.  The last one was getting very hard to add new locations towards the end.

Patagonia Lake State Park

We visited the Patagonia Lake State Park.  Flowers were a-bloomin', bees were a-buzzin', and cow were a-mooin'.  

Moooo?

 Wait! What?  Yes, there were cows in the state park.  It is a free range area, so it is not unusual to find cattle blocking your path.  Not to mention, watching where we walked.  None of this walking and searching trees for birds unless we wanted smelly shoes.

Itchy head?

We did not see too many birds.  We heard them, but could not locate them in the high trees.  Maybe if we spent a few days there we would find them.  We did see some different ducks and one lone Great Blue Heron sitting in a tree.

No one can see me....

Bisbee, AZ

 

We spent another day visiting Bisbee, AZ.  Built on steep mountain sides, this small mining town has turned into an art community.  We found the historic area interesting and quite a walk up the hill.  

We stopped in one museum filled with donated items from Bisbee residents.  There seemed to be a little bit of everything from photos to typewriters to hats to....well, you get the idea.  It was interesting to see so many items covering the last couple of centuries.

Bisbee found a way to celebrate physical fitness with saving their stairs by challenging paying participants to walk or run up 1000 steps.  

Copper Queen Hotel's lobby 

We will hang around this area until Thursday, 22 March, then likely roll onward towards Yuma AZ.