To Yuma for Dental Work in Mexico

While traveling back to Casa Grande from a Major League Baseball Spring Training game about a few days ago, I chipped a crown on my lower teeth.  Oops.  After considering the option, we decided to cut short our time at the Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort and go to Yuma.

While in Yuma we went across the border to a Sani-Dental to get my tooth fixed and to get our teeth cleaned.  And to do some shopping which we were there in Los Algodones.

We parked on the U.S. side and walked the 300 yards across the border into town.  It seemed a lot more crowded than the last time we were there which was probably five years ago.  We had no trouble finding the dental office signed in.  Then we waited in the hallway before an assistant took Pam back to get her teeth cleaned.

At this facility the doctors do the teeth cleaning.  Pam was finished before I was called to go back to see my dentist.  I got some X-rays on this machine.

Then the dentist took off the old crown and put on a temporary.  We were done a couple of hours after we arrived.  There procedure is to come the next day to check the temporary crown so we scheduled our second appointment.

Then we enjoyed our time at the Fortuna De Oro RV Resort.  We parked near friends Gerri and Art.  We hung out at happy hour and had some fun.  This resort is not quite as fancy as Palm Creek, but then neither was the price.

We went back to Mexico the next day for a quick followup to the dentist and then back to our campsite and hung out.  While there we were able to schedule a wash and wax job for the Roadrunner and got that done.  $100 was well worth it.

There was also time for some pool and some golf at the campground.  

I originally was told the visit to the dentist would take 72 hours and that my last appointment was going to be Monday.  It actually got done on my third visit on Saturday.  I was pleased with the result and I also got my teeth cleaned.  Total bill for two teeth cleanings, consultation, X-ray and a crown - $310.

Saturday after the visit to the dentist we walked around and did some more shopping.  It takes a minute to get shopping game face on.  The shop owners don't give up on the first try.  We had some lunch, talked with a couple from Montana that had been going to Yuma for a number of years and had a nice time.

Saturday was also the town's annual party for the winter visitors.  They had free food and drink and 

entertainment which was a nice gesture.

Thankfully our three trips over the border we fun and uneventful.  The lines at the border crossing office were not too long.  None lasted more than 30 minutes so it gave us a few minutes to meet some more people and hear about their Mexico experiences.

On Sunday we went to the two flea market in town and got a few things and then worked on some stuff around the coach.  The weather was nice on Monday too and there was some time for another visit to the pool.  It was a little more crowded than the other days and their was a band who played for a couple of hours.  They were pretty good and a number of people got up and danced and enjoyed themselves.

We saw our friends some more and watched a number of winter visitors at the campground depart for the journey north back home.  Some said adios and took off, one couple spent two or three hours after they hooked up and pulled out of their space.  It was just too hard from them to say goodbye.  They had such a good time, leaving was something they really didn't want to go.

We on the other hand, had to get on with it and we departed early on Tuesday morning for the trip to Albuquerque.

Thanks for joining us today on the Roadrunner Chronicles!

Escapees KOFU Ko-Op in Yuma

We stayed four days at the Escapees Park in Yuma.  We recommend it.  I wanted to document our time there so I took a lot of pictures as I walked around the park a couple of times.

Although the sign for the park was relatively small, it was easy to find because there are no other RV parks on this road.

The front office was right on the main street and it had a couple of places for rigs while checking in.

I liked our space and the fact that the whole park is fairly uniform.

Inside the entry way to the community center was the front office.  Inside was a 'great room' with the pool tables, kitchen and eating area, more tables, the stage and a sitting area.

 Out the back door and next door was the laundry room.  Clean and well kept.

Our space was typical.  The residents were still in Quartzsite and were renting it out.  Cost us $20 plus a little over $2 for electricity.

The neighborhoods had a mix of park models and RVs with some landscaping on the corner lots.

We enjoyed our time there and did a lot in four days and would come back.  It is an well maintained campground and does not appear to be as old as some of the Escapees Parks we have visited.

And folks were friendly (not surprising at an Escapees Park).  I met Dave who has been a Full Time RVer for 22 years.  I have never met someone who has been doing this that long.  Have you?

Thanks for checking in on the Roadrunner Chronicles today!  Until next time...

How to Wash a Roadrunner

We took advantage of our loose schedule and decided after 10 days in Quartzsite that we'd head for Yuma.  The sunsets were beautiful, the area was fine, the rally was over and most had left and we felt like it was time to move on after 10 days in the boonies.

We did a little research and decided to aim for the Escapees Park outside of Yuma.  We called ahead and they had one, maybe two spots available.

We arrived at lunch time and were second in line to sign in.

But the folks in front of us were going to the dry camping area, so we had no worries.

One thing about Escapees Parks, they work hard at being friendly.  We were instantly welcomed by Evelyn and husband Mel who have worked here in the winters for six years.  Nice folks.

We found out it was OK to wash the RV and Mel mentioned they had folks getting their rigs washed regularly here in the park.  I figured I wasn't going to spend $350 (my guess on what a wash and wax would cost).  I was not looking forward to tackling the four day job.  I have to work up to these things...
Later,  Pam found an add in the local paper for Sergio.  I called and they wanted $120.  Hmm...much more reasonable.  And the Roadrunner was really dirty.  All that dust from Quartzsite was on the coach.
Then I called Benjamin's.  $100 for a wash and wax and got a 2 PM same day appointment.  The crew showed up at 2:00.  It was blowing and they were afraid the spray was going to go over the neighbor's rig.  Nobody was home and they were reluctant to get started so we rescheduled for 8:00 AM the next morning.

Later that afternoon, we straighten up a bit and Pam made a couple of trips to the laundry.  We had a nice dinner with some grilled vegetables and steaks.  Then we enjoyed our new HD TV for a while.

Promptly at 8:00 AM on Saturday, two guys from Benjamin's RV Wash (and Carpet Cleaning) showed up.  Sergio (another one, not the same as the other RV Wash company) and Nacho (his nickname) got right on it.

We talked for a few minutes, confirmed the price and they got with it.  The generator in the back of the truck was a little noisy, but the campground host on duty drove around and said no problem - anytime after 8:00 AM was good.

This was a thing of beauty to watch.  Two young energetic guys getting after it.  My back enjoyed watching them.  They were steady and thorough.  With their own 250 gallon tank of 'soft' water, they power washed the top and then proceeded down the side, scrubbing first, then spraying off.

I even pulled out the generator for Sergio to use his power washer on.

It worked and after 7+ years, I think this was the first time it had ever been washed.

Then they continued on around the side.

About 30 minutes after they started, the washing part was finished. I passed out a couple of bottles of Gatorade and then they got started on the next phase.

They let the water stay on the Roadrunner, then wiped

Meguiar's Mirror Glaze all over the sides, front and rear of the coach.
The sun was slow in coming through the light clouds and it was not hot yet at just after 9:00 AM in the morning.

Perfect day to get the job done.  I was really enjoying this.  And learning some things.  They purposely did not wipe the water off after they rinsed it.

They just started in with the wax.

It took them twice as long to wax it, taking them about an hour.

It really looked good.

I paid them, gave them a tip and they were on their way before 10:00 AM.  But not before they started on the ham and cheese sandwiches that Pam made for them.  

Interesting couple of guys.  Sergio said Nacho was a nickname that his buddy picked up and it stuck.  He also said he was going to college at night and was glad to be making some money.  He is pursuing a degree in technology - not sure if he wanted to go into video production or maybe in the audio area.  at any rate, I was pretty impressed.  

Great way to start our time here in Yuma:  get the Roadrunner all cleaned up and shiny again and meet some interesting guys.

Thanks again for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles!  Until next time...