February 28, 2014---El Paso to Midland, Texas

This morning, I slept through the Time Zone line.  We left El Paso at 6:00, with the headlights on.  Bill reported that traffic wasn’t bad at that time of day.

Yesterday, after talking to Bill’s sister, Harolene, we changed our travel plans.  She said they are remodeling their house extensively and things are a big mess.  We didn’t think they needed us around.  We will try to go by there sometime next year.

So, instead of going across the vastness of Texas on I-10, we got onto I-20.  It will take us past Stephenville, where Betty, (Bill’s niece) lives, into In-N-Out country, within a few miles of Brent’s house, and across Alabama and Georgia to the “Peaches to Beaches” yard sale and the FMCA Convention.  “Watch for further updates.”

We parked at Walmart in Midland, and after resting for about an hour, we went out to find some geocaches.  Most of them were fairly simple, but one was a real challenge.  We could see a pill bottle stuck way down in a post.  We tried to get a stick down beside it to pull it up that way.  No luck.  Then Mr. Fixit straightened a paperclip, wrapped one end of it around a stick, stretched the other end out straight, and put a bend in it.  I was able to get the cache container out...Yankee ingenuity and teamwork got the job done!  Yippy, Skippy!

Today’s Travel Totals:  Mileage, 311---Caches, 4.

February 27, 2014---Tucson to El Paso, Texas

Bill pulled out of the campground at 7:00 this morning.  He would’ve left earlier, but because of the loudness of the diesel engine, he waited until 7:00 before waking the rest of the campers.  Except for Dwight and Sheila, who were up to say “goodbye.”  This didn’t surprise him, because they usually get up to make sure the roosters are awake and doing their jobs.

I was still asleep during all of this falderal and didn’t wake up until Bill pulled into a Rest Area at 9:00.  I peeked out from under the covers just as he came in and said, “Wake up, Miss Bumley.”  How rude of him?!!!!!!!!!

Soon after getting back onto I-10, we crossed into New Mexico.  It has been a long time since we have done our “state line thing” (Honk, honk!  Yahoo!)  I yelled as loudly as I could so West Coast kinfolks would be able to hear me way out in California.  JP said he thought he heard something faintly in the distance.  LOL, JP!!

LOL may mean Laugh Out Loud or Lots of Love to some of you.  To JP and “yours truly” it means Little Old Lady...me!

We stopped at Walmart in Deming.  While Bill rested, I made the  sacrifice and went in to shop.  After everything I bought was put away, we went across the street to Wendy’s and shared a salad for a late lunch.

As we entered Texas, honking and yelling,  we had a strong side wind.  When we stopped at Flying J, we had to wait to get out of the motorhome until a gust of dust passed by.  We both remember living in this kind of country and are very glad we moved.  Now we don’t have to stay here any longer than necessary.

Tonight, we found one cache and went to a geo-meeting.  And it was an interesting meeting.  A cacher from Iowa, who works for the Army, was in El Paso for something job related.  He planned an event to meet in the lobby of the hotel where he was staying.  Guess how many attended.  Us...and him, of course!  Wow, what a crowd!

Today’s Travel Totals:  Mileage, 294---Caches, 2.

February 26, 2014---Yuma to Tucson, Arizona

We were on I-8 heading east at 10:00.  Our destination for today is the county fairgrounds in Tucson.  We plan to meet up with Dwight and Sheila there.

We had a good time in Yuma.....lots of geocaching, a great beading group, lots of eating out, a fantastic craft sale, and best of all, time with good friends.  Can’t get much better than that.

We stopped in Gila Bend for lunch and a quick nap for Super Pilot.  While he slept, I got my beading tray out and worked a few more rows on the bracelet I started in class yesterday.  It is nice to have the desk and be so much better organized.

We turned onto I-10 and stopped at Flying J for fuel.  Whiie we were there, Dale, Jr’s car hauler pulled in.  We also saw Clint Boyer’s hauler.  NASCAR races in Phoenix this weekend.  The cashier in Flying J said she imagined we had seen a lot of interesting things in all our years on the road.  Today proved her right.  Before we got to the turnoff to the camp ground, we had seen haulers for Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, and Tony Stewart.

We parked at the fairgrounds and rested until it was time to go to supper.  This may possibility be our last time for In-N-Out for a long time...#13.  Sigh...and sniff, sniff, too.

Before going to bed, I finished two bracelets I had started in class.  I also started a new one in blue, yellow, and white.

Today’s Travel Totals:  Mileage, 243---Critter count, 1 coyote.

February 25, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

This morning, Nancy picked me up to go to the Tuesday morning beading.  As usual, it was a lot of fun.  And the weather was so nice we were able to work at tables set up outside.  That is one of the great things about Yuma at this time of year...the weather.

While I was at my beading class, Bill and Todd, along with Bonnie and Todd’s friends from Canada, Marilyn and Paul, went geocaching.  It was their introduction to the sport.  They found four caches.  Bonnie was working at a bead shop in Old Town Yuma, so they met her for lunch.

I got home before they did.  As soon as they were back from their wanderings around the desert, Bill and I went to say “goodbye” to Glen.  We are planning on “hitting the road” tomorrow and we wanted to see him one more time before we depart.

We also went across the street to tell Jim and Pat we were leaving.  Pat has been sick most of the time since we arrived.  We visited her in the hospital several times after we got to Yuma.  She doesn’t seem to be recovering as quickly as she should.  It is a cause for worry.

Bonnie invited us for dinner tonight.  It was a good time to get acquainted with Paul and Marilyn.  Paul is a “hoot!”  He told me a fact that I have known for years, but had never put it into words.  He said, “Chocolate makes my clothes shrink.”  And all the while I was eating an Oreo cookie!

February 24, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Bill, Todd, and I left home at 7:00 to do geocaches that followed part of the Butterfield Overland Express route.  It’s operation started in 1860, with the purpose of hauling the mail across the country.  Perhaps there were passengers, also, but gold and silver were not carried, thus cutting down on holdups.  Tales of the Wild West, eh?

We ate lunch at McDonald’s and then agreed that naps were in order.  What else would you expect after finding 32 caches?!  We were all “plumb tuckered.”

While Bill went to Home Depot for a new faucet for the bathroom sink, I stayed home and did some bead work.  He came home with a faucet that wouldn’t fit where the old one was, so it had to be returned.  

This time I went along...as far as Sam’s Club.  When he came back to get me, I had finished my shopping.  Several days ago I bought a blouse at Sam’s.  I’ve worn it once and it is very comfortable.  Today, I bought another one.  

We had to go to Lowe’s for a faucet.  This time it was OK.  Super Plumber installed it so now we have the use of our bathroom sink again.  The little chores just never end!

February 23, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

We spent most of the day at home today.  That is unusual, because we seem to run around a lot when we are in Yuma.  But not today.

I spent the morning loading caches for tomorrow.  Our plans are to follow part of the Butterfield Stage Line road.  That should be interesting.  There is also a canal in the area and some of the caches are along it.

I needed to download some things on my iPhone and my iPad.  Lori suggested we go to McDonald’s to use their Internet in case it took a long time.  Our own Internet is somewhat limited as to how much we can use it.  Mickey D’s seemed like a good alternative.  And, of course, some ice cream, Diet Dr. Pepper, etc. was involved.  Things went OK with the iPad, but the phone was taking longer than we had expected.  I will try to find an Apple Store along the way as we head east.  Maybe they can tell me how to shorten the time.

While we watched the rain delayed NASCAR race from Daytona, I worked on a beaded and wire cross.  It had been awhile since I had made one, so I had to do some extra thinking.  I completed one and have the wire and beads chosen for two more, so I guess I did alright.  It felt good to be doing it again!

February 22, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

At 10:00 this morning, we went to watch a parade.  It is held every year in honor of the man who started the Foothills area, where we stay every year when we come to Yuma.  This is an area about ten miles east of Yuma.

Todd’s friend, Glen, has a house that faces Foothills Street.  We sat on his porch, in the shade, watching the small town parade.  There were four of us humans and four pups enjoying all the activity.

I spent most of the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon working on my geocaching logging project.  I am now caught up!  It is a good feeling.  Hopefully, I will be able to post any future finds via my iPhone and won’t get behind.  That is always my goal.  Sometimes it works...sometimes it doesn’t.

We went to Mr. G’s for Mexican food tonight.  It is in the middle of Yuma, so we had a ways to drive.  It’s a fast food place and was OK.  Nothing to brag about, but not bad.

After returning home, we spent some time with Todd planning some caching excursions for next week.  It seems that our departure has been delayed again.  Super Driver is concerned about the weather in the southeastern part of the country.  That is where we plan to point the motorhome next.

Our good news of the day was that Meredith is out of the hospital.    She was released this afternoon, and is prepared for a slow recovery.  I’m sure Dwaine, Joey, and Hapa will take good care of her, with lots of help from Michelle.

February 21, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Happy Birthday, JP!  As grandson’s go, you are tops.  It has been my pleasure and good fortune to watch you grow up into such a fine young man.  I remember one time you told me that as the oldest grandchild, you had to set a good example for the other six.  You have done a great job!

Meredith called me from her hospital room several times today.  She sounded groggy, which is natural the day after major surgery.  Tonight, she reported she and Michelle walked the halls quit a bit.  That was a good report!

My “Not So Super Shopper” and I went shopping this morning.  Sam’s Club was our first stop.  Then while I was in Penney’s, Himself took a nap.  He did the same while I was in JoAnn’s Fabric.  Sometimes he’s just no fun!!!

While I was in Beall’s buying a pair of capri pants and a shirt, he went to Best Buy.  That was more to his liking.  

For being such a good sport, I let him choose the place for lunch.  Guess where he picked!  Right!  In-N-Out (#12).

Our last stop was at Walmart and then it was time to go home for well deserved naps for both of us.  

We got the 2013 copy of Turbo Tax so I can get started on another major project just as soon as I’ve caught up on posting our geocache finds.  And I’m glad to report that I made more progress in that area tonight.  Yippy, Skippy!

February 20, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Brave Bill and and his side kick, Trusty Todd, went back out onto the bombing range early this morning to finish a series of caches they had started two days ago.

“While the cat’s away, the mice will play!”  Bonnie, Nancy, Ardene, and I, along with two other beaders, went to a craft sale at one of the RV parks.  It was a huge affair, with a wide variety of items for sale, most of which were handmade.  

We shopped for about an hour and a half before deciding it was time for lunch.  We ate at a pita place.  The food was really good and the servings were big.  In spite of the fact that I ordered a child’s size pita, I could only eat half of it.

From there we went to see Layl, a beader who has a shop in her home.  Bonnie took me there last year.  The selection of beads and other supplies was good.  I bought several tubes of seed beads.  My supply just keeps growing.  I’m glad I have Lori to share my “loot” with.  At least that’s my excuse and I’m sticking with it.

Before going home, we went to a nut and bolt store to buy tiny little nuts.  Bonnie had a pattern for using them like beads.  It sounds like a clever idea...a bracelet a man might like!

After dinner, I worked on logging caches.  I made a good dent in the huge number I have to do to catch up.  I can actually see a light at the end of the tunnel.  Yikes!  I hope it doesn’t have a train attached to it.

February 19, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

I had plans today to do some shopping.  We got off to a late start.  Our first stop was at Sam’s Club.  While we were there, Dwight and Sheila called so we went back to the motorhome to meet them.

Soon after we got there, Todd came home.  Marvin, a friend from across the street, came for a visit, too.  He needed help with his Garmin GPS.  Dwight is a master at that.  It took him a while to get everything straightened out.

In the meantime, I was working on my iPhone.  Thanks to some long distance help from Lori, I can now log our finds from my phone without sending everything to Facebook.  Now my challenge will be to catch up on posting the many finds that we have made in the past week or so.

Since we never did get back to our shopping spree, In-N-Out (#11) soothed my disappointment.  And it gave us some more visiting time with the “gang.”

There was a rather unusual cache placed in the area.  The person hiding it wrote part of the instructions with a UV pen.  To read it, a UV light was required.  Dwight and Sheila went to many places in Yuma before finding a light.  With that in hand, they were able to solve the mystery.  Thanks to their efforts, we were able to log the find, also.  There is just no end to the crazy, clever, creative ways some cachers will go to entertain the rest of us.

I spent quite a bit of time tonight catching up on some of the logging that I had missed.  I made a dent, but still have quite a ways to go.

February 18, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Bill and Todd left early this morning to go geocaching.  Bonnie, Nancy, and I had a beading class.

The bracelet we made today was called Flip Side because the two sides show different colors...except for mine.  Wouldn’t you know?!  Because I am a visual person, I looked at pictures of how to make it rather than reading the directions.  After making an inch of the bracelet I showed Nancy, who was teaching the class.  She took a quick look from across the table and said it was OK so I continued until I had nearly completed the beading part.  Only then did someone else notice that mine was not like the other bracelets.  Mine wasn’t reversible.  

This gives new meaning to “if all else fails read the directions.”  However, I really like the way mine turned out.  I’m very pleased with it.  I guess that’s what counts, isn’t it?

Tonight, we went to KFC for their dinner buffet.  Bill and Todd were so tired they could barely chew.  They logged 50 finds before dragging their very tired carcasses home to collapse.

February 17, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

At 8:00 this morning, Bill, Todd, and I went to Wellton to cache.  It is a small town east  of Yuma.  Before leaving the area and after eating lunch at Jack In the Box, we had logged 35 caches.  

When returning to Yuma, we found one more thing hidden, signed our names and went home.  It was really warm, so we turned some fans on and rested most of the rest of the afternoon.  90° is a bit warmer than we are use to.

The good thing about weather here in Arizona is that once the sun sets the temperature goes down noticably...maybe 20 degrees or more.

Since arriving in Yuma, we have done lots of caching, but because of a problem with my iPhone, I am behind in posting our finds.  When we are in Tucson in a few days or maybe weeks, I will go to the Apple Store to see if I can get some help with my difficulties.  I am very frustrated at this point.  

I need JP, my MAC guru to come stay with us awhile.  Too bad he is gainfully employed and happily living in California!!!  I’m the LOL (Little Old Lady) to him and I could really use his help.

February 16, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

We started the day off with a trip to the Flea Market.  Yesterday, two ladies told me where they had purchased their outfits.  I wanted to check it out.

The man in charge of the booth was named Omar, as in “Omar, the Tent Maker.”  I noticed that there were no clothes in my size...only much, much larger sizes.  I asked Omar where smaller things were displayed.  He “insulted” me by recommending the size he thought I would need.  In my life I have run into a variety of salesmen.  He was in a class of his own.  Maybe he thought I needed a “tent.”  Anyway, it was funny (like a crutch) and just added a new experience to my list of many!

After eating lunch at home I started watching NASCAR qualifying from Daytona.  I went to sleep sitting in my chair.  Nap time!  When I awoke much later, our area had been abandoned.  Bonnie had gone shopping and Bill and Todd were geocaching.  I was all by my “lonesome” and it didn’t bother me a bit!

My only concern was the three of them returning in time to made a dinner date with Dwight and Sheila at In-N-Out (#10).  I didn’t need to worry.  This group rarely misses a meal.  We were able to get there at the appointed hour and had a great time eating and talking and celebrating Dwight’s birthday...kind of---no cake or singing!

February 15, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

This morning, Bill, Todd, and I went geocaching.  We were able to find three caches south of Yuma.

I needed to go to Walmart before returning home.  We decided to eat at McDonald’s inside the store before shopping.  After lunch, I went to buy a calculator while Todd and Bill bought a few groceries.  

We got back home in time to rest, watch some of the Olympics, and do some computer work before going to Bonnie and Todd’s for dinner.

We ate on their patio.  It was cool and shady there, kind of like a little oasis.  She made spaghetti and I took a salad and French bread.  Dessert was lemon pie.  That is one of Bonnie’s specialties.  She used lemons from a neighbor’s tree.  It was really good.

As it began to get dark, Bonnie built a fire in their fire pit so we could burn some of our personal papers.  Several more people arrived with things to burn.  Soon we had 16 chairs around the fire.  There was lots of story telling and laughing going on.  Bonnie had all the “makings” for S’mores.

The afternoon temperature was close to 90°, but before the party broke up tonight, we were huddled around the fire to keep warm.  That’s the way it is in the desert.

February 14, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Happy Valentine’s Day!  

Bill cooked a really good Valentine breakfast.  Yum, yum!

He took me to Walmart.  I needed a pedicure and a manicure.  While I was getting that taken care of, he went back to the motorhome to take a nap and getting other important things taken care of.

Before he came back to fetch me, I got my prescriptions that I turned in several days ago.

Back at the “old corral” I took a nap.  I have felt much better today, perhaps because I am getting extra rest.  My right hip is still sore, but walking is not such a chore.

We didn’t do any caching today...maybe tomorrow.

February 13, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

I was stiff and a bit sore this morning, but was able to get a good night’s sleep so that helped.  Bill went this morning to get a tire fixed...another nail.  Some of the cacti around here have sharp enough thorns to puncture a tire, but so far we haven’t run across any ot those.

Yesterday, we saw beautiful lily-like flowers blooming on the desert.  When Bill came home from getting the tire repaired, he brought me a bouquet of lilies to help me feel better.  That was so nice of him!  What a guy!

I told him lunch at In-N-Out would probably help my recovery, too.  So off we went make it #9 for the year, so far.  We planned to make stops at Verizon and Walmart on the way back to the MH.  

As we were driving east on I-8, I said I wanted to go straight home.  I took a nap and felt much better.  I spent some time at Bonnie’s.  We had lots of bead things to discuss.

Eric and Lou plan to leave for Oregon tomorrow, so tonight we celebrated.  We have enjoyed their visit for the Yuma Mega Event.  And our number of geocaches has greatly increased since those two made their appearance.  As a result, I am behind on posting our “finds” on the Internet, but I will catch up one of these days, and it has been fun caching so fast and furiously for the past week.

February 12, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

At 7:30 this morning, we drove to the Barry Goldwater Bombing Range.  Todd called ahead to see if we were allowed in the area where the caches on our plans were located.  It was OK.

Geocaching has a new thing called Geo Art.  A group had placed 51 caches in the shape of a star.  This morning, Todd, Eric, Bill, and I went out to the starting point, divided up the caches, and started on our merry way.  Eric is by far the most physically fit, so he took the biggest part.  We left him and Todd at the beginning, while Bill and I drove to the furthest point.

Twelve caches later Bill and I made contact with Todd.  We headed back to the main road, which was over a half mile away.  In the meantime, Eric got to where we had left the CRV, and started driving to our area.  

It had been a long time since I had walked over two miles, especially on the desert.  I was carefully watching where I was stepping and using my cane, but a “critter” tunnel was my undoing.  I went through the crust of the desert, twisted my right ankle, and fell really hard on my right hip.  I was able to continue walking after a few minutes.  It was so good to see Eric and the car come into sight.

We had been on the desert for about an hour and a half.  It had taken us much less time than we had expected, so we decided to go to a smaller Geo Art place in the shape of a heart.  It involved 14 caches.  It took the guys less than an hour to complete it.  I stayed in the car by the side of the road.

Lunch at Jack in the Box was a welcome rest stop.  There were two caches close by, so when those were found and logged, we went home.  An afternoon nap felt really, really good.

February 11, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

While Bill went to do the laundry this morning, I continued to sleep.  Even after he came back, every time I would get up, then go back to bed, I would sleep for another hour or two.  When I got up at 10:00, I stayed up.

We went to visit our friend, Ardene.  She and her husband, Bill, sold their motorhome last year and bought a house here in Yuma.  It was a really nice place.  Going from living in less than 400 sq. ft. to living in 1100 sq. ft. must seem as if they have purchased a mansion.  Like us, their wardrobe was very limited when they lived in their MH.  Their walk-in closet had a whole lot of extra space!

We went to Panda Express for lunch before going to Walmart for some prescriptions and groceries.  After we got back home, Bill went to log a new cache hidden in the neighborhood.  Todd told him about it.  I stayed home and worked on some geocaching plans for tomorrow.

We have continued to watch parts of the Olympics.  Too bad some of the snow from the US couldn’t have been over there to Russia.  They could use some more.

February 10, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

I felt really crumby last night.  I was very tired.  With the help of Tylenol, I was able to get a good night’s sleep.  I felt fine this morning!

At 7:00, we went to the final cachers gathering for this Mega Event.  It only lasted for 30 minutes, but it was good to see friends to say goodbye.

We went to breakfast with Dwight, Sheila, and Todd.  It was a popular spot in Old Town Yuma.  There food was good and there was lots to talk about, as usual.

One interesting fact came from Dwight.  Bill and I introduced him and Sheila to geocaching just after we started the sport, in the fall of 2004.  To say they are avid cachers would be putting it mildly.  “Possessed” might be a more accurate label.  Today, Dwight left no doubt in our minds.  Their Honda CRV, now just over two years old, has 42,000 miles on it.  They are very near 27,000 caches.  They really love what they are doing.

By the way, Bill and I are nearly to the 6000 cache mark and darn proud of it!!!

As we parted company we made plans for dinner.  Then we got busy adding more caches to our list.  This time we were north of Yuma, on some interesting back roads, including the old Butterfield Stage Line.  

We saw several roadrunners, but not a single Wile E. Coyote!

Bill and I called it quits at 1:30, returned home, and took naps.  At 4:30, eight of us met at In-N-Out.  Yum, yum!  That brings our 2014 count to eight.  We have to make the best of our location.  All too soon we will be out of In-N-Out country.

February 9, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Today was the big day of this Mega Event weekend.  It was a long day for us all.  Bill and Todd went really early to help set up.  Dwight and Sheila were there pitching in also.  At one point, they were standing around with nothing to do, so they went to McDonald’s for breakfast.

Bonnie and I went later, stopping by McDonald’s for an “eat on the way” breakfast.  Don’t ever let it be said that the two of us can be outdone!

The event was very busy and we had a lot of fun being around so many other cachers...old friends and new!  We had taken lawn chairs to set up by a small lake and when we got tired of roaming around, we had a place to come back and perch for a few minutes.

We got back to the MH at 3:00 and I took a nap.  I had to get some rest so I could have enough energy to go out to dinner at Chicken on the Run.  It was nearly more than I needed to deal with, but I made it OK.

We watched some of the Olympics before hitting the sack!

February 8, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

It was another very busy day for us.  We left the house shortly after 7:00.  After getting Eric from his hotel, we went into Yuma for an early morning gathering of cachers from all over.

After logging a cache that actually hadn’t been activated yet, we went to McDonald’s for breakfast.  We wanted to stay in that part of town until the Post Office opened at 9:00.  While waiting, we found another cache.  “No moss must grow under our feet.”

Todd and I both had packages to mail.  His was ready and my two needed boxes.  When he had finished with his he came to help me.  I think we probably looked like a circus crew.  I had Brent’s package ready to address, but what I was sending to Matthew was a different matter.  In that package was a small Army tank I bought for him in Mexico.  It was wrapped in a school bag Connor had left in our car when we left Loveland over a month ago.  In it was also a pair of gym shorts.  I put birthday cards and checks in the bag, too.  I’ve really gotten behind in my grandmotherly duties lately.

From there, we went to sign in for a special set of caches.  They took us to all parts of the city introducing us to different areas over the last 100 years.  It was very interesting, but it had us running all around the place.  We have no idea how many miles we covered, but it was a lot.  

During all of the running around, we also logged several extra caches.  One of them was very different.  We had to release a rope holding a large cache way up in a tree, and lower it so we could open it and sign the log.  Once that chore was out of the way, the cache container had to be raised to its location once again and the rope secured.  It was all really quite clever.

We were scheduled to have dinner in a restaurant in Old Town Yuma, but we were very tired by then and decided to avoid the crowd and go elsewhere to eat.  

Our total caches for today added up to 20, but we did 15 more we had to have to solve a puzzle.  Wow!  What a day!

I have been having a bit of a problem with my iPad, but JP was able to solve it for me.  He is such a good Mac guru!

February 7, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

At 8:00 this morning, Bill collected Eric from his hotel, came back for Todd and me, and we hit the geocaching trail.  Lou chose to get some tasks done after their four day trip from Oregon.  

One of the first caches we tried to find was very well hidden.  So well hidden, in fact, we couldn’t find it.  Todd called one of the local cachers who is a friend of his.  When Skip arrived he tried to give the guys hints, but they were basically clueless.  The cache hider had drilled a hole in a tree, put the log sheet in a bullet casing, and stuck it in the hole.  It looked like a knot in the tree.  Todd had a hard time digging it out with a knife.  It was really tricky and very clever.

After that we drove out onto the desert to a meeting of cachers.  The remains of a WW2 bomber which crashed way back in the mountains are still there.  Some of the people were going to hike to the site, but nobody in our group wanted to be that daring.  It was very interesting just being back among the rocks and desert plants. 

Another interesting cache container was a small wind chime made from spent shotgun shells and hung back among the branches of a tree.  There are some very creative geocachers around here.

Our last event of the day was a Flash Mob doing a congo line around the fountain in Old Downtown Yuma.  There were lots of us “loonies” enjoying ourselves.  I would estimate maybe 250 people were in the congo line and maybe another 75 people watching, including everyone in our group except me, plus Dwight and Sheila, who met us at the “mob.”

We found a total of 39 caches before calling a halt to the fun and games, and going to a Chinese buffet for dinner.

February 6, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

We got off to a late start this morning.  After finding two caches, we went for an early lunch.  Bill’s choice was seafood, which was fine with Todd and me.  Bill loves shrimp so that was his order.  Todd and I got fish.

With happy tummies, we went to the Yuma Flea Market.  We all started at Building A, but soon parted company.  I wanted to look at more things than the guys did.  I had barely started on Building B when Bill called to say they were ready to leave.  Ugh!  I had hardly made a dent.  Oh, well!  I didn’t see anything on my “must have list” anyway, so it really didn’t matter.

Bonnie and Nancy are still in Tucson at the Bead Show.  Bill, Nancy’s husband, came for an afternoon visit.  He wanted to see our newly recovered chairs.  I think he was also there because he was lonely.

Lou and Eric arrived from Portland.  They are here for the Mega Geocaching Event which will take place over the next few days.  We met them at Pizza Hut for dinner.  We had a lot to catch up on.  It has been a year since we have seen them.  He is an avid cacher.  It was fun to hear some of their adventures as they drove from Portland.

February 5, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Happy Birthday, Meredith and Michelle!  Forty six years of “good times”...aka “double trouble.”  No, no, no!  Actually, as I have watched them grow up to be such good friends, it gives me a warm feeling inside.

We went on some errands this morning.  Bill and I decided a trip into Mexico wasn’t where we needed to be today.  We went to fun places like Home Depot aka Daddy Day Care, and a bead store.  I guess that would be called Mamma Day Care, wouldn’t it?

We went to see Pat, who is still in therapy.  Hopefully, she’ll be home, across the street from us, before we leave Yuma.

We are registered for the FMCA Convention in Perry, Georgia, in March.  Now all we have to do is decide when we will leave here.  We want time to make a few stops along the way...Houston, and Holly Beach, Louisiana, Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, and beaches on east of there.

We also want to arrive in Perry in time to take advantage of a very long garage sale that follows Route 341 from northwest of Perry, where lots of peaches are grown, to the ocean. It is called “Peaches to Beaches Sale.”  I may have mentioned this before.  I’m sure it will be a main topic as our plans progress.

February 4, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

It was another cool morning here in Yuma.  The weather still remains good.  No icy roads, no snow to shovel, and no closed schools, which really doesn’t make any difference to us.  But I hope all of you in the colder regions of the country are making it OK!

Bonnie, Nancy, and I had a beading class today.  Actually, Nancy was the teacher and Bonnie was her assistant.  Me...I was there to make a bracelet.  I got it about half way finished before I ran out of some of the beads.

When we got home, Dwight and Sheila were there visiting with Bill and Todd.  They were discussing a cache in Mexico tomorrow.  It sounds as if it might be a tough one...deep sand, etc.

While we were all together, we decided to go to In-N-Out for supper.  The only thing I could eat on my soft diet was a milkshake.  It was no substitute for a burger and fries!  But it still qualifies as a visit...#7.

February 3, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

After going to the dentist this morning, I was on a soft diet for the rest of the day.  

Thinking that In-N-Out was probably not an appropriate choice, we went to Wendy’s for lunch.  A chocolate Frosty was soft and so was the inside part of a baked potato.  My favorite part of a baked potato is the skin, but I didn’t attempt it.  Too much chewing.

I was also not to talk much for the rest of the day, but you know how that turned out.  I did rest most of the afternoon, so I felt much better toward evening.

Because Bonnie brought slices of cake, I had plenty to eat.

I spent some time reading and did a little of work from the pile on my desk.  Basically, that was my day.

There’s always hope for tomorrow!

February 2, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Happy Birthday, Joshua!  What a great way to celebrate your 19th birthday by watching the Broncos in the Super Bowl.  

The girls have a long history of being Bronco fans.  Brent, on the other hand, has been a long standing Seahawks fan.  So they had a challenge going concerning today’s game.  One of the challenges involved a t-shirt to be worn stating that the winning child made a good choice of teams.  There was also something about the loser having to do with the nickname “sea pigeons.  Also, the dogs in the family will have to wear bandanas for the winning team.

As you know, if you watched the game, Seattle trounced Denver.  The Broncos made a pathetic showing.  It was almost painful to watch.  Seattle had never won a Super Bowl (Denver has won twice), but today the did it up right.  And as Lori said, if Denver had to lose, she was glad it was to the Seahawks.

So Brent is the winner of the Dane Sibling Challenge.  The losing shirts will be presented and worn at our family reunion this summer.  And no more rude names for the Seahawks.  And the dogs will wear Seattle bandanas, even though they had no say so in the matter.  (Is that where the saying of a “dog’s life” came from?)

Brent, congratulations on your years of supporting the Seattle Seahawks.  They certainly deserved the win. 

February 1, 2014---Yuma, Arizona

Welcome, February.  The weather today was cooler.  Does that mean winter might have finally come to Yuma.? Nah, probably not!

At 6:45, we went to a breakfast meeting of the Yuma geocaching club.  Final preparations were being made for the Mega Event next weekend.  Last year about 1100 people came..some from other parts of the globe.  

When we got back home, I took a long nap.  As you know, I don’t like getting up early.  So I had sleep time to make up for.  It was nearly noon before I got up.

I spent some of the afternoon working on a bracelet for Sara.  I had it nearly completed last night, but messed it up on the very last step.  I took the whole thing apart and started again.  I stopped before I got to the tricky part again.  If I can’t figure it out, Bonnie said she would help me tomorrow.  In the beading class last Tuesday, I finished the same pattern with no problem.  I’ll try it again tomorrow. 

I took another nap before it was time for the four of us (Todd, Bonnie, Bill, and me) to meet Dwight and Sheila at In-N-Out.  That’s #6.  Yum, yum!  It was a great place to meet, but it was rather noisy today.  There were so many happy people enjoying the burgers and fries.

Yippy, Skippy!  At long last, the Super Bowl is tomorrow!