Dains Traveling Days: Issue #31 -- Winter Out West

It is far past time for us to close out the 2018 year of the Dains Traveling Days blog. I know it's already March and this should have been done months ago, but I guess we're just having so much fun, that I get behind.

October 2018

In our last issue we told you about our stay in Las Vegas. From Vegas we moved a little farther West and into California. Years ago, we've stayed at the Pechanga RV Resort in Temecula. If you're a Passport America or Good Sam member, they accept both. Passport America is good Sunday through Wednesday.

Since our last stay, about three years ago, the park has made a lot of changes. All for the better. The sites are large and Big Rig friendly. In addition to pull-through and back-in sites, they now have buddy sites where your rigs can open into a joining entertainment area. The park now has a club room that can be used by two different groups at the same time.

There's also a large outdoor entertainment area that can be used for groups of all sizes. It's an Indian casino RV park, so if you gamble (we don't), you have the casino close by. If you don't gamble, there are lots of other activities to enjoy. There's a championship golf course, regular professional entertainment shows almost nightly, lots of great restaurants, and of course you can just sit back and enjoy the beauty of the RV park. All of the "Big City" amenities are available just down the street, in Temecula, California.

November 2018

We spent a couple of weeks here, at Pechanga RV Resort, then headed down to Chula Vista RV Resort. The Chula Vista RV Resort was scheduled to close for good in February 2019 so we planned to be there a month before going to Yuma, Arizona for the winter.

There was so much to do while in the San Diego area, one of our great-grandsons, Allen Valazquez, had his 3rd birthday.

We also enjoyed supper with our grandson, Sam Velazquez, his oldest boy, Andy, and Sam's good friend, Antonio Salmeron (whom we think of as another of our grandkids).
Andy is just like Sam at the age of four, a real cut-up.

Thanksgiving With Friends

Our Thanksgiving was spent with lots of friends from the Wandering Elks II camping group, At the Chula Vista Elks Lodge. The spread they put together grows larger, and greater, every year.

You might think all we did in San Diego was eat, and I guess that was pretty much true. I heard someone once say, "Some of our best times were spent with friends and good food." Not sure who I heard if from, but I agree.

Grand Ole BBQ is new to the Flinn Springs, El Cajon area. If you like/love Central Texas BBQ, you need to give this place a try. Their BBQ Brisket is GREAT. Sunday mornings you can get Brisket Tacos for breakfast.

Once a month a group of retired LEO's gather for a morning breakfast in Santee, California, at The Omelette Factory

I'm sure we weren't able to visit everyone we had hoped to during our stay in San Diego. There just doesn't seem to be enough time in a month. For those we missed, we are so sorry and hope to see you on our next trip to the area.

December 2018

The month of December we spent in Yuma, Arizona. In years past, we've stayed at RV Resorts, but this year we decided to stay on a private lot in the "Foothills," in Yuma. The views in this area are lovely day and night.

We love this area so much that we've been scoping out areas for our next stay here.

The Peanut Patch is one of the first places David has to visit upon arriving in Yuma. They have CHOCOLATE covered "Everythings," a favorite of David's.

Yuma Art Center

Alex Mack

If you enjoy concerts as you travel, in Yuma the Yuma Art Center has some really good shows all year long, and the cost is very reasonable. In December the Lonely Street Productions put on a show called "Honky Tonk Christmas." This was an extremely good show. We liked it so much that we booked the January show of "Your Cheatin' Heart" featuring singers, Alex Mark and Kaci Bays.

Kaci Bays

West Wind RV Resort

Friday evenings, we head on over to West Wind RV Golf Resort for their fish-fry supper and weekly dance.

Christmas In Yuma

During the Christmas holiday there are several Light Parades throughout Yuma, we were lucky enough to have one come through our neighborhood. Most homes in the area also "light up" for the season.

As we travel we try to visit different churches in order to attend Sunday services. December we visited with Champion Church of Yuma, and found it to be very friendly. During December they hold their services outside and they have a lovely re-enactment of the birth of Christ, our Savior.