Help! Let Me Back in the US!

It used to be such fun to go over to Algodones, Mexico for lunch, and cheap medicine and dentists. But all that has changed. Here I am in the line to get back across the border. I guess it is about a quarter mile long, and took almost 2 hours.

This picture looks back up the hill to where the other picture was taken. The Mexicans are building shelters and benches for us, but they aren't done yet. You can see some elderly people trying to hitchhike here. One man collapsed right in front of me. Something really needs to be done.

Having passports was supposed to help, but it actually took longer if you had a passport than if you didn't. So keep those new passports at home!

Thanks to Ernie and Helen, my line-mates, for the pictures.

Diana

Algodones Dunes

World class sand dunes; a primo playground for dune buggies and ATVs. On any weekend, they cluster by the thousands and play in this gigantic sandbox. It stretches more than 50 miles long and averages 5 miles wide.

Beautiful and compelling, a short walk into them stirs emotions of escape, solitude, adventure.

Our friends, Mac and Myrna, who live at dunes edge, point out a unique feature of this National Preserve--they cannot be damaged--rip and snort, spin and gouge all you wish and the next wind will vanish all trace of you.

Felicity, CA -- Official Center of the World

Ten miles west of Yuma lies the tiny town of Felicity, CA. Founded in 1986 by a rich Frenchman, Jacques-Andre Istel, it has been designated the official center of the world by Istel and Imperial County, in which it lies. A 21' tall pink marble pyramid marks the exact spot.

A 117-year-old 25' section of the original stairway of the Eiffel Tower is also on the property. For safety reasons, the stairway at the tower was replaced in 1983.

Istel is also writing and illustrating the story of Evolution, and the complete history of the Universe and the Human Race. It is being engraved on the Wall for the Ages, a series of 100' long marble walls.

New this year is the Chapel on the Hill.

All of us want to say something to the world. Jacques-Andre Istel has much to say and says it well!

Free Storage Space Near Yuma

Six years ago, we removed Diana's furnace, put it in a plastic container, and buried it on public land. Now that she's thinking of trading her trailer, it's time to retrieve it. Hint: Do not rely on your memory to find it again! Write down and even diagram the location. Here's Randy trying to find the container.


Success! This vast desert will conceal and protect whatever you don't want to carry around, but don't want to throw away.


Randy has stuff buried all around the country!

Whale Watching Again

I'm back in San Diego again. Just can't stay away from that granddaughter! Corrie, Mara, and I decided to try whale watching again since we got free coupons last time. Our boat is the one behind Mara. The ocean was much calmer today.


We saw lots of dolphins, and finally....


a WHALE!!! (You might have to click on the photo to get a better look, and I'm not even sure that will help....)


On the way back through the harbor, we saw some lazy sea lions.

Randy's Work UNDER the Bed

Our big purchase at Quartzsite this year was new AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) batteries for both of us. This new kind of battery is non-venting, charges faster, holds a charge longer, and can be installed anywhere, in any position, even upside-down. I wanted mine under the bed, so Randy got right to work.


When he was finished, he thought it would be easier to come out the side access. Wrong! This was as far as he got.


I now have more power than I thought possible. The voltage registers 12.88 at night after watching 3 hours of TV, and is the same in the morning.


Molly and her baby slept through all the excitement....


We’re now back in the desert near Yuma, and the weather is finally warming up. It was 81 degrees yesterday!

Diana