After nearly six weeks at home in Jackson taking care of doctors appointments, dog and people grooming, oil changes, and the like, wanderlust struck again and we were more than ready to hit the road for our next workamping gig. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for us as the motorhome's Check Engine indicator lit up three days before we were about to leave. Bummer. (Actually, we used a much different word.) Fortunately, this happened close to home and not while we were traveling.
So, into the Ford service center it went. We were on pins and needles for four days waiting to hear the diagnosis. The good news is that the problem was fixable without having to wait several weeks or months for parts. Whew. So, after picking up the RV, we speed loaded it with clothes and food and began the trip south to Mesa, Arizona.
Billboards and Boredom Before Bakersfield
Highway 99 is not incredibly stimulating. Miles of farmland punctuated every so often by a large city. So, anything that distracts from the boredom is welcome. In this case, it was the thousands of billboards advertising anything and everything. The main themes besides fast food:
- Personal injury attorneys: (In It to Win It! In a Motorcycle Crash? Call Sweet Paul!)
- Cosmetic procedures (Butt, breasts, face, tummy, and whatever else needs lifting or tucking)
- Cannabis dispensaries (Wake and Bake, Bomb Buds, Cloud Legends)
Two billboards in Fresno had poop themes. Charming.
Our favorite was in Bakersfield:
"Botox used to be taboo. Now no one raises an eyebrow."
Okay, maybe that was a bit of groaner, but we had been on the road for five hours by then so were feeling a bit punchy.
Seen in Fresno, California
Onward to Indio
After an overnight in Bakersfield, we left early the next morning for Indio, California, which is about 25 miles east of Palm Springs. It was a long slog there with gusty winds through the Cajon Pass making the drive a little tense. About six hours later we made it to our favorite park, Indian Waters RV Resort. The weather was a gorgeous 80 degrees. For two days, we rested for the most part, stocked up on some supplies, and spent the evenings at our friends, Jim and Pam, catching up and feasting on their fabulous cooking (there also may have been some wine involved...).
East to Mesa, AZ
On Friday morning, we continued on to our goal: Valle del Oro RV Resort in Mesa, Arizona. It was another long drive and we were happy to make it there after six plus hours.
After being led to our RV site, we were too tired to do much of anything except take the dogs for a walk, fix dinner, and veg out in front of the TV before hitting the sack early.
Exploring the Resort
Valle del Oro is the exact opposite of our first workamping job on Anderson Island. Where Anderson Island was peaceful and slow-paced with breathtaking views of the Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier, Valle del Oro is a gated village surrounded by highways in the middle of suburbia.
The resort has over 1600 sites, with the majority being park models (cabins) that are either privately owned or available for rent. So the population here is almost double Anderson Island's population of year round residents.
The resort is a fun-filled mecca for the 55+ crowd. It boasts two swimming pools and spas, five dog parks, tennis and pickle ball courts, shuffleboard, bocce, a putting green, poolside patio restaurant, live music each evening, billiards room, wood shop, pottery studio, ceramics studio, arts and crafts room, leather shop, card room, model airplane room, four laundry facilities (yay!), a massage studio, a hair and nail salon, and its own U.S. Post Office.
It offers so many classes for all sorts of interests: line dancing, dog grooming, square dancing, water aerobics, Zumba, pilates, Spanish, technology, wine appreciation, and the list goes on.
There is so much to do that, as one resident said to us, "If you're bored, it's your own damn fault."
Work Begins Monday
Of course, the reason we're here to begin with is that we will be on the resort's Wi-Fi Support Team. That's right. Hooking up the senior citizens to the internet. We will work 12 hours a week each through December and then 16 hours a week each from January through mid-April. This pays for our site and electricity for the entire five-month stay. We report for duty tomorrow.
This should be fun. Or a nightmare. Time will tell.
More to come...
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Comments
Campground sounds amazing with all the activities.
Wow, I do envy your adventurous style. It sounds like a perfect place to “Winter”. Please keep up the blog it reminds all of us that all we need to do is just go out and do it. Hope to see you in the spring.
Thanks Mike! You carpe diem with the best of them. 🙂
Another great adventure, another great blog entry! I hope you enjoy the weather, the work, and the campground. I look forward to reading all about it :)
Hello Cliff & Anne Marie. It is great to hear you are having such wonderful time. I wish you lots and lots of fun. Stay safe and be well.
Great to be on your distribution list. The billboards are hilarious. Your new gig sounds like a hoot. Have fun and keep the wifi and wine flowing.
You two are the perfect pair to be providing the IT support! And pairing some wine as well. The facilities sound great so go and enjoy!
Again an enjoyable read! Looks like everything you need! Chuckles about the road signs.