House Sold and Needles CA KOA

We left this morning to start our full-time RV experience!  It's an emotional time...giving up what we know and love to pursue the unknown...

Interestingly, on Saturday as we were loading up the RV, an oriental gentleman, Mr. Zhao, came to take a sales flyer from our house that was for sale.  Scott saw him and they started a conversation which led to us showing him and his wife the house.  We told them we were in the process of moving things into our RV and while it was clean, it was a little messy at the same time. Ironically, we had just had the carpets cleaned...good timing!  I lived in China for nearly 2 years many years ago and I spoke with them during their visit.

Scott took them through the house and after the tour the couple decided they wanted to make an offer on the house right then and there.  They didn't have a real estate representative which saved them $18,000 so that was good.  Scott went next door to get our real estate guy, Eric, and they all stood together and decided on a plan of action.

Last night they made their official offer and today we countered $6,000 more and it was accepted as Mr. Zhao said, "I liked Mr. B so I won't squabble".  Done deal.  Interestingly, my dad died two years ago in the early morning hours between October 31st and November 1st and I can't help but wonder if he was the angel who sent these people to our house so that we could sell it.  This was day 1 of our full-time RV experience.  The timing was not a coincidence, in my opinion.  We kept to our plan of full-time RVing and hoped that our house would sell so we could enjoy the experience!

While traveling to California, we stopped at my parents grave sites in Orem, Utah to pay my respects.  My dad died 2 years ago today and my mom just a few months later.  I sure  miss them.  My aunt is also buried next to my dad.

Scott signed all the papers electronically while we were driving to California where we will be spending the winter months in El Centro at the Desert Trails RV Park and Golf Course.  But, tonight we stopped in Needles and spent the night at the Needles KOA at 5400 National Old Trails Rd in Needles, CA aka Route 66.

Our unit with both the truck and car

Ariel view of Needles desert

Needles KOA

We were in unit 38 (bottom blue row, 3rd from the end)

We arrived after dark so I didn't know what the place looked like.  When we woke up the next morning it was a beautiful desert with palm trees and cactus.

Bougainvillea!  I haven't seen this flower in years

More Bougainvillea

Check out the length of these needles!  They were massive!

Desert Palms

The Needles KOA had some lovely amenities that I'll share with you here.

Amenities:

• 86 RV Sites
• 5 Cabin Sites
• 8 Tent Sites
• 30/50 amp Sites
• Mainly Pull Thru Sites
• Camp Store and Gift Shop
• Clubhouse
• Patio
• Playground
• Pool
• Pet Area
• Picnic Area
• Horseshoe Pits
• BBQ Area
• Propane
• Laundry
• Restrooms/Showers
• Dump Station

Here are some photos of our overnight stay in Needles:

This is the horseshoe area with 2 pits and a BBQ area with a nice swing.

Desert foliage.

The pool and playground area.  The pool was quite nice.  The playground was just a back swing set but enough for little ones to have something to do.

The restrooms were definitely in need of an overhaul.  They were old and run down but good enough to get the basics of grooming done.

This is the walkway between the KOA registration and store and laundry and the rec center.

This was the laundry facility.  It was clean and well organized.  A bit on the older side, but had the necessities to do laundry.

The building on the left is the KOA center and laundry and bath and the room on the right is the Recreation Center.  The far room on the right looked to be some sort of food prep area.  The photos below are of the Rec Room.  I loved the Route 66 murals.  Again, quite dated and in need to a little modernization.

Price for our unit was only $31.88 per night and since we have a KOA membership, it was only $28.75 for the night.

Desert Foliage with old mining tools and artifacts.

I'd rate this place as a 3.  It's a nice, clean place however the buildings are in need of some remodeling and there was no grass or centrally located pet area.