Safe and Sound in El Centro CA

We left Needles this morning and drove another 4 hours south to El Centro, California, a city located just 10 miles north of the Mexican border two hours east of San Diego.

While on the road, Scott was following behind me in the car.  We went on these very short hilly roads...kind of like steep hilly dune roads and he said as I would get to the rise of the hill, it looked like the RV was driving into the clouds.  What a cool thing to imagine!  It's wasn't so fun to drive pulling a 40' RV with those steep hills and slopes though.  I kept thinking I was going to bottom out!

Driving into Heaven

We also had a little bit of road construction so I took a couple more photos while we sat there.  We were stopped at the Imperial Sand Dunes area and there were lots of people four-wheeling there!

I took this when I came upon a patch of queen palms.

We arrived safe and sound at about 12:30 pm today and settled into our RV spot at Desert Trails RV Park and Golf Course.  Their motto is "Where the Sun Spends the Winter". Desert Trails is a VERY NICE RV Park located at 225 Wake Avenue in El Centro and will be our home for the next six months except for some small trips we may take here and there.  I was a bit nervous selecting an RV park to stay at for six month that I hadn't been to before but I'd give this a 4+ rating.  How many RV Parks have a golf course right in the middle of the park?  We are in site 291, which is the right pink section, 4th spot down from the top on the map below...the first large size spot directly across from the 6th green.  It's a great spot with a view of the golf course, the office and community center.  It's fun because we can see all the comings and going at the park and I LOVE to people watch.

Amenities include:

• Open Year Round with 404 Sites
• Daily, Weekly and Monthly Rates (Snowbirds welcome)
• Group Discounts
• Premium Sites
• Pull-Thru Sites
• Standard Sites
• 30/50 Amp Electric
• Water
• Phone Hookup Available in over 300 sites
• Modem Friendly
• Cable TV
• Mobile Homes
• Premium Overnight Sites
• Propane Available
• Wide Paved Streets
• Pet Walk Area (no grass)
• Restroom/Showers
• Laundry
• Dump Station
• 9-Hole Executive Golf Course and Pro Shop with 4 Lakes and Koi Pond
• Lighted Driving Range open until 10 pm
• Recreation Center with Activities Galore and Billiards
• Community Center with Banquet Facilities for Dinners and Games
• Craft Hall and on-site Director with Sewing and Quilting
• During Winter Months there is a wide variety of activities such a crafts, art, painting, quilting, Bunco, Cards, Bingo, Water Volleyball, Water aerobics and exercise classes.
• Cozy fireside Meeting Room
• Activities and Tours
• 30' x 60' Heated Pool and 3500 Gallon Hot Tub
• Pickleball Courts
• Horseshoes
• Library
• Shuffleboard Courts
• Nursery
• Non-Denomination Sunday Church Services

For Internet, we had to get our own provider.  So, we are using Spectrum.  They  used to be Time-Warner but were bought out.  And, we're using DISH for our satellite.  We pay for our own electricty also, but the utilities are cheaper here than Logan, so that's good news.

This is the entrance to Desert Trails RV Park that has the office (that has a fountain in front of it making me miss my fountain) which contains a little post office, package pick up area (although it blocks the brochures) and then in the adjoining room is a table with four chairs, fireplace with sofa, a library room and a kitchen as well as a bathroom (not photographed).  The rooms are a bit dated, but has what you need.  The receptionist, Jimmy, is a fun, interesting guy.  He's kind of unique; but he's super nice.

Next, I'll show you one of the bathroom / laundry rooms.  There are five rest rooms around the park since it is so big with 400 residents and three with bathing facilities.  There are two laundry rooms with 8 washers and dryers in each building.

Next, let's take a look at the pool and hot tub.

Across from the pool is the Community Center that has quilting and dinners but the building was closed when I came by.  I'll go back tomorrow morning and see if it's open then.

Around the bend from the pool and Community Center is the Executive Golf Course and Pro Shop.  When I came to the Pro Shop, there were a group of people gathered around enjoying the shade after their round of golf having some drinks.  I met Patty in the Pro Shop who told me to invite Scott out for golf.  He brought his clubs so he should have some fun with the folk here at the park while playing golf.  Everyone has been very friendly...even in the city.  Everyone always greets you with a warm hello wherever you are, which is quite refreshing.  We went to PetCo and bought the girls a bunch of bones, treats and play toys which they really liked today.  Those silly girls kept stealing each others bones and then would bark at us to make them give the bones back...ALL DAY!

Golf Rates are available on the website.

And these photos are some fun ones of around the park.

Our unit is on the left which our white truck sticking out and the flag flying.

This the corner where we live.

There is our unit from the 6th green...see the flag?

Another picture of our unit with a nice hedge for privacy.

Got this shot...kind of cool with the sun tucked behind the tree.

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.