Arrival at destination - Day 9

Finally and end in sight, Day 9 and first morning on site.

Day 9 arrived and we had only 5 more hours to go. 

A short lunch break at Sentinel Rest area. 

After that it was just going in for the finish line. 

The desert Southwest

Cruising through Yuma, AZ with its Watertowers 

and lots of RV parks along the interstate. 

Familiar vegetable fields 

and Yuma Sanddunes 

with the "All American Canal" cutting through the area

bringing irrigation water to the fields.

 Finally our camping area in the desert near Holtville, CA. 

 Around 2pm PST we finally reached our destination:

BLM Long term area for dispersed camping on Evan Hewes Hgw, near Holtville, CA.

Peter paid the fees at the camp host station 

and a few yards later we already met our first old friends from long time ago. 

A couple from BC. The have winter camped here for over 20 years 

and we met them many times while we were here between 2005 and 2014.

Once we were settled at “our” old spot another couple showed up to welcome us back. 

It was very nice to come back after 7 years and still be recognized. A little bit as coming “home”. 

Later in the evening when Peter came back from his first shopping trip to

Holtville he met another couple that also arrived today. 

The “Portuguese” people. They were happy to see us too after so manyyears.

At bedtime I felt really drenched of energy. The long days of driving had taken its toll. 

I need a long rest now, that’s for sure.

****

I was up before sunrise, a unknown thing for me to do, 

but with the time change of 4 hours behind Atlantic time to Pacific time 

it worked. And good too. 

While walking Dixie in the cool morning air, 

I heard a coyote howling and, a little later, we saw a bobcat crossing the 

road. Small desert quails were busy among the salt cedar stubs too. 

No photos, it was too bad, but I left the camera back in the trailer. 

Had only my cellphone on me. 

Dixie seemed to be in heaven. After 10 days cooped up she now had a ball.

 Some many smells to explore, and so much to sniff out. 

My first morning was spent with doing an inventory of each 

of the camper’s compartments to figure out what is where. 

It is a sad realization, but my short term memory Is not the best anymore. 

I find it harder to remember where things are. 

Consequently I made a long list and hope it will be easier now. 

One particular thing, though, that I was looking for, was not to be found. 

Not in the closets, nor bags, or totes. That worried me.

In the heat of the afternoon we retired into the shade, just hanging out. 

Feels good after that long ride.

Translation

_________________________________________

Endlich, nach 9 Tagen auf den Autobahnen, sind wir endlich am Ziel angekommen.

Die Wüste im Südwesten Kaliforniens, in der Nähe von Yuma, AZ.

Gleich nach der Ankunft haben wir sogar Freunde getroffen, die wir schon vor

 mehr als sieben Jahren kennengelernt hatten. Doch viele werden wir nie

wiedersehen, sind entweder zu alt für das Reisen geworden 

oder sogar schon verstorben.

Die Zeit steht nicht still.

Dixie ist froh endlich wieder herumlaufen zu können 

und es gibt tausend neue Gerüche die sie ausschnüffeln mußte.

Nach einer guten Nacht war ich schon vor Sonnenaufgang auf, 

die Zeitverschiebung machte sich bemerkbar. 

Wir sind jetzt von Atlantik- auf Pazifikzeit umgestellt.

Das sind vier Stunden später als an der Ostküste.

Meinen Morgen verbrachte ich dann damit sämtliche Schränke zu sortieren.

Leider ist mein Kurzzeitgedächtnis nicht mehr das was es mal war.

Eine Inventarliste wird es mir nun erleichtern Sachen zu finden.

Doch das nachdem ich gesucht hatte war nirgendwo aufzufinden.

Das ist nicht gut.

In der Nachmittagswärme von 25 Grad verzogen wir uns in den Schatten 

und genossen es mal absolut nichts zu tun.