RIP Old Man Winter

A lot of people ask me, “Why do you go to Arizona in the winter?” It’s simple really, it’s the weather! This month we are at the Gila Bend Famcamp.

While other folks in the northern parts of the US are digging out from the last snow storm, chipping ice off their driveway, plugging in their engine block heaters, hauling wood, thawing pipes and sliding down the street doing donuts on the ice, well, we are in shorts, tank-tops and sandals playing Scrabble under our awning. Iced tea with lemon, humming birds flittering about, palm tree branches waiving in a balmy breeze, the smell of BBQ in the air and good company and well, you get the picture. RIP Old Man Winter!

Gila Bend Famcamp Guests Like To Celebrate!

Retired military RVers (representing every branch of service and also retired DOD employees) just plain know how to have fun. Here we celebrated the 52nd wedding anniversary of George & Ellen Lowry, full time RVers. And since it was Super Bowl Sunday, we watched the game as well. Here we gather around the fire to tell stories and laugh and fellowship. There is nothing like true camaraderie among retired RVers whether they are full time RVers or just snowbirds. The last few days I’ve been wearing shorts and a muscle shirt and flip-flops. It feels like it is somewhere in the 80s, not sure, but much warmer than say, Michigan.Here Bill and Linda Isetts pose in their clown outfits with George and Ellen. Are we having fun yet? What do you think? Reporting live from Gila Bend Family Camp, Jim Twamley reporting.

Let's Clean Up Our Act!

Ron and Patty have been camping at Gila Bend Famcamp every winter for the last 9 years. While they visit our famcamps and other campgrounds, they always pick up trash left behind by thoughtless people.

Patty said, “If people would just pick-up around their campsite by picking up the junk others leave behind it help considerably.”

They pick up RV junk, cans, cable wiring, PVC pipe, bottles, combs, and you name it.

I asked them what was the weirdest junk they ever picked up. Patty said, “Once we picked up a full bottle of ketchup and mustard at the Tonopah rest area.

I asked Ron if people said “Thank You” to them for their efforts. “Not too many say thanks – maybe they are embarrassed or something. One of the worst things I’ve seen is people who just dump their cat litter boxes behind their RVs thinking no one is looking.” I’ve got news for people who let their pets poo without picking it up and those who dump cat litter and throw their trash on the ground – people ARE watching. Tinted windows in the RV are great because we can see out but you don’t know if we are watching or not because (in the daytime anyway) you can’t see in.

Do the right thing and pick up after yourself. Leave your campsite cleaner than when you arrived and when you have time grab a plastic bag and go on trash patrol. Jim

29 Palms Famcamp a Flop!

We stopped at 29 Palms (affectionately known as 29 stumps) for one night of camping the other day. I paid $20.00 for a space that was really only worth $7.00. I could have had a better space at the Passport America campground in town for a lot less money! The office where you register and pay doesn’t have a convenient turnaround for a 36’ RV. We had to journey back through housing and weave our way back out on the main drag then back through housing again. A water line broke (again) while we were there - no water until late in the evening. There are no shower or laundry facilities here. Can you believe it - for $20.00! What is the MWR Director smoking there?

What a poorly organized and run famcamp! If I was the Base CO I would be embarrassed. No signage, no host, no clue at the front office!

Skip this famcamp unless you plan to stay for an entire month when rates are reasonable (around $225). If you are only staying one night – do yourself a favor, save your money and stay at the Passport America campground. Jim