Staying together as we drive through Yuma isn’t as difficult as it first appeared it might be and we happily arrive at the fairgrounds in tandem where, we discover, we will be camping in a nice grassy area. There is even power and water available as well as restrooms and showers–almost a luxury!
Our caravan of VW Buses is the first to arrive for the weekend. Others will be joining us throughout the afternoon and evening, driving in from various parts of the country and travelling in almost every type of Volkswagen made. We are fortunate to the first ones there and have first choice of camping spots. Each of us chooses a spot that appeals to us –everyone in their own little space and area of the grounds. Some circle their wagons; a couple find their own little private areas, and the rest of us just sort of line up along one side. We choose a spot next to Jim and Patricia and near a pole for easy power access (so we can use our computers and re-charge our phones). The dogs are eager to explore so we go for our first walk, checking out the fairgrounds; then back to set up camp. We put the awning up without the side curtains for the afternoon. Jim and Patricia are off to Algodones for drugs (prescription meds) while the circled ‘wagons’ set up their canopies and ‘corn hole’ games, readying for some fun and games.
After having some lunch, we settle in for a relaxing afternoon of visiting, reading, napping, and dog walking and watching more vehicles are arrive.
We stop at Starbucks for some hot tea for the road….something to make this early hour pleasant and partly out of habit of getting coffee in the past on early morning car show days. Besides, we are COLD! The temp is only 60’ and we are wearing sweatshirts and long pants—in Havasu!
There appears to be activity at the Yuma Proving Grounds with large clouds of dust back against the hills. It is probably just a vehicle driving in the fine dust with a strong north wind. Still, it is fun to wonder if it is puffs of smoke from their practice rounds.
The road winds around the end of some hills on the west and we are suddenly into farm lands– a stark contrast from the dry desert. Yuma is known for winter-grown vegetables with iceberg lettuce and cotton grown as main crops. There is even a Lettuce Festival each year. 
Wanting to put some miles on the ’61 Microbus to test the generator and 12 volt regulator– since the two previous regulators terminated within a few miles after installation–we headed out for Hot August Nights on upper McCulloch, in Lake Havasu City, AZ. August nights in Havasu are HOT anyway but this is the Havasu Main Street Merchants Association’s take on the popular car show in Reno, Nevada, where classic cars, mostly street rods, gather to celebrate the dog days of summer and warm August nights (not always so warm in Reno but supposedly plenty of ‘hot’ cars to drool over!) . Havasu, on the other hand, is almost TOO warm and this particular night, there were only a few hardy souls braving the heat to show off their rides. At 6:00 o’clock in the evening and, of course, without a/c in our ’61 VW bus, the 112° F was plenty warm, but we did get to park on the shady side of street.
Another beautiful morning, sunny and somewhat cool with dew – quiet and peaceful, we have a leisure start to the day doing nothing much. Everyone is sort of straggling out of bed, except Samantha and Jason who, we discovered, went out early this morning going to the store, and bringing home a whole Coho salmon for dinner. YUM! Chris and Jessica stop by to say hello and then head out for the day. Marcus decides to head home about 11 a.m. to beat the afternoon traffic. 
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