From Star Valley to South Texas

 

We left Star Valley in early October and headed south to our friend, Val’s ranch. It is a hay ranch, but this year’s drought was so bad that she only got twenty-three bales, (she normally gets four hundred). This of course presents a huge problem, as she has two rescue donkeys, two rescue horses, her horse and deer.

She also has many bird feeders which bring in flocks of doves, scrub jays, and red wing blackbirds. The scrub jays land and empty her feeder onto the ground which brings in wild turkeys, and others. She even has a skunk that comes in but luckily, we never saw it, (did I mention she loses cats to an annoying mountain lion)?

You never know what you are going to see, and when you walk around after dark you want to take along a bright flashlight!

From Val’s, we headed further south and west and went to Surprise, Arizona. We stayed there for two hours, which was long enough for us to select and order a park model for our place in Wyoming, (The manufacturer is so far behind that out delivery date is in the spring of 2023). Jumping back in the car we next headed to Tucson, across New Mexico and into Texas. As we crossed the Hopi and Navaho Reservations, we did see Monument Valley in the distance and were lucky enough to get involved with a snowstorm, (we bought snow tires this year, so it was not a problem).

We ended up driving over twenty-three hundred miles in five days, which is way too much for us. Hopefully never again. Clear skies

So now we are in south Texas where the temperature is in the upper eighties with a high humidity. I miss the mountains already. We went birding to Lamar and did spot a red tailed hawk hiding it's kill. Clear skies

 

 

Benson, Telescopes and Tombstones

Benson, Telescopes and Tombstones

After nice visits with friends in the Phoenix area, we left for Benson. I had originally planned on staying at the SKP Coop but the office was closed so we went to Butterfield Resort. This place is on the top end of our budget, but they do have a beautiful telescope, a sixteen inch Meade, and it is a really nice park.

So when we arrived the desk told us that the telescope was broken so I told her that I have worked on telescopes and so we made a deal. If I could fix it we would get a free night. Soon after we setup up the manager showed up and we went to see what the problem.

We never did figure out why the scopes computer drive went screwy, (some theories but we didn’t want to recreate the problem), but I did suggest that the scope should be polar aligned and when that selection was picked the scope soon was back to normal. That night we got a private star party and it was really amazing to be able to quickly see Messier objects, as quickly as you could give the scope commands and move the dome cover.

The manager offered us a job doing star parties but Florida calls and we would rather do rock. It did turn out that the managers, Mark and Leanne also do lapidary, make jewelry and so we spent a pleasant afternoon showing each other our collections and our work. How funny to think that they operate a telescope, do star parties, make cabochons and jewelry, and that his first name is Mark!

Anyway we stayed an extra day and decided to visit Tombstone. Now the town itself isn’t much, basically a series of tourist shops, but the graveyard was a real hoot. WE had to try to keep a straight face as we read how the residents had been murdered, hanged, killed by Indians, or just plain died from gunshots. One poor person was killed while playing cards so all you card players out there be aware of your backside!  

New friends are one of the joys of traveling and so we had a nice time in Benson and plan on spending more time here again. However the road beckons and we need to cover some miles as we need to stop in Livingston, Texas before driving the final thousand miles to Florida. There we plan on hanging out till late December, when the shows and our wire wrapping classes will call us to Texas. Clear skies

Salt Lake to Surprise, Arizona

We left Salt Lake and headed south. Our preferred route was east across Wyoming but the forecast was for snow and so we took the long route, planning on crossing the Rockies on Interstate 40 and then east and south to Florida.

So the first day we drove all the way to Mesquite, Nevada and even stayed in a casino rv lot. We even ate in the restaurant and then Renita gambled three dollars of her mad money. I am saving my money and so I couldn’t bring myself to spend a dime fighting the casinos odds.

The next day we drove to Vegas and then turned south on ninety three before connecting with Interstate 40 in the town of Kingman. The drive was the first time we have crossed the Colorado River below Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. We took it easy and the truck didn’t overheat and so we felt good as there are some substantial hills.

Checking into a rv park, east of town, the owner told us to stay away from the Balloon Festival and so we decided to head further south to Surprise and drop in on friends around Phoenix. Again the drive was hot and hilly as we climbed up to the intermountain plateau, before dropping down to the Valley, Phoenix that is.

Again the truck behaved itself and the engine stayed cool, not even using any fluid. Perhaps its as it should be but time will tell as we still have 2200 miles till we reach St Petersburg. Checking into Sunflower Rv park we were disappointed to learn the lapidary shop wasn’t yet open, but we did get in touch with our friends Alan and Sharon and Paul and Mary.

So I am thawing some salmon and getting ready for show and tell and of couse listening to stories of Alan and Sharons summer travels. We are also ready to swap Alaska bear stories with Paul and Mary as they have gone to Alaska for the past ten years and were there again this summer.

Oh and of course we stockpiled wine and supplies at Trader Joes. It still amazes me how cheap things are here in the lower forty eight. I do feel sorry for the people here who have to put up with all the campaign commercials. We have already voted at our new Wyoming address. Clear skies

A Surprise on The Apache Trail

Every once in a while you get lucky with wildlife. It happened to us while taking a day trip when we walked up to an overlook and a couple already there pointed out an animal  below. I put my binoculars on it, even though there was little doubt what it was and I motioned to Renita and the rest to hurry over and see what was standing sideways in the valley.
Sharon and Alan had invited us to join Nancy and Jim and make a day trip to Canyon, Lake, the Apache Trail and Tortilla Flats. Among other things they wanted us to see some possible canoe places and so Jim and Nancy picked us up and we drove to the Frey's.

It really wasn't very far from town as we passed the Elks Lodge and climbed up the Superstition Mountains. It was nice to have Jim drive and I was able to actually sight see, instead of having Renita relate to me on what I was missing. Topping it off, Alan was narrating as we had split into two cars, girls in one and boys in the other.
Before long we arrived at the Canyon Lake overlook and we looked below as high winds whipped the lake into whitecaps. I had to take off my hat as the wind threatened to blow it back to Phoenix. We got back into the car and drove down along the lake, with its campgrounds beckoning.
Continuing on we drove past the lake and Tortilla Flats where we planned on eating lunch. Our goal was to drive to a pass on the Apache Trail before returning. The road narrowed and climbed and narrowed some more. Turning into gravel it still was pretty good road by Wyoming standards and it looked like a fun place to explore.

Stopping at the first pass we walked and talked and of course Renita started to pick up some rocks. Soon she was joined by the rest of them and I shook my head as I thought about all the rocks we already have. I really didn't expect to see any wildlife as it was noon and hot and any animal with any sense would be in the shade, right?
That's when a couple pointed out the Arizona desert bighorn ram. It stood for a while and seemed to be sniffing the air. Was there a ewe nearby or was it wondering whether we were a danger? Regardless it stood there as still as a statue until before finally turning  its head.

The others came over and I pointed out the sheep. It had a three quarters curl and the horns were spread out further than the bighorns we had seen in Wyoming and Utah. The horns also seemed to be more massive, almost like domestic sheep, but it was wild desert bighorn,( Renita later looked it up on her smart phone and there was no doubt).

It stood there for quite a while and we all, except Jim, got to see it with our binoculars. Trying to spot more we headed east along a ridge, but when we walked out to a vantage point the ram was gone. Heading back to the vehicles we talked of the luck in seeing such a rare animal in its natural setting.
It was a short drive back to Tortilla Flats we we had a massive hamburger crowned with a grilled pepper. The restaurant's walls were covered with dollar bills on which people had written their names and the date they had been there. I wondered how I could get people to leave dollar bills when they visit us but I guess we will stay with selling rocks.

The funniest part of the restaurant was the restrooms where the walls were painted with characters of the old west, and I had to snap some images. The girls went into a shop while I opted for a prickly pear ice cream cone and sitting in the shade with Jim and Alan.
It was a fun day and a good trip before we hooked up the fifth wheel and headed east to New Mexico. A pretty lake, a day with friends, and a desert bighorn sheep. This is what our life style is all about. Clear skies.

Sharon and Alan's Art Gallery in Apache Junction

One of the biggest fears, when you start full timing, is the fear of not meeting people and making new friends along the way. Its turns out that its so easy that we look back and wonder why we thought that way as we have met and made friends with so many nice people.
One such couple is Alan and Sharon Frey, who are retired teachers who have changed their lives and have become talented pastel artists. We first met them in Fulton, Texas where they were learning their art, and we have just left Apache Junction, Arizona where their gallery is filled with a plethera of beautiful pastels!

As you walk into their winter home you walk into their working area. A table between two easels is filled with a rainbow of pastels, each waiting for Sharon and Alan to work their magic. Images from their travels are taped near their current unfinished work and its so amazing to see the steps they take in their creation of beauty.

The walls of their winter camp, or house if you will, are filled with examples of their work. Alan and Sharon both submit and have work accepted at pastel shows. Alan has won awards and Sharon has sold work and its small wonder as their art is so beautiful. My favorite one of Alan's is a pastel of an Australian sheep ranch. The actual building is one we visited at the Bryce Thompson Arboretum, (We visited it with them two years ago).

Sharon's work is equally impressive. My favorite work of hers is a beautiful pink hibiscus. Another standout is her pastel of the palm trees at the same arboretum. To see how they have progressed into such talented artists in such a short time is almost amazing, if you didn't know of how much they have worked and studied,( And if they didn't have the talent, eye, and love for art).
It's kind of funny how a blog entry turns out. I started writing thinking of telling how we wined and dined with them and with Jim and Nancy and Mike and Rose and yet this entry turned into discussing the beauty of Alan and Sharon's work. I guess that's as it should be as the beauty of their work and their friendship has touched our souls. Well done!
 Clear skies

Ps you can see their work at:
http://artinthesun.blogspot.com/2011/10/we-are-not-in-kansas-anymore-toto.html

Visiting Friends in Surprise, Arizona

We hadn't been through Arizona in two years and so we came this way to see friends. Its got to be the best thing about our life style in that it allows us to remake old friendships and meet friends and family where ever we go.
Of course we had to call Paul and Mary in Surprise and we were lucky enough to catch them when they had some time free. We were able to meet them for dinner and we got to attend the Octoberfest at Sun City Grand.
I had taught with Paul for 30 years and so we traded old and new stories but mostly new as we talked of kids and fishing and hiking adventures. Mary, it turns out had hiked down into the Grand Canyon and back up, staying the night at Paradise Ranch! They had just made reservations to float the Grand Canyon next year, a trip I have always wanted to do.

The Octoberfest was interesting as all the Sun City Grand crafters displayed and sold their work. We saw numerous crafters and one who did beautiful wire wraps. However they don't have a lapidary shop so no one was making and wrapping stones as good as ours.
The stained glass shop was filled with beautiful work and the prices were so cheap for handcrafted art. One of the artist advised me as to the technique of making stones in a mosaic, something I have thought of doing.  In many cases they were just too cheap and we told the artists they were under priced but they all complained of the market, what can you do?

Its always a nice time, visiting with old friends and so we left with some new memories and some advice for our upcoming Alaska trip. Oh and Paul told me to get some egg sucking leech flies for fishing for salmon! Clear skies!

Running South to the Heat in Surprise!

We left Salt Lake City and headed south for warmer and drier weather. The miles passed and as we climbed the temperature decreased until the truck computer flashed the warning ice! Snow was on both sides of the road but luckily it stayed off the road so we only had a long wet drive. Our goal was to make Mesquite, Nevada and we almost did as we stopped for the night in Bishop, Arizona.
There we spent the night in a small rv park, before heading to Lake Havasua. We wanted to stop and visit our friends Flo and John and just say hello before we continued out journey. Flo is undergoing treatment for cancer and we heard a horrible story of how they are having difficulty getting a supply of her chemotherpy)!

From Havasua we continued on to the City of Surprise, Arizona and we stayed at a nice rv park with a lapidary and silver smithing shop. Finding it open we were lucky enough to join the club and got to use their saw to slice up some dinosaur bone.
We were able to watch as the silversmiths made rings and we found out that they teach classes in smithing for a very reasonable price. Showing some of our work we were asked to teach a wire wrapping course and  lapidary but we aren't here long enough so hopefully next time.

Now we don't do cities well, having lived in Wyoming for so long so I thought I would share a couple of stories with you. Driving in heavy traffic, I made a left turn in a construction area, it was a round green light, and I was stopped by a traffic cop who lectured me about the no left turn sign.  He had a hard time believing I didn't see the sign but finally he let me go with a warning.

Last night we ordered a pizza, but when we went to pick it up we found out we had called a store in Phoenix and not Surprise and so we ended up buying some fast food. There are so many places here its confusing, it not like Jeffery City, Wyoming where your choice is limited to the Split Rock Bar and Grill!
So all in all we just don't think we are meant to live in a city. The temps here are in the pper 90's and we don't do extreme heat well. Tomorrow we hook up to visit friends in Apache Junction and then its heading for the coastal bend! Clear skies