We have been to the top of the Eiffel Tower - the one in Las Vegas! What a view. It is 50 stories high and the elevator has a glass front so the ride up and down is just as thrilling as the view from the top. "Paris" was being built last time we were here (1995). It is quite a contrast to drive from ghost towns to glass castles. Appropriately enough I am just finishing the book, The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls. It is a gripping memoir about her life with non-conformist parents who with 4 children lived a nomadic life in desert towns of the US. Her father's mission was to built a "glass castle" for his family. The story is fascinating and especially intriguing because it is about the author's life. Her parents become street people (by choice) after their children are grown. She never looks at street people in the same way again.
Las Vegas is a place of many contrasts too - the beauty of glass, the marvellous shows of fountains and waterfalls, the gorgeous sculptures, volcanoes and pirate ships. And then the street people, the addictions, the cards handed out every 10 feet offering "hot babes". The push and shove of people in the heat.
The glass castles of Vegas - a little trip out of the real world - fine for a time.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Get your kicks on Route 66!
On Route 66 Outlaw Willie will draw his guns, arrest you with gunfire, and transform into Rev. Rod Hall, the wedding man, and perform your wedding in a mine, on the road, in a boat, on a hillside, wherever you say! That gives new meaning to a "shotgun wedding"! Route 66 or the "Mother Road" as it is called was the result of the need seen in the early 1900's for a national highway system. Eight states built the "Main Street of America" which was completed in 1937 from Chicago to Santa Monica.
Route 66 is right out of TV memory for us! The little towns are just as you might imagine - old and full of character. We arrived in Oatman (mining ghost town) just as the Ghostriders Gun Fighters were putting on the show that closes the road for 30 minutes! We arrived in Seligman as the 3 wheel motorcyles club were meeting in front of the Copper Cart restaurant!
I thought of my mother who travelled with her parents and "Uncle Bill" (family friend - more about that later) to California when she was 12 (1923). They were moving there from Hamilton to find work building houses in Oakland. Some friend had told them about this opportunity. There was no Route 66 completed yet. It must have been quite the trip. Route 66 is at best a 2 lane roadway, sometimes narrowing as it winds around a mountain; sometimes flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow. My Mom always talked about how long the trip took. I can see why now!
The towns were delightful and full of character - we loved the wild burros that wander the streets - the mountains were treacherous at times - no guard rails - lots of crosses where cars have gone over - the little shops and restaurants were quaint and owned by proud locals. On one mountain stop we climbed to a lookout point where a pool of spring fed water attracted bird and butterflies.
Lots of kicks on Route 66 - ghost towns, guns, burros, shot-gun weddings - who could want for more?
Route 66 is right out of TV memory for us! The little towns are just as you might imagine - old and full of character. We arrived in Oatman (mining ghost town) just as the Ghostriders Gun Fighters were putting on the show that closes the road for 30 minutes! We arrived in Seligman as the 3 wheel motorcyles club were meeting in front of the Copper Cart restaurant!
I thought of my mother who travelled with her parents and "Uncle Bill" (family friend - more about that later) to California when she was 12 (1923). They were moving there from Hamilton to find work building houses in Oakland. Some friend had told them about this opportunity. There was no Route 66 completed yet. It must have been quite the trip. Route 66 is at best a 2 lane roadway, sometimes narrowing as it winds around a mountain; sometimes flat as a pancake and straight as an arrow. My Mom always talked about how long the trip took. I can see why now!
The towns were delightful and full of character - we loved the wild burros that wander the streets - the mountains were treacherous at times - no guard rails - lots of crosses where cars have gone over - the little shops and restaurants were quaint and owned by proud locals. On one mountain stop we climbed to a lookout point where a pool of spring fed water attracted bird and butterflies.
Lots of kicks on Route 66 - ghost towns, guns, burros, shot-gun weddings - who could want for more?
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sweet
How do we figure out what church to visit on a Sunday? In small towns it is fairly simple to choose. In bigger places, we wait for direction! At the Kingman Visitor's Centre we picked up a sheet of local churches - 2 pages of them! The only problem was that no service times were listed. We could call, but decided to pick three Protestant types that sounded good (Ha!) and drive by. They had to be within 20 minutes of our campsite. Thank you, Jane (our GPS).
Church 1 looked dead. The time was falling off the sign - maybe not. Church 2 seemed okay - maybe. Church 3 was sweet! By the front door there was a plexiglass covered board with a sample service on one side and a welcome to visitors on the other, saying that they would welcome us, ask us to fill in an address form and that only this was expected in the offering plate for visitors. Sweet. On top of that, there were parking spaces marked "Visitors - welcome!. Even sweeter.
We arrived and parked as Visitors. It was a very casual, young atmosphere. Padded chairs served as seats and we could see a guitar/drum combo warming. Pastor Ken came out in casual wear and said a few words of welcome and then picked up his guitar and joined the others.
The service was very informal and educational. Pastor Ken could sing, play and preach! The best part was that the lesson for the day was on Joseph!! (West Plains produced Joseph in December). We were humming the songs in our minds as the story unfolded (35 min. sermon; lots of time for songs). Sweet.
Afterwards we got out our Joseph T-shirts and had a picture taken in front of the church. And we got a surprise! On our van was a card thanking us for coming to the service along with two candy cane striped candies attached! Very sweet. The whole thing was very, very sweet. Food for thought.
Church 1 looked dead. The time was falling off the sign - maybe not. Church 2 seemed okay - maybe. Church 3 was sweet! By the front door there was a plexiglass covered board with a sample service on one side and a welcome to visitors on the other, saying that they would welcome us, ask us to fill in an address form and that only this was expected in the offering plate for visitors. Sweet. On top of that, there were parking spaces marked "Visitors - welcome!. Even sweeter.
We arrived and parked as Visitors. It was a very casual, young atmosphere. Padded chairs served as seats and we could see a guitar/drum combo warming. Pastor Ken came out in casual wear and said a few words of welcome and then picked up his guitar and joined the others.
The service was very informal and educational. Pastor Ken could sing, play and preach! The best part was that the lesson for the day was on Joseph!! (West Plains produced Joseph in December). We were humming the songs in our minds as the story unfolded (35 min. sermon; lots of time for songs). Sweet.
Afterwards we got out our Joseph T-shirts and had a picture taken in front of the church. And we got a surprise! On our van was a card thanking us for coming to the service along with two candy cane striped candies attached! Very sweet. The whole thing was very, very sweet. Food for thought.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
KOA
We arrived at beautiful Kingman KOA campground last night. I took my contact lenses out in the van. Let me tell you that I can see about as well without my lenses as that dense fog we faced at first glance over Grand Canyon! This morning I decided to put my lenses in at the washroom and have a shower. Rip pointed out the building and it wasn't very far away so I was good to go.
No one was in the washroom - I am often alone as those fancy RV's that surround us in parks come millionaire style with their own washroom, shower and TV, etc. As I am getting into the shower I hear an electric razor. Not one os those delicate, girly kinds. One of those meaty, grazing, lawn-cutting sounds. Ohm no! Am I in the women's washroom?? Did I chose the wrong door?
I wait and wait until I am totally SURE that I am alone again before I begin to slink out of the shower. I run to put my lenses in and as I am cleaning them, I look in the sink. Razor stubble. It surround the sink vessel. I am now in panic mode. I see a urinal. I am mortified. I put my lenses so fast, I don't remember doint it.
I go outside and check the door. It says, "Women". I go inside again. The "urinal" is another seaprate sink, lower and bigger and separate from the other three, I guess for washing dishes. It looked like a urinal to me in my fuzzy state.
I don't know much except this; some woman needs a new razor out there. Or some man got confused today. The whole situation was KOA - Kind Of Awkward.
We are now off to church - Canyon Community Church - I can finally relax, but you can bet I will wear my lenses to campsite washrooms from now on.
No one was in the washroom - I am often alone as those fancy RV's that surround us in parks come millionaire style with their own washroom, shower and TV, etc. As I am getting into the shower I hear an electric razor. Not one os those delicate, girly kinds. One of those meaty, grazing, lawn-cutting sounds. Ohm no! Am I in the women's washroom?? Did I chose the wrong door?
I wait and wait until I am totally SURE that I am alone again before I begin to slink out of the shower. I run to put my lenses in and as I am cleaning them, I look in the sink. Razor stubble. It surround the sink vessel. I am now in panic mode. I see a urinal. I am mortified. I put my lenses so fast, I don't remember doint it.
I go outside and check the door. It says, "Women". I go inside again. The "urinal" is another seaprate sink, lower and bigger and separate from the other three, I guess for washing dishes. It looked like a urinal to me in my fuzzy state.
I don't know much except this; some woman needs a new razor out there. Or some man got confused today. The whole situation was KOA - Kind Of Awkward.
We are now off to church - Canyon Community Church - I can finally relax, but you can bet I will wear my lenses to campsite washrooms from now on.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Finally Fishing!
We awake this morning after a heavy rain on Lake Cataract camp grounds. As usual I am up at 500 am and off for a walk. I am chasing Blue Birds, Eagles and Ospreys for a photo opp all around this lake. I have seen many men fishing over the past two days but nothing caught. As I am walking back to our camp a fisherman catches a Rainbow Trout. I walk down to see it closer and talk with John the fisherman. He says that I should try my luck. Not being one to pass up an opportunity to fish I am back in a flash with my rod. I have three trout on shore with four casts and I ask john if he wants them. He only wants to know what magical lure I am using. I show him my Panther Martin lure and offer him one. I catch another 8 Rainbows within the hour and Give them all to John except one for lunch. He is happy that I showed him the lure and now he is catching more fish. All the other fisherman on the lake have come to shore and are casting around us, but they do not have the magical lure. We leave the camp ground and I have made a new friend from Arizona.
Pea Soup!
PEA SOUP!
Here we are standing at the edge of 1 of the 7 natural Wonders of the World. All we can see is thick, white, blinding fog. We stayed 3 days in Williams, Arizona (gateway to Grand Canyon), hoping for a sunny day to take a tour of Grand Canyon with Marvelous Marv (MM) as recommended by friends. We called MM early this morning to suggest changing our date. We checked the internet at the Visitor’s Centre where we find out the Grand Canyon is expecting thunderstorms and rain today – 70% chance. The ticket for the tour is $85 each. We have 5 weeks left, and the WW (Grand Canyon) is on our Bucket List! We are inclined to wait. MM tells us that he has 3 others going, and if we back out the tour is off (minimum 4 people). Don’t you think that such heart twisting ethical decisions should be on the “not on the sabbatical” list?? Me too!
Of course you know what we chose – our tripmates tipped the scale on decision making. MM assured us that seeing WW is better with “weather”. It is downright boring on a sunny, blue sky kind of day. The Irish in me is tempted to call this malarkey (sp?). On the way the rains came harder and harder, slowing as we approached the WW entrance kiosk. The big, bold sign says, “Bad Weather Conditions” – no refunds. This does not bode well.
Standing at the first viewpoint, seeing 2 feet maybe in front of our faces, and no canyon in sight, we are starting to wonder if MM is really Moneymaker Marv. Marv says, “can’t change Mother Nature; could be socked in like this for a week”!! Where was that info at 7 am this morning? All the faces around us are forlorn. I am starting to plan our return trip after Las Vegas.
MM diverts our soul-sinking spirits with his wealth of information about the formation of WW – 2 billion years ago an earth plate carrying island arcs and the one that became North America collided and made the base of the canyon. Rivers and seas and moving mountains formed the Colorado Plateau and then the powerful Col. River cut down through the mountains forming the incredible canyon.
We think it might be incredible at this point – but so far not sure. Just as we are about to move to another destination, Divine Intervention or Marv Magic brings a sheer miracle.
The fog begins to dance and move upward in swirls of milk twisters giving us our first glimpse of the South Rim Canyon – Most Magnificent. It is this weather that in the end gives us a show rarely seen at the WW. We continue our tour as the visual sights transform from Soup to Super. Marv dazzles us with his knowledge of the WW and of all the plants and trees he identifies and shows how they have been used by the first nations people for food, clothing and medicines.
The day is a mix of cloud, more fog, little bursts of sun and blue sky and as we are leaving the heavens open up again with a steady rainfall. What timing.
Magical – Marvelous Marv truly is a great guide. We highly recommend him. At one point he took pictures of the passengers of the day, and presented us with that photo as a keepsake. So nice. Our day turned from pea soup to super; but honestly a little blue sky and sun could never make this magical place boring.
Here we are standing at the edge of 1 of the 7 natural Wonders of the World. All we can see is thick, white, blinding fog. We stayed 3 days in Williams, Arizona (gateway to Grand Canyon), hoping for a sunny day to take a tour of Grand Canyon with Marvelous Marv (MM) as recommended by friends. We called MM early this morning to suggest changing our date. We checked the internet at the Visitor’s Centre where we find out the Grand Canyon is expecting thunderstorms and rain today – 70% chance. The ticket for the tour is $85 each. We have 5 weeks left, and the WW (Grand Canyon) is on our Bucket List! We are inclined to wait. MM tells us that he has 3 others going, and if we back out the tour is off (minimum 4 people). Don’t you think that such heart twisting ethical decisions should be on the “not on the sabbatical” list?? Me too!
Of course you know what we chose – our tripmates tipped the scale on decision making. MM assured us that seeing WW is better with “weather”. It is downright boring on a sunny, blue sky kind of day. The Irish in me is tempted to call this malarkey (sp?). On the way the rains came harder and harder, slowing as we approached the WW entrance kiosk. The big, bold sign says, “Bad Weather Conditions” – no refunds. This does not bode well.
Standing at the first viewpoint, seeing 2 feet maybe in front of our faces, and no canyon in sight, we are starting to wonder if MM is really Moneymaker Marv. Marv says, “can’t change Mother Nature; could be socked in like this for a week”!! Where was that info at 7 am this morning? All the faces around us are forlorn. I am starting to plan our return trip after Las Vegas.
MM diverts our soul-sinking spirits with his wealth of information about the formation of WW – 2 billion years ago an earth plate carrying island arcs and the one that became North America collided and made the base of the canyon. Rivers and seas and moving mountains formed the Colorado Plateau and then the powerful Col. River cut down through the mountains forming the incredible canyon.
We think it might be incredible at this point – but so far not sure. Just as we are about to move to another destination, Divine Intervention or Marv Magic brings a sheer miracle.
The fog begins to dance and move upward in swirls of milk twisters giving us our first glimpse of the South Rim Canyon – Most Magnificent. It is this weather that in the end gives us a show rarely seen at the WW. We continue our tour as the visual sights transform from Soup to Super. Marv dazzles us with his knowledge of the WW and of all the plants and trees he identifies and shows how they have been used by the first nations people for food, clothing and medicines.
The day is a mix of cloud, more fog, little bursts of sun and blue sky and as we are leaving the heavens open up again with a steady rainfall. What timing.
Magical – Marvelous Marv truly is a great guide. We highly recommend him. At one point he took pictures of the passengers of the day, and presented us with that photo as a keepsake. So nice. Our day turned from pea soup to super; but honestly a little blue sky and sun could never make this magical place boring.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Heaven
We arrived in Flagstaff to our first rain since Texas - a long while back! It is also cool and green. We thought about finding a motel instead of camping, and as we rounded a corner I saw an attractive place I thought would be perfect. We got close to the driveway and I saw the sign, "The Mortuary"!!! Oops - not quite ready for that yet. We drove on and found a perfect campsite in the trees called Woody Mountain - it was heaven all right!
The Studio
On Sunday we visited Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ (glad I don't have to say that too often!) for their contemporary/casual service called The Studio. We arrived 5 minutes before start time (I can't get used to that!). It was very intriguing. The topic was 'listening'. The service included lots of greeting time, a clip from You Tube about a man who finds a stethoscope on the sidewalk and proceeds to use it to "listen" to various things along his path and then his own heart. Very thoughtful. There was a also a mimed skit with three young adults acting out the scene with Mary and Martha and Jesus; Martha working hard to make supper and Mary sitting - listening - to Jesus. The scriptures were I believe from The Message (popular cutting edge modern interpretation of scripture). The songs were originals written by their music vocalist and pianist. There was a very good jazz band, various reflections and poetry, and a really warm welcome. Again, we were blessed by the service and really moved by the innovative ways of worship. And again, we missed our dear friends and family at West Plains - you're the best!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A word from Rip!
RIPS JOY has air brakes! Several things have been happening along the trip for me. First of all Joyce finally made it up in the morning before I did. This is such a rare occasion that I did need to mention it.
Secondly I have discovered that our van has air brakes. They are not the type on big trucks so I will explain. This part of the country is very mountainous and Rips Joy has been handling the climb up the mountains very well, but the decent has caused some problems with the brakes over heating. So now on the decent I turn on the air conditioner. This slows down the vehicle and along with engine braking we are able to glide down the mountains at an acceptable pace without overheating the brakes. The air brakes not only slow the vehicle but keep us cool. Thank goodness we have air conditioning with the intense heat of Arizona. It also has been very dry and no signs of streams to fish in. I am waiting to get further north and maybe then I can cast a line. Although there are signs all along the roads warnings do not enter if flooded. We must be here at the wrong time of the year. I have been taking lot of photos but I am unsure if I will be able to edit them down to show size for viewing.
The third thing I have learned about is pollution. Some of the magnificent caves we have been visiting have a pollution problem that I never thought about. They close down for a number of weeks a year while volunteers come in vacuum up lint. Yes that is right, lint in caves from people’s clothing is polluting the environment. When that happens I wonder what we are doing to our world and I have become more conscious of the smaller things I do to keep our beautiful world cleaner. Therefore I have decided to walk to work from now on, just I soon as I stop being retired!
Secondly I have discovered that our van has air brakes. They are not the type on big trucks so I will explain. This part of the country is very mountainous and Rips Joy has been handling the climb up the mountains very well, but the decent has caused some problems with the brakes over heating. So now on the decent I turn on the air conditioner. This slows down the vehicle and along with engine braking we are able to glide down the mountains at an acceptable pace without overheating the brakes. The air brakes not only slow the vehicle but keep us cool. Thank goodness we have air conditioning with the intense heat of Arizona. It also has been very dry and no signs of streams to fish in. I am waiting to get further north and maybe then I can cast a line. Although there are signs all along the roads warnings do not enter if flooded. We must be here at the wrong time of the year. I have been taking lot of photos but I am unsure if I will be able to edit them down to show size for viewing.
The third thing I have learned about is pollution. Some of the magnificent caves we have been visiting have a pollution problem that I never thought about. They close down for a number of weeks a year while volunteers come in vacuum up lint. Yes that is right, lint in caves from people’s clothing is polluting the environment. When that happens I wonder what we are doing to our world and I have become more conscious of the smaller things I do to keep our beautiful world cleaner. Therefore I have decided to walk to work from now on, just I soon as I stop being retired!
The "Green" Arch!
We are here in Sedona - the views are beyond imagination! The businesses and homes are low rise and finished with colours that match the landscape- beiges and terra cotta, browns and soft greens. Believe it or not, even the McDonald's has a GREEN arch, not a golden one!! And that arch is small and on the building, not the kind you can spot a mile away. All of the business signs are likewise considerate of the beautiful geography of the area. We even passed a Walmart that had a similiar small, classy look. We visited Holy Cross church tucked into the red rocks half way to heaven. They have a taize service once a week, and welcome visitors every day to sit in the chapel or gaze out over the majesty of red rocks. But a green arch? Wow, that's political influence - it can be done! What a breath of fresh air - or should I say smell of fresh coffee?
At home in Jerome
Jerome is a mountain town of bikers, hippies, and artists. We saw several Westfalia vans and got the "peace fingers" from a few! Once a booming town of 15,000 during copper mining days, it dwindled to 100 in the early 1950's. People were giving their homes up for grocery debts. Some hippies took up residence not long after (unwelcome really to the neighbouring villages at that time). Jerome evolved into an arts extravaganza with pretty shops and trades winding their way up the mountain top. It is beautiful country overlooking the Verde Valley. Our westy had quite the trip from Prescott - 188 sharp bends in the road in 12 miles!! We found the locals as you would think of hippies- friendly, down-to-earth and relaxed. We felt right at home!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Blown Away
From Wickenburg we headed back to the Phoenix area for one more day. One the road Rip was looking for some body cream and the only one close by (in the glove box) was Marilyn's foot cream! It was lovely on our dry arms and we joked that now we would be able to walk around on our hands!!
We were not going to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (have to make choices!) BUT we had picked up a flyer from a tourist info spot in Wickenburg that told us that the spectacular glassworks of Dale Chihuly were going to be on display throughout the garden. Chihuly's spectacular creations are found in more than 200 museums worldwide.
The whole experience blew us away. It is hard to describe what we saw (you might check a website for a taste of it). I have not been a person connected very closely to the world of art, but I have to admit this was a conversion experience. Dale Chihuly is known for his unique glass sculptures, and this was his first exhibition in a desert garden environment - you had to book your time to visit the Botanical Gardens.
We got up at 4:45 am and drove from Wickenburg for our 7 am time reservation. It was a good choice to be there in the cooler moments of the day. The glass works throughout the garden display included white beluga whales, giant tiger lilies, mirrored hornets, marlins, reeds, boats full of glass sculptures that were abstract, yet people-like and gigantic chandeliers of brightly coloured swirls of glass, some 20 or 30 feet, even 40 feet high. The artist says he likes to play with light and colours and you can tell.
We were blown away.
We were not going to visit the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix (have to make choices!) BUT we had picked up a flyer from a tourist info spot in Wickenburg that told us that the spectacular glassworks of Dale Chihuly were going to be on display throughout the garden. Chihuly's spectacular creations are found in more than 200 museums worldwide.
The whole experience blew us away. It is hard to describe what we saw (you might check a website for a taste of it). I have not been a person connected very closely to the world of art, but I have to admit this was a conversion experience. Dale Chihuly is known for his unique glass sculptures, and this was his first exhibition in a desert garden environment - you had to book your time to visit the Botanical Gardens.
We got up at 4:45 am and drove from Wickenburg for our 7 am time reservation. It was a good choice to be there in the cooler moments of the day. The glass works throughout the garden display included white beluga whales, giant tiger lilies, mirrored hornets, marlins, reeds, boats full of glass sculptures that were abstract, yet people-like and gigantic chandeliers of brightly coloured swirls of glass, some 20 or 30 feet, even 40 feet high. The artist says he likes to play with light and colours and you can tell.
We were blown away.
Wicked Wickenburg
Wickenburg is a town most people have never heard of, just outside the booming metropolis of Phoenix, population 5,082. Henry Wickenburg discovered a gold mine there in 1863 and the town boomed. In fact, by 1866 the town was the third largest city in Arizona and missed becoming the state capital by only 2 votes! It is an old western town right out of Gunsmoke and the shops are old and wooden and full of character - one of them is called "Buckshot Babes". On the streets they have life sized "people" of old at various corners, complete with an audio history who at the press of a button will tell you their story of making Wickenburg successful.
We had lunch at a place built in 1937 where the owner, "Uncle Wes", age 89 as of last week, chatted us up and told us his story of living in Wickenburg. He was obviously proud of the place and still stood tall and walked around confidently making sure things were in order.
We camped in a wonderful RV park close to town with lots of trees and a gorgeous pool where we met people who live there either full time or 6 months at a time. The atmosphere and hospitality of the place was truly "wicked"!
We had lunch at a place built in 1937 where the owner, "Uncle Wes", age 89 as of last week, chatted us up and told us his story of living in Wickenburg. He was obviously proud of the place and still stood tall and walked around confidently making sure things were in order.
We camped in a wonderful RV park close to town with lots of trees and a gorgeous pool where we met people who live there either full time or 6 months at a time. The atmosphere and hospitality of the place was truly "wicked"!
Hello Dolly
Near the old stagecoach stop of Tortilla Flats on the Apache Trail is a lake that fills the canyon - Canyon Lake! It is 10 miles long but very jagged with long thin spikes trailing off of it - just as you would imagine a lake that fills a canyon to be. Dolly Steamboat cruises that lake daily and we took the trip to get kissing close to the canyon walls and spot a mountain lion. The cliffs have been formed a gazillion years ago from archaeological events and shifts. At one moment in time all the trees were felled by a quake and piled on top of each other like a woodpile. Those trees are now petrified in the canyon walls and we could see them along a certain height of the cliff walls. Fascinating! We could also spot "ET", JS Bach playing his organ, an elephant and limitless figures and scenes - the power of imagination! No mountain lions were out in the heat - likely curled up in some cliffside cave having a siesta. I noted that in Ontario we would worry about rain on a day of boating, but here they tell us that there won't be any rain until at least July. After our cruise we went to the restaurant/saloon in Tortilla Flats
(one of two buildings in that "town") for their famous burger while perched on a horse saddle (instead of barstools). We camped by the lake and took a dip - canyon lake water is very cold and our skin sizzled as we dove in. Dolly wasn't the only one steaming!
(one of two buildings in that "town") for their famous burger while perched on a horse saddle (instead of barstools). We camped by the lake and took a dip - canyon lake water is very cold and our skin sizzled as we dove in. Dolly wasn't the only one steaming!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Surprising Breezes!
The days are hot, hot, hot - Sam Cook said it all right!! Most times the temperature is about 100F and our van heats up to 104 or so when we are going uphill and have to turn the air conditioner off to get RipsJoy going! There is always a good breeze blowing as we travel and an occasional breeze when we are off the road. We have been staying in some "no frills" camping sites at times. It is all a matter of availability at the time we arrive. The first time we put in at a campsite with outhouses, i.e., the non-flush kind, I was impressed with the "state of the art" cans! Clean, well maintained, large and pleasant. I sat down and jumped up again with a "wow- what's that?!!"
These toilets have air blowing from the inside out! Okay, that was a shock! Rip couldn't figure out how come I was so long coming back. Let's just say that good breezes are hard to find in this Arizona desert land!
These toilets have air blowing from the inside out! Okay, that was a shock! Rip couldn't figure out how come I was so long coming back. Let's just say that good breezes are hard to find in this Arizona desert land!
Hairy Raising!
Rip and I have returned to Arizona from our quick trip home for my high school reunion. It brought back a lot of memories! I met both my husbands, Rip and John, for the first time at my high school graduation dinner/dance!! Rip keeps asking me, did you meet anyone else that night?!! Let me think now :) Most people looked more or less the same as they did 40 years ago, (a few more pounds; or a few more wrinkles) except the men! The peach fuzz most of them had in high school was now for many full beards and moustaches. It took a few moments to recognize some of them under the forest cover. Of course that didn’t apply to the tops of those heads :)
Speaking of hairy, we have just completed the 120 mile Apache Trail just outside Phoenix. The road winds through the mountains with hairpin turns leading to the Roosevelt Dam. It is spectacular to see the red rock canyons and blooming cactus and streams. Rip said it was truly a spiritual experience. Amen to that. The road becomes unpaved, washboard contoured and clouds of dust spin off the tires. We see a couple of cars that have previously taken the deep plunge off the mountainside – of course there are no guard rails! There were many hairy spots that narrowed so we prayed no one else was coming the other way. Hair-raising. Lucky for us it is off season and the road was very quiet. I said, “at least we have our CAA card if the van quits” – yeah right! We stopped at a rare stagecoach stop to have “prickly pear ice cream”. Yummy! It is made from the pp cactus and is pink and a little tart compared to other ice creams. At the end of the Apache Trail Rip asked me if we had to go back the same way – no more hair-raising moments for today!
Speaking of hairy, we have just completed the 120 mile Apache Trail just outside Phoenix. The road winds through the mountains with hairpin turns leading to the Roosevelt Dam. It is spectacular to see the red rock canyons and blooming cactus and streams. Rip said it was truly a spiritual experience. Amen to that. The road becomes unpaved, washboard contoured and clouds of dust spin off the tires. We see a couple of cars that have previously taken the deep plunge off the mountainside – of course there are no guard rails! There were many hairy spots that narrowed so we prayed no one else was coming the other way. Hair-raising. Lucky for us it is off season and the road was very quiet. I said, “at least we have our CAA card if the van quits” – yeah right! We stopped at a rare stagecoach stop to have “prickly pear ice cream”. Yummy! It is made from the pp cactus and is pink and a little tart compared to other ice creams. At the end of the Apache Trail Rip asked me if we had to go back the same way – no more hair-raising moments for today!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
8700 km!
We are in Phoenix now and have had some relax, down-time. Rip bought a small digital thermometer that read 111F out of the sun yesterday. That's hot - don't give me any of that "dry heat" business; it may be dry, but hot is hot at this point! We went to a mall to have a walk, and were stunned at the few number of people there and the number of stores closed. It was very strange - this is the first significant sign we have seen of the depressed economical situation here.
For dinner we went to Joe's Farm Grill just outside Phoenix. It is a family run farm that creates delicious food using their own cattle, poultry and produce. Another feature in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! You eat at a picnic tables surrounded by crops and fruit trees. Rip ordered a chicken pizza; thin homemade crust with bbq chicken, fresh-grown sweet peppers, home-cured maple syrup bacon, and fresh cut basil on top. Wow. I ordered a small salad - their own lettuce, carrots, onions and fresh cut herbs on top. They even make their own dressings. I chose Asian-balsamic. Rip said, "Did you come 8,700 km to order a salad?" Yes, siree, and it was might fine. Of course I tried the pizza too - awesome.
The farm in just outside Phoenix and is proud to be an urban farm and offer the fruits of the land in that setting. This is what my parents would have called "God's country". It is all God's country, of course, but this was extra special - too bad it is 8700 km from home.
Speaking of home, we will be taking a sabbatical from the sabbatical blogging! Today we are flying home for my high school's 50th Anniversary (Ancaster) and the
40th anniversary of my graduating class. How can that be? We are flying Southwest Air from Phoenix to Buffalo today and returning next Tuesday. The cost for the 2 of us return was just over $400. Someone said to me, "Are you sure that includes landing?" I'll let you know!
For dinner we went to Joe's Farm Grill just outside Phoenix. It is a family run farm that creates delicious food using their own cattle, poultry and produce. Another feature in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives! You eat at a picnic tables surrounded by crops and fruit trees. Rip ordered a chicken pizza; thin homemade crust with bbq chicken, fresh-grown sweet peppers, home-cured maple syrup bacon, and fresh cut basil on top. Wow. I ordered a small salad - their own lettuce, carrots, onions and fresh cut herbs on top. They even make their own dressings. I chose Asian-balsamic. Rip said, "Did you come 8,700 km to order a salad?" Yes, siree, and it was might fine. Of course I tried the pizza too - awesome.
The farm in just outside Phoenix and is proud to be an urban farm and offer the fruits of the land in that setting. This is what my parents would have called "God's country". It is all God's country, of course, but this was extra special - too bad it is 8700 km from home.
Speaking of home, we will be taking a sabbatical from the sabbatical blogging! Today we are flying home for my high school's 50th Anniversary (Ancaster) and the
40th anniversary of my graduating class. How can that be? We are flying Southwest Air from Phoenix to Buffalo today and returning next Tuesday. The cost for the 2 of us return was just over $400. Someone said to me, "Are you sure that includes landing?" I'll let you know!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Riparian Rip!
We spent a whole day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Wow. It hosts 300 animals and 120 plants and minerals native to the Sonoran Desert region. It is cleverly laid out with 2 miles of outdoor walks interpersed with tours through caves, shaded displays of reptiles, underwater views of fish and seals, history museums, and aviaries and "meet and greet" with real live stars such as the 18" tall barn owe chstted with!
The different habitat of the Sonora desert were fascinating, and beautiful and tour friendly! At every new sight we found ice cold water fountains, shaded bench stops and the washrooms even had a complimentary sunscreen dispenser beside the soap dispenser!
One area was the Riparian Habitat! Riparian means "stream-side" - how perfectly named after our fisherman Rip! The desert has many such locations of free flowing streams; many less in the last 10 years though.
An interesting tidbit from "Life on the Rocks". It takes 80 pounds of rock from the Sonoran Desert to produce 1 penny. It takes 150,000 tons of the earth's crust from any other region to produce the same 1 penny!!
Rip's favourite stop was the Hummingbird Aviary. Here we got up close and personal with many of these beautiful birds who whisked by us to savour nectar from one flower, then another. We saw for the first time a mother warming her nest of 2 eggs - she was 12 inches from our face!
My favourite area was the walk-in aviary with more than 40 species of native birds living in trees and bathing in streams and waterfalls.
Along with the lizards, snakes, scorpions, big horns, bobcats, javelinas and so much more we were spinning with info and delight! This place is a zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden all in one - amazing. A real Riparian pleaser!
PS I finished my "relax" book last night, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean Dominique-Bauby. Highly recommend - a man after a cardiovascular event in his 40's lives with what he calls "Locked In Syndrome". This is his story dictated by use of blinks and nods.
The different habitat of the Sonora desert were fascinating, and beautiful and tour friendly! At every new sight we found ice cold water fountains, shaded bench stops and the washrooms even had a complimentary sunscreen dispenser beside the soap dispenser!
One area was the Riparian Habitat! Riparian means "stream-side" - how perfectly named after our fisherman Rip! The desert has many such locations of free flowing streams; many less in the last 10 years though.
An interesting tidbit from "Life on the Rocks". It takes 80 pounds of rock from the Sonoran Desert to produce 1 penny. It takes 150,000 tons of the earth's crust from any other region to produce the same 1 penny!!
Rip's favourite stop was the Hummingbird Aviary. Here we got up close and personal with many of these beautiful birds who whisked by us to savour nectar from one flower, then another. We saw for the first time a mother warming her nest of 2 eggs - she was 12 inches from our face!
My favourite area was the walk-in aviary with more than 40 species of native birds living in trees and bathing in streams and waterfalls.
Along with the lizards, snakes, scorpions, big horns, bobcats, javelinas and so much more we were spinning with info and delight! This place is a zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden all in one - amazing. A real Riparian pleaser!
PS I finished my "relax" book last night, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean Dominique-Bauby. Highly recommend - a man after a cardiovascular event in his 40's lives with what he calls "Locked In Syndrome". This is his story dictated by use of blinks and nods.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
High tea
When we are camping in a state or national park, we often have cereal (in those little self-contained bowl-come-boxes) with warm milk (the propane connection to the frig is not working yet) or crackers with peanut butter. It is quite delicious when you are hungry. Rip also makes me a great tea, using our propane burner and cute mini kettle. How sweet! We are finding food to be very reasonable, but cold drinks and tea, not so. At one RV park we had a sumptuous Breakfast special for $1.99 (eggs, potato and toast) - enough to last us until dinner time. But the hot tea was $2.00!! Go figure. Perhaps that is what is meant by "high tea" after all.
Trailer Park Trash
We have officially qualified as Trailer Park Trash! We are in Casa Grande on our way to Phoenix and we were looking for a spot to camp. We often stay at State or National Parks, but when roaming toward a large city the parks disappear. We went to an RV park (looked pretty splashy with a gate guard and palm trees and big trailer homes) and the guard took one look and said, "Sorry, we only allow Class A and B". I guess Westfalia is a class "W"??? What can we say? He was very nice and seemed embarrassed to turn us away........as it turns out the rate for an RV spot was $43 and we found a motel down the street for $46 - a/c, king size bed, cont. breakfast in the morning, tv, WiFi, bath tub (I forgot what that was!). What a no brainer. It is not so bad to be Trailer Park Trash after all!
Tired Dude!
The Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson features 80,000 acres of outdoor airplanes and 5 hangars of indoor gems complete with history, video and “try me out” sit in styles. Rip loves airplanes! Today I became a convert! We took the hour long tram tour of the property and it was fascinating. The tour guide showed us amphibians, decoys, helicopters, Presidential aircraft (we got to tour the one used by Johnston and Kennedy) and pointed out where the location of cameras, radar, skis in some cases and some with pointy rears for refueling! We saw a helicopter used for cargo called, “Tired Dude”!! He spoke a whole new language and it was so informative. He explained why some models were retired or improved and the growth of technology to address glitches. A few times he lost me with the lingo. I thought to myself, perhaps this is how folks feel when they come to church for the first time or the first time in a long time. Hmmm. Food for thought.
I sent Rip off on the 1 hour bus tour of the “boneyard” (they call it the “rejeneration yard” in fact – interesting sermon or funeral homily in those words perhaps!). I have spent more than enough time in cemeteries thank you very much! So I found a cold water, my good relax book (The Diving Board and Butterfly) and a cool spot to sit. Just before Rip left on the boneyard tour, the battery on the camera died (fitting timing!). He got out our old model (the one baptized in the Saugeen River last summer on our canoe trip – another story!). While he was away I purchased a CD of photos of the wondrous specimens he was admiring just in case!!! It’s a surprise for later by the way – shhhh.
My favourite plane was a small white and blue Beech purchased by an American, Marion Rice Hart, at age 73! She retro-fitted to a larger fuel tank and drove the plane many times to Europe – solo! You go girl! She must have been one tired dude too! In her mid-80’s she decided to retire from flying and donated it to the Museum.
The day was full and by afternoon the temperature reached “triple digits” – for some reason here they use that term rather than 100F –maybe it sounds cooler! Off we went to Mount Lemmon and climbed the curvy mountain road 24 miles to the top (9,158 feet). It was 30 degrees cooler and we were told that the snow only left last week! It was lovely. Pictures will never do it justice. We watched the vegetation change from desert cacti and cottonwood trees, to deciduous trees and then to coniferous. Wow.
Eventually, down the mountain we came, all of us, including our Westy, - we were all three of us some tired dudes!
I sent Rip off on the 1 hour bus tour of the “boneyard” (they call it the “rejeneration yard” in fact – interesting sermon or funeral homily in those words perhaps!). I have spent more than enough time in cemeteries thank you very much! So I found a cold water, my good relax book (The Diving Board and Butterfly) and a cool spot to sit. Just before Rip left on the boneyard tour, the battery on the camera died (fitting timing!). He got out our old model (the one baptized in the Saugeen River last summer on our canoe trip – another story!). While he was away I purchased a CD of photos of the wondrous specimens he was admiring just in case!!! It’s a surprise for later by the way – shhhh.
My favourite plane was a small white and blue Beech purchased by an American, Marion Rice Hart, at age 73! She retro-fitted to a larger fuel tank and drove the plane many times to Europe – solo! You go girl! She must have been one tired dude too! In her mid-80’s she decided to retire from flying and donated it to the Museum.
The day was full and by afternoon the temperature reached “triple digits” – for some reason here they use that term rather than 100F –maybe it sounds cooler! Off we went to Mount Lemmon and climbed the curvy mountain road 24 miles to the top (9,158 feet). It was 30 degrees cooler and we were told that the snow only left last week! It was lovely. Pictures will never do it justice. We watched the vegetation change from desert cacti and cottonwood trees, to deciduous trees and then to coniferous. Wow.
Eventually, down the mountain we came, all of us, including our Westy, - we were all three of us some tired dudes!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Cookies and RIP in RVIP
We are enjoying our time in RV Parks. Many gracious hosts offer Rip free cookies - a bonus! Rip is in RVIP (RV In Peace!) In Tombstone, the RV park had a logo of a tombstone with RVIP inscribed in it. In my sabbatical reading, I am learning that the most successful mainline churches are tops in hospitality and mission. What has this got to do with cookies?!! Our last church visit showed us. The hospitality was outstanding and they were in the process of baking up a storm for a local prison. A couple of surprising rules! You were not to put raisins in the cookies or frosting in the top! Why? Because inmates can turn raisins or icing into alcohol!! Now I can see the raisins, but frosting?? Surprising cookie education. Imagine rules for the beloved cookie. Rip is RVIP with delicious cookies!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hospitality plus!
We visited Patagonia United Methodist Community church this morning. It was awesome. It was our first time being acknowledged in church while away - with applause! This church is your best-ever family style church (next to WPUC of course!). A small congregation, a small sanctuary, bright and warm and welcoming. Several people welcomed us; what an intimate, friendly place. Pastor Ned was relaxed and open to the spirit. We felt very much at home - as close to West Plains as we have found so far! The children joined in for communion at the end of the service and we were invited several times over to coffee time. It is very special to arrive at worship service 5 minutes ahead of the beginning, and even more special still to be able to just be in the moment and not be thinking of the next part of the service. Amazing.
My prayer shawl was blessed once again and with new energy we are off to Tucson!
We miss you, West Plains, and all our wonderful friends. This is an experience to remember.
My prayer shawl was blessed once again and with new energy we are off to Tucson!
We miss you, West Plains, and all our wonderful friends. This is an experience to remember.
Fire's burning!
We travelled to wine country in southern Arizona and enjoyed a winery that was featuring some live music and new wines. The vines here are very young and willowy compared to our Niagara crops, but the wines were just as delicious. Next door to the winery a large fire was burning but most of the locals said they thought it was under control. The grasses on the large ranch style properties in the entire area were a crisp, parched light brown colour and the drought in the area is keenly evident. As we were leaving we noticed the fire was bigger and the smoke seemed to be moving across more and more grassy land. Then suddenly the air water bomber appeared in the sky and before you knew it he was coming in for a dive - it was amazing. We had never seen such a thing. Along with the fire trucks screaming down the dusty road, the air was filled with danger - and smoke.
Shirley and Allan, a couple we met at the winery, suggested the Canela Bistro for dinner in town. We arrived and minutes after the power went out. The owner was super nice and said she could offer us wine and buns and salad - some appetizers - but the water pump was electric and she was low on water and feared she would have to close. It was very sad really because the horse derby was in town that day and many people had made reservations at her bistro and she were prepared to serve them.
What did we have for dinner? Wine (this time a whole glass instead of a taste) and buns - it was a real communion experience! (We also had a brussel sprouts dish in a vinaigrette sauce with bacon and dates that was truly extraordinary!). We are off to the Patagonia State Park for overnight and then on to Patagonia United Methodist Community Church on Sunday morning.
Shirley and Allan, a couple we met at the winery, suggested the Canela Bistro for dinner in town. We arrived and minutes after the power went out. The owner was super nice and said she could offer us wine and buns and salad - some appetizers - but the water pump was electric and she was low on water and feared she would have to close. It was very sad really because the horse derby was in town that day and many people had made reservations at her bistro and she were prepared to serve them.
What did we have for dinner? Wine (this time a whole glass instead of a taste) and buns - it was a real communion experience! (We also had a brussel sprouts dish in a vinaigrette sauce with bacon and dates that was truly extraordinary!). We are off to the Patagonia State Park for overnight and then on to Patagonia United Methodist Community Church on Sunday morning.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Pearces in Pearce!
We have been touring the small towns in southern Arizona. It is wonderful to be off the highway now and no more white-knuckle miles of "Caution - Dust Storms - Drive with Extreme Care". Truly I was the only one with the white knuckles, and one time as Rip was nodding off on a well deserved power nap, one of those gusts jolted both of us to snappy attention! So much for the nap.
We went out of our way to visit Pearce, Arizona yesterday hoping for a town sign at least to get a picture. The place was so small (located on Old Ghost Town Road -you get my drift!) there was only a sign for the "Pearce Cemetery" so we made do with that. It was quiet - I bet you guessed that already. We also took a spectacular tour of Kartchner Caverns in the state park by that name where we camped the night before. We thought it might be a stelactite-stalagmite repeat of Mammoth Cave, but not so. It was very different because these caves are "active" - geological delicacies inside growing at a rate of less than one inch per century! That gives new meaning to active. Those caves move at sabbatical pace.
At Bisbee we met a local and owner of a twin Westfalia, 1988, blue, and we chatted. He loves Bisbee so much it is his retirement town. The town is built on a hill and features many unique shops and residents and a great, old mine. All the buildings are old and it takes you back in time to be there. The next stop was Tombstone where we ambled the dirt streets (they covered the asphalt a couple of years ago to restore the "old", authentic look. Horse-drawn stagecoaches with period dressed characters take folks on a tour of the town. We stopped into an old saloon with dark wood and stained glass to hear "Mick" strum his guitar and sing a few great tunes.
Today we are off to the Sonoita wine region where special music and gourmet treats will accompany the launch of a new wine in the area today, and to Patagonia which has the "Tree of Life" Rejuvenation Centre. I wonder what church we will visit tomorrow? I wish it could be in Pearce, but it will have to be just the Pearces near Pearce!
We went out of our way to visit Pearce, Arizona yesterday hoping for a town sign at least to get a picture. The place was so small (located on Old Ghost Town Road -you get my drift!) there was only a sign for the "Pearce Cemetery" so we made do with that. It was quiet - I bet you guessed that already. We also took a spectacular tour of Kartchner Caverns in the state park by that name where we camped the night before. We thought it might be a stelactite-stalagmite repeat of Mammoth Cave, but not so. It was very different because these caves are "active" - geological delicacies inside growing at a rate of less than one inch per century! That gives new meaning to active. Those caves move at sabbatical pace.
At Bisbee we met a local and owner of a twin Westfalia, 1988, blue, and we chatted. He loves Bisbee so much it is his retirement town. The town is built on a hill and features many unique shops and residents and a great, old mine. All the buildings are old and it takes you back in time to be there. The next stop was Tombstone where we ambled the dirt streets (they covered the asphalt a couple of years ago to restore the "old", authentic look. Horse-drawn stagecoaches with period dressed characters take folks on a tour of the town. We stopped into an old saloon with dark wood and stained glass to hear "Mick" strum his guitar and sing a few great tunes.
Today we are off to the Sonoita wine region where special music and gourmet treats will accompany the launch of a new wine in the area today, and to Patagonia which has the "Tree of Life" Rejuvenation Centre. I wonder what church we will visit tomorrow? I wish it could be in Pearce, but it will have to be just the Pearces near Pearce!
Friday, May 1, 2009
A post from Rip!
This is my first time at blogging as the lead driver in Rips Joy and the adventure. We have made it to Arizona and the time changes have given me jet lag or something like that. It is now 6:30 pm and I am ready for bed. Now at home it would be 9:30 pm and almost my bed time. The sun is setting and this is adding to my jet lag so I have decided to open up Rips Drive-in movies. Well that is what we call a laptop computer and a series of movies on DVD’s about California that my friend Randy gave me. So far the first episode was interesting!
Travelling east to west across the southern USA was an eye opening adventure watching the landscape change. Yesterday we stayed at a small state park called Balmorhea State Park. This park is in the middle of nowheresville. Its claim to fame is a spring fed swimming pool that is the world’s largest (77,083 sq. ft. artesian spring). At our last park Big Bend the local news paper stated that Big Bend is a desert park and if you want to swim go to Balmorhea, so we did. A great place to swim although at night a water snake makes its way into the pool for fishing and cooling off. Oh yes this being a natural pool is 25 feet deep in the middle with rocks on the bottom and lost of minnows and catfish swimming around. The outside is a cement bottom for swimmers and to make it the worlds largest spring fed swimming pool.
I visited the local town “ Balmorhea” and spoke to a local girl in the corner store. When I ask what this town had going for it and she said water from the state park. The water flows along paved ditch aquaducts through farm land and through the town and ends in a lake. The town diverts water once a week for watering everything.
Our next stop was Kartchner Caverns State Park. This must be the off season as there is only four other campers in the camp grounds of the state park last night. Yes the jet lag had me up just before 5:00 am as the sun was rising!
Travelling east to west across the southern USA was an eye opening adventure watching the landscape change. Yesterday we stayed at a small state park called Balmorhea State Park. This park is in the middle of nowheresville. Its claim to fame is a spring fed swimming pool that is the world’s largest (77,083 sq. ft. artesian spring). At our last park Big Bend the local news paper stated that Big Bend is a desert park and if you want to swim go to Balmorhea, so we did. A great place to swim although at night a water snake makes its way into the pool for fishing and cooling off. Oh yes this being a natural pool is 25 feet deep in the middle with rocks on the bottom and lost of minnows and catfish swimming around. The outside is a cement bottom for swimmers and to make it the worlds largest spring fed swimming pool.
I visited the local town “ Balmorhea” and spoke to a local girl in the corner store. When I ask what this town had going for it and she said water from the state park. The water flows along paved ditch aquaducts through farm land and through the town and ends in a lake. The town diverts water once a week for watering everything.
Our next stop was Kartchner Caverns State Park. This must be the off season as there is only four other campers in the camp grounds of the state park last night. Yes the jet lag had me up just before 5:00 am as the sun was rising!
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