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!