Travel Updates

It has been several days since we pulled out of AZ and I have thought it was time to let you know what has happened since then. After we had our round of hugs and good-byes on 3/4, we finally hit the road. We decided to go up I-10 and cut across going towards Payson and on up to Albuquerque. The ride was really pretty when we got up in the mountains. There was even snow along the roads and in the ditches. We had lunch in Payson.

Stayed overnight in Albuquerque and then headed on for Colorado Springs. Got there Thursday afternoon. Setup the RV and then went for a drive over to Manitou Springs. Parked and walked the street looking in some of the shops before going to TX Roadhouse for dinner and back to the trailer to call it a day.

Left early Friday morning heading for Denver. Dropped the trailer off for the week, before heading up to the mountain.

Arrived at the condo Saturday around 4:30 and just relaxed for the evening. Sunday we hung out, swam in the pool and played Wii until around 11:45 p.m. when we called it a night.

When we were coming out of some of the mountains near Payson we had a horrible vibration when the brakes were applied. Pat thought it felt like brake pads or rotors. As it turned out it is rotors and all four are being replaced at the Ford Dealership in Silverthorne. Pat dropped the truck off before we went up to ski this morning (Monday). The slopes were great and we had fun. I took one nasty fall (my first in 3 years), and I’m kind of sore, but will survive. We will be going back for more fun tomorrow so hopefully I’ll be able to get out of bed in the morning…lol.

Saturday, 2/28/09

Pat seems better today. I got up fixed us each a poached egg on toast, which he said tasted good. I took a shower and decided that since he seemed on the road to recovery I would change the bedding and try to avoid more of the germs. He also took a shower and was kind of exhausted after that so went back to his chair for awhile.

I decided to ride my bike up to Wild Horse housing area just outside of the park and check out their garage sales. I was actually visiting with a man “George” that is a former Iowan (Woodward) when along came Pat on his bike. I was really surprised to see him, but happy he felt well enough to ride that far. While I was looking at a few things he decided to head back to the park. When I got back he was in his chair and said he was exhausted again. I knew the bug was still with us.

We just finished dinner. Had B/L/T sandwiches and left over potato salad. Now guess who is back in his chair…lol. I hope he is well enough for church in the morning since this will be our last service here in the park. We have enjoyed it so much and will really miss Pastor Don, LaVon and everyone else!

We only have three more days left to enjoy this wonderful winter away. Pulling out on Wednesday morning.

Friday, 2/27/09

Friday started off at 1 a.m. with Pat in the bathroom throwing up everything except the kitchen sink. He was in and out of bed like a jack in the box. I finally got him to take some maalox around 8 and then he was able to get calmed down a bit. He was in bed all day feeling rotten. He also had a fever and the chills.

I went to return the rental truck and pick our truck up, then stopped at the store to pick up some seven up and a few other things. I hurried back to the park and found him almost in the exact same position as when I left.  He got up for just a very short time later in the afternoon, but only to sit in his recliner and make regular trips back up to the bathroom. I really felt bad for him. While at the store on the advise of my brother who also along with ( Ricki, Poppi and Terry had all been fighting the same stuff) told me to start spraying everything with Lysol, which I did.

He ate a little soup and some crackers and drank some 7-up. I went to the Park play that evening with Roberts, while he continued to sit in his chair. When I got back to the RV he was already in bed.

Since I had had such a short night the night before I decided an early bedtime wasn’t so bad. I was going to sleep up in the loft, but ditched that idea and just decided to tough it out and hope I didn’t pick up any of his germs.

Thursday, 2/26/09

CUB’S WIN…CUB’S WIN…CUB’S WIN!!!

Today was our Cub’s game day up in Mesa. We decided to leave early so we could possibly get some autographs (which didn’t happen), but we got a decent parking spot and were there early enough to enjoy the crowd and sights. Had great seats that looked right down the third base line. Next year we are going to get our tickets earlier and try for one section further right of where we were, then I won’t have to shoot pics through the backstop.

Here are a few of my shots of that beautiful  and loads of fun ballgame day!

 

 

Warming up. Taken from our seats. Told you they were good ones!!

 

 

 

Ron Santo up in announcers booth

 

 

 

 

 

Ramirez striking out!                                                                

 

 

 

Believe it or not, he was safe!

 

 

 

 

 

Bako breaking the bat. The broken half flew almost out to the pitcher, but he made it to the base.

 

I enjoyed a Chicago Dog and Pat had some kind of huge sausage dog or something. Got back to the RV park around six, had a light supper and watched a little t.v. Went to bed about 9:30. Guess we’re getting old…lol.

Wednesday, 2/25/09

Today we just decided to relax for the entire day. We got up, had breakfast, did our couple of laps around the park on our bicycles, had a light lunch then went to the pool for the afternoon. Carol (RV park friend), Bob, Connie and Corky joined us and because it was such a warm day there were plenty of others there also. We grabbed some lounge chairs, got noodles out of the bin and just soaked up the glorious rays after playing in the water and setting in the hot tub for a bit. Well needless to say that by the time we had been there for over two hours, we all were plenty red. Since it was Bob’s b-day we decided to go out for dinner in his honor (as if we needed an excuse…lol), but that was a good one. We went to a really good Mexican (yeah yeah…go figure…Mexican in AZ) restaurant in Casa Grande and had a delicious meal. Then we returned to the park to retire for the evening since there was no jam that evening.

Tuesday 2/24/09

Today was Pat’s weekly “geezer” ride. They were going to ride up to South Mountain over by Phoenix. I decided that I would take the rental truck and drive over to the Greek Orthodox Monastery near Coolidge and Florence. I spent about 2.5 hours there. It was delightful. The grounds are full of lush foliage and beautiful buildings. I could take pictures of everything except the monks unless I had their permission. I did get a couple of them in shots only because I had the shots setup when they appeared in them in the distance, but I didn’t go out seeking them for pictures. I was too wrapped up in the architecture. Their dress rules are very strict and have to be adhered to for admittance. Women have to wear long skirts (below the knees), long sleeve tops, head scarfs, and shoes with no open toes unless they have on socks with them. Men must wear long sleeve shirts, long pants and a hat. I looked like a peasant woman from a hundred years ago. It was hot that day and I was ready to disrobe by the time I was finished. I had my own clothes, but they do have skirts and scarves they loan to women that come unprepared. I’m not sure what the men do.

This was the first structure I saw as I pulled on to the grounds.

It is just under construction so we weren’t able to go up and see it any closer than from down on the road.

 

 

 

This is the main gate looking out towards the parking lot from inside the compound.

 

 

 

 

 

This is the main church.

There are six chapels built in honor of six saints including John the Baptist scattered in a circle around the main church. Walkways go from one to the other.

 

One of the six chapels. These are only actually used on very special occasions. The main church is predominantly the one used most all of the time.

 

 

Here is one of the many beautiful walkways that leads people throughout the grounds, and around architecture such as this next one.

 

 

There are wonderful benches such as this one placed along some of the paths in case you get tired. There are also stone walls and benches for resting. Most of the benches have wonderfully intricate carvings on them such as you’ll see in the close up in the next picture.

 

 

How lovely it is to sit and relax next to one of their beautiful fountains such as these two. Some are carved intricately and others are whimsical such as the one below.

 

 

But whichever you choose to relax next to, you will enjoy the time spent there. You can look in a 360 degree circle just about anywhere on the grounds and see beauty. Besides the buildings, water fountains and pathways, the Monastery has its own olive grove, vineyard (for sacramental usage only we were told), vegetable garden and citrus orchards. When you exit the front gate each person is to take 3 lemon in honor of the monks.

Here was the last image I took and the last thing I saw of the Monastery on my way out. This is the St. George Chapel’s Belfry with the Sonoran Desert in the foreground.

This is one journey that I will gladly make again next year, when Pat,  my brother and sister-in-law are able to join me.

Monday 2/23/09

Well today we didn’t do much except errands. Took the truck in and dropped it off at Ford  dealership. Had a speedometer problem. They rented us another truck so then we got a few groceries and went back to the RV park and swam. Relaxing day.

Sunday 2/22/08

When we first got up today it was a bit cloudy but nice out. We walked to church with Connie, Bob and Corky.

I really am going to miss Pastor Don’s sermons. He really knows how to hold our interest, make us understand exactly what he is preaching, and relate to us as individuals. Next Sunday will be our last church service here at Sunscape before we pull out on Wednesday.

It really does make me sad knowing we must leave this wonderful RV park and all of the great people we have met. I will say a huge prayer asking God to help us and all of the other snowbirds to maintain our health, keep us safe in our travels home, and let us join together again next winter to take up where we left off this year. 

Well, we’ve had our breakfast and are just relaxing until we decide what fun thing to do for the day. It has clouded up again, but there really isn’t any rain forecast, so I think I’ll go for a bike ride.

Saturday 2/21/09

Today the weather was just about perfect. We did our laps around the park on the bicycles after breakfast, then I went over and did some laundry while Pat helped Stan (neighbor behind us) bury an electric cable. Since I had been so lax at my laundry since our return from CA I had four loads, but instead of drudgery, I find it is a great time to meet and chat with other ladies (and sometime men) from the park. It really makes the time go quickly and you make new friends. You also find that most times you have a lot of things in common (other than escaping a state where winter is cold).

After our chores were done we went to the pool for a couple of hours and relaxed with other people doing the same. For dinner Pat cooked the most delicious chicken breast with green peppers, onions and mushrooms. Since the evening was probably the warmest and best since we’ve been here we walked down to Roberts to see if they and Corky would like to go in to town and see a movie with us. It was still beautiful when we came out of the theatre at 9:45 or so.

Good to be back in Arizona

Even though we thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Johnny and Paula in California, it was good to get back to our winter quarters in Arizona.  The warm sunshine made us know that this is the place to spend winters and becoming “snowbirds” was a great decision.

Tonite I rode my bike up to the Community Center to enjoy the gospel music of this weeks “jam”. Lots of talent in this park and it was a full house. I still have to get our tickets for the play which should be a hoot from the reports I’ve heard lately.

Tomorrow is the weekly Thursday motorcycle luncheon ride. It is always enjoyable and the temperature tomorrow is supposed to be near 70, so we will have a lot of fun. Stay happy and healthy until my next post.

California Visit

We spent  several wonderful  days of visiting, catching up and sightseeing, with Pat’s oldest brother Johnny and his wife Paula. They live in Santee, CA which is a suburb of San Diego.

On Wednesday before arriving in California (no this isn’t the way we traveled), we stopped at the sand dunes just inside of the California border. We visited with a gentleman that was there for the weekend and is actually a guard at the prison in Florence, AZ. The image below is a vehicle he made especially to haul his sand buggy. Very nice man.

Thursday brought a day of revisiting many places we had seen in the past several years ago, and being amazed at some of the changes that have come about. As you may notice in the images, the day was beautiful with blue skies, puffy clouds and sunshine, a photographers dream conditions.

Mission Bay Area

San Diego Skyline

One of the many walkways along Mission Bay and a showcase for the palm trees, and shoreline.

Point Loma

This is one of our favorite places to visit. Not only is the view breathtaking, but if you go during the right time of the year (February) you may catch sight of the whales migrating. It was the right time for us, but we were not so lucky this year, but still had a wonderful day. 

Point Loma Lighthouse

Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo led three Spanish vessels in the bay at Point Loma on September 28, 1542. The Kumeyaay indians were there waiting for what they thought were hostile intruders, and let their arrows fly at the “invaders”. They ceased their hostilities once they found out that Cabrillo and his party were simply sojourners in the bay (staying only six days), and exchanged food and goods with the crews of the ships.

Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo

Another Point Loma lighthouse

Ocean Beach 

This is a very popular area with skateboarders, inline skaters, walkers, joggers, antique seekers, and surfers. The surf was producing fair size waves and there were a few brave souls in wetsuits. Notice the two surfers in the upper right of the  image below.

 

Some of the beautiful homes and buildings in the area with a never ending ocean view.

 

And of course we can’t slight the gulls. This one actually did a lot of posing for me. What a “ham”.

 

Below is one of the four or five gun turrets embedded in the side of the cliffs that were put there to protect our shorelines from  Japanese invasions during World War II.

 Wild Animal Park

On Friday we visited the Wild Animal Park in San Diego. It is setup so that the many different animals are housed as close  as possible to their natural habitat even though they are in captivity. There are many species of Asian and African elephants, deer, birds, water fowl, and much more. There are many beautiful flowers and foliage along with tall palm trees. It took most of the day to see even a portion of it. I hope you enjoy just a few of the many pictures I was able to capture.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Old Town San Diego

On Saturday (Valentines Day), we went down to Old Town for the day. We had a really great lunch at an authentic Mexican restaurant before spending the afternoon wandering in and out of some of the quaint (albeit) expensive at times, shops and historical buildings. One of the things that caught my eye during a rest break was this beautiful old mission building that is now part of their museum buildings.

Old Town San Diego Mission

Simpson Nursery

Sunday, Johnny needed some things for his garden so they took us to an unusual nursery in El Cajon. It was a combination nursery, antiques, gifts and an array of museum type autos, campers and trucks from the 50’s and 60’s, along with tools, posters and many other interesting things along the walk of memories. There were also a few animals that loved our attention. Everything was placed in such a way that it was so fun to wander around and view the different items. Here are a few of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How about this RV park…actually old campers on display, but sure brought back some early on memories of Lucille Ball’s Long Long Trailer movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you remember these prices then you are as old as us…lol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brothers

Pat helped Johnny plant a new apricot tree as soon as the rain let up. I hope it produces some wonderful fruit for Johnny and Paula.

Here are a few images of other fruits in their yard. It is so neat to look out and see all of this fresh citrus just hanging here for the picking.

Heading Home

Pat and I will be heading home (or at least to our temporary winter quarters) to Arizona tomorrow (Tuesday). It will be a bittersweet farewell to Johnny and Paula. We have had a grand time and they have been wonderful hosts, but our time as snowbirds is growing closer and closer to coming to an end.