Dec.17th
We left Tucson and drove the 2.5 hours to Apache Junction. We are booked in at Golden Sun RV Resort (320 sites) for a month. Warm 70 Deg.F afternoon.
It started to rain and get very windy in the evening. Ralph helped our neighbours Harry and Thea from Kelowna get their awning up. We were invited for a drink afterwards (nice people).
Dec. 18th
It rained heavy last night--cloudy and cooler 60 Deg. F today. We met Lyle and Lorrene from Colorado. All the people in the resort are very friendly.
We drove to Walmart and did some shopping.
Dec.19th
We spent almost 5 hours at the Mesa Swap Meet---shopping,having lunch and listening to the entertainment. We picked up another suitcase. The market has everything!
We joined Harry and Thea and Hans and Vicki for the Friday Night Dance at the resort 7:30 -- to 10:30 pm $5.00 per couple. It was a good time with a husband and wife singers. 61 Deg. F.
Dec 20th Bon Voyage Rob (my brother spending Christmas in Pennsylvania with his daughter and family)
Ralph cleaned all the bugs off our 5th wheel while I cleaned the outside windows. 62 Deg. F.
I went for a dip in the hot tub afterwards.
Hans and Vicki from Vernon B.C. invited us for happy hour. Along with Harry and Thea,the six of us went to the Grand Buffet for supper --the tastiest Chinese food ever! $19.00 for the two of us.
Karilee arrived safe and sound in Calgary (Burrrr -25 Deg. C. with lots of snow). She was delayed 40 minutes in Vancouver for de-icing the plane.
Dec. 21st
Sunny and 64 DEg. F./20 Deg. C. Ralph cooked breakfast outside. We did some shopping at Walmart and the Family Dollar Store.
We packed our suitcases and enjoyed the afternoon sun-- relaxing and reading.
In the evening we walked around the resort to see the Christmas lights.
Dec. 22nd
Finally the internet is working. Cloudy 60 Deg. F. We did 3 loads of laundry. We were invited for coffee and Christmas baking at Harry and Thea's at 11 am.
We invited our new friends over for drinks before the pot luck supper at 5 pm.Very enjoyable. It rained heavy in the evening.
Dec. 23rd
The Super Shuttle is picking us up at 10 am to take us to the Phoenix Sky Harbour Airport. Our direct non stop flight is at 2:30 pm and arriving in Calgary at 5:30 pm. We hope that we arrive on schedule.
We will be in contact through the blog in the new year. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and having Christmas with our family especially our precious grandchildren Liam and Annika.
From our family to yours have a blessed MERRY CHRISTMAS and a joyous HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tucson & area Dec. 13th to 16th
Dec. 13th
Ralph and I both had hair appointments at 8am. I needed a color and cut. "Desert Cuts" beauty salon is located inside the resort--convenient,inexpensive and good stylists.
We went to the resort's putting green and hit a few balls. We laid around the pool and went for a swim and hot tub. Although it got windy in the afternoon the temperature was still 75 Deg. F.
We enjoyed the resort's Christmas concert at 7pm.
Dec. 14th --- BonVoyage, Mom "Christmas and the winter in Ottawa with my niece and family"
Windy,rainy 60 Deg. F.
We drove 50 miles southeast of Tucson to The Kartchner Caverns.
We took the 1.5 hour underground guided tour of the Retunda/Throne Room Cave-- cameras, purses,gum etc. were not allowed into the caves in order to protect the fragile structures--70 deg.F & 98% humidity inside. The cave,which was as large as 2 football fields, is a wet "live" limestone cave--meaning the amazing formations that have taken tens of thousands of years to form are still active. The beautiful shapes and varied formations (stalagmites,stalactites,etc.) were created over time from water droplets landing on limestone and depositing minerals.I wish I had photos;it was so beautiful!
Later Ralph and I went to the wine tasting at the resort. We met fellow campers.
Dec. 15th
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum was 15 miles from our resort. We spent almost 5 hours walking and exploring this world-renowned zoo ,natural history museum and botanical garden.
The Museum's setting is 21 acres of Sonoran desert with 300 animal species and 1200 kinds of plants. We saw mountain lions,bobcats,raptors,bighorn sheep, owls,scorpions,reptiles to name a few. The Hummingbird Aviary and Cactus Garden were lovely.
We listened to an educational talk on venomous reptiles. We were up close and personal with a young diamondback rattlesnake and a Gila monster (a poisonous lizard). Lots more to explore at another time.
After dinner Ralph and I walked around the resort for over an hour enjoying the beautiful Christmas decorations.
Dec. 16th--- Happy Birthday Karilee
Ralph and I decided to spend the day relaxing around the resort. We cleaned the 5th wheel and did some grocery shopping,too.
We checked out 4 park models for sale at the resort. We will definitely come back to Rincon Country West RV Resort. Cloudy and 61 Deg. F.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tucson,Arizona Dec. 10-12th
Dec. 10th
Last night it was 27 Deg. F-- frost this morning. As we drove through New Mexico there were cattle on the prairie grass and orchards of Pecan trees with mountains in the distance. We went through a security checkpoint for illegal Mexicans.
We arrived in sunny Tucson, AZ --74 Deg. F. Tucson is the largest city in Arizona situated in a large valley of cacti surrounded by mountains. Rincon Country West RV Resort on the edge of Tucson has over 1000 RV and Park Model sites. There are palm trees on every site and every amenity possible. After settling in we walked around the resort; liked it and the warm weather and decided to stay a week.
Dec. 11th
Ralph cooked breakfast outside this warm sunny morning. We drove to the Visitor Center in downtown Tucson,shopped at Walmart,washed the truck,did grocery shopping and laundry. I finally got my nails done.
We put up Christmas lights on our 5th wheel and a Christmas tree inside. Everyone has such beautiful Christmas decorations up in the park. Warm evening 75 Deg. F./BBQ'd steak outside.
Dec. 12th
Another warm day. We drove 35 miles northeast of Tucson to see Biosphere 2. The center is a research facility studying the effects of climate change on life on earth. It consists of glass and steel structures that encompasses 3 acres and 5 biomes: rain forest,ocean,savanna,desert and marsh. In the early nineties 8 people lived in that environment. An amazing facility!
We stopped for a very late lunch at Bubb's Grub Saloon on the way back.
Last night it was 27 Deg. F-- frost this morning. As we drove through New Mexico there were cattle on the prairie grass and orchards of Pecan trees with mountains in the distance. We went through a security checkpoint for illegal Mexicans.
We arrived in sunny Tucson, AZ --74 Deg. F. Tucson is the largest city in Arizona situated in a large valley of cacti surrounded by mountains. Rincon Country West RV Resort on the edge of Tucson has over 1000 RV and Park Model sites. There are palm trees on every site and every amenity possible. After settling in we walked around the resort; liked it and the warm weather and decided to stay a week.
Dec. 11th
Ralph cooked breakfast outside this warm sunny morning. We drove to the Visitor Center in downtown Tucson,shopped at Walmart,washed the truck,did grocery shopping and laundry. I finally got my nails done.
We put up Christmas lights on our 5th wheel and a Christmas tree inside. Everyone has such beautiful Christmas decorations up in the park. Warm evening 75 Deg. F./BBQ'd steak outside.
Dec. 12th
Another warm day. We drove 35 miles northeast of Tucson to see Biosphere 2. The center is a research facility studying the effects of climate change on life on earth. It consists of glass and steel structures that encompasses 3 acres and 5 biomes: rain forest,ocean,savanna,desert and marsh. In the early nineties 8 people lived in that environment. An amazing facility!
We stopped for a very late lunch at Bubb's Grub Saloon on the way back.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Las Cruces, New Mexico Dec.8 & 9th
Organ Mountains
White Sands
Missile Range
La Mesilla
Dec.8th
Thunder,lightning,heavy rain and high winds 40-50 mph hit the area around 10 am and lasted all day. It snowed on the high mountains. Imagine snow this far south!
We decided we would compose our Christmas letter and send it out by E-mail (Christmas cards to non computer people.) Good day to do it--not fit to be outside!
Thunder,lightning,heavy rain and high winds 40-50 mph hit the area around 10 am and lasted all day. It snowed on the high mountains. Imagine snow this far south!
We decided we would compose our Christmas letter and send it out by E-mail (Christmas cards to non computer people.) Good day to do it--not fit to be outside!
Dec. 9th
High winds during the night but eased off by morning. High of 50 Deg. today
We drove about 60 miles through the Organ Mountains north east of Las Cruces,across the Chihuahuan Desert to the White Sands National Monument in the Tularosa Basin. The White Sands area is 250 square miles of pure white gypsum sand--the largest gypsum dune field in the world. We drove 16 miles on a designated road through the dunes and had a picnic. It was neat to walk on the shifting dunes. What a miracle of nature!
As we drove back to Las Cruces we stopped at the White Sands Missile Museum. The missile range is the largest overland missile testing site in the US (first atomic bomb was exploded here).
Seven miles east of Las Cruces we browsed around the historic adobe village of La Mesilla. I wish we had more time to browse and shop.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
New Mexico Dec. 7th
Dec. 7th
We drove 320 miles across West Texas--grazing land with sage brush and cactus.We gained an hour( back to Mountain time zone). We drove 25 to 30 miles through the large city of El Paso Texas. It borders the state of New Mexico and the larger city of Juarez, Mexico. We have driven 3000 km/1800 miles in Texas.
We arrived at Las Cruces KOA in New Mexico. The RV park is sitting on a plateau overlooking Las Cruces(65,000 people) and mountain ranges. With a back-in campsite we have a awesome view. High sixties. Finally good connection with WiFi.
Fort Stockton Dec. 6th
Dec. 6th
As we drove west on I-10 we went through Hill Country. The highways are carved through the limestone hills which are covered with short stubby pine trees,cacti,pecan and oak trees.
We saw some road kill--deer and armadillos.
As we neared Fort Stockton RV Park the land was barren and flat for miles. West Texas has lots of oil pumpers and wind generators. The mountains are a way off in the distance. Our RV park was an oasis in the desert. After sitting in the afternoon sun 20+ Deg. C. we had a homecooked meal at the campground's Road Runner Cafe.
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