Where the Skies Are Not Cloudy All Day!

We have been calling Arizona 'home' for a couple of weeks now.  Our first address was Tucson, where we experienced the historical town of Tombstone.

The cowboy 'actors' take their jobs very seriously.

After deciding to see Old Tucson and The Saguaro National Park on our return visit in February, we left Tucson for Phoenix, where we visited The Mystery Castle.  A man named, Boyce Gulley built it with discarded, rejected bricks from a brickyard and rocks from the desert. It took him fifteen years to complete and when he willed it to his estranged daughter, Mary Lou, she moved in at age 19 after he died.  She lived in the castle until her death in 2004, I believe, when she was in her late 80's.   This guy was so resourceful and creative, it's amazing to see.

Having enjoyed the adjoining bike path at our campsite in San Antonio, we chose a park here in Mesa with the same amenity.  They are called canal roads and "washes" and they wind all around the city of Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottdale.  This one is the Indian Wash trail from Eldorado City Park to Tempe.

This is the Consolidated Canal trail behind our park.

Yesterday we visited the Goldfield Ghost Town by Apache Junction.  The museum has Jeremiah Johnson's buffalo-skin coat and Doc Holiday's tuxedo jacket on display!

We have been here almost three weeks and we just can't stop taking pictures of cactus...even when capturing a sunset!

We haven't seen any roaming buffalo (or deer or antelope) yet, and we have heard a discouraging word or two, but the skies are sunny almost everyday, all day!  We are making huge sacrifices to be on this adventure, however, and here is one of them.

Our oldest grandson, Jack Jr. celebrated his 11th birthday on January 16th and we weren't there.  As you can see, he is a one-in-a-million kind of kid!  Love you so much, JJ!

The Wild, Wild West!

Today is sunny and cool as we roll along US 10 to Tuscon, Arizona, where we will stay for a couple of days.  We really liked San Antonio!  My cousin, Denny and his gracious wife, Laura opened their hearts, their home, and their calendars for our visit.  The first day, Jerry and I discovered that we could enter the River Walk Bike Trail from our campground!

We rode to the San Jose Mission, which is called the Queen of the five old Spainish Missions located in San Antonio.

The Alamo wasn't as spectacular, but I'm still a bit disappointed that we didn't take a picture of it.

When we reached the city we had lunch in one of the restaurants that line the Riverwalk.

The bike trail beckoned us three times while we were there and one trip took us to the King William neighborhood to check out the mansions.  The first one was built in 1877.

That afternoon we discussed our sightseeing options with Denny and Laura over a delicious ham dinner that Laura made, and the good times rolled to...

The Natural Bridge Caverns

(water dripping through the earth's surface over time has created the most amazingly beautiful formations and pathways underneath.  It takes about one hundred years for one inch of stalagmite to form!)

The LBJ State Park, Johsonville (LBJ's boyhood home), and The Texas Whitehouse (his ranch).  

A stop for lunch, lots of fun conversation, and some enlightening info on LBJ rounded out the trip.

The Tejas Steakhouse for dinner and then the Rodeo...

...where Jerry rode a bull! :-)

It was a little bit chilly, but more fun. A perfect finale for our Texas adventure with the open fires, live country music, and the excitement of the rodeo!

We can't thank you enough, Denny and Laura, we had such a wonderful time!