Roadrunners

We have heard that Phoenix, AZ is the snowbird capital of the U.S. and now we understand why.  Retired people from all over the northern states migrate here in the winter-time.  However, Jerry and I have decided our lives here resemble roadrunners rather than snowbirds. The warm weather and sunshine make us want to load up the car everyday, aim it toward the next chosen point of interest, and GO!  I saw a real-live roadrunner on a desert road the other day and I could totally relate to it's speed and excitement; there is so much to see and do here!

  We signed up for the sunset ride at the Ponderosa Riding Stables in the South Mountains.

Driving the Apache Trail was a bit scary but the views were worth all the nervousness.

The hiking trails took some getting used to, but now they are one of our favorite things to do.

Petroglyphs along the trail.

This is the church we have been attending for the past three weeks in Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction.

On our first visit I was greeted by an usher with a pistol on his hip, which I believed to be part of the costumed 'flare' of the town, until I noticed the pianist.

While making small talk with some folks in our pew, we were told that many members come to church on horseback and need to be armed against the rattlesnakes.  

The Case Grande National Monument, abandoned in 1450.

The Tonto National Forest Cave Dwellings.  

The locals say, "Forget fishing in Arizona."  I'm so happy he hasn't given up yet, even a roadrunner has to be still once in a while.

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!

You and Me and Rain on the Roof...

Rain on the roof sounds comfy-cozy in a song, bit it isn't my favorite camping scenario.  Port Aransas, Texas, is a cute little coastal town on the gulf, where the beach is considered a city street.  Before it started raining last night we enjoyed an amazing aquarium with jellyfish that looked like Christmas lights, and playfully cute Dolphins.  We visited the King Ranch and Museum, which began in the 1800's and still thrives today.  We drove to the tiny town of Lamar, to see 5-feet-tall (we were told) Whooping Cranes.  Though we did spot some cranes with our binoculars in a marsh beside the beach, they were disappointingly small.  While wondering if we'd been 'had' we stopped to admire this one thousand year old tree.

Jerry fished from the Jetty in the state park, where I found two starfish and a Sand dollar.

This is a view from my handlebars.

The Jetty at the City Beach.

As I write this, we are about 95 miles from our next destination.  The rain has stopped, the skies are much brighter ahead, and  our plans include seeing family; San Antonio, here we come!

The Big Easy

As we leave Louisiana today we will remember fondly the peaceful, natural beauty of St. Bernard State Park.  The musicians, magicians, museums, and food of The French Quarter and Jackson Square, and the serene beauty of The Garden District neighborhoods.  New Orleans was historical, very fun, and a bit scary too; after hearing reports of two violent attacks in the area, we always left before dark.

St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest continually used cathedral in the U.S., where we attended Mass last Sunday.

Jazz musicians on Royal Street in the French Quarter.

The Oak Alley Plantation, which got it's name from the long line of trees evenly spaced and stretching out to the levy in front of the mansion.  Jerry is standing along the path between the trees below, which were planted In the 1700's.

We celebrated our 36th Wedding Anniversary at The Revelution, a Creole restaurant in the French Quarter, and it was unforgettable!

Westward....Ho!

The Old Man and the Sea

It is our last evening in Gulf Shores, tomorrow we leave for New Orleans.  Jerry fished off the pier in the state park and caught this one...

and more than a few much smaller ones, which he gave to this Blue Heron waiting patiently behind him.

  A fisherman nearby said, "You give him one more of those and he'll be sitting on the bench with you."

  I took a long beach walk.

One night we went to Bellingrath Gardens, one of the top 10 light displays in the U.S., it did not disappoint.  In fact, total amazement was around every corner along the garden paths.

Goodbye, Alabama, we will definitely be back!