Too Fun Tucson?

We arrived in Tucson on February 11th, fully prepared to favorably compare it to Mesa, but now we're not so sure.  The Valley of the Sun keeps out-shining it in almost every way.  Just before we left we checked out Saguarro Lake.

We hiked the Butcher Jones Trail (without my camera)...beautiful overviews!

Ski day at the Snow Bowl in Flagstaff.  

Denny and Laura came to Tucson the first weekend we were here to visit their daughter, Jenna.  Jenna and her husband, Todd, have three adorable little kids and a giant white dog named, Waylon.  We had a great time and family-time has been scarce for us.  Seven-year-old, Ben, even gave me a big hug on his way to bed.  At first he was very hesitant, but when I explained that it had been a LONG time since I had been given a "kid-hug" he shyly obliged.  Kayla, the oldest, shared pictures with us of the father/daughter dance she and Todd had recently attended while Anna, the littlest one, curled up next to Waylon on the living room rug...it was family life at it's finest!  Thank you Todd and Jenna!  This is Anna, Waylon, Jenna, Kayla, and Ben.

The grill master, Todd.

Denny and Laura, proud parents and grandparents.

Saguarro National Forest is a beauty and we have spent many simply perfect days taking it all in along the hiking trails that wind through it.

A snack habit: find a pretty, peaceful place to sit and rest and peel an orange...they have never tasted so good!  This is Sabino Canyon.

Sometimes we have to share the trail.

Saint Fransico Xavier de Bac, a mission called the white dove of the desert, was constructed in 1783 by and for the Tohono O'odham tribe of native Americans.  Father Kino, the founder of the mission is one of Arizona's state heroes featured in the Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C.

The Tucson Rodeo was fun!

The sunset over our campground. 

We have laughed about existing in this too-cozy white box for three months now, but every time we meet our next-door neighbors, no matter where we go, we don't feel so unique at all....this is FUN!

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!