It is hard to believe that a month has gone by. We have had so much fun it is also hard to leave. We've seen so much and reconnected with old friends and met new ones. Over Super Bowl weekend we spent 4 days with friends Bill and Karen (at their superbowl party I won $40) in Green Valley Arizona. They live in an age restricted (love that phrase) community which means you have to be 55 and older to live there. The majority of the people who live there are from all over the county and either live there full time or just winter there. We came very close to buying a place, but came to our senses. Who knows tho; when you look at the weather in the rest of the country (Oregon included), Arizona becomes quite desirable.
We have seen a lot and I have to tell you the mountains here in the desert are something to behold. The links at the bottom of this blog are to pictures we have taken of the area. This is very different from the northwest, no green forests (at least not here in the Phoenix area), and actually not much green at all except for all the golf courses. But we are getting used to it and starting to appreciate the southwestern look of cactus and adobe. We did learn that a Saguaro cactus does not get its first arm until it is 50 years old. So when you look at the pictures and you see some with 4-5 arms you recognize they are a couple hundred years old.
Some of the things we have done in the last couple of weeks: visiting the Boyce Thompson Arboredum, a cruise on Canyon Lake on the Dolly, where we spotted big horn rams. We've been up to Tortilla Flats, an old ghost town in the shadow of the Weavers Needle where the fabled Lost Dutchman's mine is still lost. We have also had a chance to participate in some of the activities here in the park, including a Valentines Dinner and dance where the park recognized 21 couples who have been married 50 years this year. What is big down here are their Swap meets. That is not a good descriptor of them as there is no swapping. But the Mesa Market Swap meet is the largest in the area, with 1600 booths and you can get just about anything and at some incredible prices.
It is starting to get really warm this week with the temps in the upper 70's. Besides all the wonderful weather, the cost of living here is great. Gas is around $2.50 a gallon, and groceries and clothing seem to be less and their highways are beautiful (although they have some really crazy drivers).
We will be leaving here on Friday, moving the RV to my brothers place while we are on our cruise (thank you Harry!). We are back from our cruise and our week in the Florida Keys on March 10th. We have been invited by Karen and Bill to join their RV club for a trip to Death Valley for 5 days and then we will head north while they all head back down to Green Valley.
Will write more when we get back from the cruise.... Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Desert Mountain - a city park with an elevation of 2300ft, and an incredible view of the valley. http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=552467762407%3A1717625923
Casa Grande - a desert indian ruin from 1350-1450 a.d. - http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=842467762407%3A1719836928
Canyon Lake - one of about 4 lakes on the Salt River where dams have been created. This lake was created back in 1920's. http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=642467762407%3A1753036719
Boyce Thompson Arboretum - A great arboretum that shows desert exhibits from around the world, including Australia, South America, Mexico and the Southwest. They also had a legume and a Herb garden.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=742467762407%3A1780093012