Lunch with Gerry

We moved today up to Goodyear Arizona, just west of Phoenix and now await Tanya and her crew.
Once we got set up we went down the road and awaited Ron's cousin from New Orleans as he was passing
through and we thought this was a good chance to get in a quick visit.
Here is the new looking Barney getting parked.


And here comes Gerry, we went over to the Crackerbarrel and had a great lunch. If all goes well we may get in another visit on Friday on his return.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

What a wonderful day, we traveled southwest to the town of Why where we turned south toward Mexico and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

The scenery along the way was spectacular with so many big saguaros.



The wooden structure on the left is the insides of an expired Saguaro.

Ron and Rick at the entrance to the Park.



At the visitors center center a memorial for a young ranger scout that died at a very young man out in the desert in a Mexican drug bust gone bad, he had loved the area so much.

We headed out on a 22 mile trail around the park, here is a beautiful Organ Pipe Cactus.

Rick and Debbie and the Organ Pipe Cactus.

An Octillo almost ready to bloom, with all the cactus and the moutains in the background.

The desert was very beautiful.

You will not find the Organ Pipe Cactus north of here as they are very sensitive of the frost.

How can that little bird sit on such a prickly cactus.

If you look very closely into the middle of the cactus you will find a deformity and it is quite pretty.

We got right up into the mountains.

Just an awesome drive.

After leaving the park we headed north via Ajo, here we discovered this lovely church.

After a quick stop in Gila Bend we got home at 6pm, a very full day but so much fun. We had a really nice dinner at the Mexican Restaurant Eva's and then back to the coach to retire. Thanks Debbie and Rick for the perfect day.

The Domes?

Lots of events happening today and so first thing this morning we were given a free show from some very old army airplanes. (Sorry Ron is not here at the moment to tell me what they are)

Then we went on a little drive to see the Domes, we have heard that the site was a California company that was going to engineer electronic boards and I think things got away on them. The site is now a garbage dump for many people.

The first one looked like a flying saucer and when you went inside the echo was amazing.



The rest of the domes looked like large catapillars, you could just tap your foot and the echo was as clear as clear could be.

There were four constructed ones and there were three poured concrete forms where you could see they planned on more.


I took this picture so you could see how thin the concrete it.

The inside.

Someone had propped up this little fellow on the flying saucer dome and it reminded me of the commercial for the mail company that comes to get that nasty Christmas present, do you know the one I mean.

Picachio Peak

Time for another hike, we stopped over at Debbie and Ricks to get Debbie, Rick was outside getting in some sunshine rays. Their car in the drive way was a steal of a deal, would you believe me if I told you they paid less than 5000 for it. It is a beauty.


The other day I showed you a picture of the inside of their house but here is the outside, if you thought the car was a steal the house was even a better buy, makes us want to buy but we are afraid of our itchy feet.

So todays hike was up Picacho Peak and no we did not get all the way to the top, better get in a little better shape before we attempt that as you pull yourself up on cables.


Beautiful octillo with a barrel cactus standing beside it.

We had picked up Tom and Jane and here we ladies go up the hill.

The other side was like a sea of saguaros

Jane, me and Debbie below Picacho Peak.

Ron and Tom taking a well deserved rest.

This was as far as I went up 2.3 miles and then 2.3 back down, I even found a geocache up on the trail.

Beautiful Desert View.

Geocaching in the North Mountain Park

We have never seen a year like this, the park here at Casa Grand is so empty, it looks like it should be early October not late February. Today we sat over in our corner all by ourselves, we did get a neightbor in a fifth wheel later on in the day.

After lunch we went to a new area for us, the North Mountain Park, and did some geocaching, there were some very difficult finds and we did not find them all.


Lots of cactus and big rock formations.


Many, many covered tables for families to have a nice place to picnic.

The desert is sure green, we even saw lots of grass today.

Had a nice day out today.

Hike in the Casa Grande Mountain Park

We got together with Debbie and Rick Chaffee today at their new lovely home in Arizona City and we decided to go for a little hike in the Casa Grande Mountain Park which is quite close to their place.

All of course except for Rick who is still healing from a bad fall last summer, we hope he gets better soon so he can join us next time. The desert is a little green because we have had a couple small rain showers and the flowers are just starting to bloom, it is an exciting time of year as the desert really starts to come alive.





The mountain was full of trails and so we just headed off and followed the path.



Ruby was very well behaved and walked along right beside Debbie.







A small desert flower in the middle of the rocks

When we got back Rick had prepared us lunch and it was delicious, this is the new kitchen with

beautiful new appliances.

Feb 12

So I am busy trying to get the computer to work and find the thousand of pictures and documents that have disappeared but having no luck so decided to take a break and look at facebook and up pops a message from Rons Auntie Anita, they are all over at Yuma Lakes and the jam session starts at 1pm, tell Ronnie to bring his guitar and get over.

So that is what we did and much fun was had by all.

Here is Ron preforming with some of the other talent.

Right behind him comes his cousin Alva, she does lots of fun entertaining songs.

Back to Adrian and Alva's for happy hour and of course dinner, Alva would not hear of us not staying.

Alva playing one of her favorites, the Snowbird song, while Vern (Diane's husband, Diane is Auntie Simones daughter) watches on.


Here we have from left to right Adrian, cousin, Diane, and good friend Tina.

Auntie Anita, always looks so good, she and Uncle Art had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Ron playing his heart out.

We have now moved on to Casa Grande, where we will spend the next two weeks. Had Rick and Debbie Chaffee over for spagetti dinner at the Clubhouse , it was good to see them again.