We thought it only appropriate to have a white Christmas so we drove up to Flagstaff. It was cold, but beautiful at the ski lodge. Mike, Nicki, Shawnee and Caylee met us there for some hot chocolate. After a few photo opts we were headed back to the warmer climate of Phoenix, AZ!
It’s time to play catch up! So sorry for the delay, we have been experiencing some computer issues which caused me not to be able to post anything.
So I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas this year. We have been quite busy, but enjoying our time in El Mirage, AZ. We have been to Cave Creek to the Wild West Days. Karaoke at the park and Jam sessions.
The Girls just having fun at Karaoke
Saturday afternoon Jam session
Getting his sugar rush on
Karen, Jossie & Carol going to Christmas Lighting Event
Karen & Roger at Westgate Mall
Vance, Donna, Lee & Carol at Saddle Ranch having a cotton candy tower after dinner.
Lee & Carol in front of Christmas Tree
Our Christmas trees in front of RV
Lee & Carol caroling at parade
Santa in PEM parade
We made a trip up to Seattle, WA so that Lee could install a couple of RV Roofs. While we were there Gary & Debi Bunzer were our gracious tour guides.
Gary & Debi at Snoqualmie Falls
We saw Mountain Ranier, which is covered with snow, on our way to Snoqualmie Falls. It is a very scenic & highly visited power plant. The leaves in Seattle are just beginning to turn to their beautiful falls colors.
Snow covered Mt Ranier, Seattle
Lee & Carol from the viewing deck at Snoqualmie Falls
A hint of fall leaves at Snoqualmie
Lower river view of Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie River
Sunday evening Gary & Debi took us to the Chihuly Garden & Glass Exhibit. The exhibit is indoor and outdoor, all blown glass. This is a must see if you ever have the chance. The Exhibit was next to the famous Seattle Space Needle from “Sleepless in Seattle”.
Chihuly, Gardens and Glass Exhibit
Chihuly’s Mille Fiori, blown glass exhibit
Seattle Space Needle
Monday, while Lee was out working I sent time walking downtown Seattle & the Seattle Market Place, where the famous Pike’s Seafood Market is located. I really enjoyed looking at all the vegetables, beautiful flowers, and all the fish & seafood.
Rooftop Garden at Seattle’s Marketplace
Beautiful flowers at the Seattle Market Place
Fresh Vegetables at the Market Place
Pikes Famous Fish Market
Outside the hotel there was a Lab playing in the water fountain. I wish I had video recorded him, he was having the best time. Made me miss my Bennie even more.
Dog playing in water fountain
It’s HOT HOT HOT! They say “it’s a dry heat”. It’s still too hot for me. We’re starting to get into our groove now that we’re settled back in Phoenix. Lee bought us a “new ride” to travel around the RV Resort in.
Our new ride!
We went to tour the Arizona Cardinals Stadium. It was very interesting to be able to see parts of a stadium that you wouldn’t see during a game. They wouldn’t let us go into the Cardinals Locker Room, but we did get to go into the visitors. The most interesting part was the whole football field is moveable. They move the field outside when not in use to be able to have other events in the arena. It’s done by tracks, similar to train tracks. They were having a RV Show in the arena the day we were there.
Arizona Cardinals Stadium
Visitors Locker Room
Press Box
Lee in Press Box
While in the stadium a huge dust storm came through. So glad we were inside when it happened.
Dust Storm coming through
Wow! It’s been too long since our last post. I bet you’ve all been wondering if we fell off the map! Well…..it seems like we did. A lot has happened, but all is well.
Where to start? The morning we left Boise, our new RV windshield got broken by a huge rock on the away out of town. Once we arrived in Redmond, OR for the FMCA RV Show we were able to get it replaced. Thank God for insurance. $3700.00 for a new windshield! We had wonderful success at the show.
The morning we were leaving Redmond, I fell outside along the road and broke my elbow. My first broken bone! Hopefully my last! We decided to drive to Coos Bay which was our next destination to go to the ER there. Big Mistake! After our 4 hour drive, I waited 3 more hours in the ER and it was going to be another 4-5 hours before I would be seen. So we left there & drove 45 minutes to a Urgent Care Center where I walked right in & was given a wonderful full arm cast!
New arm bling in Coos Bay,
Beautiful drive down the pacific coast
Over the River – Thru the Woods Scenic Byway…….Really!
Our next stop was Napa Valley. Yes….just in time for the 6.0 earthquake! That was the scariest thing we have ever waken up to. At 3:30AM the RV started rocking out of control. Thank God, we had no damage but the town was not that fortunate. There were several small after shocks, then the big 3.9 after shock. We were able to go to a couple of vineyards that didn’t have so much damage they were able to be open for business.
Napa, CA Earthquake damage
A few days later we arrived in Phoenix where we will be for the next 7 – 8 months. I went to see a Doctor here and he removed my cast. I will only need a sling for the next few weeks, along with some exercise for my arm.
I had a girls week in Florida planned for some time and since my cast was removed I decided to go ahead with my plans. It was great to see my girlfriends & get some good shopping time in. I also got to play cards & domino’s.
I got back on Tuesday, then Lee had to leave for 5 days to go to Hershey PA RV Show. The day Lee got back into Phoenix, we had to put Bennie, our 16 year old dog down. We miss him so much but it was the right thing to do for him. Now he no longer sick or in pain. The hardest thing is coming home to no wagging tail to greet you at the door.
Bennie
Now I think we’re up to date on all our excitement and we’re ready to settle down for a while. Phoenix has really been hot, 95 to 108 every day. We are really pleased with the RV park that we will be staying in. It seems to have a lot of activities that we will enjoy, a great pool area, and the neighbors we have met are very nice.
Blessings everyone!
We were so happy that we were able to visit Bill & Tina’s at their new home in Boise. Beautiful home with a magnificent view. We were also very happy that Pastor Carl & Valerie were also vacationing in Boise from Sarasota Calvary Chapel. Bill & Tina took us biking, no cycling, I was told to it is called, on the Greenbelt. What a great place to ride. We stopped for a break at Tina & Bill’s daughter’s place for a quick rest. After our ride we went to various wineries. It was a wonderful day, with great friends & great wine.
Tina & Bill biking on the Greenbelt in Boise
Taking a break from biking
Wine tasting in the vineyards
WIne on the vine!
We spent two days in the Teton National Park / Jackson Hole WY area. How beautiful it is. The first day we took a ferry boat across Jenny Lake to hike up the mountain to the Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. It was only 1 1/2 mile hike one way, but it seemed longer to me! But well worth the time & effort. The water falls were so majestic. Then further up the mountain to Inspiration Point the view was amazing. The following day we took a float trip down the Snake River. We saw several Bald Eagles along the river. Also saw Harrison Ford’s property that went on forever, and we saw Sandra Bullock’s house. Maybe next time I’ll be brave enough for a level 2 water trip.
Teton Mountains
Teton Mountains with snow in August
The Teton Mountains with snow in August!
Jenny Lake in Teton National Park
Lake Jenny, Teton Mountain National Park
Hidden Falls
Hidden Falls
Lee at Hidden Falls, Teton National Park
Hidden Falls, Teton National Park
On a ferry crossing Jenny Lake
On our way to the Snake River float trip
View of the Tetons from the Snake River
One of many Bald Eagles seen on our float trip
Sandra Bullock’s house on the Snake River
Our second day at Yellowstone started out early again with early morning fog. It was beautiful, however, dangerous. There were two wrecks on the way into the park. Our stops included the Mud Volcano Basin, Mammoth Hot Springs and Upper and Lower Canyon Falls. Very interesting how hot the water is. We got to sit in the Mammoth Hot Springs, where if you got too close to the hot springs coming into the creek which was freezing, you would burn yourself. Find a small pool in the middle and it was like sitting in a comfortable hot tub. If you plan on sitting in the hot springs, come more prepared than we were. You must have water shoes and come wearing you swimsuits. The canyon and water falls were well worth the drive. The north side of Yellowstone, other than those 2 stops, is nothing compared to the rest of Yellowstone, so it made an easier day. We are so glad we were able to come see Yellowstone National Park!
Buffalo herd in the morning fog
Sign at the Mud Volcano
Geyser at Mud Volcano
Upper Falls, Canyon Village area of Yellowstone
Lower Falls canyon
Elk napping in Mammoth Hot Springs town center
We had a great day at Cody, WY and at Yellowstone National Park. It was the first time there for both of us, so yes, we acted like the typical tourist. We had a wonderful dinner at the historic Irma Hotel, a chicken pot pie that was as big as a regular pie plate. Thank goodness we shared. During dinner, they had a gunfight in the street. After dinner, we went to the Cody Rodeo. This was the second rodeo Lee had ever been to. It goes on nightly during the summer months. Every evening a thunderstorm has come up on us here, it has reminded me of Florida weather a little. The sky and mountains are beautiful over the Shoshone River.
We got up early the next morning so that we could get a long day in at Yellowstone. Our first day was seeing the beautiful Firehole Falls, and all of the geysers. We were lucky to get to Old Faithful just in time to see her in action. Pretty amazing! I think our favorite geysers was the Black Sand Basin, the Spout and Cliff geyser. I really think they are more fun to watch because the erupt continuously. The Yellowstone Lake is beautiful. It’s sad to see all the evidence of fires over the past years, it takes 20 years I think, to reseed. Mother nature at work. It was really cool to see the wild buffalo just walking in the middle of the road with no worries about all the tourist snapping photos of them. We also were lucky enough to see moose and elk. I love seeing wild animals, I act like a little kid when I see them. It was a very full and long day. I would definitely recommend that when you come to see Yellowstone, get up EARLY! Later in the day it is impossible to get parking spaces at the Basins and other stops. Plus, wildlife is more active early in the mornings or early evenings.
Gunfighters at the historic Irma Hotel, Cody WY
Ride’em cowboy Cody WY Rodeo
Storm coming across Buffalo Bill Dam on the Shoshone River
Traffic stopper buffalo
Lee at Firehole Falls, Yellowstone State Park
Black Sand Basin, Spout Geyser
Black Sand Basin, Cliff Geyser
Old Faithful in action
Yellowstone Lake
Elk in Yellowstone State Park
Moose on the loose in Yellowstone Park
We were so happy that we were close enough to Gillette, WY to stop in on our former neighbors from Rogers, Arkansas. It was so good to see Susan, meet her husband Jack, and see Mary and her precious kids. We played cards with Susan and Mary, I won’t rub it in who won! Jack was the chef while we were in town. What a great cook he is. He can cook for us any time. Jack took us on a tour of the coal mine where he works. It was so very interesting. Let’s not wait so long for our next visit. Miss you girl friend!
Susan & Jack in Gillette WY
Dinner with Susan in Gillette WY
Enjoying time with Susan in Gillette WY
Susan, Mary & Carol at Mary’s beautiful home.