Arizona 2005
Diary of Linda and my trip to Arizona, February/March 2005
2/27/05 Left for out Arizona trip today at 8:30 a.m. Arrived in El Centro
at 11:000 a.m. and checked into the Rio Bend Golf and RV Resort.
Stayed next to Beverly and Bruce Roberts RV. The weather was
perfect in the mid 70’s. There was open field right next to us
where I took Meggie to run. At 4:00 p.m. all our camping buddies
came over for a potluck type party. The Roberts, Willinghams,
Giengers, Rooneys, and Gretchen attended the party. Linda showed
everyone our new trailer and we had a great time.
2/28/05 Left at 8:00 a.m. for Phoenix. We arrived in Glendale AZ at D & R Family RV where we are having our Solar panels put on tomorrow. The owner Ron lets his customers stay over night in his yard which we did. Linda and I enjoyed talking with the 3 other customers there having work done.
3/1/05 Had the solar panels, controller, and shunt fuse installed. All worked well and we left about 1:00 p.m. for Tucson. We checked into Desert Trails RV park for 3 nights at $21 per night. The back of park had a huge desert trail system that looked just like Saguaro NP. Meggie got two long walks per day on the trails. This park at a nice desert ambiance which Linda and I both liked.
3/2/05 We visited Arizona-Senora Desert Museum today. Similar to a zoo but different and well worth seeing. My second time and Linda’s first. The weather was perfect.
3/3/05 Today we went to the San Xavier Del Bac Mission. It was built in 1797 and is still an active church. The art work in the main church was beautiful.
3/4/05 Drove to Kartchner Caverns SP Campground and checked in for 2 nights. We took the Cave Rotunda-Throne Tour at 3:30 p.m. and it was very beautiful, definitely worth the $19 each. The Big Room Tour was all booked through March. Cooked fried rice using left over chicken tonight which turned out excellent. She Who Must Be Obeyed approved without any negative words for my oriental cuisine.
3/5/05 Kicked back all day with only one excursion to the Safeway store in Benson 9 miles away where we stocked up with more food. Linda and I took Meggie for 2 mile off leash hike on one of the side service roads near the campground. I made an asparagus, mushroom, dried tomato, onion, garlic, chicken, pasta sautéed that turned out excellent for dinner.
3/6/05 Got up at 7:00 a.m. Meggie and I took a 4 mile hike on the old Guidant Mining trail around a mountain in the Coronado NF. The hike was beautiful and followed a running creek through a beautiful canyon about 1.5 miles of the hike. Meggie loved exploring all the pools and smells near the creek. Once in the beginning of the hike she shot off after a rabbit and did not return for 10 minutes but was a perfect companion the rest of the trip stopping at regular intervals to wait for my slower pace. The hike turned out to have a 1,500’ elevation rise in the 4 miles which checked out my new heart repair job to the max. I only had minor pain in the beginning, no pain later, and I did not experience shortness of breath I had prior to the operation. The trail around the mountain was very rugged and slow going because of all the rocks and steep descend. It was so steep even Meggie stayed on the path. The last mile of hike had several abandoned mine shafts which made me a little nervous for Meggie, but I was able to keep her away from them and most were boarded up. The hike took me about 3 hours. Both Meggie and I were tired but not sad that we did this beautiful trek. We packed up and drove about 100 miles north in thunder showers to Picacho Peak SP. This park is currently beautifully green with blooming flowers, Saguaro cactus, many birds, and of course the looming peak. A civil war battle was actually fought near this landmark peak which can be seen for perhaps 25 –50 miles away. We found a beautiful large camp site with views of the Saguaro cactus right outside our big back trailer window. There is a 3 mile trail to the peak. The last ½ mile has cables to help you pull yourself up. I may hike it tomorrow to the cable portion with Meggie. I was really tired and hit the rack at 8:00 p.m.
3/7/05 Linda, Meggie, and I hiked ½ way up the 6.2 mile round trip to Picacho Peak this morning. The weather and flowers were beautiful. The trail unlike yesterday had about 30 other hikers on it, so Meggie had to stay on leash most of the time. I am having no problem with my heart now and my wind seems also to have returned. My blood pressure this morning was 116/63 pulse 50. I think the stent operation was a resounding success. After a left over fried rice lunch we drove to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. They had some very old dwellings which we walked around. It was interesting but not real high on my list of sites to see. Returned home to a beautiful afternoon at our camp site in Picacho Peak SP.
2/28/05 Left at 8:00 a.m. for Phoenix. We arrived in Glendale AZ at D & R Family RV where we are having our Solar panels put on tomorrow. The owner Ron lets his customers stay over night in his yard which we did. Linda and I enjoyed talking with the 3 other customers there having work done.
3/1/05 Had the solar panels, controller, and shunt fuse installed. All worked well and we left about 1:00 p.m. for Tucson. We checked into Desert Trails RV park for 3 nights at $21 per night. The back of park had a huge desert trail system that looked just like Saguaro NP. Meggie got two long walks per day on the trails. This park at a nice desert ambiance which Linda and I both liked.
3/2/05 We visited Arizona-Senora Desert Museum today. Similar to a zoo but different and well worth seeing. My second time and Linda’s first. The weather was perfect.
3/3/05 Today we went to the San Xavier Del Bac Mission. It was built in 1797 and is still an active church. The art work in the main church was beautiful.
3/4/05 Drove to Kartchner Caverns SP Campground and checked in for 2 nights. We took the Cave Rotunda-Throne Tour at 3:30 p.m. and it was very beautiful, definitely worth the $19 each. The Big Room Tour was all booked through March. Cooked fried rice using left over chicken tonight which turned out excellent. She Who Must Be Obeyed approved without any negative words for my oriental cuisine.
3/5/05 Kicked back all day with only one excursion to the Safeway store in Benson 9 miles away where we stocked up with more food. Linda and I took Meggie for 2 mile off leash hike on one of the side service roads near the campground. I made an asparagus, mushroom, dried tomato, onion, garlic, chicken, pasta sautéed that turned out excellent for dinner.
3/6/05 Got up at 7:00 a.m. Meggie and I took a 4 mile hike on the old Guidant Mining trail around a mountain in the Coronado NF. The hike was beautiful and followed a running creek through a beautiful canyon about 1.5 miles of the hike. Meggie loved exploring all the pools and smells near the creek. Once in the beginning of the hike she shot off after a rabbit and did not return for 10 minutes but was a perfect companion the rest of the trip stopping at regular intervals to wait for my slower pace. The hike turned out to have a 1,500’ elevation rise in the 4 miles which checked out my new heart repair job to the max. I only had minor pain in the beginning, no pain later, and I did not experience shortness of breath I had prior to the operation. The trail around the mountain was very rugged and slow going because of all the rocks and steep descend. It was so steep even Meggie stayed on the path. The last mile of hike had several abandoned mine shafts which made me a little nervous for Meggie, but I was able to keep her away from them and most were boarded up. The hike took me about 3 hours. Both Meggie and I were tired but not sad that we did this beautiful trek. We packed up and drove about 100 miles north in thunder showers to Picacho Peak SP. This park is currently beautifully green with blooming flowers, Saguaro cactus, many birds, and of course the looming peak. A civil war battle was actually fought near this landmark peak which can be seen for perhaps 25 –50 miles away. We found a beautiful large camp site with views of the Saguaro cactus right outside our big back trailer window. There is a 3 mile trail to the peak. The last ½ mile has cables to help you pull yourself up. I may hike it tomorrow to the cable portion with Meggie. I was really tired and hit the rack at 8:00 p.m.
3/7/05 Linda, Meggie, and I hiked ½ way up the 6.2 mile round trip to Picacho Peak this morning. The weather and flowers were beautiful. The trail unlike yesterday had about 30 other hikers on it, so Meggie had to stay on leash most of the time. I am having no problem with my heart now and my wind seems also to have returned. My blood pressure this morning was 116/63 pulse 50. I think the stent operation was a resounding success. After a left over fried rice lunch we drove to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument. They had some very old dwellings which we walked around. It was interesting but not real high on my list of sites to see. Returned home to a beautiful afternoon at our camp site in Picacho Peak SP.
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A Lynx in the Living Desert Museum near Tucson, AZ. |
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Prairie dog city. |
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The Saguaro Cactus were huge and healthy. |
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Flowers were abundant with all the rain |
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Javelina's having a mid day repast. |
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Linda enjoying the beautiful weather at The Living Desert Museum. |
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A rare cactus that Linda captured. |
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Linda at San Xavier Del Bac Mission near Tucson, AZ |
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This mission has been active since 1797. |
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The main chapel was beautiful. |
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The artwork was in beautiful condition considering its age. |
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We arrived in Picacho SP to this rain shower and beautiful rainbow. |
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There's nothing like an Arizona sunset. What a beautiful camp ground this was. |
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The desert was so green and full of flowers from all the rains. |
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Linda and Meghan on their way to Picacho Peak. |
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Our new 5th wheel on its maiden long trip. |