Sunday, December 30, 2018


12-30-18

Yesterday we arrived in Phoenix.  The Desert's Edge RV Village is ideally located in North Phoenix.  It has everything we need but is not nearly as nice as it looks online.
Friends for 45 years, Bob and Jan Baker drove to Phoenix from Prescott to be with us.  We had a laugh-filled dinner, as you can see. 

This morning we all went to one of the best places I've ever visited, the Museum of Musical Instruments.  It is a comprehensive collection of instruments from all over the world, divided into geographic areas.  Every visitor has a headphone which senses the video being played in front of each display, so everyone sees the instruments and hears them, as well.  It is hard to explain how well done it is.



Nose flute:
Jan and Bob


More instruments.






 Handbells.

Harmonicas.


We also loved our visit with nephew, Andrew Kaplan, his wife, Rebecca and our adorable grand niece, Hannah.  We don't see them often enough.






12-28-18

We had a lovely dinner with good friends Larry and Kathy Richards in Casa Grande, AZ at Anaya's.

We stayed at Casa Grande RV Park, which was close to their home and fine. 

There isn't much in the town itself.  Most businesses rely on snowbirds and can't make it over the summer when they aren't here.

On to Phoenix.

Friday, December 28, 2018

12-27-18
We woke up  this morning in Willcox, AZ with a visiting tumbleweed against the truck.  Even though we are at a KOA right off of I-10, it is still fairly rugged here.  We were warned not to walk the dogs in the field behind the campground because of javelina and scorpions.

In Nevada and Arizona there are series of signs instructing steps to take in case of a dust storm:
Pull vehicle off the highway, Turn off vehicle, Stay buckled, Feet off brakes, Lights off.  Who knew?

Gary, AZ is a real place.

For some reason there is a large field of rail cars turned over on their sides????

This is a border protection checkpoint on I-10.  Each vehicle is checked for illegals.
The Southwest puts a lot of effort into rest stops.  Above is an adobe structure meant for picnicking.
Roadside art near an overpass in Tucson.

We arrived in Casa Grande and are staying at the very nice Casa Grande RV Park, not far from old friends, Larry and Kathy Richards.



Last night we had dinner at a great restaurant in Casa Grande, AZ called Bedillons.  Above are a few pictures of their outstanding cactus garden.

It is so cold here it is hard to believe we're in AZ.  Tonight we will have to unhook our outdoor water hose and store it so it doesn't freeze.  We'll also need to turn off the heat pumps and use the propane furnace overnight.  The heat pumps don't work around freezing and it is supposed to be 28 degrees tonight.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

12-25-18

Happy Holidays to all!  This is a picture I saw on Facebook of a Chihuly chandelier in winter.  Perfection!

We arrived in Las Cruces, NM on Sunday.  We've been here before but never during the holidays.

Yesterday we turned around and went back to Texas to visit Camping World for a few supplies.  Then we went to visit the famous Recycled Roadrunner Sculpture on the west side of Las Cruces.  This sculpture is made entirely of trash from the dump.  The eyes are headlights from a Volkswagen.  The bird looks over the city and is 40 feet long and 20 feet high.  The sculptor had to repair it and move it to its pedestal because idiots stole pieces from it or tried to "ride" it.  I read online that the area around it is infested with rattlesnakes, so I didn't venture closer.


Baby, enjoying the experience.