Ready to Roll

Ready to Roll

Our History

My photo
Ohio, United States
Having recently retired we are fulfilling our long time dream. We began our camping life with a tent in 1969 adjusting as each of our three sons arrived over the years and gradually progressed to a 32' Class A in 2007. Even after our sons became too busy with their own interests, we continued dreaming over the years. The Louisville, KY 2003 Great North American RV Rally and the book "Movin' On" convinced us that a motorhome after retirement was really for us! In 2007 we sold our home and disposed of most of our belongings and awaited the wife's retirement on February 1, 2008. We were out in our first motorhome ten times in our first summer in 2007, with our grandson joining us eight of those ten times. Since he must stay behind with his mom and dad to continue school, we told him he can join us on vacations (by car or plane) anywhere we are as we travel the US. Imagine the history lessons he could acquire! However, Mom and Dad don't look at it that way, especially the flying. Fortunately we don't miss work one bit!! We just miss the friends there. We have many hobbies to keep us busy when we decide to sit still for a day. Hope to see you on the road.

Monday, February 28, 2011

CLOUDS & RAIN TO SNOW ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA!!

A dreary rainy day's drive to Apache Junction east of Mesa gives way to snow on the mountains the next day. We had an all night rain here in Mesa Saturday and got up to a few rain drops on Sunday which changed into a sunny day with a lot of puffy clouds. But it did not stop us from seeing the snow on the mountain peaks. It was still cool, but enjoyable! Gary had wanted to go the Lost Dutchman Rodeo to take pictures of the horses, etc. But when we got there we were disappointed to find a very small carnival , and we decided it would not be worth the fight through the crowd and all of the dust and dirt to take pictures. We did have an enjoyable drive, but decided to end it with that. For our Sunday Ice Cream Social here at the Resort, they had the Arizona Cloggers come in to perform for us. They were in age from three years to Grandmas and Grandpas. They were fun to watch and they make it so effortless!! The following Sunday we went back out to the north edge of Mesa to Sunshine Acres Childrens Home to attend their Annual BBQ. It was rainy and very cold (for us and this area) so we did not stay around long after eating. We did enjoy seeing the kids and knowing that they were serving and waiting on their guests. When I told the kids behind the serving counter thank you for a job well done, they lit up with smiles. They seem so appreciative and well mannered. I am sure that is not always the case when they first get these children since they come from many sad and angry situations. But they sure show them a lot of love and discipline here, so it soon changes. This is the mountain view in one direction behind the administrative building. I just love this scenery!
They served us BBQ beef from this serving counter in their dining room, used for the school primarily. This is what we saw on our first tour at the home. It then changed from that empty room to this busy dining room. We were fortunate to have arrived when there were only a half dozen people there. Before we finished eating it began to fill up as you can see here.
By the time we left it was fully packed and they were filling a tent twice the size of this dining room just outside. I over heard someone say that they had gotten 1600 lbs of beef for the event! We so enjoyed the food since we have been so much rabbit food for our diets! We even had a piece of pie!!!
They were set up in the yard to entertain, but we decided it was too cold and wet to our liking.
As an after thought, I had Gary turn right when leaving their parking lot and we found that their large pole building Thrift Shop and the typical South Western house Boutique were open for business. You can just barely see the Boutique in the right of the picture. We did not know what to expect at the Boutique and Gary was prepared not to stay in it if it was decorated with a lot of potpourri and such because of his allergies. Well, it was not and we found it to be a wonderful shop with many rooms set up like store room displays of furniture, glassware, china, and other decor items. I could see the granddaughter of the founders decorating hand in this. They get many donations from estates and it makes wonderful sale items, very first rate stuff! We were so enthused with this shop that we did not think to take any pictures inside or outside.
The Thrift store was your typical and many were filling bags since they were offering three different bag sizes for $5, 10 and 20. While we were browsing to see if there was anything that we could not do without, they doubled the take and let everyone have two of the size that they bought. I was disappointed that I did not locate any great find, but I am sure that Gary was relieved as we certainly do not need any more to pack away to move down the road. I did see one woman find three or four of those new style silicone baking pans and several women were finding a lot of clothing to suit their family needs. I am sure that they cleared a lot out by the end of the day, but still leaving them with plenty to keep them open!
On the whole, we had a wonderful day!
Gary visited with our neighbor, Cliff, and took pictures of his hobby. He lives in a park model home with a storage shed that houses their laundry and his tool work room. He has many wooden toys that he has made from blue prints.
Then last evening we went to the BEST concert here at the Resort. The Texas Tenors, formerly known to be winners of the America's Got Talent show, where here! They had been winners there of $1 million and they also got a contract for Las Vegas. They have since been traveling for shows and feeling so blessed to be doing what they love.
They were by far the best that we have had this year!! They will be in Branson in September and October and I want to go there!! But I don't think that we will be close enough to our line of travel. I did buy their CD, though. I did not wait around in the crowd to have it autographed. It had been a packed concert hall!! I think that any fire marshall coming through would have had a fit as we just kept setting up chairs! Unfortunately, that put us very near the back. I stood to take pictures, but unfortunately they are not good. Too far away and probably too many lights and shadows!
So you have seen another eight days of fun. Check back with us for more. We do not have much planned right now, but I am sure that we can find something soon. I will be scrapbooking tomorrow with a friend and Gary will be teaching her husband the pencil drawing. He is so enjoying his art class and they will keep him on next year if we return. So we are seriously thinking about it. There is so much for us to see out west here and we will only have checked out four or five states by then. The gas prices will make us want to leave the motorhome here in storage while we fly home for a month's visit. It will be much cheaper that way!! So we are glad there are options.
CONGRATULATIONS to our friends, Dick and Jane, who are first time grand parents of twins, a boy and a girl!! Also to John and Debbie who are also first time grand parents!! What blessings!! Dick and Jane are friends from our Sunday school class back home and Debbie was a co-worker of Audrey's who just recently retired to better enjoy live. Way to go!!!!
The weather is getting much nicer. It is to be 80 by Friday, but will cool off some again next week. Not complaining though!! Take care and stay warm.
Don't forget to leave us a note when you check in to our Blog. We like to know that you are keeping up with us!!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

SEDONA AND JEROME ARIZONA

Yesterday we took a bus tour north from here to two towns located between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. WHAT BEAUTY!! There is not much that we can say as no words can describe or enhance the natural beauty! Following are views as we approached Sedona:
Next are pictures from a stop the bus made for just this purpose:
Upon arriving in Sedona we had the option of tours in the area by trolley, Jeep or Hummer. We opted to walk the main street and take in the art galleries and the tourist trap shops. There was plenty to look at. We started with the Sedona Arts Center where they had the art instructors works on display in one large room. What amazing talent!! We really enjoyed this and would have loved to take pictures to share with you. However as in most galleries, use of cameras was not permitted. Gary did get some pictures of some other art figures.
Sacajawea
Below are pictures of mountains right behind the shops. What views!!
There were many sculptures about town also.
When we finished in Sedona, our bus took us on to Jerome which is a town built in the mid 1800's on the side of a mountain at the location of a copper mine. Our tour guide called it the only vertical town in the United States. But I beg to differ with her as Harper's Ferry was built much the same way.
This is a town that is very slowly being rebuilt as an artists community.
It will be wonderful when it is closer to being finished. In the mean time it is narrow switchback streets, many which are just one way traffic. The roads in to Jerome are all switchbacks also. But the bus driver did a great job. If I had been in one of the cars coming around a curve meeting a 45 foot tour bus, I sure would have had white knuckles!!
Below town is this Hotel which is no longer in use.
However, above town stands the Grand Hotel that has been refurbished to be used both as a hotel and for dining.
Other buildings are in use as galleries and stores in various stages of restoration.
This thriving community back in the 1800's boasted a population of 15,000. But now it only has a recorded population of 450. We did see plenty of traffic coming and going today, so they must keep busy.
Late in the afternoon Gary was feeling the effect of not having eaten since breakfast. So we asked a store clerk where we might find some type of snack bar and she directed us to the General Store --- on the next street above where we were. You can see the store at the top left in this picture. Next to the General Store on the top right in the picture is a Hamburger restaurant.
While Gary climbed to the General Store, I shopped in a Curiosity Shop on this street, a few doors down from City Hall and the Police Department.
Before going back down to the parking lot for our ride back to Mesa, I took this picture of the valley as seen between the buildings of this quaint town. There are homes along the highway coming in to town with the fronts level with the road and the back on stilts going down as much as three stories. You wonder where the children play!! What is the attraction to live here?
We will be going to Verde Valley for a four hour train ride in these same mountains in March. We will be leaving the driving to the tour bus driver and the train engineer!! We also hope to drive down with another couple to Tuscon before we leave Mesa at the end of March. Only time will tell whether we get it done.
I hope that you enjoyed these. We did, although Sedona was our favorite for the day. I had this Blog finished much earlier in the day, but could not publish it for some unknown reason. I finally had to shut down and start over. I lost most of it except the photos. I was so aggravated!! I am sure that this is not written as well, but that is what I get for not saving from time to time as I work. You would think I would learn!! After all it is not the first time this has happened to me!!
You all take care and God Bless.