The story of Tubac

We moved the VIA yesterday from Desert Trails RV Park (DTRVP) outside of Tuscon and are now about a mile outside of Tubac.  Bryant was tired of dry camping as it does take a little more attention to detail and dry camping is all DTRVP had available...so we found a place out a dirt road in the toolies where we could have full hook-ups.  Now, a little more of the story as to how we got here...

Bryant was still hacking and under the weather with his cold the day after the snow.  Even though it was freezing out (literally)...he was up to driving the jeep to Tubac so that I could try on (again) my shawl/coat and hopefully buy it.  I had called the shop the day before and a wonderful woman put it in the back room until we could get there the next day.  I was a bit embarrassed about the fuss I was making over it but...we got there...I met the owner of the shop and we got to talking.  Wonderful gal...I'll admit I even looked at and got a beautiful owl pendant necklace and ear rings to match.  A few interesting facts...Darcy has written a book which she gave to me.  I have started reading it and when I have finished reading it I will share it with you.  And, Darcy had gotten two of the shawl/coats into her store...I was buying the second one...she had kept the first one as her own!  So, here it is...

I love it...Bryant thinks I look great in it and is happy that I got it.   Since it is not really a shawl or a coat...I have decided to call it my Tubac!  

While we were in Tubac we decided to stop at the great Italian restaurant again...and noticed this on the table...

opera in Tubac?  Working on the fly we looked at each other and decided we would google RV places in Tubac to see if we could get full hook ups!   There was one super fancy one...RV's parked right next to each other...and then another one.  We found it on the internet under Flying W RV Park...and made arrangements to drive by in the jeep before we headed back to Tucson.  It was over the bridge, over the railroad tracks and out a dirt road...and the sign said Sunflower Camp.  It looked very different from all the others we had been to...but Bryant's eyes lit up with full hook ups and we committed to coming down Monday.

Sunday, Bryant was still under the weather.  I was chomping at the bit to get out on my bike...so I did!

DTRVP has some great bike trails that go out to Tucson Mountain Park and then to the Saguaro National Park.  I rode probably 90 pecent... only walking on a few steep washes!  I will admit the trails were well groomed!

It was beautiful and it felt  so good to be riding!

To Monday morning...we packed up, arranged the VIA, swung by the dump out...and checked out...not, however, before planning with the office to be back next winter with full hook ups...the only way to get them at places like this is to plan well (sometimes a year) in advance!  On to Tubac!

The first picture on this blog is of us all hooked up at the Sunflower camp Monday evening.  Why the lights under the VIA you might ask?  I had asked a woman at DTRVP that very question as so many people had lights under their RV's.  She had responded to keep the mice and rats away!  So glad that while we were out shopping we bought some.  There are not only mice and rats here...but deer, Javalina's, AND a bobcat!  Need to get the camera ready!  

Winter Storm Warnings...

I guess first...mom, I apologize for not many pictures on this blog.  Hopefully you will enjoy it anyway!  Now, I'll go back to our Tubac visit where I left off at our last blog. 

It was an hour and a half drive from Kartchner Caverns and by the time we got there we both needed to use a restroom. We were both hungry too but we were not able to find the restaurant that had been recommended and there were signs for a public restroom.  We parked the jeep and followed the signs.  We did find them...suffice to say...there was relief yet laughter from the women in the women's restroom ( I for one had never used a facility like it...a vacuum?)  Then the search began for the Italian Peasant restaurant.  We got to a small foot bridge and still could not see it.  We had left Moxie in the jeep so Bryant headed back to the jeep and I went over the bridge to see if it was there.  I asked at the next art store and was told how to get there in the jeep...so I headed back to the jeep too.  When I got to the jeep  Bryant wasn't there...within a few minutes he called...he had taken a left instead of a right and would be a few minutes getting back...so I went into the nearest shop to look for a few minutes.  My eye went to a shawl.  Now, as a lot of you know I love shawls...this one was different than most of the ones I own.  I hurried out of the store as I didnt want to miss Bryant...and we went to lunch!  Fantastic lunch, well, late lunch as it was 3:30pm by then.  I normally don't eat frys...but oh, these were different...AND the tartar dipping  sauce...like nothing I had ever had!  The hamburger was very good too...half was saved for dinner! Really, all this to say that just as we started to look around again, Bryant got a call from the camp host that we were supposed to have moved our VIA from one site to another at noon!  Oh, NO!  And, OPPS!  Bryant told them where we were and that we would be back in an hour and a half.  But, my shawl!!  I hadn't mentioned it to Bryant...but told him I had to go back to a certain store to try something on before we left!  In our rush...I did try it on...but it was expensive and we walked out without it!

After our rush back home (arriving a little after 5) and getting the VIA ready to drive to our new site...the couple that had reserved the site we had neglect fully stayed in walked by.  We apologized for our misunderstanding and found that they had already taken and hooked up to the site we had reserved...very sweet Washington couple...so all ended up well!

The super moon...and then it was our last evening up at Kartchner Caverns...we had completed our "Big Room" tour in the afternoon...which was another awesome tour with another wonderful guide.  I googled weather in our area and was surprised when there was a winter storm advisory then a few hours later a warning (50 mph winds and FEET of snow) for the southern Arizona mountains!  I was so glad we were leaving in the morning and we would miss it!  We headed out  in the morning to cold and dry snow flurries and drove out of the mountains to Desert Trails RV Resort outside of Tucson!  We both felt relieved and  warmer!

Until this morning!  This was taken first thing when I walked Moxie.  Bryant has a horrible cold, so Moxie is stuck with me for a couple of days.  And it's still snowing now...the bad news Tubac (my shawl/coat) will have to wait for another day...the good news we are not snowed in, in the southern Arizona mountains dry camping!  We got lucky...and as we were on our way to get Bryant some heated socks (he left the ones I got him for Christmas at the lake house)...I was looking for another picture for my mom...

Amazing grace...we couldn't have planned it any better (hahaha)  So, this picture is for you mom!! 

Kartchner Caverns...searching for warm..

First, there is a short video from when we were at Lake Pleasant...and, because Bryant couldn't say it even once with a straight face...I will have to give you some background.  I was looking for something in the house that he had used, opened the door and asked where it was.  He so smugly said "if you need adult assistance"...but only got that far the first time before he was laughing so hard he could not complete his thought...so I got my phone and asked him to repeat it. 

.My fun for this blog...

On to Kartchner Caverns...we got here Sunday afternoon.  It was too late to take our first scheduled tour (it seems we both are moving slower and more relaxed although Bryant may disagree)...but were able to reschedule for Tuesday without additional fees!  We went biking around Monday morning to acquaint ourselves with the area and found the Model T Club doing the Cavern tours.

There were two complete parking rows of these beautifully restored cars and trucks plus some!

With one truck taking most of my attention...absolutely beautiful!!

Then in the afternoon we went on the Foothills Loop trail.

A pleasant 2.9 mile hike around and up to the top of the hill where the Caverns are located.

Bikes are not allowed on this trail but dogs are so Moxie got to come with us.

And, to today where we had an EARLY appointment for the first tour...the Rotunda/Throne tour.  Of course this was our wake up...oh, my goodness COLD!  So we drove the jeep to the parking lot rather than walk...

The only disappointment for me was that cameras were not allowed ( we knew this before going...they do have camera tours once a month for what we were told is $125.00 per person...maybe another day)...not even gopro or cell phone.  On the plus side that is for everyone...and they are very strict with all their precautions.  Another plus, inside the Cavern it was WARM...amazing enviroment!  I would have liked to have stayed for a while!  The engineering to keep this a "live" cave is awesome!  Too much for me to ramble about on the blog today...only to leave it with we both were very impressed!  We were going to go hiking this afternoon...but the cold and wind has changed our plans...we are taking the jeep to the little town of Tubac instead.  We have another tour tomorrow afternoon and then will decide where we are going after that...we both love what we are seeing...but we are still searching for WARM! 

Day to Day

I am significantly behind my proposed schedule, which for me is a normal function of everyday life. Since my last post, we have bounced around this part of Arizona....

This trip is our maiden shake down cruise and we have learned quite a bit along the way! Storage seems like a simple process, Joyce had everything put away in a somewhat organized way, however just stuffing things in cabinets after I used them just does not work... tried that and after wasting hours searching almost everyday, I have refined things and it is getting easier.  We have also started a list of things we brought and found that they were either redundant, they were not useful or just took up too much space.
We also have a list of things we would like to have next time.  There is a learning curve!

We are currently staying at Pleasant Harbor Resort and Marina near Peoria, Arizona. It is an amazing place.  We are dry camping, but they offer every level of amenity you can imagine! We have spent two nights, there has been a car show (Lambos),

bingo, and a church service today.  The staff is fantastic and it has truly been a pleasure here! There is Dillion's Restaurant and Bar down on the docks next to the marina...

where we had dinner Friday night and were entertained by a local country western band during our dinner...

it is a long walk back up hill, but worth it!

Dry camping is $16 per day, with add ons of course, and if you want hookups it is $52 per day with add ons.  We were able to get our propane filled by staff on Saturday too! 

There are multiple boat launches.

The bathrooms and showers are not only huge but are the cleanest I have seen so far.

Today we are leaving and heading to Kartchner Caverns south of Tucson, Arizona.

Biking, Triking, and Hiking...

We arrived at Lake Pleasant Saturday afternoon...

it was only a couple hours drive from LDSP.  The Arizona highways so far have been very nice...Bryant has been impressed!  We hooked up, (here as in LDSP each site has water and power and on the road out a two RV dump station) and took the jeep to get groceries.  The Frys was as nice as our favorite store back home!  We were impressed when we parked under cover...how awesome on hot days...and even better the cover was made up of solar panels!  We made Sunday a day of rest...sort of...only hiking up to the top of the little island

and going to the Discovery Center. 

It was interesting that the water for this lake/reservoir comes from the Colorado River near Lake Havasu via an aquaduct.  

Monday we were off hiking...The Wild Burro Trail...

It is a two mile out and two mile back easy trail that in some places was very rocky and would be challenging for bikers.

We did see the wild burros, so I changed my lens to the 200-500 and got a few good shot of them! 

When we got to the top there was a couple (from Colorado) that had ridden their trail bikes up the trail.  The woman was probably close to my age and I approached her and told her how impressed I was that she rode the trail and shared my difficulties when riding the trail versus road.  Turns out they were roadies too...trail bikes only when they travel...and she freely admitted that she walks her bike a lot on the trails as she has fallen a lot, yet enjoys and wants to keep riding.  Inspiration for me!  Wooohooo!   There were picnic tables at the top where we watered Moxie and enjoyed the view before heading back.

Tuesday we decided to have be a bike/trike riding day!  (Bryant was looking up gadgets for his trike on the internet and found that his riding now is considered trikeing and so I thought we should address it as such).  The roads here are hilly which is good for both of us!  I rode my cross bike and  on our second time out riding for the day I decided to head to the Wild Burro Trail to ride a bit of it. 

As I approached the trail a couple was walking down and the woman stopped and mentioned how impressed she was that I was going to bike this part (large loose rocks and a couple of switchbacks).  I smiled and told her that I will ride when I feel I can and walk when I feel I need to.  She nodded and put her hands together as to pray...and up the hill I went!  Yes, I walked probably 50 percent of it...but I rode the other 50 percent!  And, as I said I only rode a bit of the trail...a .7 mile hill section.  Wooohooo!

Weather permitting we will ride/trike again later today...I have my eye on a trail that I would like to try...not sure it is wide enough for Bryant's trike...but I want to check it out!  And, then maybe another hike too!

Addressing "wants"!

With this blog I hope to address a few wants...I called my sister today who is showing the blog to our mom while Bryant and I are traveling and she said she wanted to see more pictures.  And, months ago when Bryant and I were planning our escape south in the VIA, I mentioned that I really don't care where we go as long as the toilet seats are warm! 

We have spent the last six days at Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona...it is quite a popular place for a lot of snow-birds to go to as we have found out.  Two weeks is the longest stay...and can be booked a year in advance.  We got lucky and when I called the first part of January they had a cancellation so we were able to get in for 6 days!  We met Vance and Jane (Bryant's brother and sister-in-law) here as they were lucky enough to get in on a cancellation too!  There is a wonderful bike trail (for trail bikes) and lots of great hiking in the surrounding mountains!  We rode our bikes around the park roads the first day as I only had my road bike.  Bryant had to take his trike to the local bike shop the next day for a gearing issue.  Initially his blog was going to be on how wonderful the guy was at the bike shop as he was able to fix the gearing issue in a matter of minutes...then the computer started having it's frustrating way with him...and, well, hopefully that issue is solved and he can blog about where we are and what we are doing instead of his computer frustrations!  While his trike was getting tuned, I started eyeing a cross bike...not a full fledged trail bike...not a road bike...took it for a spin in the parking lot...and we ended up bringing it home!  So I've been able to ride the trail...

It is definately a different ride and a challenge...especially on the washes...but I believe with more practice I may like this trail bike thing! 

Vance and Jane knew of a hike close by (getting to the trailhead by vehicle).  Wave Cave is the name of the  trail...wonderful hike and the first picture (above) is of Bryant and I on top of the wave!  

The hike says it was 3 miles...(I'm hoping it was each way)...with an elevation of 840. 

The first part of the trail was fairly easy...although it is considered a moderate hike.

then came to the climbing on/over rocks.

To the Wave Cave...it was very cool!  And, literally by the way.  I neglected to mention, that I had three layers on for this hike and kept them all on the entire time!

We slept well and woke up to a freezing house (as the HVAC could not keep up) and had to turn the gas heater on...also the waste tank heater!  When I finally braved getting out of bed...the water didn't work!  Bryant then got out of bed and found..

That is a large icicle!  An unexpected FREEZE!  Bryant disconnected the filter and hose and put them in the sun to thaw.

Vance and Jane discovered another hike they were going to do in the afternoon with a waterfall...called Heiroglyphic Trail. Bryant and I were in!  Another moderate trail...

It was a fairly rocky trail...

And  this was the largest waterfall I could find...

 But then there were the heiroglyhics...

Another wonderful hike and Moxie was even better behaved on the leash!

And to Friday...our last full day at LDSP...a horseback ride into the desert! 

I had a horse named Big Red...he was a sweetie. 

Jane's horse was a sweetie as well.  Bryant had a horse named Betty.  He had a little more trouble with her...Vance had a pinto...don't remember the name but that horse had a bit of a strong will...Vance's will thankfully  was stronger!

A really fun afternoon with great views too!

So that wraps up our time at LDSP.  Addressing the wants from the beginning of this blog...Anne, hope you and Gma like all the pictures!  And, as for the cold toilet seats...they are still cold!!  Haven't found any warm toilet seats...even in our VIA!  So, I'm still wanting...searching for that warm place.  I also may have added a few more wants to the list though...stay tuned...

Technology and ME

I have fallen behind my intended daily blog, primarily due to my inability to remember my password....so technology gets the blame from ME!

There is no excuse other than greed that I can see for the constant changes in the way these hateful boxes full of foreign made junk function..

I have been oblivious to MOST of the advances in computers, since my main interest is email,  reading multiple news papers and keeping up with family and friends.  I find that with each update I am frequently confused by the directions since they all seem to assume a higher level of technological knowledge than I possess!

If I am asked to interact with whichever  blankety, blankety, blank, robot or whatever computer talking idiot, I can feel my blood pressure climbing, my throat getting tight and a sense of hopelessness descends like a shroud over me, knowing that after X number of tries I am about to be locked out of a computer that I had paid a significant amount of money for... Oh and don't forget the useless malware that comes preinstalled on your new computer.  You might as well publish all the info regarding your credit cards and account numbers in big red letters as someone will find a way to get it..

Sadly this situation could been avoided, had everyone who wanted to be in the development of any portion of a computer had been required to read what then was science fiction since the beginning of the 20th Century...in fact we would probable be further along as a global society... there would always be outliers of course no shoe fits all!

Tomorrow while I will awake in a better mood, I will still resent the mess we have allowed the computer and software industry to become.  However I am still truly blest to have good friends, great independant children and most of all a wonderful wife whom I love dearly. Peace to all, sleep well and wake refreshed! B