Snow on the Superstitions

Sun Feb 27

We got a good rain on and off all night. On the way to church this morning there was snow about half way down on the Superstition Mountains. By the time we got out and took a picture it had receded considerably. This is the second time we have seen this and we are told this is quite unusual. In sacrament meeting Dad's cousin Norman Walker's daughter, Katy Merrill and her husband Tom were the speakers as new members of the ward. They spoke on the scripture Moses 1:39 and gave good talks while their three small children were home sick with a family member.

Breakfast and a Flea Market

Sat Feb 26

Each Saturday morning a delicious pancake breakfast is offered at the clubhouse for $3. It includes pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, toast, butter and syrup or jelly, orange slices and juice or coffee. After breakfast we did needed housekeeping and then went to the huge flea market on Baseline and Signal Butte near the park. This market consists of four huge tents with vendors on either side of a wide aisle in each. These tents are in parallel rows and each is over one quarter mile long. It can take several hours just to browse the entire market and the variety of items for sale is impossible to describe. We bought a few needed items, got some good exercise and had fun together. Wind, heavy rain and much cooler temperatures are predicted for the next couple of days but we are grateful we are not enduring the snow and cold most of you are experiencing back home.

The Phoenix Zoo

Fri Feb 25

Main Lake in the Zoo

A Fiesty Little Javelina

Cute Critter Up Close and Personal (no telephoto lens)

40 Year Old Asian (former circus) Elephant

White Rhinoceros

Colorful Sumatran Tiger

African Lion

Golden Eagle

A Colorful Bird

Black Swan

Mandrills



Non Zoo Resident Caught Having Lunch



Today we visited the Phoenix Zoo all day. It is a large zoo with about twelve hundred critters to see in many natural-looking habitats and exhibits along about two and one-half miles of walking trails. We got up close and personal with some small monkeys inside their habitat. Dad had a peccary (javelina) sound a grunt, bristle up and charge him while taking a picture. The low wall of the habitat stopped him but the whole herd came running to join the attack. Although they aren't real large it makes you realize what they could do in the wild. Later we talked to one of the elephant trainers and learned a lot about the history of the zoo's elephants. The koala bears were sleeping which they do most of the day. The big cats were very striking. There were many kinds of primates, North American animals, African and jungle creatures, reptiles including a komodo dragon and many colorful birds. On the way home we got into a terrible traffic jam due to an accident involving a semi but we eventually made it. When we got home we visited with some new full-timing neighbors until dusk and then we went for a soak.

More Swimming and Hiking

Thu Feb 24

Southern Exposure of Superstition Mountains

View Along Trail

One of the "Smoother" Sections of the Trail

At the End of the Trail

The Hieroglyphic Spring Pools and City of Gold Canyon in Distance

Check Out the Many Petroglyphs

You See the Birds.. Find the Chipmunk

Home Near Trailhead

Yesterday we kind of laid back and took it easy with some time spent swimming and sunbathing at the pool. This morning we took a hike into the Superstition Wilderness on the Hieroglyphic Trail on the South side of the Superstition Mountains. This was a 3-mile hike with about 600 feet of elevation gain and it took us about two and one-half hours. As has been the case on nearly all hikes we have taken the trails are very rough and rocky. Good hiking shoes are a must. It was sunny but slightly cool and we saw some pretty new scenery. At the end of the trail there were many prehistoric petroglyphs and a tiny spring that flowed into a couple of pools in the rocks. Near the trail head in the foothills there were a number of beautiful, typical desert homes. Then (it seems like a broken record) we spent the late afternoon at the pool. You could not imagine a more perfect facility and we love it! To add to the fun we got in early enough that, at dusk we finally got to see the owl that has been hooting almost every night while we were in the pool fly from palm tree to palm tree. He was good sized and we could clearly see his face.

Visiting Friends and Relatives

Sun Feb 20

The last couple of days I made my first wire wrap jewelry. For my first try I think my ring turned out pretty good. After meetings on Sunday Dad went home teaching with his partner, Allen Sedgwick, also snow birding in our Goldfield ward from Ashton, Idaho. We then went to visit Dad's Aunt Eula and second cousins Kevin and Andrea Walker and their new baby Alexander. Aunt Eula looks very fragile but she says she is feeling well. We picked a good supply of oranges, grapefruits and tangerines in Aunt Eula's back yard. We really enjoy the fresh fruit and I'm putting a lot of miles on my new power juicer. Afterwards we went over to visit Dad's cousin Norman Walker and his wife Kathy.
Tue Feb 22

Dave, Lynn, Julia, Orlin, Laurene, Gene and I

Yesterday and today we traveled to Gila Bend to visit the Gardners and Liljenquists. They were camped in Augie's RV Park. We stayed overnight with the Gardners. Gene and Lynn were returning from Gene's Dad's funeral in Pocatello Monday afternoon. They said it felt good to get back to Arizona. While we were there Laurene's brother Orlin and his wife Julia also passed through for a visit. We had a good time and on the return trip we stopped to visit Dad's cousins Milo and Ivan Walker in Queen Creek.

Stormy Day and a Movie

Sat Feb 19

The day started out overcast and then the wind began to blow. By early afternoon it began to rain like we haven't seen down here so far. The streets were running streams. It let up a little toward evening and has just rained off and on. We invited Peter and Jo Campbell over for a movie. When they came we shared a slide show of our cruise and then watched the movie "Crossfire Trail" since they said they prefer Westerns. We swapped treats and had a wonderful evening together.

The Duttons are Amazing

Fri Feb 18

Us with Grandparents Dean and Sheila Dutton

Today was downtime. We washed and cleaned the motor home and the Elantra inside and out which took most of the day. They were both needing it. We then went for a soak and prepared to go with Dick and Gayle to the Dutton's Show in Mesa. That show was the most INCREDIBLE I think we have ever seen. The family has so much talent you just never cease to be amazed at not only the music but the dancing and humor as well. They also have a variety of beautiful stage settings and lighting. The most heart warming performances though came from the little ones. The couple that started it all, Dean and Sheila, have been married 43 years, have 7 children, 22 grandchildren, are LDS and all the sons went on missions. If anyone reading this ever has an opportunity to see them DO NOT MISS IT! Their main theaters are in Mesa and Branson but they also tour. You might check out their web site at www.theduttons.com. You can bet that this will not be the last time we see them before we leave Arizona.

Organ Stop Pizza

Thu Feb 17

Dad and I with Gayle and Dick

The Organ Console with Organist Lew Williams

A Portion of the Theatre

This morning Dave and Laurene left for their camp in Gila Bend in spite of us trying to talk them into staying for the trip to Organ Stop Pizza this afternoon. We suspect Dave is anxious to install the new solar panels he bought for his motor home but they missed a very interesting and inspiring show to accompany a pizza lunch buffet. We went with Gayle and Dick Bramwell, our dear friends from Arkansas who had done this in prior years. It is difficult to describe the largest Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in the world played by a world-renowned organist. This organ was built in 1927 and has been added to over the years. Included are a grand piano, a honky-tonk piano, various drums, cymbals, an accordion, chimes and many other instruments that, when combined and controlled through a giant, elegant, central console, can create the sounds of a full blown orchestra with just one musician. One interesting demonstration very realistically simulated the sounds of a steam locomotive arriving at the station. The organ now includes 6000 pipes and the resulting instrument boasts 78 ranks, 17 tuned percussions and innumerable traps and effects for you music aficionados. Songs were played upon audience requests and Dad requested our song, "Unchained Melody." The organist also concluded with the national anthem of our Canadian friends and the "Star Spangled Banner."

A Visit from the Gardners

Wed Feb 16

This morning sun shield screens were installed on the front of the motor home. This will give us improved privacy while letting in the light. It also blocks heat from the sun. Then Dave and Laurene showed up after doing some necessary shopping in the Phoenix area. They spent the afternoon and night with us. Laurene and I did some shopping while Dad and Dave toured the park. In the evening we went for a great Chinese dinner at the Grand Buffet and then we went for a lengthy swim and soak before turning in for the day.

Hike to Wind Cave

Tue Feb 15

Beginning of Hike

About Midway Up

Inside Cave

In the Cave

View of Northeastern Phoenix Valley from Cave

Return Trip

Return Trip

Return Trip

Today we hiked the trail to Wind Cave in Usery Mountain Regional Park near here. This trail is three miles round trip with a significant climb in elevation. It was a warm day and we took about three hours to complete the hike. At the end I was pretty tired but I don't think we worked off all the great food on the cruise. In the evening we went for a swim and soak and watched a movie.

Puerto Rico and Then Home

Sat Feb 12

Iguana on Wall of Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal

Wall Along Seashore between Castillos

Sentry Lookout

And Here is the Sentry (Are we Safe?)

Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal

Castillo San Cristobal from Inside Old City

Castillo San Filipe del Morro

Cemetary near Castillo San Filipe del Morro

Historic Colonial Building

Statue of Christopher Columbus

Old Town Street

Street Vendor Booth in Old Town

This morning in San Juan brought our cruise to and end as all good things must. We said goodbye to all the kids and then began a tour of both colonial and modern sections of the city. The tour ended by us being dropped off at the airport to begin our flights home to Phoenix where our good Canadian friends, Jo and Peter Campbell brought us home from the airport at 11PM. The colonial section was most intriguing due to the huge wall that surrounded it historically. Much of this wall still exists, particularly along the seashore. Also included in this fortification were two huge complexes that provided quarters for the armies, prisons, sentry lookouts and fire power erected by the Spaniards over several generations hundreds of years ago. The work is so massive it is difficult to conceive the effort it took to build in those primitive times. Our tour focused on the fort called Castillo San Cristobal on the Eastern end of the complex. But we were able to hike most of the distance to the fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro on the Western tip of the peninsula at the entrance to the San Juan harbor. We also had a little time to wander around the narrow streets near Castillo San Cristobal. From there we passed through the new section of the city on the way to the airport with the guide pointing out significant landmarks. We have had a most memorable trip with our family. We only wish that all our kids could have been with us. Perhaps another time we hope.