Our Yuma / Tucson Adventure3/5/08
We-eee-eeel ...You know you make me wanna (Shout!)Kick my heels up and (Shout!)Throw my hands up and (Shout!)Throw my head back and (Shout!)Come on now (Shout!) ...
We do have fun on the road!
On the way to Yuma we went right next to the border to of Mexico -- How did we know? -- Well, we saw someone actually get arrested and those white and green pickups are dead giveaways.
Algodones Sand Dunes: The dunes are located 20 miles west of Yuma on both sides of Interstate 8 and are part of the Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation area.
The dunes have been the setting for numerous movies, from “Beau Geste” starring Gary Cooper in 1939 to “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in 1982 as well as Road to Zanzibar, Stargate, and Resident Evil: Extinction.
The dunes, which are the home to a number of threatened and endangered species, have been the subject of legal battles between off-road vehicle owners and environmentalist.
Coming into Tucson -- real cowboys live here.
3/7/08 - 3/16/08
If traveling in Tucson these days you will be diverted around downtown -- they are doing major work on Highway 10.
Off to our Tiffin Rally ...3/10/08 - 3/13/08
We got to meet Mr. Bob Tiffin himself. What a great thrill. What a good man he is. His door is always open and he considers us all friends.
The Zepher is Tiffin's top of the line motorhome. It was lovely....but our home is still the BEST!
Our rally was the first of its kind to be held at the Old Tucson Studios -- 150 coaches were nestled into the back parking area. We dry camped for three nights and were treated to the full run of the studio. We had seminars, a rodeo, can-can dancers, a mariachi band and folk dancers and great food.
A beautiful sunset over Tucson.
This young trumpet player was the hit of the show. He even did a solo -- it was a sight to see and enjoy.
The local cacti are Saguaro and Ocotillo. I understand that the Saguaro population is the greatest in the Tucson area.
I need to get a book so I can identify some of the beautiful flowers you see in other states. Here is one along one of Tucson's highways.
I love how they decorate their highways in the Southwest.
Lance has more luck seeing the local animals and birds on golf courses than I do in my many expeditions. Is it not beautiful ...
3/25/08 - Cornville, AZ (10 miles south of Sedona)
We stayed in Cornville right on the Oak Creek. They say these trees are ancient Cottonwood. They were huge. I imagine they are beautiful when they have leaves on them. We have never heard so many birds and we heard here. It was so quiet and serene here by the river and waking up to the birds chirping in the morning was a real bonus.
This was one of two ducks who apparently have taken on this bend in the river as their home. Our neighbor said this was a finch (not a gold finch). I guess I need a bird book too!
A bag piper at Oak Creek Golf Club in Sedona. He was just there playing away. It was a great change of pace for the day.
3/16/08 - Casa Grande, Arizona (South of Phoenix AZ)
In Casa Grande we stayed at the Palm Creek RV Park. It was right off Highway 10 and had over a 1,000 RV and park model sights. Think about it when I was a teenager the population of Enumclaw was a little over 2,000 people. With an average of two people per site that would be about the same.
We had found a coupon in an RV magazine for $199 for a month. Normally, it would cost -- hold your hats -- $1200 a month! It was a fantastic and ran like a small city.
There were lots of doves at Palm Creek -- much different color that in the ones in Washington except they cooed just the same and it was soothing to the ear.
There are many myths of the famous Kokopelli. One of which is that he traveled from village to village bringing the changing of winter to spring; melting the snow and bringing about rain for a successful harvest.
It is also said that the hunch on his back depicted the sacks of seeds and songs he carried. Legend also has it that the flute playing also symbolized the transition of winter to spring. Kokopelli’s flute is said to be heard in the spring’s breeze, while bringing warmth. It is also said that he was the source of human conception. Legend has it, everyone in the village would sing and dance throughout the night when they heard Kokopelli play his flute. The next morning, every maiden in the village would be with child.
Whatever the true meaning of Kokopelli is, he has been a source of music making and dancing, and spreading joy to those around him. Even today, Kokopelli, with his hunchback and flute, is always welcome in our homes.
We-eee-eeel ...You know you make me wanna (Shout!)Kick my heels up and (Shout!)Throw my hands up and (Shout!)Throw my head back and (Shout!)Come on now (Shout!) ...
We do have fun on the road!
On the way to Yuma we went right next to the border to of Mexico -- How did we know? -- Well, we saw someone actually get arrested and those white and green pickups are dead giveaways.
Algodones Sand Dunes: The dunes are located 20 miles west of Yuma on both sides of Interstate 8 and are part of the Imperial Sand Dunes National Recreation area.
The dunes have been the setting for numerous movies, from “Beau Geste” starring Gary Cooper in 1939 to “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” in 1982 as well as Road to Zanzibar, Stargate, and Resident Evil: Extinction.
The dunes, which are the home to a number of threatened and endangered species, have been the subject of legal battles between off-road vehicle owners and environmentalist.
Coming into Tucson -- real cowboys live here.
3/7/08 - 3/16/08
If traveling in Tucson these days you will be diverted around downtown -- they are doing major work on Highway 10.
Off to our Tiffin Rally ...3/10/08 - 3/13/08
We got to meet Mr. Bob Tiffin himself. What a great thrill. What a good man he is. His door is always open and he considers us all friends.
The Zepher is Tiffin's top of the line motorhome. It was lovely....but our home is still the BEST!
Our rally was the first of its kind to be held at the Old Tucson Studios -- 150 coaches were nestled into the back parking area. We dry camped for three nights and were treated to the full run of the studio. We had seminars, a rodeo, can-can dancers, a mariachi band and folk dancers and great food.
A beautiful sunset over Tucson.
This young trumpet player was the hit of the show. He even did a solo -- it was a sight to see and enjoy.
The local cacti are Saguaro and Ocotillo. I understand that the Saguaro population is the greatest in the Tucson area.
I need to get a book so I can identify some of the beautiful flowers you see in other states. Here is one along one of Tucson's highways.
I love how they decorate their highways in the Southwest.
Lance has more luck seeing the local animals and birds on golf courses than I do in my many expeditions. Is it not beautiful ...
3/25/08 - Cornville, AZ (10 miles south of Sedona)
We stayed in Cornville right on the Oak Creek. They say these trees are ancient Cottonwood. They were huge. I imagine they are beautiful when they have leaves on them. We have never heard so many birds and we heard here. It was so quiet and serene here by the river and waking up to the birds chirping in the morning was a real bonus.
This was one of two ducks who apparently have taken on this bend in the river as their home. Our neighbor said this was a finch (not a gold finch). I guess I need a bird book too!
A bag piper at Oak Creek Golf Club in Sedona. He was just there playing away. It was a great change of pace for the day.
3/16/08 - Casa Grande, Arizona (South of Phoenix AZ)
In Casa Grande we stayed at the Palm Creek RV Park. It was right off Highway 10 and had over a 1,000 RV and park model sights. Think about it when I was a teenager the population of Enumclaw was a little over 2,000 people. With an average of two people per site that would be about the same.
We had found a coupon in an RV magazine for $199 for a month. Normally, it would cost -- hold your hats -- $1200 a month! It was a fantastic and ran like a small city.
There were lots of doves at Palm Creek -- much different color that in the ones in Washington except they cooed just the same and it was soothing to the ear.
There are many myths of the famous Kokopelli. One of which is that he traveled from village to village bringing the changing of winter to spring; melting the snow and bringing about rain for a successful harvest.
It is also said that the hunch on his back depicted the sacks of seeds and songs he carried. Legend also has it that the flute playing also symbolized the transition of winter to spring. Kokopelli’s flute is said to be heard in the spring’s breeze, while bringing warmth. It is also said that he was the source of human conception. Legend has it, everyone in the village would sing and dance throughout the night when they heard Kokopelli play his flute. The next morning, every maiden in the village would be with child.
Whatever the true meaning of Kokopelli is, he has been a source of music making and dancing, and spreading joy to those around him. Even today, Kokopelli, with his hunchback and flute, is always welcome in our homes.
