Superstitions

Another "craggy" draw in the Superstitions from yesterday's hike. Won't be long and there won't be ANY hikers up there because of the intense heat. And I'll be home in Pinedale begging coffee off my neighbor Ginna!!

Supposed to be 45 mph winds and cooler here today, about 80. Tonight rain!!

deceased saguaro

Don't see many deceased saguaro cacti around here (why I don't know?), I almost felt like I was a crime scene photographer again.

Few spring flowers in the desert

Took a hike up into the superstition mountains this morning but was a bit surprised by the LACK of desert flowers after our super rainy winter. Here's some yellow ones with part of the mountain in the background. No snakes (hey, I'm not complaining), but several other hardy humans were wandering around up there. Supposed to rain here later this week, that may cause them to grow better?? Only have a couple more weeks here so don't have much time to catch them on the camera.. Hot today, nearly 90...

Dragon boat races

Went to the dragon boat races in "Tempe town lake" yesterday, shown are some of the sights at the "festival". These folks are very serious about their races and competition. Was fun. Part of the oriental culture was some kind of a chinese dance routine. One of the pics shows Arizona State University football stadium in the background. One of the few things down this way that's FREE!!

Heart attack grill

Here's some useless information you can use. There's a place in Chandler Az. (about 10 miles from here) that serves up these burgers that almost guarantee a heart attack. Pictured (not a very good pic) is the quadruple bypass burger (5000 calories), cheese, dipped in lard etc. I just don't have the "heart" to go down there and have one. The waitresses dress in nurses uniforms with a stethescope around their necks. They offer free burgers to anyone in the news media that weighs over 350 pounds. I'm told that they pack the people in there every day.

Yessssss!!

Can't pass up an Olive Garden without partaking in their soup, salad and warm breadsticks. We were over to Casa Grande Az a month or so ago and enjoyed this one.

Having some spring wind here today, supposed to be near 90 by Tuesday then a bit more rain.

Arizona State University area

To the left of the picture is the Salt River flowing through Tempe Az. The building in the distance on the right is part of ASU football stadium. They're having Dragon boat racing in this area this weekend, we may wade through the crowds to take in some of it. These are nice warm peaceful days down here, funny, you go from here to Pinedale and put up with snow for the first month. But I'll be ready to get away from the "people" and back to the peace and serenity of Sublette County.

John Denver "look-alike"

This guy was really really good. We went with friends to the Arizona Opry last evening and this fellow, along with the regular musicians put on a stellar performance honoring John Denver's music.
Off to meet some more friends for lunch in Phoenix today, gotta cram in a few more visits before we launch out of here northbound.

RV park's rendetion of "Hee Haw"

Santa Fe RV park where we stay puts on a spring "event" every year, this year it was "Hee Haw", some of these folks have some real talent.

More baseball

I'm a football guy, I usually go to one or two spring training baseball games here in Mesa and follow the world series but other than that I don't do much baseball. 80+ degrees here in paradise today, first day we've put the A/C on. We're 3 or 4 weeks from leaving here for the winter, will begin doing pre-launch maint. shortly.

Spring training baseball game

Went to a spring training baseball game yesterday in Mesa, The Chicago Cubs train at Hohokam stadium where the game was played. Pictured is Rollie Fingers, a hall of famer (retired)who was there signing autographs. Stadium was full of Spring breakers and old timers. Temps in the high 70's, great fun and a great day!!

Old old car!!

My mom once rolled a vehicle like this in Nebraska, was hauling eggs over to the neighbors and of course the rollover broke all the eggs. No one was hurt except my grandma Ruland who injured her arm but recovered.

Another old engine

My video skills need some honing, but you get the idea. Supposed to be really sunny and warm again today, this is the first Sunday in 3 weeks that it hasn't rained. Putting on the final touches of a 1 hour powerpoint presentation that I'm putting on here at the RV park entitled "Being secure in your surroundings and Scams". After 33 years as a cop I should have remembered something about that kind of stuff I guess.. I know Duene follows the Iditarod race in Alaska, Looks like a dual to the finish for King and Mackey...

Tractor show

An old "putt" "putt" engine from yesteryear

Old car

Saw this old car at the antique car and tractor show today.

Old Ford Fairlane from yesteryear

I think this thing was built in the 50's or 60's?? It's some kind of a convertable, not very high tech. Went to a tractor and antique car show this morning and saw lots of stuff....

Uh oh...could this be true????

Hmmm, need to take some pics, these jokes are getting a bit lame. Supposed to warm up to 80's in a few days, "sucks to winter in Arizona"..

Cleaned the bays out today

Snagged this off a page of jokes someone sent me. Cleaned out the storage bays today, won't have to do it the day before we leave!!

??????

It's yellow and it's pretty but I have not a clue what it is??? Probably a weed or a bush or??
Walmart run today for the necessities in life (food, and more food etc.) oh, and some food..

Happy birthday Mom

My mom celebrates 104 years of life today, quite an accomplishment. Brother Larry (on the rt) is in Pinedale helping her celebrate. My sister Rita and I didn't make it this year. Probably next.

Health care..

I had to work some magic in cropping to get this thing to post. It explains health care very clearly to me....

Rainy again here in Paradise today, supposed to be near 80 by the weekend...

The last post

Oh, that last post was near Silver lake, that's it in the backgroound.......

30 miles southeast of Pinedale

I posted this on my facebook account also, I took this about mid 1990's on either a search or a day fishing trip, probably the latter.

Hoo boy it rained yesterday and last night. Can't wait to get out when it dries and warms up to get some of those beautiful desert flower pics.

Off the east side of Camelback mountain

Not sure if I posted this one or not from the top of Camelback mountain in Phoenix. That is literally straight down....

In answer to a question as to why people paint the bottoms of their orange trees white..... Because of the hot summer sun, the white coloration reflects the sun off the trees. Otherwise they get too hot and can't retain the moisture as well. That's my story and I'm stickin to it....

Older pic from yesterday's post

Took this pic earlier in the winter before the "faces" were drawn on them. Wow, I'm hard up for a post today. The orange blossoms are starting to develope on the orange trees, they smell pretty but if you have any allergies they sure enhance the problem. My last chiropractor visit today, have almost full motion in the shoulder, way better than it was when I started in December. Got to keep up some shoulder excersizes so it will continue to be better. Got to get some pictures... Maybe next week..

Not exactly Mt. Rushmore

Someone harvested their oranges and left a couple for posterity. They tell me these bigger ones make pretty good juice but aren't all that great to eat. Went over to University of Phoenix stadium yesterday (Where the Arizona Cardinals play football), and looked into tickets for a bullriding event. I think I'll watch it on TV and not shell out between $50. and $100. for tickets. Supposed to hit 72 here again today, hot weather is just around the corner.