Prescott, Flagstaff and family

More time with Uncle Gene in Prescott

From Alex:    We had a great time with Matt & June in Scottsdale Apr 9-19 (only good, close family can put up with you that long), but then we hit the trail to Prescott when the weather started looking better.  Good thing I'm not a forecaster (weather, Blackjack, fishing spots, stocks etc.) because it snowed/flurried/sleeted/whatever- Northerners-call-it for a couple days.  We got to see Uncle Gene for dinner at the rig and helped move a refrigerator the next day.  We sweated during that little exertion so we ran up to Flagstaff the next day.  We wanted to stay at a National Guard site just west of Flagstaff that was highly touted, but it's not open for 2 more weeks...we're just pressing and sometimes outrunning the Spring season.  We ended up east of Flag in a new RV park (more expensive than the National Guard) that is very pet friendly (walks, parks, baths, poop-bags, memorials).  Went to Bill T's college and walked around.  The campus sure is growing. The high altitude wiped everyone out (except me, I think it's the carbination in the beer that gives me extra oxygen). Speaking of beer, Nephew Andrew Torrance is brewing his own and he and Matt concocted a batch for us while we were visiting.  Letting it rest for a week or two, I'll report the results right here...stay tuned.  We're off to Canyon DeChelly (pronounced Da-shay) tomorrow.  Chris and everyone else seems to want more pics and less talk...adios,   Alex and Chris 

P,S,  Arizona is tough to drive through now days...the Rest Stops are all closed and you have to look legal.

Flagstaff

Northern Arizon University

I'm a Lumberjack!

Uncle

We got to visit with Chris' Uncle Gene and Eva in Sun City while we were in the Phoenix area.  They live in Sun City during the winter and Prescott during the summer.  They have a lovely house on the water in Sun City, which is unusual for Arizona.  It's surprising to walk out their back door and see their beautiful view of the lake. 
We also got to visit with Charlie.  He runs the place and keeps Gene and Eva busy keeping up with him.  He's a handsome and very happy dog with a personality to match.  What lucky humans. 

Oh Brother part two

Going to include a few more pics of Matt, June and the dogs.  There were two labs and Pilot.  Poor Pilot fell in the pool during all the excitment.  He was able to get to the steps which was 2 feet away and get out.  June's back yard is in full bloom and beautiful. 
The last pic is of Lost Dog Trail just outside of Scottsdale.  Beautiful and a good workout.

June

Oh Brother!

We're staying at my Brother Matt's, and his wife June, place in Scottsdale, AZ from 9 Apr and will hit the road Monday the 19th.  What a great couple to let us use their entire driveway and electricity for these days.  Great company and food with gorgeous weather, grilling and eating outside...can't beat it;  Attached is a picture of their backyard with the pretty flowers, and dogs having fun, you just can't see all the laughing.  Don't think April gets much better than here.  Matt took us on a 5 mile hike on "Lost Dog Trail" a little northeast of Scottsdale with the temperture about 75-degrees and the cactus blooming...got a little winded saying "good morning" to fellow walkers...had to just keep our heads down the last 1/2 mile.  We're off to northern AZ and probably will stay a few days in the Prescott area then Canyon DeChelly then to Utah and the Moab National Park.  We know how to park in driveways now, so watch out for us.

Hot Stuff

From Chris:   We left Corpus on Friday, April 2nd and headed to Kerrville.  It was exciting that we had finally started our new lifestyle and trip.  We stayed at By The River RV park again for one night.  Got to visit with Bill and Cheryl, who we met there in February.  It was nice to see them again and they gave us some good info on where to go and what to do.
Saturday we started out on I-10 West.  It kept getting warmer as we traveled along so Chris checked the weather for Big Bend on her lap top and found that Big Bend was going to be 98 degrees.  Too hot for us.  We'll do Big Bend another time.  We decided to keep driving.  We made it all the way to Las Cruces, New Mexico.  We drove 560 miles that day.  We spent Easter at a nice park called Sunny Acres. 
Monday morning we headed to Tucson.  Great drive.  We were able to get into Davis-Monthan Air Force Base FamCamp.  Got the last pull thru spot.  This campground was rated #1 by US Military Campgrounds.com.  It is very well managed.  They already know what questions you are going to ask and have a routine that answers all of them before you think to ask.  Lots of hand outs and info.  The grounds are well cared for and in very good condition.   Nice dog walking area.  The space between each spot is not as wide as the campground on base at Corpus, but still OK.  We like it here.
Last night we visited with our niece, Jill.  Jill is a photographer for the Arizona Daily Sun.  She took us to a nice Mexican restaurant called El Charro in old downtown Tucson.  We ate outside on the patio.  Very nice evening.  Today we are going to see her house.  It's an old house that had already been updated, yet retains the original feel of the old Tucson.  Hope to get some pictures. 
So, now that we are on the road we've decided to go ahead and send out this blog to all our family and friends. 
While this is not the most exciting of things to read, we hope you will check in once in awhile and see where we are and what we are doing.  Please keep in touch with us either using the comments option on this blog, email or phone. It's important to us that we keep connected to our family and friends.  Next stop: Phoenix/Scottsdale.

Mark Twain Quote

"Of course I met pleasant people, because nothing so liberalizes a man and expands the kindly instincts that nature put in him as travel and contact with many kinds of people."

From Chris:   That pretty much explains one of the main reasons why we are traveling around this wonderful country.  Being in the military for 25 years and traveling all over this country, and to a few other countries, we've learned what Mark Twain discovered in his travels. 
Travel does open up your mind, heart and soul.  You learn to make friends with people who think completly different from you.  Instead of trying to change their mind to match yours, you try to open up your beliefs and let different ideas float around.  It use to surprise us when our beliefs would change because of an encounter. 
And so, with that, off we go tomorrow.  Headed west.  Let's see what we learn.