Did 2022 even happen? ...and now it's 2023!

 Transitioning from "Full-Time" (12 months traveling on the road) to "Part-Time" (6 months on the road) was one thing...and that took an adjustment, but this last year was what?  "Part-Part-Time" (once in awhile on the road)?  We put more miles in the air than we did in the RV!  I'm not complaining, it's just hard to write a "year-end blog" about a year that hardly happened!  I kept putting it off because I didn't really know what to say, even though I wanted to say something! 

Do I like it?  I don't know, I'm still adjusting to it...like my age.  Inside I feel like I can and want to do so much more...but when I go to do it, funny how my body doesn't seem to cooperate like it used to!  I'm also finding myself being pulled in a lot of different directions now that we are here in the Resort more.  I'm on the Board of Directors now, liaison to a couple of committees and in several clubs - all of which take time and commitment...and makes it harder to get away for any length of time.  

Belonging to the RV Club has been a wonderful blessing because they really help get us out and about without us having to do much of the pre-planning and work.  They've also introduced us to places that we hadn't heard of before and might not have ever explored.  We hope to do even more with them in 2023.  

Even with barely traveling in the RV this year, we still managed to put over 1000 miles on it with another 6100 miles on our Toyota.  Enough to keep the engine running and serviced and the tags kept up to date anyway!  ;-)  

We have reservations for March on the books (to go to Tucson for the Escapee's 64th Escapades) for a rally and then I will be looking into little jaunts for us here and there to keep us more active this year...so stay tuned!  

Until then we will just be...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Trip to Tubac, last campout of the year!

Our RV Club organized a great rally to the small town of Tubac AZ for four nights to enjoy their Annual La Fiesta de Tumacacori and Lumnaria Nights de Tubac Celebration of the Holiday Season.  16 rigs as well as 3 additional couples (that stayed in cabins) came, making for a great group gathering.  

We all stayed together at a nice park called De Anza RV Resort that was close to everything we wanted to attend.  The first night our wagon master had reserved for us to go to the local steak restaurant, Longhorn Grill & Saloon.  They had a nice large tent set up outside filled with heaters, so it was warm and cozy.  The food was great, but alas, the servers didn't have a clue what they were doing and they jumbled simple orders continuously (we only had 3 choices), took hours to figure it out, we were there longer to pay, than to eat!  Sad because it put a damper on the evening that shouldn't have.  Felt sorry for the chef!

 

The next day we all pitched in and had a fantastic pot luck breakfast held in their large meeting room.  Wow, so much great food!  One of our members is a retired baker, so you can imagine what his cinnamon buns are like!  Yum!  When we were finally able to roll ourselves out of there, we all went on our own ways - us to Tubac to check out the town and see what to expect later for the lighting of the lumnarias.

Well, I have to share, I didn't know what to expect...Tubac is fairly close to Mexico, small and "out in the middle of nowhere"...so I didn't have big expectations...boy, was I surprised!  What an incredible arts and crafts community!  We have been to Sedona, Aspen, Santa Fe, etc. and I have to say, Tubac is right up there with them, if not surpasses them!  Their art was across the board in diversity, not just Mexican, not just Southwest, not stuff you've seen everywhere else, but their own.  I don't know how they attracted the artisans there or their work, but if I ever win the lottery and need to furnish another home, I'm shopping there!  

 As the sun went down, the lumnarias began to be lit.  Some shops went all out, with tons of them, all over their place, many served nibbles and small drinks as well.  It was all very festive and fun!  Several artists demonstrated and talked with shoppers, musicians played, people strolled around and everyone took pictures.

The next day was the Fiesta de Tumacacori held at their National Historical Park.  Locals set up a variety of booths selling everything from handmade items to fruits and veggies, and of course lots of good food.  The Park Rangers had several booths with handouts with information of several of the parks in Arizona.  They were also giving tours of The Tumacacori Mission Church.  They had a stage set up and about every 45 minutes different dancers and musicians performed.  

 

We roamed the booths and enjoyed talking to some of the various vendors and sat and watched several of the dancers for a bit.  Afterward, we walked over to the Mission and took our time to wander through all the nooks and crannies of the old buildings.  It was the first mission to be located in Arizona, founded by Jesuit Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in January 1691.  This building was constructed in the early 1820s and never entirely completed. Abandoned in 1848 under pressure of Apache raiding, Tumacacori began falling into disrepair; it became a National Monument in 1908.  

The storm was threatening to start, so we left and decided that "indoors" would be a safer bet to grab a bite to eat.  Recommendations had been given to go to a local favorite called Wisdom's Cafe nearby.  "Easy to find" we were told, "just look for the big chicken, you can't miss it!"  They were right...and about how good the food was too!

De Anza RV Resort treated everyone to a free Margareta Happy Hour later that night as the rain came down.  It rained on and off the rest of the weekend, but cleared up just in time for all of us to pack up and head on home (wasn't that nice?).  All in all, it sure was a super trip and a wonderful new place that we'd  like to come back to again!

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Seasonal fun in Sedona...

We may not have been "traveling" much, but that doesn't mean life hasn't been full!  Being on the HOA Board at our "home-base" Resort keeps me hopping, especially as the snow birds start returning!  Between that, and the start of the new production of Happy Trails Theater Variety Show for 2024, and then being asked to plan the annual Theater Christmas Party...I was stretched to the max.  Solution?  Take a break!!

So, we did, off to Sedona for a week to relax and "do nothing"!  Sedona is less than two hours from our place, so it's an easy and pretty drive for us.  We have a timeshare there and have gone a number of times, so don't feel the need to do any of the tourist things, yet know the restaurants we like and the places we like to take walks to.  We stay a Los Abrigados Resort which is right in the heart of town so it's easy to walk around or a short drive to places we like. 

Being Thanksgiving week, fall was in full form.  All the oak trees were showing off their colors and dropping their leaves everywhere making wonderful piles to play with and kick as you walked through them!  So fun.  It was such a lovely week, the sun shone each day through clear, crisp air.  Enough to wear sweat shirts or sweaters, but not so cold that you could see your breath.  Some brave soles even went swimming! (not me!!)

Shopping at Tlaquepaque is always a favorite with us, and this time was no exception.  It's such a beautiful place to walk around as well as a great place to eat and find special treasures...of which (of course) we did.  

Thanksgiving dinner at The Hudson was a wonderful treat.  We love that restaurant anyway, but being able to have reservations for that evening was extra special - and they sure made it that way too.  I have been used to very large family gatherings most of my life, so now with just the two of us, it's a difficult adjustment.  Having a place treat us special, preparing a meal wonderfully, serving us like friends, helps.  We left there with full tummies and big smiles...and yummy leftovers! 

That week of no meetings, no calls, or "important e mails" was just what I needed.  I read a good book, watched a couple of Hallmark movies, slept in, took long walks, soaked in a hot tub and...relaxed. 

Then...back to the real world (but ready for it!)...

...in Arizona,  Marie

Back to the Islands...Maui and Kona

If you know us or followed my blog at all, you know that one of our favorite places to visit and "vacation" is in Hawaii.  Obviously, we can't take the RV there and it's truly our fantasy getaway place to completely relax.  I, for one, love all the islands, and don't really have a favorite.  Jack, on the other hand, favors Maui, so we tend to return to that one more than any of the others.  This year was no exception.

We usually go towards the end of October, around Jack's Birthday, but decided to celebrate our anniversary there this year instead, which is around Labor Day.  It made it tougher to find places, etc. but, oh well...

We ended up booking our time share for one week in Maui then another on Kona, the Big Island.  Another change for us this time was that we didn't bring any friends along.  I can't remember the last time we've done that, as we almost always do.  Because of the holiday period, places were harder to find and we ended up getting "hotel style rooms", something we've never had before.  We also decided not to rent cars at either island as we have toured both of them extensively and didn't feel the need to do that again.  This was going to just be a full, sit and relax kind of vacation.

Maui was our first destination.  Our room was okay, nothing special, but it had a great view of the resort overlooking the ocean.  There were two pools, that I quickly learned two things about:  neither one was designated for "adults only" so both were FULL of kids, and two, both were ICE COLD!  Now, the heater at our place here in Arizona has been out in our Olympic size pool all summer and it's not that cold, these pools were half that size, in the full sun, and freezing cold.  I got in, and got out!  Yikes.  The beach was beautiful, gentle sand, and the water was bathtub warm...that's where we went everyday!  It was only steps outside of the resort...so who needed the pool?

O

Watching the sunset from our balcony at The Royal Lahina Hotel

Red-crested cardinal enjoying breakfast with us

Along our beach walk

The resort offered free shuttle service to the nearby mall that had plenty of shopping and restaurants as well as another shuttle service that was all of $2 to Lahaina.  We enjoyed both, going into Lahaina for our anniversary dinner.  Fancy drinks and sunset included. It was lovely. 

Fancy drinks and a walk along the boardwalk in Lahaina

 

We were not thrilled with the "on site" restaurant.  We tried, but the menu nor the prices just didn't impress us, so I turned to Google for help and discovered The Castaway Cafe right next door!  A 2 minute walk and we not only found good food and great prices but wonderful staff that we soon became friends with!  We almost hated to leave them at the end of the week.

 

Watching the sun set from the Castaway Cafe

The following week we were off to Kona!  We've only been here once before, about six years ago.  Our friends own a home here and had invited us to stay with them, and kindly showed us just about everything one can see on the island....thank goodness!  Renting a car here (which you need to have if you are going to see anything, as this is a BIG island) is expensive, at least it was the week we were staying.  I figured out that between the car rental, the hotel parking charge and gas, it would have cost us about $1000. for the week.  Not worth it, so we didn't.  

The pictures of the hotel before we booked really didn't do it justice, so when we got there, our jaws dropped.  We soon realized we had actually been here before to "see it" when our friends took us here as a "you've got to see this place, it's unbelievable".  We had taken the boat tour around their little canal and ooh and ahh then.  Now, we were staying here.  How cool was that?

The room was twice the size of the one in Maui with a view of the beautiful Asian gardens.  This resort was huge - 64 acres huge.  An adult pool (nearest us, warm and peaceful) along with various other pools of different sizes and shapes, a man-made lagoon and beach, waterfalls, a dolphin pond, and acres and acres of Asian gardens filled with sculptures and art all surrounded by a water canal and monorail system to get around it all.  Beautiful. They had a variety of restaurants to choose from along with different shops and markets, plus a shuttle service ($) to the local mall for more choices.  All fun, and delicious. 

One amusing thing we discovered were the myna birds.  Seems that right outside our room were these trees that they liked to roost on, so every evening around 4pm or so, they would start flying in.  They would line up along the rooftop...hundreds and hundreds of them, and slowly fly into these trees.  Then as the sun set, they would start chirping.  This goes on for a bit... then quiet down until about 4 AM and the chirping begins again!  Now, you have to understand, there are hundreds and hundreds of these birds, all chirping at the same time - it's LOUD!  When I first heard it, I couldn't quite figure out what it was.  I followed the sound and ended up going outside to look for it, and that's when I discovered it was the birds! Wow.  After that, I realized their pattern and was blown away at how many there were as I watched them come and go.  I used to tell Jack, "here comes our evening and morning choir!" Once you knew about them, you got used to it.  It really was kind of amusing.

We enjoyed a luau while we were there as well.  Now we have seen one on each island except Oahu.  It was quite nice.  We had front row seats, met nice people, the food was good, weather was wonderful and the entertainment was delightful.  I would have to say that the fire dancers were some of the best we've seen.  But as for the luau itself, the best we've experienced, I feel was on Kauai, hands down. 

No matter how many times we go to the islands, we discover new things, enjoy new wonders and always have a wonderful time.  It truly is a paradise for us.  The only downside is the long trip back home.  I hate that plane trip.  The older I get the worse it seems, too.  We ended up taking the "red eye" this time, and I promised myself, I will never do that again...ugh.  We couldn't sleep, to uncomfortable, so we were up for 24 hours, and just wiped out when we got home.  Took us days to get back into shape.  We're to old for this anymore...guess we've been spoiled with all the years of RV travel!  ;-)  

Well, this is probably it for awhile now.  Only two more trips scheduled for the remainder of the year...until then...Aloha...

kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

 

Cooling off in Flagstaff...

Phew!  It's been HOT here this summer...and the monsoon's are going strong!  Of all the summer's to decide to stay home...makes me wonder why we chose this one??  Guess we needed to learn what Arizona's summers were really like, first hand, ha ha  

In truth, it's not been all that bad...You get used to it, and adapt to it.  Most days I go to the pool first thing in the morning and exercise with a small group of ladies for about an hour then come back and change and get what ever "outdoor" chores need to be done, done.  Then head inside to for most of the day for the rest of the chores, or in and out of a/c from one place to another.  You get into a routine.  But, after a few months of it...you need a break, or at least I do.  So, off we went to the (local) mountains!

One of our favorite stomping grounds is Greer's Pine Shadows Campground (now called Flagstaff RV Park) in Flagstaff.  We've camped there a number of times, usually coming and/or going from our trips.  We especially like it because it has TREES, and you really feel like you are in the mountains.  To many places are just large parking lots now with small planted trees here and there that don't even afford you any shade, let alone give you any since of nature.  This place is more like a state park with it's lots surrounded by nature, big old pine trees everywhere.  I love it.  So peaceful, you don't even hear the road traffic that's right outside of the campground or the trains that's not far away either...just nature.  Nice.  

Most the folks here that go to the "local mountains" go a little further higher to a town called Show Low.  I thought I would try it, and gave several campgrounds a call.  Our rig "was to old", so they wouldn't accept it.  Well, after a couple of calls, I thought "if that's their attitude, I'll go back to Flagstaff, who needs that attitude?"  So, we've never made it there...guess it's nice, but we'll never know...

Monsoons don't care if you are down in the valley or up in the mountains...they are going to find you!  We had lovely sunshine every morning, but by mid-afternoon, the rains came, almost everyday.  I got my morning reading and sunbathing in, but it sure put a damper on any grilling and campfires!  Oh well...

The cooler weather (in the high 70s, low 80s) was such a wonderful break, and just what we needed.  We browsed our favorite book stores, ate out a couple of times and just relaxed.  Pure R&R, nothing more. 

Soon our two weeks were up, and it was time to head on back down to the valley...no problem though, we were refreshed and smiling again!  Ahhhh

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Springtime visit with family!

I haven't been to see my family in Washington in a couple of years, and with my only remaining sister getting on in age (88), it was high time I get up there for a visit!  Jack wasn't up to taking the RV up there, so that left me with flying.  

We usually visit in the fall when it's cold, so I thought it would be nice to see it in springtime when the flowers were in bloom.  I thought May would be nice a break from here and just maybe not to rainy there.  People here leave in April to "go back home", which about 70% seem to live in Washington, so May seemed like a good time to go!  I knew I would miss the tulips in bloom (something I've always wanted to see), but hoped I would catch the daffodils (no such luck).

Being retired, I forget when holidays are, so completely forgot about Mother's Day, and booked the Tuesday after, (thinking that flying on a Tuesday would be less busy).  It wasn't until long after I had booked that someone asked me if I was going to celebrate Mother's Day with my sister?  Ugh.  I ended up calling her and telling her we would have to "do it late"! Sheesh! 

My sister now lives with her youngest son and his wife, and they gracefully made up their spare bedroom for me.  What a lovely room, I even had a mint on my pillow to greet me!

I have to say, Washington was lovely...all the flowers were in bloom, the grasses were green the trees were all in leaf, spring had absolutely come!  I even got lovely sunshine most of the days I was there, and was able to sit outside and have iced tea while enjoying the birds and butterflies fluttering by!  

Of course my sister and nieces had lots of activities planned for me.  The first being a whole family gathering at one of my niece's homes.  A wonderful casual dinner so that I could catch up with everyone and get all my missed hugs and news.  

We went to the movies, out to lunch, and to visit her friend's to see their "project".  They have been covering a tree with crochet pieces!  My sister crochets the pieces (all in different patterns and colors) and her friend Mickey puts them together and attaches them to her front yard tree trunk!  It's called "yarn bombing" and it's very popular in Tacoma.  It's really quite pretty and fun!  

We caught up on the "special occasions" of my birthday and Mother's Day by going to a really nice dinner at The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant that I have wanted to try for eons.  What a delight it was!  The service, the food, the place, everything was fantastic!  What a treat!  Way more food than we could eat...but we sure tried...the valet even gave us warm cookies as we departed, now that's service!

 We also made a trip further up north for the day to see my sister's oldest son and family.  It was a lovely drive, full of sunshine and a nice visit.  We even made time to stop and see some funky art and antique shop in Mt. Vernon on our way home! 

As with all visits, this one ended all to soon, and it was time to go home.  With promises to come again and hugs all around, I headed back on the plane (not my favorite way to travel anymore).  It may be spring in most parts of the country, but in Arizona, it's "summer" as the heat has arrived in full force...the "triple digits" as we call them, are arriving and we are in for a hot one!  Oh joy!

...kicking back in Arizona,  Marie

Camping in Cottonwood AZ

 We decided not to make the "big trip" this year, and instead, just stay close to home and maybe do a few short trips - with the RV Club and on our own during the summer.  Last year's long trip was quite a strain and Jack, the RV and even I needed a little break.  So, we shall see how it goes...this "staying put" thing!

Our first trip out was with our RV Club, to a campground called Dead Horse State Ranch in Cottonwood AZ.  It's only about a couple of hours from our resort, which was a nice drive, and a change of scenery.  There were about a dozen coaches, so a nice size group of us - not to small or big.  

 Being in a "group" is still kind of new for us, as for the last seven plus years, we've pretty much traveled and camped alone.  There a pluses and minus to that kind of camping.  I enjoy both.  

The coordinator was "on top" of everything for this trip.  She had each evening planned with campfires scheduled and hosted at different sites, people signed up to go to local entertainment (an Escape Room and a BBQ with entertainment) along with various hikes during the day if you wanted.  Two potlucks were also scheduled.  

 

 I, personally love potlucks, it makes cooking and eating so much more easy and fun.  You get to try new foods along with the opportunity to chat with so many people.  We are still getting to know most of the people in the club, so this gave us the chance to mingle and learn about some of the members.

 

 

We pretty much stayed around the park, only going into town one day.  Decided not to do the two evening outings, but joined the other few couples around our campfire and enjoy the glorious sunsets we were greeted with instead.  

All in all, it was a lovely four days.  The weather was cool in the mornings and evenings and warm, sunshine during the daylight.  The group was super friendly and fun and the trip was short and sweet!  It would be fun to do this more often, but as the season is drawing to a close...people are getting ready to "head back home" for the summer, so this will be it for the group until fall I'm afraid.  So, we will be on our own to come up with camp outings!  

Kicking back in Arizona,  Marie