A Torrey Pines hike

Friday we went "down by the sea" and took a hike in the Torrey Pines reserve.

The rugged coastline with it's Sandstone bluffs made for a dramatic hike.

The hike was pretty much up and down with little flat parts. The scenery made the hike enjoyable.

We happened upon this rock formation. Since it was Good Friday, we could imagine that the rock in the center is a statue of the Virgin Mary. It looked like a statue that we would find  in a church. No.... it's not man made!

The Yucca plants were in bloom and we found them along the trail along with a rattlesnake. We took the Yucca's picture and left the snake alone.

Just so you all know we did do the hike here's a  pic of two campers on the trail.
This is the last post for this trip. Home on Tuesday and then we will be getting ready for the next trip.
It's going to be busy.
Happy Easter all!

San Diego

We're in San Diego for the next week and I have a  little time so thought I'd do a short post.
We had a great weekend with the "kids" A crab sandwich for lunch and a visit to Seaport village filled the Saturday. Sunday was brunch in Carlsbad and some time in Balboa Park. Here's a couple of pics of two of my favorite people.

A walk by the harbor was in order

Kevin seems to be enjoying the view!

Balboa Park was crowded but fun on Sunday. Why are they always cuddling???

Adios Casa Grande

Our two months went by in a flash and last Thursday it was time to say so long to friends from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado,Washington and a few other places including Canada. What a great eclectic gathering of people and backgrounds in the middle of the desert! Folks will be departing for  home over the next two weeks or so to go back to family and friends "up North" and we wish them God speed and safe travels till we gather again,
But..... before we left we witnessed the latest chapter in the Sheryl and Marc wars.

As you may recall Marc has a talent for pointing out some peoples minor mistakes such as falling down or crashing a golf cart. Usually it's Sheryl who provides Marc with his material. So.... Sheryl took matters into her own hands and, as you can see from the picture, bound Marc's hands and then proceeded to blindfold his eyes, put cotton in his ears and duct tape over his mouth. It's her version of "hear no evil, see no evil and, last but most important, speak no evil". There is bound to be retribution for her reckless act, if not now then next year. With Sheryl and Marc around there is never a dull moment. Keep the laughs coming kids!

We're now in Santee (San Diego) for a ten day visit with Kevin and Beth. Maybe one more post from down here and then it's home and back to the "real world".

Fun in the desert

Friends Bob and Suzanne from home were here for the last week so we took advantage of the opportunity to visit some old and some new places.

The Casa Grande ruins was first on the list. We explored the remains of a great house built by the Hohokam Indians several centuries ago. The valley was filled with Indians who were farmers and artists. They farmed the land and traded for things they needed with Indians as far away as Texas and Mexico

From there we headed to Eloy and the world famous sky diving facility. We watched as jumper after jumper came out of the aircraft and sailed to the ground. There is also a wind tunnel where they train. Here is a picture of two sky divers doing circles upside down. We couldn't convince Suzanne to give it a try.

Tuesday we went to the Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson. where bob found a pair of bat ears. So..... this is what Bob would look like if he were a bat.

I found a Teddy bear Cholla cactus ( the kind that got me on our hike) so I gave it a hug.

Thursday we headed to the Dodgers and Cubs spring training game in Glendale. What a great day even though it was a little warm (95 in the shade and there was no shade)

It was a really nice stadium and we were close to the action.

Friday Bob and Suzanne headed for Sedona and we went to Sacaton for fry bread. Once again we dined in a picturesque setting.

Sorry for the format of this post.... not much time to do it. We're all going off to Eloy to watch one of our own (Janet) sky dive.

March madness Casa Grande Style

Tuesday was March madness at Foothills West. We spent the day getting in touch with our inner child doing crazy stuff and just having fun.

Jail was the punishment for those who "done wrong". Sheriff Char (our park manager) has collected Sharleen who now "does her time" till some nice person (not me) bailed her out. 25cents could get anyone put in jail and 25 cents bailed you out.

Gorge and Glen manned the grills and we dined on hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixins. Great job guys!

Char went from sheriff to target when the pie throwing began. Here Jack takes aim with a pie and Char looks really scared.

After pie launch, Jack shows that it's all in the follow through. Even with that form the pie did go a little left.

Char was a really good sport about the whole thing.

Marc (better known as "he who provides innovation and entertainment") has put a pie on a stick and is concealing it from Char. Leave it to Marc to bend the rules just a little.

As expected, Char and Jack engage in some "extra curricular" activity. I'm not sure who won but the battle was fun.

Loretta won the "best in show" for her decorated trike in the afternoon parade. Check out the funky glasses.

Completing the festivities was the blind driver golf cart obstacle course race. The driver is blindfolded and the passenger provides directions and more than a few laughs. It was proven that if you blindfold someone they don't know their left from right.

All in all a fun way to spend a day. Rain today but back to Arizona weather by Sunday.

A visit to Sharleen's mom

Last week we drove down to Sierra Vista about 150 miles from here to visit Sharleen's mom and brother and his family.

Here is the Kodak moment from the visit. Good looking folk except the guy on the right!

While the women folk did what women folk do I cleaned and waxed the truck. It's amazing what you can do if you have a whole day to do it.

I had to include this for James. last Tuesday I looked up and saw the met life blimp flying overhead. Pretty cool to see it in person.





Not much else new here. I'll have more soon since this week is March madness down here..... all kinds of sillystuff going on at the park. More soon.