Snow/Hail in the Desert

The view from the Motorhome

Snow on the grill and smoker

Quite a view from the back of the adobe hacienda

The rock formations are amazing

Saguaro's and snow on the mountain

We woke up this morning to find that it had rained rather vigorously overnight. It was quite cloudy and about 10:00 this morning the skies opened and it began to hail. It hailed/snowed for about 10-15 minutes. It must have been cold at the higher elevations as it was about 50 degrees at ground level. We went for a drive after lunch, and the Superstition Mountains had turned white! We were told that this only happens about every 4 or 5 years. There were people all over taking pictures (us included).
Yesterday (Saturday) was a golf day for me. Wayne and I played the same 9 as last Tuesday. I managed to better my last score by 1 stroke. I parred 2 holes on this nine, and had 2 shots at making a birdie. Maybe next time. We are going out tomorrow afternoon for the last time as Wayne and Tary are heading for Montana on Tuesday. I am going to have to recruit a new partner.
Our first baseball game comes up on Tuesday. The weather will be mostly clear and in the low 70's. Should be just about perfect. Ron and Jan (Seattle friends) are coming down on the 8th, but will be spending a couple of days in Yuma before hanging out somewhere in this area for a few days. That will keep us busier than normal for a few days.
We will be taking a day trip to Yuma on Saturday the 5th to visit my brother and sister in law, and for me to check out the "Midnight at the Oasis" car show. It's about a 200 mile run one way, so we will need to get an early start to get back here before dark. If we make it back by 6:30, I can play Hand and Foot!
We have a BBQ planned for this Thursday, for our neighbors who have taken me out on the UTV adventures. I'm planning on doing a overnight brisket cook. We went to the Mining Camp restaurant today to buy some of their home made barbecue sauce. I had it with the beef ribs when we ate there a couple of weeks ago, and thought it was an outstanding sauce for beef.
So that's about it for now, and as Paul Harvey would say, "Stand by for the rest of the story."
Ernie

The Sun Is Shining

We had a beautiful day for hiking in the back country out of Apache Junction this morning. About 15 people from our RV park drove 7 or so miles out of town to a trail area called "Bulldog Gulch". We hiked a total of 8 miles round trip with a stop halfway thru for lunch and rest. This was our second hike and not nearly as steep as the previous one. If you think the desert is just a vast flat plain of sand and cactus, there is so much more to it than that. We hiked small hills, riverbeds, saw beautiful tall rugged rock formations. It was green because of all the rain we had over the weekend.

Perfect hiking weather today - sunshine, a slight breeze and about 60 degrees. When the sun shines here it seems warmer than in Seattle, possibly because of the lack of humidity and the angle of the sun. At any rate, we all warmed up within a half hour and were wrapping our jackets around our waists. Of course, Ernie did not even start out with a jacket!

My feet and legs were very tired after all those miles, but a shower and clean clothes a few hours after we got back to the park made us feel like new. We met friends Lindy and Joe for dinner at an Irish pub called Murphy's Law in Chandler. It was very busy and noisy and we had a good visit. Since I'm not a beer drinker, I went for a Margarita - not very Irish but refreshing as well!

It was a very good day. Keep warm! - Joyce

Golf Story & 4 Wheeling in the Snow

For Josh, Brynn, and the granddog

Looking for the pot of gold

Crossing the creek

4 wheelers in the snow

The view from the abandoned mercury mine

On Monday I had my 3rd adventure on the golf course. After my 2nd outing last Thursday, I figured out part of my problem. Monday we played 9 holes, and I shot a 44 on a par 31. I only had one really bad hole shooting a 8 on a par 4. I managed a par on one hole and had several other opportunities to shoot par. The next thing I need to start working on is putting. This was by far my best outing.
We took a drive out of Apache Junction to the south about 15 miles on Sunday just because we had never been out that way before. We had a little rain and sun which made for a pretty good rainbow. We took some pictures, but it didn't do it justice.
Today (Wednesday) I went out with the UTV group for an adventure into the back country. We went back in to an abandoned mercury mine from the 40's/50's. We climbed quite a bit and got into into about 6 inches of snow. Apparently it gets pretty cold up there overnight. The snow fell over the weekend when we had rain with temperatures in the 50's. But not anything like back home, where Keith and Sheila (and kids) had about 10 inches of snow last night with more in the forecast.
Tomorrow we are going out with the hiking group, then meeting Phoenix friends Joe and Lindy for dinner. That's about it for now, and even tho it's only in the 60's. I'm not willing to change places with any of you. Ernie

Rain in the desert

Just to make us feel at home, it rained today. It was in the low 70's just before the rain, and it dropped about 20 degrees during the rain storm. Everything is so dry here that the water runs off. They have detention ponds along the roadways to keep from flooding the streets.
We were going to hit a few balls at the driving range this afternoon with Wayne and Tary. We all went to lunch, and while there the deluge began. We stopped off at the driving range after lunch thinking that maybe it would stop, but it just came down harder. We will try again tomorrow. So now Joyce and I are back at the motorhome. I was hoping that the Washington / Arizona basketball game would be on one of the local TV stations, but no such luck.
Joyce is doing laundry and reading a book, and I think I will have a rum and coke and bide my time until hand and foot (card game) starts in about an hour and a half. I would have taken some rain pictures to post here, but most of you have seen it before. Stay dry!
Ernie

BBQ

The view from the motorhome

Ribs, Chicken, and beans waiting to go

Making smoke

The finished product

Home away from home

Yesterday I fired up the smoker for the first time since we got here. We did 2 racks of pork back ribs and 1 chicken. One of the neighbors from a few sites over wandered over after about 4 hours of cooking time to let me know how good it smelled. That's always good to hear. We had 2 other couples over for dinner. Mike and Joyce who are from Moses Lake, and Pete and Margaret who are Arizonans. Pete is the guy that took me out on the UTV last week, and after dinner I got an invitation to go again next week. There's not a lot of food left over, but enough for dinner tonight, and maybe lunch tomorrow for me and Joyce.
Today we are going to meet a couple that Joyce knew when she lived in Montana for lunch. They now live in Colorado and are visiting in Arizona. Joyce hasn't seen them in at least 25 years. When we get back I need to get the smoker ready for the next cook. Last night's dinner guests volunteered to buy the meat.
Tomorrow afternoon will be my second venture out on the golf course. I hope to see some improvement, but if not, oh well. The weather is scheduled to make a turn for the worse beginning tomorrow. They're talking rain. Sometimes when rain is forecast, it sprinkles for a few minutes and that's it. Doesn't even get the ground wet. I think that I'll continue wearing sun screen anyway. Stay Dry, Ernie

Desert Valentine

Today being Valentines Day, we decided to celebrate by me going to the driving range and Joyce doing laundry. Joyce got a Valentines cactus, as the Easter cactus I gave her 3 years ago died of over watering. She now has a genuine Saguaro. I have my second shot at golf coming up on Thursday, and I need the practice. I've come to the realization that if I'm going to play golf that I need to go to the range at least twice a week.. Last Friday actually went fairly well. Wayne and I were paired up with a couple in their mid 70's, and I could out drive the female half! I managed to play 9 holes with the same ball. I did come within about 3 feet of the water hazard, but managed to keep the ball on dry land. So for a first outing, I would have to say that it went rather well. I probably averaged between 2 and 3 over par per hole.
Tomorrow the smoker gets fired up for the first cook of the season. I'll be fixing 2 racks of pork back ribs and a chicken. We are having 2 other couples over for dinner. If all turns out well, I will post some BBQ pictures tomorrow evening.
Weather has been in the low 80's for the past 3 or 4 days. There is rain in the forecast for this coming Thursday, with temperatures in the mid 60's. No complaints as to the weather.
Baseball is just around the corner as pitchers and catchers reported to camp this week. We may have to take a drive up to Peoria to check out some of the practice sessions. Our first game is just a little over 2 weeks away.
Stay Tuned, Ernie

Busy, Busy, Busy

At the top of the Mesa.

The hiking group on the mesa.

Joyce was glad we were'nt going any farther.

Checking out a herd of desert mountain goats.

Look at that form (note the ball).

It's been a busy week here in sunny Arizona. On Tuesday Wayne and I went to the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. Wednesday was my great off road adventure day with a group of 6 UTV's and quads. We went 11 miles back into the hills over some pretty rough terrain. I rode with a native Arizonan (Pete) who lives here in the park during the winter, and up in the White Mountains in the summer. He's been on this route in the past, but said it was rougher than he remembered. Now I now why they have skid plates. I took pictures until the camera battery died. With a little luck I will get some posted.
Yesterday (Thursday) Joyce and I went with a hiking group of 14 on a 6 mile round trip into the mountains not far from here. We went to an area where the Apache's wiped out a group of Spanish soldiers sometime in the 1800's. The site was on a mesa with only one way in and out. All around was a vertical drop of about 500 feet. Apparently the Apache's chased the Spaniards onto the mesa where they proceeded to wipe them out.
Today (Friday) Wayne and I have a 3:00 tee time at a 9 hole golf course. While we're doing that, the ladies are going to the Mesa swap meet. The swap meet is huge, and if a person had the stamina could probably spend the better part of the day there.
Next week I plan on firing up the smoker for the first time as a payback gesture for Pete and his wife for taking me on the off road adventure. So this has been our busiest week yet, as we both are feeling pretty close to normal. It's just a little over 2 weeks until our first baseball game. Oh and by the way, it's supposed to be in the mid 70's this weekend, and near 80 next Monday and Tuesday. Ernie

Post Super Bowl

Watched my first Super Bowl in about 10 years today. Fell asleep in the 2nd quarter, but woke up before half time. Saw most of the 2nd half. Ho Hum. Joyce did laundry. Pretty exciting.
I'm feeling almost normal again, and will probably make it to the driving range tomorrow to see which direction the golf balls fly this week. On Wednesday I will be going on a UTV adventure in the dessert. Thursday, Joyce and I should be going on a guided dessert hike with a group from the park. We went to REI today, and I bought a hat for hiking that has a spf rating of 50. Should keep the top of my thining haired head from getting burned. Also bought a (one) pair of wool hiking sox for $20. That's more than I usually spend for shoes!!
Tary and Wayne (Montana Friends) are staying in Mesa until the 1st of March. My only attempt at actually playing golf was with Wayne when we visited them in White Sulfur Springs Montana last September. I am trying to get Wayne to golf with me once or twice in the next couple of weeks. Then maybe I will have enough confidence to try on my own. Joyce may be getting out on the links (golf talk) too.
That's about all for now, and we are looking forward to the potentially big week ahead.
Ernie

Record Cold

Yes, we have been a part of Arizona history - record breaking cold temps this past week - in the lower 20's. Wouldn't you know it, our heat went out middle of the night a few nights ago - woke up and it was 46 degrees in here. A small technical error on Ernie's part where we ran out of propane which supplements the electric heat at a certain point. We unhooked all systems, pulled in the slides and drove the RV down the street a few miles to get the propane tanks filled.

Ernie went to 'urgent care' on Tuesday - diagnosed with strep throat. Had a mild case as he was feeling better the next day after being put on antibiotics.

Last Saturday we were invited to an impromptou BBQ across the 'street' where we met a few more people from Washington state. We connected with our friends Tary and Wayne from Montana yesterday, had a nice visit and went to dinner at the Mining Camp Restaurant outside of Apache Junction. They will be here thru February so will get together again to attempt a golf game (Tary & Wayne will have to have patience with us).

Ernie back into shorts as of today. I'm not ready for that yet. = Joyce