Organ Pipe Cactus National Park

January 30, 2010

We took off on Sunday, the 30th and headed down to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Park. South of Gila Bend, AZ...just 5-7 miles north of the Mexican border. We had to go through two Border Patrol check points on the way down...they just waved us through.

The organ pipe cactus are found only in this area of Arizona and down into Mexico. They do not occur anywhere else on the planet. Really quite interesting. There were many other specimens of cactus in this area also. Many Saguaro cacti.

The rock formations were different than any we have seen elsewhere in Arizona. Very craggy.

The Saguaro were almost as prevalent in this area as they were in the Saguaro National Forest. But we saw larger numbers of other cacti.

The "fuzzy" looking cactus is a teddy bear Cholla (Choy-ya). People think the burrs jump out at you if you come close, but we were told "if you bump into them" you will wear the burrs, and need a comb and tweezers to remove the prickles. Kind of like the old "Sand burrs" that I remember from the fields as a kid.

This part of the desert is really quite green. And is said to be greener than any other desert area in the Southwest. Quite a contrast from Death Valley.

We found another great example of the Ocotillo out on one of the driving trails...which was very dry...no leaves at all...but you we able to see the green behind the cracks in the bark. We did see an Ocotillo with full leaves on our way to Yuma the next week...but did not stop to take a picture.


Our Journey back also included 2 Border Patrol checkpoints. Just a little more thorough on the way back...a few questions...and we hadn't even gone to Mexico.

A visit to see friends

January 22-23, 2011

We started to caption this "A visit to see old friends"...but a better choice would be a visit to see friends that we have known a long time. You surely could not say that any of us are "old." :-)

Cathi and Chuck Vaaler were staying in a condo in north Scottsdale, and we made the trip there...and stayed with them Saturday night. Neat time share with two separate living areas.

They taught us how to make Omelet's in a bag for breakfast. FUN!!!!

We had a great dinner at Brio's and came back to the condo to play cards. We enjoyed a really nice visit.

Sunday noon we headed straight west from Scottsdale - and had lunch with Carol and Erv Malcheff (Palmer College days...both Carol and Erv are Chiropractors)

Carol and Erv winter at Happy Trails which is located in Surprise, AZ...a really nice site with an 18 hole golf course on the property. They "summer" in Michigan. :-) Had a great visit with them. They've had an RV since way back when we lived in North Dakota. They visited us one year on their way south.

Quartzite boondocking

January 19-22, 2011

Well...we've heard about it all along our travels...and everyone asks..."Are you going to Quartzsite?"

We had to do it...to see what it was all about. Thousands of trailers gathered out in the desert. Hard to imagine.

As we approached Quartzsite, AZ, you could see a thin line of "white stuff" way out there at the base of the mountains. Was it a lake??? Hard to tell.

As we got closer...everywhere we turned, there were RV's, 5th Wheels, pull campers...all out in the desert. Gathered around in groups...like "circle the wagons." Rv's everywhere. Not as crowded together as we had pictured...but spread over a large distance...our group was 5 miles north and 2 miles east of town...there were 8 or 9 groups in our area...and there were more gatherings of rigs to the south, east, and west of town.

We camped with SKP chapter 39 - the WashPan group. [Several couples at the Casa Grande SKP park are from Washington state or the pan handle of Idaho - Thus...WashPan]

Everyone circled around...and most days there was a potluck breakfast...and a potluck dinner...lots of good conversations...although the campfires at night were sparcely attended, as the temperatures, which were in the high 70's during the day, dropped below 40 at night.

We went to an Escapee (SKP) Rally the second afternoon...and met a couple from our "Ozark Chapter #17"...Don and Susie Tannehill...they live in Oklahoma...just a few miles from Arkansas/Missouri border.

Downtown Quartzsite was a miriad of shops. RV supplies...jewelery...gems...crafts...indian goods...you name it! Across the highway there were tents...and more tents...and more tents. Probably a 2 block square section of just ROCKS and stones...and gems.

We didn't stay for the opening of the RV tents...we've seen a bunch of RV's on several occasions...and are pretty happy with our Home Sweet RV.

The sunsets were gorgeous...and there were activities going on for anyone's interest. Lots of folks brought their "dune buggies" and ATV's to ride out in the desert.



All in all...it was a good experience. We'll probably do it again.

Eastern Carribean Cruise

January 9-16, 2011

We took a cruise with the SKP group out of Texas...got special prices...and you know us...a good deal on the cruise is a good deal.

Although Norwegian Cruise Line didn't measure up to some of the other lines we've cruised on {Royal Caribbean our favorite} the four stops during the week were fun and entertaining.

Our First stop was at the Dominican Republic (Haiti is on the West side of this same island...a mountain range separating the two). The port of Las Terrenas. We did a city tour, which could have been really interesting. But the guide on the bus could only tell us about the numerous dictators and leaders they've had over that last several eons.

Natives on horseback wanting to take you for a horse ride. Little ones begging in the street - well aware of "sign language."

A lot of poverty...some signs of improvement in a few areas.

Lunch on the beach was delicious.

We had shrimp cerviche. (Of course)

And of course we had to puddle in the water with our bare feet. One incoming wave almost knocked us off our feet. Beautiful blue waters, tho.


Our second stop was on the Island of St. Thomas where we opted for a catamaran sail to St Johns for snorkeling. We had about an hour in the water...saw lots of fish...a big old barracuda had his eye on me as I lay still in the water watching a small school of fish. One swish of his tail, and the school of fish scattered. Ron followed 3 sea turtles as they came up for air...went back down...came up for air. Quite fun.!
We all had our share of rum punch on the way back to St Thomas. Cheese and crackers, and a bit of fruit. I really don't think anyone was feeling any pain by the time we returned to the ship.

Ron got to "drive" on the way back.

The captain was close at hand, tho, because a large storm was headed our way.

Our third stop was the island of Tortola.

One of the British Virgin Islands.

Our excursion was called the "Tortola Pub crawl" It was actually a tour of the entire island on the roads that were high in the hills. The views were outstanding...and we DID stop at a 3 pubs...although not necessary, because there was plenty of rum punch on the back end of the bus.

Our Ship - The Norwegian Pearl

I don't remember which was which...but the island of St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, etc are quite close together...several "little known" islands inbetween.

Our bus driver. (Note the punch on the back of the bus.)

The private Cay for Norwegian Cruise Lines was our last stop on the cruise. We had a great time Kayaking on the other side of the island. And finished off the day with a huge BBQ feast on the beach.