Spring Break visit from my grandkids

Usually I travel to where my kids live, but this time, they flew out to visit me.  Well, it was quite a week with 2 additional adults and 2 kids in my RV.  Thankfully, Sam was next to me with his RV and my grandson, Adrion, could bunk over there with his Uncle Sam.

Yes, this is going to be a lot pictures of my grandkids for the next few blogs.  Here is Aaron, my son, Gavin, on the left, and Adrion, on the right, my grandsons.

And Grandma with Adrion and Gavin.

We tried to hike to Wind Cave, but didn't make it.

Those little 3 year old legs just got to tired.

Besides, this was Gavin's preferred method of travel, but in places the trail was steep enough that it was dangerous for Aaron trying to keep his balance with Gavin perched on his shoulders.

I think we made it about halfway, though, before calling it quits and heading back home.  Besides, it was awfully hot that day.

The next day we headed to the zoo.  The grandkids loved all the animal statues located throughout the zoo.

Adrion fighting with a some kind of tusked pig.

And Gavin riding on the lion.

Adrion relaxing with the elephants.  Five years ago, Adrion actually got to ride on some elephants when we were in Malaysia at an elephant refuge.

Gavin really enjoyed milking this cow.

But I think they enjoyed the water fountains most of all.  

Gavin says, "The water was just here, I know it's here somewhere, now where is it?"

They even got to feed the Manta Rays.  You buy some fish, cup your hand around the fish with the tail sticking up and hold your hand under the water.  The Manta Ray will swim over it and suck up the fish right out of your hand.  I found out Manta Rays mouths are on the underside of their bellies, not up front like it looks.

And of course there had to be a ride on the Merry-go-round.

March in Mesa and the Aloha Festival in Tempe

In December my son, Sam, came out to Phoenix to relocate from Oklahoma.  He was staying with me until he could get situated.  Well, he ended up getting a 25 ft, 1985 Mobile Traveler Class C motorhome.  Not in the best of shape, but the Ford Econoline chassis passed the Arizona emissions, and the price was right.  He got moved in just in time, since his brother and kids were headed our way for Spring Break (next blog).

It needed some cleaning and a little work, but all the appliances worked.  And he found it was the cheapest way to live in the Mesa area.  If you rent a space at the rv park for a year lease, the price is only $100 a month.  Can't beat that.

My grandson, Joshua, (2nd from the left) is looking at Grand Canyon University.  While he was checking out the school, Sam, (far left) and myself were able to meet Joshua and his mom, Donna, (far right) for dinner.

We had dinner at Los Reyes de la Torte, where Adam from Man vs. Food came to eat their famous Torte del Rey.  

• Del Rey - $9.50
Ham, melted cheese, pork sirloin, breaded beef, with refried beans, hot dog meat & chorizo omelet, tomato, onion, avocado,& chipotle sauce. Served with chopped onion & cilantro with garnished salad.

Donna and I shared one of the sandwiches and neither of us could finish the thing.  It was terrible.  The description of the sandwich above is what I copied from the internet, but I question whether that was what we read on the menu when we were there.  Neither of us remember seeing 'hot dog meat' on the list of ingredients.  And we did not get the garnished salad and when I asked was told, "It's on the sandwich."  The ham was a slice of lunch meat and there was some kind of shredded meat.  The others ordered more traditional mexican dishes and they enjoyed them, but beware the Torte del Rey.  BTW, Sam ordered the del Reyna, which was almost the same except for chicken, but both our sandwiches seemed to have exactly the same ingredients because I would have sworn mine had chicken or turkey on it.  If you didn't get the drift, I won't be going back.

With all the rain and moisture this winter, the cactus were blooming early.  Usually I don't get to see this because I am out of the area before they bloom.

One of my favorite places to go on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon is Filly's, a nice little Arizona style honky-tonk.  In the back parking lot, not only will you see horses tied up to the hitching post, but we watched a couple drive in on their matching tractors, 1950s era tractors to be exact.

When the weather is nice, which it usually is in the winters in Apache Junction, the outside area is filled with people and a band is playing with a small, concrete dance floor in front of the band.  (I have to admit, I stole this picture from Diana's Blog, Life on the Open Road, from back in March, 2011.)

Looking for something to do one Sunday afternoon, we headed to Tempe, where the Aloha Festival was going on.  The festival is put on by the Arizona Aloha Festival Organization, a non-profit created for the purpose of providing awareness and education about Hawaiian and other South Pacific Island cultures.  Since I had just finished reading Mitchner's book, Hawaii, this was quite interesting.

Much of the entertainment is local, but they do have guests from the South Pacific to come entertain, too.  I believe this group was from Samoa.

Blizzard of 2013 and Lost Dutchman Days

I think this says it all.

Don't know who took this photo, but it is so good of the snow on the Superstition Mountains.

Another shot of the snow on the Superstition's from Max's RV at the Elks Lodge in Apache Junction.

Lost Dutchman Days kicks off every year with a Bratwurt feed at the Elks Lodge.  There is entertainment all day long and even dancing.

On Saturday night the Lost Dutchman Days Dance was held at the Elks.  (Usually it is held outdoors at the rodeo arena)  There was quite of few of us who came out to enjoy the music and the dancing.

On Sunday I went to the rodeo with Max and his kids and grandkids.  But as you can see, it was cold.  Yes, we are bundled up with coats and wrapping blankets around our legs.  The wind was blowing making it seem colder than I'm sure it really was.

Halfway through the rodeo they invite all the kids to come out and race for candy.  They spread out all kinds of candy, cookies, chips, etc., and the kids get to keep as much as they can pick up.  No sacks allowed.

Here they are fighting for the stash.

Winter Blast Pyrotechnic Convention, Lake Havasu, AZ

I've always wanted to experience the Winter Blast Pyrotechnics Show in Lake Havasu.  This year I got my wish.

Parked on the hill directly across from S.A.R.A. Park, where everything was happening.

Saturday had this great band.  Even had an opportunity for a little dancing.

We were enjoying the show.

Four evenings of fireworks.  What more could you ask for.  This was taken through the windshield of the RV.  We were sitting high enough, I could sit in the passenger seat and view the display.  Sometimes I did go out and sit around the fire, but I had a bit of the stomach bug and spent most of the time inside.  But I still got to see the fireworks.

 Another beautiful Arizona sunset.

Just a little demo.

Quartzsite 2013

For those who have wondered where I've been, I chose to spend the winter in Mesa, AZ, in the Silver Spur RV Park.  This was after my RV had some remodeling done by D&R Family RV in Glendale, AZ (see my previous blog).  So, since Dec. 1, I have been sitting in a park in Mesa.  Then in the middle of December, my son, Sam, decided he needed a change and moved out here.  He has been livjng with me until he gets settled and gets his own place.  So until the end of March, I plan on staying right here, except for a few side trips, like Quartzsite.
I only went over to Quartzsite for a few days, mainly to see what was new at the Big Tent.  But while I was there some of us drove out to the Desert Bar for some dancing.  Then the following day, several of us drove the back road into the Desert Bar (even though it wasn't open that day).  

It looks like they are planning on some expansion.  I heard the concrete and pipes will eventually be a new kitchen.  (Does that mean something other than the plain hamburger?)

We got there almost an hour early and it wasn't too crowded.

By the time it officially opened, the place was packed with standing room only.

Lots of dancing.

I go out to the Desert Bar every year I attend Quartzsite, so read back through my previous blogs (always in January) for 2009, 2010, and 2011 for more about Quartzsite.

Here is where we started the 4-wheel drive, going in the back way to Desert Bar.  It was being planned for a venture the following weekend, but the leader wanted to check out the roads before.  So several of us joined Mel for the trip.  It never looks as bad in the picture as it is in person, but this hill, right at the beginning of the  4-wheel road, was steep and rocky.  Here, Tom is sliding and skidding over the rocks and loose dirt.  Max actually had to put his jeep in 4-wheel to make it up the hill.

Another steep hill to climb.  Every year the road is different based on the rains and how badly the road has washed out.  Since this is an unmaintained road, you never know how bad it's going to be.

Tom had a flat tire.  Those sharp rocks really got to this tire.

Tom could stick his finger into the cut on his tire.

After some miles and several hours, here we are at the Desert Bar.  Just one more steep wash to go through.  Mel chose to go an alternate route, but Max and Tom went for the ride.

I was beginning to think I was on a roller coaster ride.

But there it is, the back side of the Desert Bar.  Deserted and shut down since it was Monday.  In fact, we parked the cars and walked up the the bar, but someone came out and told us to leave, we were trespassing.

My next few days were spent browsing the goods for sale at the Big Tent.  La Mesa RV serves a free breakfast of pancakes every morning and a free lunch.  So we had breakfast one morning and lunch several times while we were in town.

On Friday nite, several of us went to the Grubsteak for fish.  But it had changed owners and the service was terrible.  Fish was ok, but heavily breaded.  We got seated after about a 30 minute wait, but it was another 45 minutes before they took our order and another hour before we got our food.  Don't think I'll be going back there soon.

And of course I had to eat at Silly Al's Pizza (love their salad made with all the pizza toppings) and go dancing at the Yacht Club.  Got to visit with lots of friends I hadn't seen in about 2 years because I was on the east coast in 2012.  But then I had to return to Mesa; appointments were waiting.

Prescott, AZ

Even though I have been coming to Arizona for the past 6 years, I had never been to Prescott.  So, on a nice, blustery cold day, Max and I took a day trip up to Prescott, AZ.

Prescott was founded in 1864 after gold was found in a nearby creek.  It was the first territorial capital, had the first graded school and held the first legislature in 1864.

Long known as 'Whiskey Row', the one hundred block of Montezuma Street was famous for the numerous saloons located on its block.  The Palace Restaurant and Lounge was originally established in 1877.  There was a disastrous fire in this block in 1900 and all the buildings were rebuilt since then.

The inside of The Palace still has that old time 'feel' to the place.  

One of the few buildings which survived the fire of 1900, this Knights of Pythias building is the tallest, except for the capitol building.  The building was dedicated in 1895.

Prescott's Carnegie Library was established in 1864, but this building was not built until 1903.  Andrew Carnegie provided half of the funds needed to build this library.

The Elks Theater, considered to be the best opera house in town, was built by the Elks Lodge in 1905 at a cost of $65,000.  At the time it was completed it was said to have the best acoustics of any opera house west of the Mississippi.  The Arizona Community Foundation acquired the opera house in 1982 and the city of Prescott bought the theater in 2001.  It is still in use for live theater today.  Tours are given during the week, except for Monday, and guess what?  I was there on Monday.  Someday I would like to return and tour this opera house.

The entry way for the Elks Opera House and Theatre.

Forgiving the finger (I was using my phone for all these pictures), this is the bank building.  Chartered in 1877, the Bank of Arizona was the first business in the Arizona Territory devoted entirely to banking.  This building was erected in 1901.  Having had several names, the last being Wells Fargo Bank, this was considered to be the longest continuously operated bank when it closed in 1998.

Although the railroad reached Prescott in 1886, this Santa Fe Depot was built in 1907.  It is now primarily a real estate office, although it is on the National Historic Register.

John Lawler, a miner, real estate developer, bought this entire block at auction.  He built himself a home at the other end of the block, then sold off lots to three others based on their financial and social status.  His plan was to build a San Francisco style "Nob Hill".  The above home was built by Jake Marks, a cattle rancher and mine owner.  Because he also was a liquor wholesaler, Mr. Lawler would only sell him the 'last' or lowest lot on the block.

This home was built by Henry Goldwater, co-founder of Goldwater Mercantile Company.

Again, pardoning the finger, this is the location of the J.I. Gardner General Merchandise store, built in 1890.  Their motto was "all goods guaranteed to be first class".  The store carried fresh fruits and vegetables, canned goods, clothing, ranch supplies and everything in between.  Although many customers paid in gold, others paid in trade goods.  Gardner's even had a mail order service with merchandise being shipped by train.  The building today has been adapted as a restaurant, but retains its historic appearance and many of its original fixtures.

Prescott is also known for its rodeo.  This sign says it is the World's oldest rodeo, while other information says it is the oldest rodeo in the U.S.  The rodeo is held during the week of July 4th.

Happy New Year!

Wishing a Happy New Year to all my friends and family.  Hope your New Year will be full of fireworks and great things.  Blessings to you all.