Shadow the Condo Cat

So it was a real gamble making the trip with a cat, our cat. Anyone who knows her can understand that she is pretty and sweet but her reaction to things can be unpredictable.  Well this trip has been all of that.  She settled into the long car rides without any problems, she managed at each and every hotel too, but no one could have guessed how quickly she fell in love with the Scottsdale condo.

Again, very happy to be here. All of us.

First Stop, the Pool

Well we made it to Scottsdale.  Not to be disappointed the sun is shining, but where did all of these people come from?  Freeways, packed; restaurants, full; parking, impossible; but the sun is shining and the weather warm.  

Truth be told, I did enter the wrong address and it took us 8 miles on the other side of Scottsdale.  Eight miles down Camelback Rd and for those who do not know what that looks like...

After 7 days on the road the only place for us is at the pool.  

Happy to be here.  The rest is just a bonus. 

In Search of Sagauro

We woke up this morning with excited anticipation and ready to get back on the road. The promise of warmer weather has us headed down to the valley. We are sad to say goodbye to these beautiful tall pines we have come to love.

The drive through the lower canyon is great, rough canyon walls but instead of pines we see more pinyon and cactus.  About an hour out we start seeing Saguaro Cactus.  First one, then more, and then a whole Forrest of them. 

 I guess we should not be surprised since Arizona is know for these giant beauties.  Here are some fun Saguaro facts:

• With the right growing conditions, saguaros can live to be as much as 150-200 years old.
• Saguaro are very slow growing cactus. A 10 year old plant might only be 1.5 inches tall. 
• Saguaro can grow to be between 40-60 feet tall. When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3200-4800 pounds. Making the saguaro the largest cactus in the United States. 
• The pure white waxy blossom of the giant saguaro cactus was designated the state flower of Arizona.  Sad for us, they are not in bloom just yet. 

Today at the Ranch

On the way to the Ranch we pass Tonto Creek Recreation area.  We follow the trail up to the fishery.   Very interesting to see how this Forrest Service operation is working to restock the local waters with sport fish; Trout, Walleye and Bass.  The drive up there was pretty awesome too!

Kohl's Ranch Lodge is tucked in a valley along the Mogollon Rim and on the banks of Tonto Creek. Diamond Resorts bought this historic cattle ranch and and Post Office eight years ago and created this amazing year round resort.

It seems that Brad is right at home.

Lance and Darrel greet us and show us around.  Lance is from Texas and both love living in Rim Country.  Darrel agrees to take us on a two hour ride. 

I pick Taco and Brad rides Poncho.

  These steady footed fellas take us through the tall Ponderosa Pines of the Tonto National Forrest.  Absolutely beautiful!

The fresh mountain air is cool but the sun is bright.  We follow narrow switch back, rocky paths up the canyon to a nice little waterfall.  This will make a nice rest stop.  We tie up the ponies and hike up the hill for better viewing. 

Thanks Taco and Poncho for a great day in Rim Country!

 There is no better way to top off a tough day in the saddle than a cold beer and big meal at Buffalo Bar and Grill.  Brad found the perfect pair of boot hanging from the ceiling. 

 In spite of a valiant effort, he was unable to acquire them, at any price...

Tonto Natural Bridge

Today we are in the tall pines of the high country.  The drive from I40 was just beautiful.  The sage brush and tumbleweed changed almost immediately to tree lined canyon walls.

The altitudes on this drive quickly climb and vary from 5000 to 7000 feet.  Soon snow appears along the road's edge and the outside car temp drops to 29 degrees.  I learn that this is called "RIM COUNTRY" referring to the Mogollon Canyon which runs between the Coconino and  Tonto National Forrests.   Unlike the Grand Canyon to the north, these canyon walls are covered and surrounded by the largest stand of Ponderosa pines in the world, or so the locals claim, making the views spectacular.

First stop is Tonoto Natural Bridge State Park.  Tucked into a tiny valley, this geological marvel has been in the making for thousands of years.  It is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world.

This type of stone is crated when the minerals in spring water tumbles over and percolates through the limestone. 

The hiking trails bring you down the canyon to the creek below allowing for some fun along the canyon walls.

The canyon walls are full of caves and caverns.  Surprised to see areas populated with prickly pear cactus mixed in with all the trees.

Once at the bottom, the enormity of the bridge is more apparent.

But there is always the walk back up.   Yikes, good thing for resting benches...

Thinking we were in good shape. Maybe we need to read the signs better.  :-)

Another Four State Day

Leaving Guyman we head south along the Santa Fe Trail.  It is good to be off the interstate. I can not get over how flat the land is; not a hill or gully, just perfectly flat. Large expanses of spent corn fields framed with aluminum irrigation equipment and dotted with black spots.  Angus, I assume. As we move through the Oklahoma pan handle and across the tip of Texas the farms change to ranches. So big and with so many cattle that the landscape looks like a sea of black, acres and acres of black livestock. With all this cowboying going on, we just couldn't leave without a new hat.  Now we are on the right track!

We travel with the fleets of tractor trailers; ten trucks for every car we see.  And trains, one right after another.  All hauling corn, hay, oil and shipping containers of every size and color. 

As we approach New Mexico the view out the window changes again.  First one butte, then a few more until the horizon is one big sandstone ridge. The flat straight strip of highway is replaced  with flowing ribbons, climbing up and sliding every new path. Snow capped mountain in the far off distance. Around Albuquerque the road sides are black with the remainders of ancient lava flows.  Amazing country, lucky to be able to enjoy the view.

Crossing the Arizona border we know that this long day on the road is close to over. Once settled into our home for the night, tt does not take too long for my travel companions to fall off to sleep.

Crossing Kansas

So imagine our surprise as we look out the window driving down the road in Kansas and see....

Yup, Minneapolis, Kansas.  Hang on, I have an interesting fact for you... Minneapolis, Kansas was actually named after Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1871.  So Cool..
 Known as Rock City because of the large round sandstone boulders located in unusual combinations. There are about 200 formations in a 5-acre area, some nearly 30 feet across.

Another interesting Kansas nugget is the Orphan Train Museum. As the story goes, in the early 1850's, it is estimated that about 30,000 children were living on the streets on New York City.  Two charities started a program to place these children with families throughout the country.  Starting in 1854, groups of these children were put on trains headed west. Towns were notified and prospective parents applied to take a child into their own home. 

 Wow, very humbling...

Shadow does YORK

Hi, Shadow, here...   I am kinda likin' this travel stuff.  I have the whole back seat to myself, the roads are smooth and there are not too many of those big trucks that scare me a little.  Last night we stayed at a really nice place with the extra soft beds.

 I heard made mention that we paid way too much for this room, plus and extra charge for me. Yikes, hoping that does not change my position at 'the queen'.    

I was not invited to dinner and heard the food was great.  Word was that it looked like an elegant supper club from the 50's called "Chances R'.  They laughed, I did not get it.  I will pass the picture along in case it makes sense to you.  

After dinner I got to hang out a little in my favorite spot with my favorite guy.

Daniel on the weather channel said that it is going to be sunny and 73 today. I think that should be good for travel as we head across Kansas.  I wonder if it is much different from Nebraska.  We saw lots of big farms yesterday, corn fields and more corn fields. We met some nice people from Minnesota.  Two different groups actually.   Small world.  Seeing some Minnesota neighbors is nice but that little yippee dog has to go!

Four States Today

Our plan today is to make it through Minnesota, South Dakota, the western edge of Iowa and into Nebraska.  Rain to start the trip has to be lucky, just like on your wedding day, right? Good news is, Shadow is doing really good. Turns out she is quite a traveler,  who knew?

So very glad that it is 50 degrees and raining rather than -20 and snowing. As we drive along I am amazed by the state of Minnesota.  I think about all of the things the state has, the rugged wilderness of the the north, the metro hipness of the Twin Cities to this amazing farm land that we are driving through today.  These farms are really awesome.  This state certainly does its part to feed the country.   Large, family farms and livestock operations dot the landscape producing Dairy, Beef, Poultry and Crops.  Makes me proud, yea Minnesota!

I snicker as we cross the border, recalling how unimpressed my grandson was that we were going to South Dakota today.  I get it, Tyler, it is nice but, not Minnesota.  The temperature is approaching 60 as we cross over to a corner of western Iowa.  I notice LeMars listed on the map.  This is where my father was born in September of 1912.  I looked up the history of this town and found this funny story. So back in 1869, John I. Blair, a railroad builder, arrived by train with an enclave of company officials and six 'women'.  When the train stopped, the ladies were asked to suggest a name for the town.  The ladies names were:  Lucy, Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, Rebecca and Sarah.  And so  L  E   M  A  R  S  was born.

What did we do with our time before GOOGLE?   :-)

Giese Bed and Breakfast

Our first stop is at a quaint little farm north of Morris, MN with fine accommodations and great food run by a sweet little family.

We just had to stop to wish our sweet little granddaughter Breanna happy 8th birthday and get our 'grandma and grandpa fix'.  The weather continues to be so warm. Hard to believe that we are riding bikes and playing baseball in sweatshirts in February in Minnesota.  No complaints here.  Dinner of Spare Ribs, sour kraut and dumplings, just like my mom used to make.   So, so good!  Pop corn and a movie to stay up late.

The best part was a very special sleepy send-off at '0 dark thirty'. 

 Faith was less happy to say good-bye.   Ha Ha

Good-bye to Winter

We are enjoying unseasonably warm temperatures and a beautiful blue sky today.  The sunset last night was just amazing, getting brighter and more vivid with each minute.  It makes me somewhat melancholy at the last views of winter.  When we return spring will have broken through and summer will be well on its way. Luckily we were able to make time for a long walk, enjoying the peace of this beautiful place we live.

Back to packing and checking  tasks off the list.  As the mountain of boxes and bags and suitcases grows, I am less confident that we will have the extra room I pledged to make.  On our last trip we brought things that we never used including piles of cold weather gear.  Sure, it was thirty below zero and a blizzard that day and today is sunny an 49, but still, one should try to learn from the past.
Car packed, cat loaded, house locked, travel mugs in cup trays...turn the key, "klick, klick, klick"  Oh man, really?
Luckily the jump charger is not packed too deep and the battery was just run down from keeping the doors open so long as we packed.  Now just to set the record straight, when I say "we"  I really mean Brad.  No one packs like that man.  I build the mountains, he somehow gets them into the car.

Back on track, we head up the driveway. I feel the rush that comes the first day of a road trip, excited for the great adventure, anxious of the challenges that lie ahead and certain that you forgot something obvious and necessary.  The odometer reads 131847.  As I watch the pavement stretch out in front of us, I send love and positive thoughts to the humming motor under the hood.  We logged 8,000 miles on the last trip.  Happy Trails as we head out on this next one.

Shadow goes West

Hello everyone!  We are going to take a ROAD TRIP.  As much as we love the beauty of northern Minnesota lake country, we are weak to the call of the road.  We had so much fun during our first road trip:  THE AMAZING RETIREMENT ADVENTURE, that our target is the same, the sweet little town of Paradise, California.  But first on the list, Arizona for some, R ’n R, because retirement is hard and we need a vacation!  Ok, so retirement is NOT hard but life is all about what you make of it and vacation is our favorite place to be.  After we are tan and well rested we are hoping to move on to California, that magical place of vast beauty and perfect climate -- except for the traffic, earthquakes and of course the year of unprecedented precipitation.  But we still love California, especially visiting the beautiful people of Paradise.

  
Getting an itch to head out on the road was not a surprise; the decision to head west to escape the long wait for spring was an easy one.  The new element to consider is the fact that we had burned through all options for ‘cat care’ with our last two trips.  So I guess she comes with.  Finding cat friendly hotels, 8 hours in the Tahoe with a fully loaded kitty, dealing with her when we arrive, where just a few early horrifying thoughts.  Truth be told, I am scared.   Not thinking she is so thrilled about the idea either.   Stay tuned. 

  
                   Maybe we should have called the trip, SHADOW GOES WEST.