Looks like I need to go way back to the end of december when Catherine was still here to catch you up with our life and activities.Many of you know we have sold our house here in Apache Junction and are moving into our RV trailer and out of here Monday morning Feb.09th! We are going to camp around the valley and up around roosevelt lake, Sedona area for the next month and a half before heading over to Lake Havasu area to end up our time here. Since we will be staying in County, State and National Forest campgrounds, we will not have internet access so this may very well be my last blog of the winter season, just warning you!!
We decided to take Catherine on the Apache Trail drive through to Roosevelt Lake and around to Globe and back to the valley. it was a gorgeous day but very cool and a bit breezy. You'll see a lot of hands in the pockets and hugging ourselves as we tried to keep warm!
Catherine and I at Canyon Lake
Catherine infront of the Dolly Paddlewheeler
The bathrooms out at Tortia Flats. You can't miss a Kodak moment here
I'm a little short necked here or else my choker is choking me!
Doug likes to say he's "not just a pretty face" so we thought this was a good photo op!
Catherine hamming it up
Catherine out at one of the look-out spots, you can tell she is cold and it was one of those, take a picture quick and run back to the truck moments! The wind was howling here
Doug had to get out here after we crossed the bridge to walk back and see if there was any water in the creek
First time we have ever seen rock climbers here, was something to see as they rappelled down the clif face
Such a gorgeous day though cool and breezy and the mountains looked spectacular
Up there was where the climbers were coming down
A close up of them
Catherine doing a selfie
Just a tiny bit of water in the creek under the bridge
Coming up on Apache Lake
Finally the end of the dirt road when you reach Roosevelt dam
Catherine is NOT taller than I am just incase she leads you to believe this! We are stsnding on a slope!!
Roosevelt Lake, always such a beautiful spot
We went into a few of the campgrounds on Roosevelt Lake to check them out for potential camping once our house sold and were amazed at how all the boat ramps were miles away from the water, the lake is so low
Another view of the lake, such a pretty spot
I think this was the worst boat ramp, the lake is so far away it is totally useless and it is a six lane cement launch pad! What a waste
We saw some of the largest saguaros we have ever seen. We couldn't begin to count all the arms on this one. Whn we are up there camping in March, i plan to hike into this saguaro and actually count all the arms
Now we are at New year's Eve! We got together with 2 couples and ate and played cards. We had a lot of fun. We went to beth & Bills house down the street from us and grace & malcolm, our friends from Malakwa, BC, joined us.
from left; Bill, Grace, Malcolm, Sharon & Beth, Doug is behind the camera!
We all made appies and of course even though we ate and ate, there was plenty left over, wonderful food!
We played Racetrack all evening and had good laughs, the women rule though - we beat the guys 2 games to one!
Malcolm and Doug waited for the ball to drop at midnight
It was such a shock to come out at 1230 am to find snow on Malcolm\s truck!! We have never seen snow in Apache Junction in all the years we have come here
The next morning the Superstition Mountains looked gorgeous with their covering of snow. What is great about Arizona though is you just have to blink and the snow is gone and it is warm again
This is Doug's birthday, January 19th, he turned 69 years young! We had friends come over throughout the day for fresh lemonade and birthday cake. This is the first group to celebrate with us. from the left: Doug, Craig, Sharon, Norma, Don, Bill & Beth
Doug's birthday cake: chocolate chiffon cake, his choice
We went on an ATV ride. We were going to rent a machine but our friends Sharon & Craig were unable to come so they let us use their's. 4 couples that live in our community went with us along with our friends Connie & Bruce from Alberta. Bruce lead us on a meandering trip through the desert, visiting old mines and then we went up Montana Mountain the back way. A totally fun day especially since the 4 couples from our park had never ridden out where we took them. great to experience it again through their eyes!
Was supposed to be a cool day but turned out lovely and warm
The first mine we stopped at. We have been here many times but it was very exciting for the others as a first time visit
bruce and Doug waiting for the others who are in the mine shaft
Bruce took us on trails up and over hills where we have never been before. it was a lot of fun
Out of no where, we came around a cornor and met this cowboy riding his burro. Only in Arizona in the desert!
Stopping for a rest break
Lunch time - we were pretty dusty and dirty by this time. The bigger the group (6 ATV's) the more dust!
We rode through washes that still had a bit of water from the snow runoff from New year's Eve
it was nice for Doug & I to go a new way as we have done the other trails so many times it can get boring
I didn't think we were ever going to get to Montana Mountain as I had no idea where Bruce was taking us! The views were spectacular though
he took us to this old miner's cabin in the middle of no where. it is amazing how the walls are still standing. They must have had to carry rocks a fair distance also to build this hut
neat to see
Another stop and chat break!
I can't pass a windmill without taking a picture, love them!
We are heading up the backside of Montana Mountain - finally
We are half way up the mountain and my camera battery died!! I checked it before we left home and it showed fully charged. What a nuisance! I was a bit ticked, so that's it for the ATV trip. We enjoyed going out again but really don't miss our ATV. I coughed steady for three days after the ride so it just made us realize we made the right decision to sell the ATV. Even wearing a mask the whole trip, the dust really bothered my lungs.
Two nights later we took Sharon & Craig and Bruce and Connie out for dinner, to thank Sharon & Craig for the use of their ATV and Bruce and Connie for leading the ride for our rancho Mirage group.
A couple of pictures of our torrential rain the weekend of the Super Bowl and Phoenix Wstemanagement Open. Again, we have never seen so much rain at once in all our years down here. it rained torrential rain for a day and half without stopping. We could have kayaked down our street!!
We got over 2 inches of rain in a day and a half. We sure won't be watering our fruit days for awhile now!
Doug had to take a picture of my "monkey buns" I wanted to try this recipe and it kind of took off on me. The recipe said to use 24 frozen buns but I made my own and i guess my buns are bigger than the store bought frozen ones because my buns took off right out of the pan! My neighbour Rena is standing next to me laughing her head off at the sight.
Doug just can't resist making fun of me. i make my own egg noodles when i am going to make chicken soup and i hang them on a hanger in the kitchen to dry. He walked in and saw then and thought it was funny! it works, what can I say?
Our last fresh lemon pie made using my own lemons! We sold our house this past Monday and we have to be out this Monday Feb. 09th. So i think this will be it for my blog as we won't have internet where we plan on camping!
