Saturday, February 16, 2013

IT WAS A VULTURE PEAK/WICKENBURG KIND OF DAY……

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We have been very fortunate with the nice weather these past few days but it sounds like we are headed back into the weather dumpster again about mid week.  Figured we had better get all our outside ventures under our belts before we are once again driven inside by cold cloudy skies:((

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TEDDY BEAR CHOLLAS

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After another nice morning desert walk we were off in the Jeep again with our first destination being Vulture Peak just west of Wickenburg.  Because of the nasty Teddy Bear Chollas there we didn’t take the Pheebs this time.  We knew the trail was too rough for Jean but it was those prickly Chollas we wanted her to see.  First few hundred yards of the the Vulture Peak trail lead through a Cholla garden before descending steeply into a wash so we concentrated our walk to this flat path area.

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Fair number of people on the trail.  It was Saturday so a lot of city folks are up into the Wickenburg area for the weekend.  Despite the hikers, it was blissfully quiet in the desert with panoramic views in all directions.  Distant hazy blue mountains blended into the serenity known as the Sonoran desert.  Just another one of those mighty fine Arizona mornings……………..

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COLORFUL TRAIL HIKERS

On our way east back to Wickenburg we pulled into the LOS CABALLEROS GOLF CLUB & toured ourselves around a bit.  Aunt Jean is an avid golfer who still likes to get out at least once a week on her favorite Sarasota golf course.  We figured she might be feeling a little homesick for some putting greens, tee-off times, long fairways, sand traps, Alligators, & water hazards.  She was on the edge of her seat as we slowly drove around looking at all the nice landscaping & super smooth green grass.  I think she was getting the ‘golf itch’ as we passed a few duffers making their way down a fairway on their golf cart.

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I THINK JEAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN GETTING A LITTLE HOMESICK FOR THE ‘GREEN GREEN GRASS OF HOME’

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APPEARS TO MAYBE BE A RIDING & ROPING VENTURE HERE IN THE GOLF COURSE COMPLEX

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PRETTY FANCY SCHMANCY IN THERE & WE FELT LIKE THE CLAMPETT BUNCH INSTEAD OF THE BAYFIELD BUNCH

It was only a few miles into Wickenburg & we were soon downtown & had the Jeep parked.  Short walk in the warm Arizona sun soon had us seated at Anita’s Concina.  Shredded beef Tacos made their way to our table along with some Mexican dish for Kelly that had a name something like Armadillo.  I think it was Quesedilla.  Kelly said it tasted really darn good anyway…….whatever it was.

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While sitting in Anita’s I had a feeling we might run into Mike & Pat from MIKE & PAT'S TRAVELS today.  I sometimes get those uncanny feelings….& then they happen.  I knew they had company from Florida & might be out & about.  After leaving Anita's we only walked about 3 blocks, came around a corner, & ran right into Pat & Mike with their Florida company.  Introduced our Florida company to their Florida company.  First time I had seen Pat or Mike since arriving here back in November.  We continued our walk & about 20 minutes later, in the lobby of the DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM, we ran into Pat & Mike again with their Florida company.  Since introductions had already taken place we did not have to introduce our Florida company to their Florida company all over again.  Been meaning to get over to see Mike & Pat but I just gotta be the worst person in the whole world for dropping in & visiting folks.  Wasn’t always that way but I guess times have a way of changing. 

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MIKE GIVES US A BIG WAVE & I CAUGHT THIS QUICK SHOT OF PAT BEFORE SHE SLIPPED ON DOWN THE STREET

I have two best friends back home in Canada. One lives in Stratford about an hours drive away. We meet in a coffee shop a couple times a year & I probably haven’t been to Jim’s house in well over 20 years. The other fellow lives just a stone’s throw across the road from me. We get out on some great coffee tours but I haven’t been to Richard’s house in about 4 years. Yep, I am probably the world’s worst guy for visiting people alrighDSC_0062t……..:((

DON’T ASK…..& I WON’T TELL

Aunt Jean was beginning to tire so we headed for the Jeep with a brief stop at a home made ice cream shop.  Small Chocolate, Maple Walnut, & Amaretto cones did it for all three of us.  We were back in Congress by 2 p.m.  No sooner got out of the Jeep when a car pulled in wondering if we had sold our Motorhome yet.  Some days, if it doesn’t rain….it pours.

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JEAN CHECKS OUT ONE OF THE LOCAL FELLAS

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OUTSIDE THE DESERT CABALLEROS WESTERN MUSEUM

Rest of the day was quiet & anyone driving by our house would have seen a lot of zzzzzzzzzzzzz’s coming out the windows.  Even little doggy zzzzzzz’s. 

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ALL & ALL, ANOTHER GREAT DAY SPENT WITH AUNT JEAN:))

GROANER’S CORNER:)) Granny was visiting town for the first time. She checks in at the hotel, and the bellboy takes her bags. She follows the boy, and as the door closes, she looks around and shakes her fist at him.
"Young man, I may be old, and straight from the hills, but that don't mean I'm stupid! I paid good money, and this room won't do at all! It's too small, and without a proper window! Why there's not even a bed!"
The bellhop looks at her and says, "Ma'am, this isn't your room, it's the elevator."

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

10 comments:

  1. Looks like you got the most out of today. I like the way those Teddy Bear Cactus look, but certainty respect them. Thanks for the Wikenburg street tour, looks like a fun place to walk around.

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  2. Soooo, did the person inquiring about the motorhome want to see/buy it???? Inquiring minds....ya know....

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  3. The blue skies look gorgeous there, much like the ones here in Alberta although I'm sure much warmer! ;)

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  4. Never thought about it until just now: should we be saying armadillo with the Spanish "ll"? Like arm ah DEE oh?

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  5. It was good seeing you Al. A pleasant surprise, twise in one day!! Down Wickenburg way!!

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  6. Nice day in Wickenburg.
    You sure need to respect those Teddy Bear cactus.
    Had one jump right up and bite my arm once , very painful to remove.

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  7. What a fun day! We need to get back to Wickenburg this spring. Yesterday we drove through Joshua Tree national park. Weren't the clouds beautiful?

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  8. Good Luck Duck,
    That would be pronounced more like ARE- MAH-DEEL-YO. The Spanish LL sounds like a L-Y.

    Al,
    My father was like you when it came to visiting people. I can remember growing up and hearing my Mother suggest that we go visit someone, his reply "If they want to see me they know where I live". Need I say that we did not go visit many people nor did a lot of people know where we lived. I am becoming more like my father as I get older but not quite that bad; sort of a blending of Mom & Dad.

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  9. I was looking for a photo shot of Vulture Peak. I remember driving a back road on my way to Wickenburg that had some kind of peak where you could actually see the outline of a bird. I didn't blog about it so have no way of telling if it's the same peak you refer to.

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  10. Sounds like you had a nice day. We love hiking in the desert and miss it. Here in Yuma the landscape is very plain.

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