PORTAL, ARIZONA.....(Tonight's photos are all from Autumn 09 in & around Portal, Arizona & Rusty's RV Ranch in nearby New Mexico)
WAITING FOR THE MORNING MAIL AT PORTAL'S POST OFFICE
Kelly was up early this morning & on the road for her daughter's house in Cambridge. This would be the last day to visit with her other daughter & family from Vancouver. They will be returning to the west coast on Monday. Another daughter will be returning to Spain later in the week so Kelly may make one more trip to Cambridge at the end of the week. And that trip will bring to an end all the many miles of traveling she has had to do in the past few weeks.
ROADRUNNER NEAR PORTAL, AZ.
THIS GROOVY LITTLE LIZARD CAUGHT MY EYE NEAR CAVE CREEK
It was three & a half weeks ago that I came down with the virus & nearly a month since I had seen my Uncle Harry at the Ritz Villa nursing home in Mitchell Ontario. After Kelly left this morning I headed to Mitchell & spent a couple of hours with Harry. He's doing well & we sure covered a lot of ground talking about old times & memories. I actually enjoyed those 2 hours talking with him more than when we used to play pool at his previous residence. We both had a tendency to not talk much when we were playing pool.
CAVE CREEK ROAD NEAR PORTAL, AZ. This is a birder's paradise & people flock here from all across the country.
Spent some time this afternoon pouring over one of our well worn Rand McNally Atlas's trying to get a feel for this winter's destinations. Of course all the old haunts leap off the pages beckoning us back & I'm sure we'll revisit some of them but I'm trying to focus my attention on places we haven't been before. LAURIE & ODEL talked of a favorite place of theirs when we met them in Bisbee Az last winter & that has stuck with me ever since. A place & area called Lone Pine just west of Death Valley in California. Kelly & I briefly visited a part of Death Valley back in about 1994 on a 4 day Las Vegas junket & I always hoped we might one day return to that whole area & spend some time there.
RUSTY'S RV PARK
Also wondering if early November is too late in the season to roll through Arizona's Monument Valley. I do think it's probably too late for Colorado's Durango area. We don't want ice & snow & below freezing temps at night. Also waiting to hear from the ranch folks to see what their travel plans are this winter too.
CAVE CREEK
And a big welcome to our 166th blog supporter jimmy. The more & more I look at this photo the more familiar the face becomes to me. Could it be, could it be.....nawwww, it couldn't be..................But maybe:))
A FEW PICS AROUND RUSTY'S RV RANCH INCLUDING RUSTY HER VERY SELF
Last year we headed straight for the ranch from here with a 4 day stopover at RUSTY'S RV RANCH near Portal, Arizona. As you all know, we are not RV Park people at all but we certainly would recommend Rusty's. And I would also highly recommend the great scenic area around PORTAL which is just a few miles down the road from Rusty's. Like I said, it's always so tempting to go right back to the places we have enjoyed so much in the past but I have always noticed that it is the first impressions of an area that to me are the best. Second & third times to the same place & the newness begins to wear off & that sharp edge of excitement becomes dulled a bit. For me, there is nothing better than going to new places, seeing & doing new things, & experiencing the wonderment of a place I have never been before. Just love it, love it, love it:)))))))
MOONRISE OVER RUSTY'S....NOV 2/09
GROANER'S CORNER:(( Dear God: Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog:
1. I will not eat the cats' food before they eat it or after they throw it up.
2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.
3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.
4. The sofa is not a 'face towel'.
5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.
6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad's underwear when he's on the toilet.
7. Sticking my nose into someone's crotch is an unacceptable way of saying 'hello'.
8. I don't need to suddenly stand straight up when I'm under the coffee table.
9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house - not after.
10. I will not come in from outside & immediately drag my butt on the floor.
11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room & lick my crotch.
12. The cat is not a 'squeaky toy' so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it's usually not a good thing.
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It is not the concept of God I have a problem with.....it is his fan club that cause me grievous concern:((
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.
Rusty's looks like a great place. We may just have to check it our. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to those new places the Bayfield Bunch will be going to visit.
ReplyDeleteGlad you and Uncle Harry shared such a great visit!
Oh, you know we love Rusty's, too - but I hope, hope, hope you get to Lone Pine. Excellent boondocking in the Alabama Hills (though you have to go to town to get your aircard to work), and the area is so gorgeous. The museum there (can't remember the name off hand, but it is all about the old westerns filmed there) would be a fun visit for you, too. And Manzanar internment camp up the road... gosh, sometimes you just want to snatch folks up and take them to your favorite places!!
ReplyDeleteSafe travels, Laurie
The excitement is building! It won't be long before you are in the desert!
ReplyDeletePlanning a trip is a fun thing to do. It makes it more real and brings it alive to you. Rusty looks like a really neat place and I know ya'll will enjoy that area again. Side trips to different areas will be good too. It's always ncie to see other places.
ReplyDeleteTake care and be safe!
Mike & Gerri
Your photos are beautiful and the Groaner's Corner is hysterical - had me laughing out loud. :)
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Great to hear your Uncle Harry's still doing fine.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure with your new Jeep this year, you'll be able to find all kinds of new places that you may not have been able to get to before.
That Death Valley area sounds interesting too.
great post once again..loved the groaner's corner..and I will ditto what Pidge said..Rusty's looks pretty darn nice..but then so do the boondocking sites..!!..so many places..so little time!
ReplyDeleteSeeing a new place for the first time is the most exciting! Whenever I return a second time to volunteer at a site, it seems it's just not quite the experience as that first time. Strike out and find new experiences! That's my humble advice. :) I try to follow that advice myself, but sometimes circumstances get in the way...
ReplyDeleteBoy I can sure tell from your recent posts your feet are very itchy!
ReplyDeleteRusty's looks great, have to put that one on the "must see" list.
Uncle Harry is lucky to have you for a relative. Seems like you both have much to talk about, that's important, keeps the mind working.
Groaner was cute!
Cheers!
First time is the best, but when limitations come, repeat visits can be a comfort. Good old Uncle Harry keeps a-perkin' along -- and so do you guys!
ReplyDeleteAl,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I am now current on your blog and will attempt to stay current.
I agree with Laurie and Odel about Lone Pine however you will be too late this year for the Lone Pine Film Festival on Oct 8-10.
I just recently drove from Bishop to Lone Pine which I think is the most beautiful section of the eastern Sierra. Do it in the early morning light; with your skill you will get some fabulous pictures.
I'll be in Douglas until October 18th at my 50th High School Reunion. Do not know for certain but will probably go from there to Rusty's for a week and then to Pancho Villa State Park.
Perhaps our paths will cross.
...And therein lies the problem with leaving good old Illinois in November...Ya just gotta get to I-10 and stay South of it until March...I love returning to old haunts, but new adventures are just around the corner if we just "step out of the box"!
ReplyDelete