Alive and Well, A Short Hello

SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!

Yes, Louise, Kevin and Floyd are alive and well.   Our six month respite in June 2012 from our grand travels has now given way to close to a year and a half of adventure here in Arizona, our new home state.  Life is rich, full and quite active for all.   For my faithful few blog followers, I admit that I have a lot of catching up to do, but the extensive narrative and pictures will need to wait a bit longer.  I just wanted to say hello and I will talk with you soon.  Really.   -Kevin

Floyd, age 89, enjoying Estes Park, Colorado June 2013 weeks before the great flooding experienced by this town and many others.

Louise east of Flagstaff at Geronimos standing next to a petrified stump

And since I am the main photographer, no picture of me for now, but I will share this favorite of mine captured in the high mountains of Colorado!  This panoramic shot was taken north of Durango on the million dollar highway at the end of May.  See you next time.

 

Algodones Mexico and In-between

Living farther south means more temperate weather during the winter and spring months.  Today it snowed in Denver and it was 70+ degrees here in Prescott.  I wore short and sandles.  I had worked outside in the early morning, chopping out some unwanted Poplar tree starts, washing two vehicles, went grocery shopping and stopped by the bank to cash a much needed check.  Tomorrow I plan to move some more rocks into place for new flower beds and I will move a few wheel barrow loads of  top soil from the back yard to the front, moving as much as my body will allow me to do.

Last month Louise and I experience a little Mexican border town, located just a few miles south and west of Yuma Arizona.  This town may house up to 12,000 residents but is not listed on any map I know of.  Contrary to some other border towns more known for drug dealing and violence, this lazy little border town boast 350 friendly and competent dentists.  We first heard of this town by a coat tail relative.  Louise needed some immediate dental work and when we found out what it would cost us (even with American dental insurance) we headed south.  If you have more time than money Algodones is the place to be.  It runs on Mexican time which can suit retirees possessing more time than money.  We likely spent about 1/3 what we would have had to spend if we chose to do dental north of the border.   The quality of the work is great and Louise is a pleased customer.  A lesser known bargain in Algodones are quality eye glasses, complete with professional eye exams and fittings.  She took advantage of these saving as well.

Although Algodones is four hours' drive from Prescott, the savings are well worth the travel and wait time.  Overnight stays in a clean family-owned motel is $30 a night and the food was good too.

When we were in town during our first trip, we met a friendly jewelry vendor, his wife, his older brother and a cousin.  We had a good chat and I instantly liked the man (here on the left).  Louise is obviously relaxed with her new company of friends.  "Edger" loves his life, is a "happy man" by his own admission, appreciative of being employed and he loves owning his own business with his brother as partner.  With two little kids under three, he says he prays that God will bless him with one more child.  I hope He does.  And, yes, he loves his country, Mexico, and his home town, Algodones.  I understand.

Ever wonder what a street vendor pays (and to whom) for the privilege of selling his wares?  He tells me it costs him $600 per month payable to the building owner and $150 to the town.  It sound steep, but business is good and he says he makes enough for his family.  When it gets too hot in the Spring and Summer and the tourists thin out, he travels south about 3 1/2 hours to the area of Rocky Point on the west coast of mainland Mexico to sell his wares, returning home as it cools off once again.  By the way, Rocky Point is where our next door neighbors regularly visit for the past 22 years and they have mentioned interest having Louise and I go down with them this upcoming Fall season.  I hear the fishing is great too!

The main part of Louise's dental work was perform just before and just after Easter weekend.  While Louise was in the dental chair, I walked the town and experienced the annual reenactment of Christ carrying his cross to Golgotha.  It was Good Friday.  Everyone stopped their street vending and watch the congregation follow the actors, all participants were reciting the Bible story.

Here is a short clip I took of the procession.  The town police closed the main street down for about 15 minutes.

Here are a few other pictures of the town we enjoyed.

 

 

And now for a few random shots north of the border.  This is the most unique water tank decoration I have seen anywhere.  It is located on the south outskirts of Quartzsite Arizona.  It has a twin too.

 

On our final trip back to Prescott we stopped at Harcuvar, hardly a town but it sure has an interesting metal art business.  The lady runs it from October through April and then heads back up to Seattle for a cool and enjoyable summer.   She says she started small eight years ago and she doesn't make much money from the place because she ends of buying more and more inventory -- and what an interesting selection she has!  People travel from far and wide to shop her wares.  All the product comes from Mexico and it comes to her through traveling wholesalers.  They just show up and she buys.

Now which one should be in my front yard?

 

 

 

Perhaps my favorite are these two sitting Mexicans of the Old West.

I hope you enjoy these last three pictures taken while heading back to Prescott.

What a unique cactus with a flair!  Until next time...

Wild West

It could be said that the last area of the wild west is Arizona, the last territory on the mainland to join the Union.  Originally designated by Abraham Lincoln as a territory and then admitted as the 48th State in 1912, Arizona is a relatively young State, yet full of natural and human history.  It's late-coming was due in part to its wildness of both land and people.  Much folklore existent speaks of its colorful transplants, indigenous tribes and its grandeur.  Watch out, it still can be will.   We were just taking a leasurely train ride and look what we were faced with--a hold up!

Our February family venture to the Grand Canyon started in Williams, a small town west of Flagstaff and a little over an hour's drive north of Prescott.  The wild west show abounded with rough characters, a lawmen and the legendary shootout.  It was a crisp sunny morning but the reenactment was full of interest and action.  We were all warmed up with the action of conflict and gunfights and dirty card dealings.  It was great entertainment whatever your age, all staged prior to our train ride to the Grand Canyon.  There were ten of us in all - Floyd topped off the age bracket at nearly 89 and Xander and August brought up the bottom with the rare ages of two. 

The gunmen were no match for the town marshal

The train trip and all the extras cost each of us just $18.00 for the full day of adventure, a real bargain gained by a one-day special rate on President's day commemorating the trains early history on the "18th" of the month.  Normally the price per-person is $75.00.  For those not privelged by age or military service there is also a fee to enter the national park.

Below, two of our daughters, Kristin and Sarah, pose with their four young children and an unnamed actor and his trusty horse.  The upcoming train ride presented as much interest as did the gun slinger and his horse.

The diesel train pulled a full load to a sold out crowd of 1,000 souls.  Our family entourage enjoyed the trip on an old Pullman car built in 1925, my dad Floyd was only one year old.  Yes, there he is on the right with the baseball hat on.

The train trip also included live music in each train car.  To our surprise we discovered that the train company is the only employer in Northern Arizona that employs musicians full-time.

 

 

Now for what, no doubt, you have been waiting for- pictures of the Grand Canyon!  We spend only a few hours on the south rim edge, but I hope it will not be my last trip, but the first of many to come.

 

(Reminder, when viewing on the blog site, right click on the picture of your choice and click on open new window.  You will see a larger sized picture)

Dad Floyd with his youngest son, Kevin

It is a small world!  Hearing of the great bargain rate, our next door neighbors also took the train ride.  We caught up with them at the Lookout house.  Kirby and Brenda are great neighbors and they are becoming friends also.

Three generations on the edge.

Louise and Kevin enjoying the moment

The Grand Canyon with its many colors

Just looking at this scene makes me want to go back soon

On our trip back to Williams we caught a good view of  the San Franciso Peaks just north of Flagstaff.  Scientist believe this mountain was up to 3,000 feet higher a mere one thousand years ago when it blew its top off resulting in over 200 square miles of volcanic flow and ash.  Also, on our way back on the train we saw antelope and two female elk.  We ended our day eating at a small intimate Italian eatery in the old downtown of Williams.

Thanks for going on the trip with us.  See you next time!

 

Respite

I love this picture.  The four pelicans were flying along the shoreside at Solana Beach, California in mid-February on a beautiful warm day kissed with a gentle ocean breeze.  With camera in hand, I was spending a nice day with my oldest brother, Brian, as we shared out time and lives with our beloved dad.

We had decided to take a respite from the rare snow of winter in Prescott (see below) and trade it for a week in southern California to visit relatives and spend a little time at the beach. We took our trusty Ford truck hauling the trailer behind us with the intent of leaving the trailer at Louise's parent's home.  Our plan is to use the trailer as a home-away-from-home if the need arises as a couple of our close relatives battle life-threatening illness.

 

This snow came a day before our departure but roads were clear the day of our trip having melted away quickly.  Departing from Prescott we soon found ourselves in the desert drving west toward the familiar Pacific Ocean.  The following pictures were captured at Solana Beach with Sandpipers feasting on baby sandcrabs and other acquatic life. 

Donned in a "wetsuit" this surfer enjoyed his time. 

 On the sound end of Solana Beach is a small unassuming park planted and cared for by local seaside residents.  Pines do grow along some of the coast of southern California, but these native pines known as Torrey Pine are protected and rare.  It is my understand that Torrey Pines only grown here and on one offshore island.  All trails and roads give way to these precious trees.

 

Floyd is in his element scanning for seashells and rocks.

 And yes, he did come back home with pockets full, a load that weighed his jacket down but lifed his spirits greatly!

 

We visited brother, David, and his spouse, Ramona, in Ocean Beach, further south enjoying a day with them.  We enjoyed about half of our week with Louise's parents, John and Charline, brother, Paul, his wife Patty and their two teenaged daughters.  We said our goodbyes and headed to my brother, Craig's home to spend time with Craig and Eileen.  They live in Hemet, a community nestled below some of southern California's most beautiful mountains, which experienced the same storm-front Prescott shared.

Vista view of Hemet and the mountains to the north.

 

Diamond Valley Lake, a man-made lake of recent years now known for it premier lake fishing.

On our way back to Prescott I stopped out in the middle of nowhere to take a few shots, both beautiful and entertaining.  Yes, someone painted a frog!

 

 

We arrived back to Prescott on a Saturday evening in time for church on Sunday and a Monday train ride to the Grand Canyon with our two daughters, four young grandsons and our resident son-in-law; but that is another story...