An evening at Jim and Marilyn's

When this family gets together it always means good food and great conversation and the setting could not be more welcoming. Thank you Jim and Marilyn for hosting the gathering, it was a wonderful evening!

Ivah and Mark on the road again

Welcome Ivah and Mark to the fulltime life in your new RV! And what a nice way to break it in with a few days in Catalina State Park with family and Coty (new doggy). Gary and I wish you the best in your journey ahead and hope to cross paths many times on the road!

Catalina State Park

Catalina State Park is located adjacent to Coronado National Forest on the western slopes of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. Catalina State Park has an average elevation of 3,000 feet. The park includes 5,493 acres.

There is evidence that the park and surrounding area have been continuously occupied since about 5000 BC by the Hohokam people. The Romero Ruin still contains pueblos built of rock and adobe, as well as a Mesoamerican ballcourt. The site was widely utilized for nearly 400 years. The namesake of this ruin, Francisco Romero, built a ranch on the site in the 19th Century, and most likely used stone from the previous Hohokam structure to build his house, and fortifications for protection from the Apache.

Our first few days we are enjoying near 80 degree days, with the warmth come the critters like this large lizard and the sites are full of small prairie dog like rodents busy setting up homes. The local news has a warning out for scorpions which we have yet to see.

Electrifying walk in Mesa

There is a place in Mesa were the developments along a large power line have taken a less than desirable situation and turned it into place to go. The space that normally sits unused and unkept has been transformed into a beautiful walk and home to plants, birds and critters alike. The neighborhoods have contributed plants that grow native to the region and the people along the route help to maintain the area. While my longtime friend from high school (Linda) and I walked the trail, we enjoyed the experience with humming birds, hawks and even a silver fox and parrot. Many of the plants have labels to let you know what you are seeing and the backyards flow into the space, extending their yard. With the warm weather and recent rains the cactus are beginning to bloom a month early. What a great idea!

Last nights in Lost Dutchman State Park

Two weeks in Lost Dutchman ends too soon. This is such a nice park and the proximity to the mountains makes it one of our favorite. Even a rain storm transforms the desert into a new experience with smells you can hardly believe and a burst of nature from flowers to animals, the landscape comes to life. The only good thing, we are leaving to spend two weeks in our favorite AZ park, Catalina near Tucson.