Sagauros in Arizona

Last night was bingo night at the RV Park!  I told my friend Peggy that we were playing bingo and she said "you have finally consumated your retirement"!!!!   Ted and I have played at a couple of RV parks before and never won anything.  Last night we both won a bingo of $40 each!  Whoo-hoo!

While out looking for a nail place yesterday I saw a couple of Sagauros Cacti and took these pictures.  This extraordinary plant exists only in the Sonoran Desert - unique to Arizona except for a few strays in neighboring states and northern Mexico.  They weigh at least 6 tons or more and reach 150-175 years on average.  The arms don't form until a saguaro is 50-75 years old!  Seed production is 40 million in a lifetime with roots radiating web a few inches under the ground!

Waiting for the RV Repairman..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Apache Junction, Arizona

This morning we headed south to Apache Junction.  We saw a lot of vehicles coming south with snow on them!  Glad we missed it!  It was in the high 60's here in Apache, mostly sunny and no rain! The RV park is part mobile home park and part RV park.  They put out a newsletter and boy do they keep busy here!  Every sport from shuffleboard to golf, potlucks, exercise, computer and art classes!  There were five activities that started by 9:00 a.m. this morning according to the schedule!  We are here until Saturday morning unless....

When we got here this afternoon I put out the RV slide that holds the sofa.  It stopped right before it got all the way out.  Ted had to help it to get it the rest of the way out.  We really haven't had much trouble with this slide before.  If it is the shear pin, it isn't the one by the motor that we can get to.  No, that means the whole sealed bottom of the RV will have to be removed to get to it!  So....not sure what might happen yet!

Trying to keep a good thought..."Ain't Life Grand!" 

Sedona, Arizona

This morning we dropped by a local Ford Dealership.  Some of the running lights on the truck stopped working.  Ted checked the fuses and there was one that was out but required a special tool to remove it.  We thought this would be an "easy fix"!  I've decided that doesn't exist!  Anyway, they did replace that fuse but said that wasn't the problem.  They said we have an area in the wiring that is shorting out and either one or both of our fuel tanks have to be removed to get to it and that it will be 5 to 6 hours of work and $500 to $600!  They said that it may work off and on but needs to be fixed.  Funny thing, we took off for a drive through Sedona and it worked the whole time.  For that much money, we've decided to make sure it really wasn't fixed by the fuse they replaced and to not have it repaired at this time!

We had lunch today in Sedona at Red Rock Barbeque.  We had a great beef brisket sandwich.  They are really doing a lot of road work in the area and really making the area villages nice.   It is about 45 degrees and still some recent snow on the taller mountains around Sedona.  The creeks are really full around our campground and in the Sedona area.  The rocks are so red and the area is so beautiful, the camera just doesn't do it justice!

Beautiful countryside..."Ain't Life Grand!" 

The Road to Valley Verde AZ

Yesterday we left Vegas for Valley Verde AZ. We went from desert scenery to snow and pine trees! Through Williams and Flagstaff there was lots of snow on the ground. While driving we actually drove through a small snow squall. The snow melted on the windshield as it was a warm (brrrr) 38 degrees! It looked beautiful!

Here in Valley Verde (near the town of Cottonwood), it sprinkled a bit last night and this morning. Very cloudy today! Good day to stay in doors and play cards and eat soup for lunch! Tonight we will have Calzone (from Dream Dinners)!

Snow from afar..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Valley of Fire Picture

For some reason, the pictures are giving me trouble lately!  Maybe Google did something to "improve" the Blogs!!! LOL

Anyway, here is the picture I couldn't get to show up in the last blog!

Valley of Fire State Park

On Thursday we decided to visit the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. On the way is a Flying J and I was dreaming of sweet cream pancakes! Also we were going to buy some batter to send to Peggy and for ourselves! We got to the Flying J and they have pizza and Mexican fast foods and no pancakes - bummer! So we settled for Denny's before heading to the park.

Our camping neighbor had told us about the park and how beautiful it is. On the drive there it was looking pretty scrubby but we went around the corner and voila! Saw the most beautiful red mountains. The pictures don't do the area justice. The rocks have so much character as you can see in a few of the pictures and we didn't even see everything there is to see! There are many sandstone formations weathered by the eroding forces of wind and water.

There is a campground in the park with water and electricity and surrounded by beautiful red rocks. We think we might try it next time through the area.

In the evening we had a great dinner with friends David and Debbie Hawkins. David is in the middle of "tax season", as he is a CPA and my former boss from 1981 to 2000! It was nice he took time to visit with us as his mom is also in the hospital.

Yesterday I went to Dream Dinners to stock up on food again and today we are heading east to Arizona.

Enjoying the red rocks..."Ain't Life Grand!"

Back in Las Vegas!

We drove back to Las Vegas on Monday.   Fortunately there were no blowouts or truck problems! 

On Tuesday Ted got a massage.  Our friend David Hawkins' knew Ted was having problems with his shoulder and set it up for him.  It was a full body massage but he worked specifically on Ted's shoulers.  He felt a lot better after the massage.  The masseuse suggested some exercises to help Ted loosen up his shoulders further.

We went to a Goodyear place to order a new rim and tire for the RV to replace the one ruined by the bearing problem.  In Pahrump they told Ted it was a standard rim but here in Vegas they aren't so sure and are checking on it for us.  We may have to wait until we get to Texas.

Today was "senior day" at Boulder Station Casino.  For once Ted and I were both lucky, albeit at different times but nevertheless, we came out ahead at the end of the day.  We didn't win the "senior drawing" but hey, we tried.  It was a fun day of gaming!

Playing on the casino's money..."Ain't Life Grand!"