Mar 21st to 23rd - Mesa

Mar 21st – Wed
Terry & the guys had an early tee time at Desert Sands and the women had a tee time an hour later to start on the back nine and play just 9 holes. I enjoyed the course and played quite well except for one “fall apart” hole. We waited just a short time for the guys to finish and then we all – Ron & Terri, Bob & Sandy and Mike & Susie - went for breakfast at the Waffle House. We had just ordered when the power went off. They cook almost everything on a gas grill so we got to eat with grilled Texas toast substituting for regular toast. We had a new waitress who managed to mix up almost everything!
Terry & I then did a bit of shopping. Pat & Rick and Don & Joanne had gone hiking and arrived home at the same time as us. Pat & Joanne did laundry while I caught up the blog and the guys goofed off. Joanne wanted to eat at the grill but I messed things up by thinking that the grill was open until 7. We arrived there just before 6 and it was closing. Luckily, we had planned on making pork chops on the BBQ for everyone so we changed to plan B.
Pat wanted to watch Survivor so we downed dinner and she & I came inside to watch TV while the others stayed outside and watched a different show. The weather was gorgeous today with a nice cool down for sleeping.

Mar 22nd – Thurs
Rick & Pat and Don & Joanne packed up this morning for a long drive across the street to Good Life RV park. They could use Passport America for only 7 days here but Good Life is also a Cal-Am park that takes Passport America so they moved for 3 more days. After a slow morning, we went out for a late breakfast at the Hoosier Café. We stopped for a couple of grocery items and had a lazy afternoon.
At 3:15 we went to Mike & Susie’s for happy hour/dinner to say goodbye to Bob & Sandi who are leaving on Sunday. We went at 3:15 because we didn’t look at the calendar earlier to see that it started at 3!! It’s a good thing that I had my food contribution ready.
There was a large group with quite a few people that we didn’t know or knew only by sight. I chatted a long time with Fran & Gordon who stayed here a few weeks a couple of years ago and who are in the site beside Dennis & Gloria.
Terry’s eyes were really watering all evening (allergies??) so he went to bed when we got home shortly after 8. I was reading when Robin called to ask us over for a drink but I knew Terry wasn’t going anywhere and I was ready to pack it in for the night.

Mar 23rd – Fri
We left at 8:30 with Ron & Terri to go to the RV Rally being held at Phoenix International Raceway – 42 miles from here. Bob & Sandi and Mike & Susie followed in Bob’s jeep. In the parking lot we met Rick & Pat and Don & Joanne. As we were buying tickets, Tim & Kim arrived. A non-helpful “traffic director” told us to hop on the shuttle to go to the exhibits. Unfortunately, the shuttle made a huge loop around the RV parking area first and by the time it made 2 more stops there were no seats left. It took us over 20 minutes to get back to where we started which turned out to be a 5 minute walk to the exhibits! But the shuttle waited for traffic to clear and finally took us all the way in.
We split up to go through the huge vendor tent and to explore some of the RVs on display. We met up at 1 to eat but everyone was done so we headed out to have a real lunch somewhere instead of fighting bees over a mediocre sandwich. We, Ron & Terri, Bob & Sandi and Mike & Susie ended up at a Carlos O’Brien restaurant where we washed down chips & salsa and good lunches with cold beer.
I was just settling down to read – or maybe nap – when Terry came back from a little bike ride to say that Dennis & Gloria wanted us to come over for a drink. While we were there I mentioned that we met their neighbors last night. The site beside Dennis & Gloria has had short term renters all year and they finally got tired of going over to introduce themselves only to never see the people again. Gordon & Fran were out getting propane in their motor home so when they returned they joined us at Dennis & Gloria’s.
We headed home at 6 and quickly ate a light, leftover dinner. As I was cleaning up, Dianne stopped by for a few minutes. A quick change of clothes and we were off to the wrap-up dance of the season. The band North Star played and we had a good time as usual.