Sept 27th to 29th - Mesa

Sept 27^th – Fri

Chief sent a text this morning saying it was only going to be 80 degrees at noon and asked if we still wanted to float the river.  We weren’t too enthusiastic since there were only 5 of us planning to go so after a quick check with Jerry & Becky we decided to cancel.

We went to Big 5 to check out inflatable tubes since we probably will fit in another float trip.  We got 2 tubes with little head rests, water shoes for me and sandals for Terry.  At 3 we went to the courtyard to listen to music.  “Recollections” was 2 guys who seemed kind of corny at first but turned out to be OK with “costume” changes to go along with some songs – think Elvis & Alley Oop the caveman.

Sept 28^th – Sat

We got up early to shop for fruit to make up a platter to take to Jerry & Becky’s “biscuits & gravy” breakfast at 9 this morning.  They got a party wagon and had tables & chairs set up in the unoccupied space next to them.  We all enjoyed vodka & OJ or Bloody Marys before gobbling down the excellent biscuits & gravy.

We inflated our tubes to make sure there were no leaks and joined Gloria in the pool for a while before dinner.  At 7 we went to a dance here in the park.  The band was Exit 40 and the turnout was dismal.  There was a prime rib dinner yesterday with a band for entertainment & dancing so I think there are just not enough people here yet to fill both events.  For once you didn’t have to worry about bumping into people on the dance floor!

Sept 29^th – Sun

We went for another float on the Salt River today.  The company (SR Rec) that rents tubes & runs shuttle buses will close tomorrow as the water level gets too low.  Jerry & Becky and Chief came with us and Al & Linda (owners of the trailer that Terry re-parked) followed.  We went to the park where everyone starts a float right now, unloaded & inflated all our tubes & coolers.  Then Terry & Al drove the truck & car back to SR Rec to park and took the shuttle bus back to the put-in point.  Terry was a little nervous about leaving the truck at the park and it would require a recreation pass which we didn’t have.

We expected the water to be cooler but it was still lovely.  Our new tubes with headrests were wonderful and the little inflatable cooler obediently tagged along with Terry.  We stopped a couple of times to regroup & eat.  Since it was Sunday, there were a lot more people on the river which was fun.

When we reached the take-out spot, we carried everything up the hill and deflated tubes while Terry & Al took the shuttle bus back to the parking lot.  We barely had time to get organized before they returned.  We got back to VVV just after 3.

We were just finishing an early dinner when Bruce & Ann dropped in to return our camera charger and visit a bit.  At 7 we went to Jerry & Becky’s to play Pegs.  For the record, the girls beat the guys 5 to 3.

Sept 23rd to 26th - Mesa

Sept 23^rd – Mon

We made our first visit to Total Wine today.  We have some liquor stored at Dennis & Gloria’s but we knew some of what we needed.  On the way back we stopped at Costco for a couple of items and some lunch, then Big Lots and WalMart for a few things.

Later I went with Phyllis to show her where to shop for a couple of items.  First we went to Garden Ridge for vinyl for a tablecloth and then to Bealls in Apache Junction for a swim suit.  Of course we had to make a quick stop at a Big Lots.

After dinner we watched DWTS and another new series called Blacklist.

Sept 24^th – Tues

We went early to clean up Dennis & Gloria’s driveway & patio.  The pressure washer makes the job pretty easy.  While Terry was setting up, I swept up leaves and then I washed the garbage cans & chairs.  We had a light breakfast when we got back. 

I went to exercise class at 10 and Terry did “maintenance” – filled batteries with water, changed the anode rod in the hot water tank, cleaned & organized the front storage compartment & dumped holding tanks.  We both had time for showers before going to get haircuts.

I took our hair clippers along and Holly showed me how to cut Terry’s hair shorter than I have been cutting it.  I had just washed my hair so this gave Holly time to give both of us haircuts in the time she allotted for me.

We thought we finished just in time for an ice cream social at 1.  Actually, the ice cream social was held early since most of the people who were going had just finished a salad lunch where the park provides “greens” and dressings and everyone brings add-ons.  Another couple who had bought tickets beforehand walked in so the ice cream & toppings were brought back out for us.

We joined some people in the pool before dinner and after dinner played “Pegs” with Jerry & Becky and Chief.

Sept 25^th – Wed

I finally did some housecleaning this morning while Terry was trying to beat his favorite game on the computer.  We had to pick up a few groceries, I made dessert for tonight, we returned some books to the library and got a few more and checked out the pool – no one there.  As we were walking back, Dennis & Gloria drove in so they dropped some things off at their place, turned on their AC and came over for a drink and a chat.

We went to listen to music in the courtyard which was actually in the courtyard today since it is much cooler.  “The Breeze” provided music which was very enjoyable and we danced a few times.

Dennis & Gloria came over for baby back ribs.  Julie & Larry joined us later for a drink & dessert.

Sept 26^th – Thurs

After we went for coffee & doughnuts this morning, Terry went to repark a trailer that came in last night.  The tow vehicle broke down so it was brought in by a tow truck and parked quickly and not straight.  Jerry called Terry last night to ask if he would fix it but since we had company Terry said he would do it today.  I went to the exercise class.

We went for baked potato lunch.  The park provides the potatoes and everyone brings the toppings.  There were a lot of people so a few brought dessert.  After we ate, I stayed and helped Barb & Jill set the ballroom up for a prime rib dinner tomorrow.  We had to put tablecloths & a centerpiece arrangement on each table, skirt & decorate 3 serving tables, decorate an entry corner and put up curtains to block off a storage area.  While I was busy, Terry went to Big 5 to buy an inflatable cooler as we are going to float the river again tomorrow.

Terry also went to Fry’s and saw a camera on sale as they are discontinuing their electronics department.  I looked up a review online and we went back and bought it.  I just looked back and realized that I forgot to mention that our camera got wet & ruined on our last float trip.  I had it tucked in the top of my bathing suit and after I got splashed by a wave I put it in Terry’s dry sack.  Unfortunately, the dry sack did not live up to its name and everything inside – wallet, keys with fob, camera – got wet.  The key fob was fine, we had to trade wet money for dry at the casino and the camera didn’t make it.

We saw Bruce & Ann sitting outside (they arrived today) so we took a drink and joined them.  We rode to Jerry & Becky’s to see how many were still going tomorrow, came home for a late dinner & TV.

Sept 20th to 22nd - Mesa

Sept 20^th – Fri – Mesa

As most of our readers know, we do keep busy but we almost outdid ourselves today.

We went with 10 others from the park to float the Salt River.  We picked up Neil, Patti and Chief & Debra.  We were joined by Jerry & Becky, Harry & Cathy and Dave & Phyllis at 9 for the 20 minute drive to Salt River Recreation where we rented float tubes and took a bus up the river a ways.  We packed our gear to the river and started to float.  Right away, Dave & Phyllis had a runaway tube which Terry nabbed but he couldn’t get to shore right away so they ended up walking in the river to where Terry was able to stop at the shore.

The river level is dropping and we were told it would take from 4 to 4 ½ hours to get to the take-out spot.  We had to lift our butts in many shallow spots to avoid hitting rocks – but we still scraped moss off rocks.  Dave was having a rough time with a bad knee so Neil graciously traded his lay-down lounge floaty for Dave’s tube.  We stopped on a rocky beach for lunch and arrived at the take-out spot about 2.  The water was quite swift at that spot but it was shallow and slippery so it was hard to get to shore & stop.  We had to carry our gear up a pebbly beach and a short paved road.  By now Dave was really hurting and unable to walk to the bus so the Sheriff’s department came to pick him up.  The trip was a lot of fun.

When we got back and were dropping off Patti at 3, we saw Larry & Julie arriving at the ballroom for music.  We dropped off Neil, unloaded some of our gear, changed clothes, mixed a drink and went to the ballroom to listen to Jeff Stevens and have a few dances.  Neil & Robin were going to a casino and asked if we wanted to join them so of course we did.  Patti also came along so we and she got yummy beef dip sandwiches for dinner before hitting the slots.  I ended up covering most of Terry’s losses. 

We watched TV a while when we got back and then hit the sack.

Sept 21^st – Sat

We had a much quieter day today.  We took clothes to the laundry room and came back to have breakfast while they were in the washers.  Chief dropped by as we were finishing eating so I left him visiting with Terry and went back with my book to put the clothes in the dryer.  Terry showed up in time to hang & fold.

We watched TV & read for a while, walked to make an appointment for a haircut, walked to Larry & Julie’s to figure out how to install a room AC and then went grocery shopping.  Terry went to the pool but I was enjoying my book and stayed home.

Dinner, TV, etc.

Sept 22^nd – Sun

We rode our bikes to Larry & Julie’s but they weren’t home so we visited with Jerry & Becky for a while.  We went to pick up a few groceries and stopped for a burger on the way back.

We went back to Larry & Julie’s and this time they were home.  We installed an air conditioner in their bedroom, replaced a ceiling fan in their patio, put together a new vacuum, fixed a garbage can drawer in the kitchen and fixed a leaf blower.  By this time we had earned a couple of drinks provided by Larry.

We came back to put on our bathing suits and joined Larry & Julie and Dave & Phyllis in the pool.  Chief was there to chat and asked if we wanted to play dominoes at 7.  Larry & Julie wanted to take us to dinner so we hurried home to change, picked up L&J and went to China City for the buffet.  We were only 9 minutes late for dominoes with Chief & Debra, Jerry & Becky and Harry & Cathy.  I used up all my luck winning the first 4 games and lost by a small margin to Debra who won 4 games in a row.

The weather has cooled off somewhat.  There are no highs in the 100’s for the next week.

Sept 17th to 19th - Mesa

Sept 17^th – Tues – Mesa

I tried something new and went to an exercise class this morning.  It was supposed to be held in the ballroom but the AC wasn’t working so it was moved to the fitness room.  There were 6 people at first, then 2 more and finally another 2 so we could fit in the limited empty floor space in the fitness room.  The instructor took advantage of the machines and had us doing 2 minutes of aerobics between sets of 3 different exercises using weights and an exercise ball.  I am going to try to continue attending on Tues & Thurs each week.  Terry watched the final episode of “Under the Dome” on the computer as we missed it last night.

As we were finishing a late breakfast, Jerry & Becky stopped by to drop off a golf bag that Jerry bought at a thrift store.  Terry is going to lend him some golf clubs.  We stopped for a brief visit with Larry & Julie before we were off for a bit of shopping.  When we got back, Terry made a support for our bottom outside step which is very close to the concrete patio.  I had a sore throat and just read a book even when Terry went to the pool.

Sept 18^th – Wed

My sore throat went away rather than changing into something more serious.  Terry played golf at 7 with Neil, Chief & Jerry.  When they were on the 15^th hole at 10:00, they called for the wives to join them at the Moose Lodge which is right across the road from the pro shop.  Debra picked me up and we watched the guys finish the last hole.  Becky brought friends Harry & Cathy.  Neal had to buy the first round of drinks as he got a hole in one!!!!

We dropped off Neil & Chief (Debra had to leave earlier) and went to McDonalds for lunch.  At 3 we went to the ballroom for music & dancing.  We sat with Ralph & Leila, Bill & Beth, Don & Mary and Patti.  We sort of knew the first 2 couples from last year and it is nice getting to know them better.

We joined a group in the pool after music.  When we came back, Terry took my bike to get water.  He was a little tipsier than he thought and fell when the kickstand broke.  Then he fell again and the chain came off.  Luckily some good Samaritan in a golf cart brought him home in time for dinner.

Sept 19^th – Thurs

We started the day with coffee & doughnuts in the ballroom.  There were quite a few people attending but nothing newsworthy was announced.   I went to exercise class at 10 and there were a lot more people than on Tuesday.  I was making breakfast/lunch when the power went off and I had to change from toaster waffles to French toast.  It was off long enough for the inside temperature to get quite toasty.

We did some shopping in preparation for a float trip tomorrow.  With the hot weather we had to come back to put perishables in the fridge before going to a couple more stores.  Then it was time to visit with Jerry & Becky & Chief in the pool.  We came back for dinner and went to play “Play, Peg, Pick” with Jerry & Becky, Harry & Cathy, Chief and Robin.  It is similar to Pegs & Jokers with a wood pegging section for each player.  We played 2 games as individuals and then one game with partners – guys against the girls – and the girls won a hard fought game.

Sept 14th to 16th - Mesa

Sept 14^th – Sat - Mesa

I had let my freezers get more empty than usual so this morning was the time to defrost.  I don’t mind the job too much as I can read while frost melts and still feel like I am getting something done.  I made a very late breakfast before catching up the blog.

Phyllis came over to say that they were putting a steak on for dinner and asked if we wanted to do the same & get together.  So we had to go grocery shopping.  On the way back we fueled up - $3.75 right now.  I put groceries away and made dessert.

Dave & Phyllis came over around 6 – with salad, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and sautéed mushrooms/onions/peppers!  They brought everything here as their single working AC is not doing a great job of keeping their motor home cool.  Dave even got some dry ice and blew air past it with a fan.  After dinner we sat outside and watched TV – it was still hot but OK just sitting as there was a nice breeze.

Sept 15^th – Sun

Dave & Phyllis followed us to the Mesa Market Place about 9:30 which turned out good as Dave’s knee gave out as he predicted it might and he left early.  We & Phyllis finished the rest and then stopped for a burger for lunch. We made another stop at Lowe’s for swim noodles and Phyllis got shade cloth to make a “curtain” to hang from their awning as they are facing the direction that gives you sun on the door side all day.

We relaxed in the cool rig for a while – of course Terry had a quick nap – and then joined some friends in the pool until we were sufficiently prune-y.  We were just about finished dinner when Jerry & Becky stopped for a visit and shortly after Chief dropped in also.

Sept 16^th – Mon

Larry & Julie are due in today so we went over to clean up their patio/driveway this morning.  Their neighbor Del brought over a leaf blower & extension cord so I blew the leaves out before they got wet.  We took tarps off the golf cart, freezer and armoire.  Terry took over our pressure washer and got the dust off the side of the park model, the golf cart & the floors.  Terry discovered that the sliding door would open enough for him to get in & remove the stick that was supposed to lock the door so we moved out all the furniture that stays outside all winter. We started at 8 but we were both dripping with sweat by the time we finished.

After showers, we made a trip to Costco for food & lunch.  We stopped at Camping World to buy yet another ice maker as ours suddenly quit.  We switched to a Dometic ice maker and are hoping it will last longer than the Emerson brand that we have been replacing every year.

After putting stuff in the fridge and setting up the ice maker, we rode our bikes to see Neil & inspect the tile floor that he put down in their 5^th wheel – very nice.  We went past Jerry & Becky’s and Chief & Debbie’s and finally found them in the pool where Terry made arrangements to golf on Wed.

We came back, Terry put on his swim suit and went back to the pool and I stayed home to do some dinner prep.  Larry & Julie arrived about 4.  They had gone to their site and were amazed to see everything set up outside.  Terry had turned on their AC but Larry said only the fan was running so he went back check on their dog Bandit and make sure their place was cooling down. It was still 100 degrees so he brought Bandit back with him.  Bill & Lauri and Patti also joined us for dinner.  Just as we were finishing dessert, Neil & Robin came over to say hi.  It is so nice to be with our “winter” friends again.

Sept 10th to 13th - Mesa

Sept 10^th – Tues – to Mesa

We left about 9 on a longer, scenic route through Payson.  We didn’t realize that we would immediately start climbing – from our 3500’ starting elevation – to end up at 7000 feet.  The road was great, traffic was very light and the scenery was lovely.  We did get rain showers but not for too long at a time.

We stopped at the casino in Payson for breakfast and took advantage of a $2.99 special which was good & quick.  This left us time to check out the slots and Terry kept our losses to a small amount.  The route we chose took us past Fountain Hills and into the north side of Mesa which is an easy drive.

We honked at Neil & Robin in a golf cart as we drove in and hugged hello to several friends as we were checking in.  Del & Marlis escorted us to our site and Terry did a great job of parking so we were hooked up & set up in no time.  As we drove to our site, we saw a Sea Breeze motor home just down the street and wondered if Dave & Margo were here until we saw the Connecticut plates and realized it was probably Dave & Phyllis who went to the Balloon Fiesta with us a couple of years ago.  Sure enough, they drove in as we were still setting up so when we finished we went to their rig for a drink & to catch up.  They went to Alaska this summer and will be here until the first of March.

We had been at their place for a while when Terry saw Neil & Robin at our place so we went back and fixed a drink for Robin & their friend Joe.  Dave & Phyllis walked their dog and then joined us to start meeting people in the park.

Dave & Phyllis invited us to join them for Chinese food for dinner so we changed the destination and introduced them to the China City buffet.  Luckily it was as good as ever and they were very pleased with our choice.  After dinner we walked to get some water and then crashed & watched TV.

Sept 11^th – Wed

I went out about 6:30 for a walk this morning and it was quite warm when I finished at 7.  I had a nice chat with sister Marg.  She is going on a little “repositioning” cruise with 3 friends so it will be fun to catch up with her in a couple of weeks to see how it went.

We went to Home Depot then Camping World to see about getting a second AC on our rig.  We stopped at a Montana dealer to see what they had to offer for an AC and got an appointment with them for 7:30 tomorrow morning.  Before heading home we went to Lowes to get the items that we didn’t find at Home Depot.

Dave & Phyllis are also dealing with an AC issue but theirs is a unit that won’t work.  They took their motor home in this morning and we thought they might need a place to hang out since they have a dog and can’t go shopping while they wait.  So they came over for a while.  I got laundry ready and we made our first of many trips this season to the laundry room.

We bought tickets to a steak fry so headed to the ballroom just before 5.  There was a band – Reign ‘n Country – and dinner was good.  I was sitting next to Patti and had a nice visit with her.  Also at our table were Jill & Al and Dave & Phyllis.  The music went until 7 so we had a few dances and were not surprised that we remembered the Electric Slide.

Dave & Phyllis had left before us and were sitting outside so we joined them for a nightcap.

Sept 12^th – Thurs

We were up early to pack up and get the 5^th wheel in by 7:30.  We were a little late as I was on the computer and there were 14 LONG updates to install when I went to shut down.  We unhooked, they wheeled our rig in right away and they were putting down carpet strips and starting to work before we even left the lot.

We went for a good breakfast at the “5 and Diner”.  Then we went shopping to kill time – WalMart, Big Lots, KMart, got the truck washed and went to DQ for blizzards.  Our rig was now done so we went to pick it up.  They had us check it out before pulling in the slides.  We also had them check the problem with the pilot light in the oven and we were happy that we did as a fitting had worked loose and the flame was behind the pilot.  Sounds a little dangerous but they said it wasn’t.  We were escorted back to our spot by Del & Marlis again and got set up – again.

We took the bikes off the rack and cut off the old ratty cover as we bought a new one.  We put a box on the back of my bike and couldn’t find the right bolt to attach the rear light – another trip to Home Depot is on the list.  Terry pumped up one tire and we made the first ride to get 2 gallons of water which fit perfectly on the back of my bike.  We joined Jerry & Becky and Chief & Debbie in the pool and after dinner went to a room at the clubhouse to play Mexican Train with them.

Sept 13^th – Fri

I went for a walk again this morning while Terry conquered his game on the computer.  After a cup of coffee, I gathered up my supplies and went outside to clean tables & chairs. This led to cleaning the underside of the front of the 5^th wheel which is no small job.  Now my “walking” clothes were really sweaty so it was time for a shower and then some waffles for a late breakfast.

There was a special at Camping World so we went to the nearer one on Main and of course they did not have what I wanted so we had to go to the further one to get 3 covers for the entry steps. We made another stop at Big Lots to get a couple of insulated glasses with lids for taking a drink wherever we want to in the park.

We put the step covers on but not before Terry stabbed his thumb when a spring with a hook let go.  We relaxed in the cool for a bit before going to listen to music in the courtyard – aka MCY – from 3 to 5.  But it was too hot so it was moved inside along with the bar and very limited food service – tacos and nachos with huge bowls of toppings to add.  We didn’t dance to Fall River as we were too busy eating and then talking to Dave & Phyllis, Chris & Mary and later Neil & Robin.

We watched TV and had repurposed leftovers for a late dinner.

Sept 7th to 9th - Cottonwood

Sept 7^th – Sat – Cottonwood

We went exploring in the opposite direction today – to Jerome.  We have been there previously but we just went to the museum so today we went into the town to browse the shops.  Jerome is on a hillside with very narrow streets.  We were amazed at the number of cars & people in town but we found a parking spot, climbed some stairs and started wandering.  There are a lot of interesting stores and we finally found a metal wall art piece for above the entry door.

I mentioned in the blog that when we were heading here I decided to take a different route than the one Wanda wanted us to take.  We drove all the way through town and a couple of miles past and decided we had really dodged a bullet by not bringing the 5^th wheel this way.  We had to use all of our side of the road to pass other cars.

On the way back we stopped at WalMart for groceries.  We didn’t have any lunch so I cooked a couple of ears of really sweet corn to hold us over until dinner.  At 6:30 we went to a dance here at the park.  It was held in the dining area of the grill and quite a few people were just finishing their meals when we got there.  After one dance, a guy asked Terry if we spend time at Val Vista Village.  It was Dave & Sandra who we didn’t really know but Terry had spotted the large trailer they tow behind their motor home and was pretty sure they stayed at VVV.  We joined them at their table and talked non-stop except when we danced.  They are staying here longer than we are but I know we will see them back in Mesa.

Sept 8^th – Sun

Raining today and much cooler – quite nice.  We went into town for lunch and then drove through Camp Verde but not much there and not open on Sunday so we had to go to the casino again.  We got back in time for a drink & dinner – exciting day!!

Sept 9^th – Mon

We invited Dave & Sandra for dinner tonight so after we finally got going this morning we had to go get some groceries.  We also filled up with diesel as we are leaving tomorrow.  After we put away groceries and had doughnuts for lunch (!!), I went to see if Dave & Sandra wanted to come over earlier as we weren’t doing much.  They walked their dogs and came over.

After we talked for quite a while, they went back to feed the dogs and get a drink and then we started playing games.  We started with Farkle which is a dice game very similar to one that we call 10,000.  After 2 games (Terry won 1 and Dave won 1), we ate dinner.  Then we taught them how to play Sequence.  The good news is we had fun.  The bad news is the guys won.  Sandra & I never did figure out how they were cheating!

Sept 3rd to 6th - Cottonwood AZ

Sept 3^rd – Tues – Parker

We decided to do a couple loads of laundry as we don’t know what facilities will be available when we move tomorrow.  On the way back we stopped for lunch and then for a last visit to the casino.  We didn’t win but had several hours of air conditioned comfort.

It wasn’t long until dinner and then the usual TV, reading & computer stuff.

Sept 4^th – Wed – to Cottonwood

We packed up, dumped the waste tanks and were on the road about 8.  We chose a route that took us north on Hwy 89 into Prescott.  We have been on the road once before but neither of us remembered 2 sections with lots of sharp curves and hills.  The road is restricted to trucks less than 40 feet in length which we were told last time was intended to exclude 18 wheelers.  We stopped for lunch in Prescott Valley and shortly after for diesel.  While Terry was fueling, I checked the GPS instructions and we decided to back track a mile or so and take 169 across to Hwy 17 rather than going through Jerome which we know involves more hills & curves.

We are staying at Verde Valley RV Resort which is a Thousand Trails park that accepts Passport America – ends up just over $20 a night including a “resort” fee and taxes.  It is a nice park located between Camp Verde & Cottonwood and down in the Verde River canyon.  We registered, selected our own site, set up and sat outside to relax for a while.  We have shade on the door side in the afternoon and it is nice to be able to sit outside instead of inside with the AC on.  Yes, it is still hot but not insanely so.

We had to go back to the entrance to let them know which site we picked so we decided to check out Cliff Castle Casino back at Hwy 17.  I didn’t do well, Terry hung in quite a bit longer before we headed back for dinner.  Terry just had time to BBQ steak before it got dark.

Sept 5^th – Thurs

After a lazy morning and breakfast, we went through Cottonwood to Sedona.  We wandered through the Tlaquepacque arts & crafts shopping area which is very interesting but we didn’t find anything that we needed to buy.  Then we went to the “oldtown” area and browsed both sides of the street.  It was hot but cooling off a bit in each store made it OK.  We finished a loop by returning on I17 which might have been a mistake as it took us past the casino – or rather, to the casino.  We started there by having a very late lunch and finished the same as yesterday!

A drink, TV, reading & dessert followed back at the rig.

Sept 6^th – Fri

I searched for something through old blog entries this morning and ended up reading a lot which was quite interesting and amazing to see how much I have forgotten.  I enter the blog in a word processing application and it is in “upside down” order like the posted blog.  I have redone a couple of years in Jan-Dec order and will have to do the rest just for my browsing pleasure.

Late this morning we went sightseeing again and started at Montezuma Castle which is a cliff dwelling.  It was open to tours until 1951 when I17 was built and the increased number of tourists caused too much damage.  At that time, a model was made to show the interior of the dwelling and it is still displayed below the cliff.  Next we went to Montezuma’s Well just up the freeway a few miles.  It is a short walk to the “well” which is a small lake in a crater.  It is fed from springs in the bottom and never runs dry.  On the path coming back, there are steps leading to the outlet from the well.  We were trying to decide if we wanted to take the steps down – we were hot – when a lady walked up and said it was worth it.  She was right – it was much cooler just a few feet down the hill and very scenic.  The same thing happened when we came back up – we told a hesitant group that it was worth the short walk.

We stopped at a thrift store on the way back to the freeway and found an amazing amount of stuff in an old house where every room was filled.  I got a couple of books and Terry picked up 2 tins that are the perfect size for buddy burners and can be hard to find.  Then it was time for a nice cool Blizzard at DQ.

We talked about going to the pool but ended up watching TV and getting lazy.  I used up leftovers for dinner and discovered that the oven is not relighting after it reaches the selected temperature and then cools down.  This happened once before and we thought a propane tank was empty.

Aug 31st to Sept 2nd - Parker

Aug 31^st – Sat – Parker

The RV park has become very busy for the long weekend and I heard boats on the river when I woke up just after 6 – but I didn’t get up right then!  I worked on my “crafty” project and decided that it was not going to work out as I thought so I scrapped that idea.

Later in the morning we went to town for propane and groceries as Terry thought steaks on the BBQ sounded good for dinner.  It probably goes without saying that we detoured through the casino first.  It is amazing how different 2 days can be – not so lucky today.

We had a late, light lunch before stopping at Safeway and getting some great steaks in their markdown area.  We took a drink and a chair to the river bank and watched all the traffic on the river.  We started to recognize water craft of all sorts that went past us numerous times as they cruised up & down the river.  Drivers are quite courteous and drive on the right side of the river as if it is a road so there are not a lot of times when boats are heading towards each other.  The sheriff just cruised down the middle.

The steaks turned out as good as they looked.  We hibernated and watched TV for the rest of the evening.

Sept 1^st – Sun

It took us just a little longer to play our 9 holes of golf this morning as there was a 3-some in front of us.  After breakfast, I worked on entering recipes for my new recipe box.  We went to town for lunch and the usual visit to the casino which was again not so good.

It was very hot today so we headed for the river when we got back.  There was a lot of traffic on the water so it was fun to watch – and lovely to cool off.  There is a couple down the way with 3 golden retrievers.  They have a bucket of empty water bottles that they throw into the river for the dogs to retrieve and get some exercise – also fun to watch but you know old people are easily entertained!  There was a gorgeous sunset “reflection” to the east.

Sept 2^nd – Mon

I printed the recipes that I entered yesterday and then entered & printed some more.  At the same time we were also watching a golf tournament on TV and took a break for breakfast.  We discussed playing 18 holes of golf this afternoon and decided it was going to be waaaaay toooo hot so we settled for lunch & the casino instead.

Terry found me as I was about to run out of money and said that he had 17 cents left when a coupon printed out for a chance to win $100 free slot play.  I had received one also and of course got nothing.  But Terry got $100 slot play.  He played several machines and eventually cashed out $100 and we wisely went home!

We walked to get water when we got back and realized how hot 109 really is so we “hibernated” after that.  Most of the weekend campers have left so the river is very quiet.

We got a phone call tonight from Ron & Terri, Duane & Sue and Bev.  It was nice to chat with VVV friends and makes us want to see them all soon.