Who We Are

We sold our home in June, 2007, and spent the next 7 1/2 years traveling full time in a Cross Roads Fifth Wheel. (We had been traveling during our summers for several years before going full time.) We loved the full-time lifestyle! Each summer we spent a month or two volunteering in State Parks, first in Indiana at McCormick's Creek State Park, near our family, then in later years as the grandchildren got older, at the Bluewater Lake State Park in New Mexico. We spent 6 months each winter at Cactus Gardens RV Resort in Yuma, AZ, where I worked mornings in the park office. The remaining months were spent on the road, seeing this great country of ours. Our favorite places are our National Parks. Anita loved photography and the freedom of digital photography, taking sometimes hundreds of photos in a day. We hiked as much as our legs will allow. We also really enjoyed square and round dancing as we travel across country, and meeting all the wonderful people who dance and/or travel.

But as in all things, there comes a time for change, and we decided it was time to create roots once more. In the fall of 2014, we purchased a home in Cactus Gardens, and in the spring of 2015, sold the 5th wheel. Anita also retired in the spring. We will continue to travel each summer, but for a shorter period of time. We hope to continue blogging about those trips, but it will obviously be on a more limited basis than in the past.

Please explore our past posts if you are interested in traveling this great country. You'll find an index in the left column. We hope you enjoy our blog, and appreciate all comments

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

The Final Day of Travel

It’s a scenic drive from Golden Valley to Yuma, especially the first bit just past Kingman.

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -001 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -004

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -005

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -006

The rise just before Lake Havasu City is also picturesque as well.

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -007

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -009

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -011

The day passed quickly and before we knew it almost, we were in the rolling dunes just north of Yuma.

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -014

That first glimpse of a green field or one being irrigated tells us we’re almost there.

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -015

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -018

We were surprised to see so much cotton still on hand.  Usually it has been harvested and shipped by the time we arrive each fall.

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -016

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -017

That’s it!  the sign for Cactus Gardens…we are “home” for the winter.

2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -020

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -022

 2012-09-28 - AZ, Oatman to  Yuma -023

The night after we arrived, a huge harvest moon rose over the foothills and the park just behind us.  What a sight!  We witness this once yearly, if we’re lucky.  Traveling is fun, and we enjoy it so much, but it’s good to know we’re back and settled for a while.

2012-09-30 - AZ, Yuma - Harvest Moon over the foothills -003

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

We visit Oatman, AZ again

Ron and I made the trip from Golden Valley to Oatman a few years ago, and wanted Hoyt and Bernice to experience Oatman’s uniqueness as well.

Perhaps as interesting as Oatman itself is the drive over along old Route 66.

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -009

 

A very scenic drive, it winds past both defunct  and operating mines.  2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -0082012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -005 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -007  2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -012 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -013  2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -016  2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -017  2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -021

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -023

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -028

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -030 

 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -040 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -041 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -047 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -050 

The road contains many hairpin curves, and often evidence of vehicles that didn’t make the curves can be seen among the rocks.

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -038 2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -042

2012-09-27 -1- AZ, Golden Valley to Oatman via Route 66 -049

Tucked away in the mountains is Oatman, founded around 1908.  In less than 30 years, mines in the area produced over 1.8 million ounces of gold, but in 1942 the last remaining mines were closed as “nonessential to the war effort”.  The town, with it’s humorous portrayal of what it once was,  survives through tourism.

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -001 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -002  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0092012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -008  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -010 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -012 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -015 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -017 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -018 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -020 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -022 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -024 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -025 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -026

We had lunch in this bar which is “wallpapered” with dollar bills.  Literally, every inch of the wall, bar, etc is covered with bills taped up by the tourists.

 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0742012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -032 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0752012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -031  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0762012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -078    2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -033

The food was excellent.

Prospectors brought the first burros to the area.  They were used inside the mines for hauling rock and ore to the outside, and outside for hauling water and supplies.  As the mines closed, the miners often left the burros to fend for themselves.  Over the years, although becoming wild animals, they have learned they can get fed a daily meal in Oatman. 

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -043  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -046

When we were here several years ago, the merchants were selling bags of carrots for visitors to feed to the animals. It has since been determined that the carrot diet was not necessarily good for the animals. The only food approved for them now is available from a few merchants as small hand held bales of a grain based material.

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -049 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -053

We’re wondering if they don’t like their new food as well as the carrots of the past, as we didn’t see nearly the number of burros this visit as before.

 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -055  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -067

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0682012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -072

A gunfight in the street takes place each midday.  Afterwards, a hat is passed for charity.

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0502012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -036  2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -057 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -058 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -062 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -069

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -080 2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -083

We couldn’t resist seeing how we’d look as bargirls with their cowboys.

2012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -0852012-09-27 -2- AZ, Oatman -084 

Between the drive along Route 66 and the fun of Oatman, it is truly a great way to spend a day if you happen to find yourself in  Golden Valley, AZ

.2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -001 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -004 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -006 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -008 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -014 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -016 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -019 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -024 2012-09-27 -3- AZ, Oatman to Golden Valley -026