Thursday, September 1, 2016

Last Day and Then We're Off

On our last day we drove back toward the Grand Canyon and visited the Planes of Fame Museum.  I wanted to see Patton's Constellation "Connie" but we were informed it was bought by a Texan who flew it out in February under its own power.  I found the stories of the people more interesting than the planes since I don't understand all the parts!

From there we went to the IMAX theater to see the film about the Grand Canyon.  We certainly got to see a lot you can't see from the rim.  It also told the story of first known residents and initial exploration by Europeans.  Those rapids are really a wild ride.

We ate some lunch there and while waiting for the others to use the restroom a man was in line pushing a man in a wheelchair with no arms or legs and trying to push food on a tray down the line.  People just kept getting their own food and ignored him.  I asked if I could help him and he asked me to carry the tray.  I did and then wiped the table for them and brought napkins to the table for them.  They thanked me and no one batted an eye.  I don't understand such insensitivity!  

Thursday we were hitched up and ready to roll about 8:30 Thursday morning.  Tom was stopping along I-40 for fuel and we told him we would wait for them at the first rest stop on I-17.  We didn't realize the last 15 miles before the rest stop is a series of harrowing 6% slopes of several miles with a leveling off before the next one started.  Eileen was a bit rattled when they arrived,

The scenery was beautiful and we took a short walk around to enjoy the view.  The ride down  paralleled Oak Creek Canyon and was quite spectacular.  I enjoyed it but Ted was very occupied at the time.  The truck in front of us was riding his brakes and plumes of smoke kept pouring over us along with the burning smell.  Sure hope he made it.



We arrived easily at our next "home" for five days - Desert Shadows RV Resort.  It is a 10/10/10 park according to Good Sam, the Gold Standard of ratings.

It takes very little time to set up so we left almost immediately for Walmart to leave my prescription and then did a Keystone Cop run to In-N-Out Burger.  It sits on a corner where you can't turn in from "there."  We ended up on the freeway and had to go to the next exit, come back, then ended up on a ramp to another freeway but went straight instead, made a U turn and finally found the elusive driveway!  But don't tell anyone!

I had never been to an In-N-Out Burger and found the burger very good.  That is all they sell so it was easy to order.  Afterwards we went back to Walmart, picked up my pills and came home.

It was still over 100 so we went to the indoor pool.  With a bar of soap you could have taken a bath.  We didn't have to worry about a sunburn and the water was still cooler than the air and we stayed until 6 pm!

There was a couple in the pool that talked and talked to us.  They were interested in all our travels and I think were just happy to have someone to talk to since most folks who winter here have not returned.  They told us to be sure to come back to the pool while we are here.  

We settled in to watch the Arizona/Denver game and I made reservations on line for a boat cruise for Friday afternoon.  We will be occupied Saturday, Sunday and Monday so we wanted to spend one day with Tom and Eileen.  They have a friend they will visit with over the weekend.  Pam invited them to join us on Monday but they said no it was family.  Their choice!

Friday we drove an hour east to Saguaro Lake for a cruise.  It was hot as all get out but we stayed in the enclosed lower deck that had A/C.  It was a relaxing and peaceful ride.  Here are a few photos.

These mountain peaks are used on the Arizona license plate but I can't recall their name!  


The saguaro cactus only grows in the Sonoran Desert.



Beautiful rock formations.  




Here are two entrances to canyons we floated down.



We stopped at Bobby Q's for lunch/dinner and it was pretty good but I thought the meat was mushy.  The funny thing that we found in the morning when we left was that going out the back gate and turning left, it brings you to the In-N-Out on the next block!  We all had a good laugh.

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