March 8 Sandstorm

The brown in the sky is the approaching sandstorm

Feb 21 to Feb 28 Visit from the Maritimes

After arriving from Edmonton on Feb 18 we worked at getting the trailer cleaned and set up for our friends Vic & Chris from the maritimes. We started the visit off, after picking them up at the airport on Feb 21 with a visit to Romans restaurant for a feed of ribs with the gang of friends from the park and then an evening of cards at the park. The kids were very tired but hung in there.Friday we were off to Scottsdale to a horse show (arabian horses).  Very entertaining and the weather was nice after the rain we got earlier in the week.We were witness to a wedding proposal that day in the truck after a lost ring was found.Introduced vic and chris to "total wine" store. The kids didn't make it past 9 that nite. Saturday we were all up early for pancake breakfast in the barn and then off to the buckeye air show. One of the highlites was the model airplanes. One was a jet and when it flew it actually had the sound of a jet taking off.Drove to south mountain which is the highest point over looking the phoenix valley.For supper we headed back to rv park to enjoy a shrimp boil put on by one of the rv'ers in the park. Great feed.Sunday we had decided to let the kids rest. Chris did get to pick fresh oranges and grapefruit at Keefers orchard.Off to arizona oprey dinner theatre  on bus with 40 others from the park ( John Denver tribute) .  Monday was a gals and guys day. Chris and bonnie played water voleyball , the guys went to a ball game (Cincinnati and Milwaukie).Played a game of pegs monday nite. Tuesday morning off early to do scenic drive thru the mountains ( Prescott & Jerome) to Sedona. Stayed overnite in Sedona and Tuesday morning off to hike to Devils Bridge ( 1 1/2 hrs each way).Well worth the effort. Leaving Sedona we headed toward phoenix with stops at two historic sites, Montezuma's Well and Montezuma's Castle.Back at rv park at 8pm so vic and chris could pack. Vic & Lynn stopped for farewell nite cap . Up at 5:30 am on thursday for departure at 6:30 from the park to the airport. The local news shows part of the interstate just past the airport shut down on both sides due to an accident involving tractor trailer but it didn't seem to affect the traffic too much , just a little slow at times.We all had a good time thru the week and we kept the kids busy so they wouldn't be bored . I think it worked.

Stay tuned .. the march calendar of events looks real busy.  

Feb 21 to Feb 28 Visit from the Maritimes

Arizona giant sycamore tree, the bark looks like its been painted onto the tree 

Montezuma's castle, an historic Puebloan village built into the side of a mountain

Chris at the top of South mountain, highest point overlooking Phoenix valley

Where is Vic? This cactus is 30 to40 feet high.

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Feb 21 toFeb 28, week of visit from maritimes

On our way thru the mountains to Sedona, in the distance is Flagstaff

This is looking down to Sedona from airport road which is one of the highest lookout points 

This is the rock face you would see if strolling down main street in Sedona

Looking up to the Devils bridge

The girls sitting on the bridge, very brave.

Cathedral rock in Sedona

Feb 14, Alberta bound

On Feb 14th I took a trip up to Alberta for a ski weekend with Tim. Got to Jasper late afternoon on Friday hoping to get a few runs in , but the skill hill is closed at 4pm, no nite sking. The mountains are spectacular.  Up in good time Saturday morning, big breakfast at the hotel & on the hill by 10am . It began to snow lightly and the temperature was near zero celsius. As the day wore on we received near 6cm of new snow on the hill making the conditions perfect, lots of powder.  The sking was great and only one fall on the last run, soft landing due to new snow. Tim is  very good on skis and he followed his Dad down all the way , making sure  he got there in one piece. We had a good time. Back at the hotel by 4:30 for beer and pizza and hot tub at the end of the day. Enough snow fell to make driving back to hotel tricky.  On the way back to Edmonton on Sunday we saw two large herd of elk on the side of the road, very common and one huge coyote, looked like a wolf.  Left Edmonton for Phoenix on Monday and arrived to temperature of 20 celsius, what a difference.

Feb 18, jasper alberta

Rocky Mountains near Jasper

Elk on the side of the road going into Jasper, i'm standing on the medium, don't want to go any closer.

Tim and I are ready for our first run on the hill.

First run successful, no falls, air is thin up here

Feb 9, Wickenburg days and Rodeo

We drove up to Wickenburg to take in Wickenburg Gold Rush  Days parade and rodeo. Wickenburg is 2000 ft above sea level and it was cool . The pararde was 1 1/2 hours long with lots of horses and many antique cars.There was all the usual events in the rodeo, bronco busting,calf roping ,barrel racing and bull riding.There were many Canadians in the stands as well as competitors.