Arizona with Friends in Mesa

Usery Mountain Regional Park

Next stop, just east of Phoenix, was a regional campsite near Mesa to enjoy a visit with Cheryl and Pete.

On the way to Tortilla Flats

We ventured out to Torilla Flats, an old site for the stagecoaches. It was a spectacular ride through Superstition Mountain Range. A hydroelectric dam created a lake in the middle of know where.

Superstition Mountains

We stopped for lunch before returning to Carriage Manor, their home, to get the tour of another Retirement Park.

Home grown grapefruit

We found their are so many wonderful, engaging communities in Arizona. Here they also keep the fees down by encouraging volunteerism. You basically get what you put into your community and it has paid off for the residents.

















I had my first fresh picked grapefruit. How cool would that be to have a fruit tree in your own yard.

Gettin Around Car

Or even better yet to be able to ride around in this baby.

Gourdfest at Pinal County Fairgrounds

One of many gourd art displayed

On the way out of town we stopped by a Gourdfest, to see what's new and pick up a few more to practice on.



















On our way again and just when some of the desert plants are beginning to bloom.

Arizona with Friends in Casa Grande

Picacho Peak State Park

Many choose to get out of Wisconsin for the winter, some forever. We wanted to find out why.
So during our trip to Arizona we visited friends to see what they found so alluring about the desert.

View from our campsite

We stayed at Picacho Peak State Park for a few nights while we planned our visit with John and Linda who chose Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort in Casa Grande as a winter haven.

Lawn Bowling

After a tour of the property, seeing all the numerous activities, was really quite impressive. From art studios for silver smithing and stained glass to various clubs for pickle ball and lawn bowling to name a few.

Pickle Ball

If you get bored it's your own fault.

Swim and Soak

Indoor Skydiving

They also gave us a tour of one of their favorite pastimes at  Skydive Arizona in Eloy, watching the jumpers. This is quite the operation for beginners to training military groups, I guess it's the largest of its kind in the US. It was too windy for any jumpers but we still enjoyed the indoor skydiving at Skyventure.

Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

Before leaving the area we stopped at the areas national monument. One of the first preserved dwellings from the originals peoples of the Sonoran Desert. We also enjoyed programs on ground owls and native mammals. It was so nice to enjoy our National Treasures again.

 Next just a few sightings at Picacho Peak State Park.

Cactus Wren

Ground Squirrel?

Bluebells

Arizona with Family

Gilbert Ray Campground Entrance

We arrived in Arizona to begin our visits with family and friends. Escaping the frigid Wisconsin winter. Hoping all have survived at home, we found the desert valley to be nice and warm.












We were lucky to find a campsite at Gilbert Ray Pima County Campground. This no reservation oasis, is a cactus garden with some awesome sunsets. The 140 sites are continuously occupied as it is so conveniently located by the Saguaro National Park, Tuscon Desert Museum and Old Tucson.

Saguaro National Park

We hike a few trails at the National Park (now open) and marveled at the largest cactus in the U.S., plus some great views. Didn't realise how many mountain ranges there are in the Sonoran desert.

Park petroglyphs

A ride through East side of park

Our Tucson stop included a visit with family.
Sharing meals at a local favorite Mariscos Chihuahua Mexican Seafood and a stop at the most delicate freshly made torillias.




























We also had a trolley tour of downtown, a sneak peak at the Rock and Gem show and a little refreshment at a modern container market. No tupperware here, just some great margaritas.

































My favorite find was artist Stephan Day painting plein aire.

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Rio Grande at Las Cruces

 We explored the city of La Cruces along the Rio Grande. I was surprised to find out after a visit to the Mesilla Bosque State Park, the river is dry during the winter months at this location. Up river dams are collecting water to irrigate spring crops.
Without control the Rio Grande would wander back and forth, a wide yet shallow river.



A visit to Old Mesilla Village took us back in time with old adobe homes turned into shops and restuarants.





La Posta Restuarant, a true gem with multiple rooms decorated in quaint historic fashion.

Dining Rooms

Embellishments

Mel, local artisian who creates the finishes

I had the pleasure of talking with Mel who was working on redoing one of fireplaces. He does some beautiful work.

La Posta Bar

Of course we stayed for a margarita too at the bar.

Stores in Old Mesilla Village

Green Chili Fries at High Dessert Brewery

We made sure to find the local brew houses along the way. Green Chili's a local harvest here is offered on everything. 


Even met some green and gold Packers fans. Where else, catching a brew flight at 11 in the morning. Be sure to note there's an hour time difference. Not that it matters if you're from Wisconsin.

Saturday Market

A final stop at the farmers market, complete with food trucks.

 Tomorrow Arizona

Marfa Lights

From Big Bend, our next stop was Marfa, Texas to view the lights. An unusual town, with unusual history, that doesn't really offer a lot except on weekends.

We checked into the Tumble In through the self serve retro trailer in the middle of the desert.







Marfa has a special viewing area along the roadside just for the lights. Other travelers joined in to catch the mysterious lights that dance around in the distance appearing at dusk to dawn.


We saw nothing.

So here's a few photos of the full moon on our last night in Big Bend, so you are not as disappointed as I was.
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One of the big draws in Marfa is the El Paisano Hotel. Georgeous hotel that has a history of hollywood visitors.












I guess Marfa is a big draw for movies the most famous being Giant with Elizabeth Taylor, rock Hudson and James Dean. Of course they all stayed at the El Paisano



































We decided to join the celebrity status with a margarita at the bar.

Even just outside of town are large billboard style murals of the stars.





















So our trip through Marfa was brief. Recommend only going on a weekend. 



Even though our stop was a bit empty you gotta give them credit for having a Prada store.


Cheryl you didn't miss much.

Terlingua Ghost Town

Cemetery

 We stopped at the closet town to Big Bend a little town called Terlingua. I think there are more people buried here than residences.







We stopped by a little art shop and bought the only rain chain. A superb deal at $20. I guess they don't really have a big need for them here.

Miners homes

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Just another quirky town