Arizona Vacation

My husband worked hard last summer. He made enough money for me to splurge at Christmas. I had some left over and asked him if he wanted to go see his brother and sister in AZ,  I booked us a vacation to visit with them and to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary.
2 weeks in Phoenix. (and didn't pick up a golf club the whole time)

The dates were chosen - not because it's warm there, though it was and not for spring training, been there, done that  - but because the Blackhawks were going to be in Glendale the first week in February. I got us seats in the first row, second balcony. The Hawks fans out number the home team by 5 to 1. Hawks won in overtime 5-4. Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Sea of red

 We took 2 days and hiked in the mountains. The first day Mike and I found this park with a water fall trail.  It was down the road from Camelback park. We stopped there first, but the gift shop was closed. We walked the mile up to the top and it was dry. No surprise there. It's AZ. A nice smooth walking trail.

Weather was a cool 55

The second day we drove over to Apache Junction to see Kathy's daughter Melissa and stopped at a "challenging" trail. We did not make it to the top 1.5 miles. Made it to 7000 ft. .9 miles and turned around.

Kathy's first time hiking

 Coming down was so much harder.

Trail coming down

Drove out to Mesa to see Jack one day.

Mike, Kathy and Jack

Grand Canyon

Then Mike and I packed our bags and headed up to the Grand Canyon for the weekend. Neither one of us had seen it. Wow! It was better than I thought it would be. It's NOT just a hole in the ground.

 We get to the entrance and the cost was $30 per car. So Mike handed the lady the money and she starts her spiel.
Lady: "And I see no one is over 62."
Mike: "Whoa!, she's over 62" pointing at me.
The lady peeks in and says "I will need to see some ID."
I show her my license and she says "Well, That is my surprise of the day. I would not have believe it."
She sets me up with a "pass for life" and gave us $20 bucks back. I now can visit any National park in the US. There are 2500 of them and Anyone with me gets in free too.
Most areas had railing, Thank God! but look in this picture you can see footprints to the edge where there was no railing. Idiots...

foot prints in the snow

Mike and I both got a kick out of this sign. They have them going up and down the road to the canyon.

Do Not Stop on Highway to Play in the Snow

We both decided that we picked the perfect time to go up there. It was cool (54), but there were no crowds. The trails were icy, but pretty much empty. Wild life was out.

Elk drinking out of the puddles in the road

Kathy's Place

The last 4 nights we slept at Kathy's place. 

Hers is the first unit here

Her husband is a trucker and he is usually home 2 nights every 3 weeks, but he took 2 extra days when we were there.
This thing is amazing. You can stand up in it . It has a single bed and a mini frig. Small TV.

Phil's Truck

Our first visit to Sloane Park, the first week, the gift shop was closed. It opened up the next week, so Mike and Kathy decided to go shopping.
After getting in the car and going someplace every day I just wanted to sit. I chose a spot by the community's heated swimming pool. The temperature was record breaking hot (88). I had the place ALL to myself, except when Mike and Kathy showed up. There are 400 units in her complex and no one finds the pool. That makes no sense to me.
This is a 55 or older community so I figured there would be someone exercising in the water, but Nope.

my own private Aqua Fit area

When they get to the park, Mike has to go to the bathroom. The park was closed so he had to go across the street to the Hotel. 

When he got back Kathy informs him that he just missed a "bigwig" with the Cubs. She had no idea who. She is not into any sports. Mike goes to the counter and asks who it was. Ryan Sanberg was in there getting some stuff with his wife. 

Cubs "Sloane" park

The southwest area is not for me. The only thing they have going for them is the sunshine.  

Everything is brown. You have to search to find any large trees. Kathy does has a lemon tree right outside her unit. The lemons were soooo good. 

Yes, they have very blue skies and warm weather in the winter, but (call me a racist if you want) way too many Mexicans find their way here. Summer reached 135 last summer. 

Kathy said: They stay inside in the summer while we stay inside in the winter.

If I lived there though this is where you could find me in the summer.

THEY HAVE A PUZZLE ROOM. 

8 puzzles going at once, but no one was there the 3 times I stopped in. 

I would also have to start a quilting circle. They don't have one.

Had to stop to put a piece in

It was nice to see Kathy again. Good to see where she is staying and especially good to see that she has really good friends that look out for each other. 

*One showed up on her door step because she wasn't at the dog park at a certain time.

 She has 2 little doggies. Gizmo and Stella and she meets with a group everyday at the same times. 

Really good to see Kathy again.