Where can you sit poolside and bake in the 90+ degree sunshine in a lounge chair one day, and hike in snow the next without ever packing a bag? Why, Palm Springs, CA, of course!
I say my goodbyes to Jim and Gayle in the Joshua Tree south boondock, with plans to meet up further north this summer. We are off to pursue our mutual passions Continue reading
Beauty and the Beast — Just as art imitates life, “which is which” is in the eyes of the beholder.
I like to think I am a person who can find the beauty anywhere….well, almost anywhere. Particularly when those places lean toward the extreme or exotic. Continue reading
I had multiple reasons for hanging out in Lake Havasu for a couple of weeks before storing my Winnie in Phoenix to fly back to Texas. First and foremost was to accept Joel and Kathy’s gracious invitation for Thanksgiving. And it was an opportunity for one last meet-up with Debbie and “The Heathens” Rupert and Elliot, before they headed south for the remainder of the year. But also, there was to be a parade! And not just any parade, but one with boats! Continue reading
I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite hike in southern Utah. I have loved them all. So many different personalities from the cold dark canyons of Buckskin to the sunny warm glow of little Snow Canyon. Each one has something spectacular to offer, though it’s not always about “The Destination.” Some offer an ever changing variety. For this reason, if forced to pick a favorite, the “Many Pools” hike in eastern Zion has to rank way up there. It’s like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates; Continue reading
The day after the big adventure in the slot canyon warrants a late start. Mornings have been cold here in the Paria River Gravel Pit, so the last thing I want to do is put on a pair of wet, cold, sandy hiking boots. So Chris and I agree to meet up mid-day and explore some of the nearby area. Continue reading
Well, the mercury for one. It reached 93 degrees here. The Saguaro National Park brochure says the average temperature for this time of year is 72 degrees. Next year is the park’s 100th birthday. This latest run of high temperatures makes me wonder if perhaps they have not updated the chart since establishing the park back in 1916. Continue reading
After spending a stretch of days in remote destinations, living off a diet of Clif Bars, PB&J sandwiches, and my own boring cooking, I was ready for some urban dining when I got to Tucson. Goodness knows, there are opportunities here with a lineup of chain restaurants to attract the masses to the most upscale of strip malls. Continue reading
I fell in love with Tucson when I visited last year, but my time was limited. I was on my own version of the Amazing Race to make it to Oregon in time for the spring Skinnie Winnie Rally, so I limited myself to three nights in both parks; Catalina and Gilbert Ray. I loved both of them equally for their different surroundings, so this year, I vowed to return and stay until I felt like I’d had my fill. Continue reading
Having extended my stay in the overflow lot in McDowell for four straight days, I grow weary of the “day to day availability game,” so I decide to move over to Lost Dutchman State Park. I want a closer look at the Superstition Mountains I have been admiring from a distance all week. But being high season, Lost Dutchman is also full. Continue reading
That is not meant as a slam, instead it is meant as a “Thank you” to the friends and followers who have sent personal notes to check in and see if I am doing okay, since as one friend put it, “You’ve gone dark.” Your notes of care and concern mean a lot to me.
I temporarily lost my blogging mojo. Continue reading