Wednesday, March 22, 2017, Phoenix Art Museum

From Casa Grande, AZ it was a short drive into Phoenix where we could mix in with the hustle and bustle of a major metropolis. Joani found the Phoenix Art Museum was free after 3:00 pm each Wednesday, so we planned accordingly and enjoyed some fine art.

 Il Donnone, by Paolo Soleri 1972

cor-ten steel treated with chlorine and acid

There was a special exhibit on Japanese Samurai, but we had little interest and opted to skip it (extra fee).

  

 You Who are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies, by Yayoi Kusama 2005

mixed media installation with LED lights

 An article on the Firefly installation is what prompted our visit.  We had a little fun with it while trying not to bump into anyone else floundering in the dark.

 Spooky

 Phil-State, by Chuck Close 2005
This painting is about 8 feet by 10 feet

Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?, by Rebecca Campbell 2009

Avocado tree reinforced with steel and fiberglass, covered in hand-sewn velvet, hand-blown glass birds filled with Windex

 Zoroaster Temple at Sunset, by Thomas Moran 1916, oil on canvas

 Llano Estacado:  High Plains, High Stakes, by Don Stinson 2009

oil on canvas

 El Capitan and Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Valley, by Thomas Hill

oil on canvas

There was something for everyone in the large and sprawling facility. I think my favorite was the 3-dimensional cube composed of burned wood and wire below.

Mass (Colder Darker Matter) by Cornelia Parker 1997

burnt wood, wire and string

 La puerta y la ventana, by Francisco Zuniga 1971

bronze

Untitled, Alexander Liberman 1974-75

Monday, March 20, 2017, Hams and Foursies

I don't think I mentioned that our site at Sundance 1 RV Resort in Casa Grande, AZ backed up to a group of Hams. As I was setting up on our first day, I heard Morse code coming from one of the storage sheds behind us. I met the owner, Bill, and asked if he was into Amateur Radio. He said yes he was, how about me. I told him no and then I remembered I just got my Technician license, so I guess I was a Ham, too.

I then helped him build a 40-meter band antenna for his neighbor John who just got his General license. Pretty soon it was time for "foursies" (their term for "Happy Hour"). That's when I met John and another neighbor, Steve, who was also a Ham. Can you see all of the antennas behind our coach below? The three of them convinced me I should study for my General so I could operate on the high frequency, or HF, bands. John loaned me a study guide and I agreed to take the exam at the Hamfest in Tucson in a couple of weeks.

We enjoyed "foursies" with Bill and Connie and John and Steve and Sylvia most nights when we were in the park. Between the happy hours, the dog park and the pool/spa, we met a lot of really nice folks. I decided snowbirds in park models have a lot in common with campers and are just as friendly.

Sunday, March 19, 2017, Move to Casa Grande, AZ

A week-long stay goes by really quickly when it is a nice place. Superstition Views at Canyon Vistas RV Resort in Gold Canyon, AZ, was a really nice place, so the week zipped by. It was good that we left, so we got away from the temptation to buy a place there.  

 One last romp at the Canyon Vistas dog park.

 Once in a while, a cutie pie will make Sam act like a puppy again.

 A kiss goodbye, it's time to hit the road.

Our next stay was in Casa Grande, AZ,  where we returned to Sundance 1 RV. It was again a short drive, 59.7 miles (81,804.7 total). I found it relaxing to take deserted back roads and avoid the Phoenix rush.

 We opted for taking the back roads through Florence, AZ.  The town seemed deserted.

Sunday, March 12, 2017, Move to Gold Canyon, AZ

We were both looking forward to our next stop for some time now. Joani had a coupon from Superstition Views at Canyon Vista RV Resort in Gold Canyon, AZ, (east of Phoenix).  It gave us a free week with full hookups (she saved the coupon from the Tampa Supershow more than a year ago).  The day's drive was 37.8 miles (81,745 total) - barely enough to get the engine warmed up.

This is the unit that I fell in love with.  Park your motorhome next to the house with the door opening to the back patio (Concrete pad, electric, water and sewer already there).  It faced a beautiful green space and the rooftop deck had a view of the Superstition Mountains.

We expected a high-pressure sales pitch, but it never happened. Instead, they said "spend as much time as you like in the models and enjoy the rooftop decks any time.  Oh, and free drinks in the refrigerators in every model (including beer and wine)."  What a brilliant sales model.  We didn't buy, but we have never been more tempted.

We took advantage of the rooftop decks, but early morning or evening would have been the perfect time to chill and take in the views.

 This is what they look like going in.  This crawl space remains under the home.


When they are done, they no longer look like a mobile home.

 The price was right, $99,000.00 if it ended there.  But no, that gets you the house - you don't own the land.  That is another $6,500+ a year plus taxes and utilities.  I think not owning the land is a deal breaker.  Darn! (Plus, I'm not ready to slow down yet.)

There was a small airfield close by, so I saw quite a few of these guys flying over us.  I keep thinking I should look into one of these powered parachutes and then I think it would probably be terrifying. Maybe I could just go for a short test flight that never climbs more than say, 20 feet and stays over the landing strip. That would probably be enough to break me from thinking about flying anymore.  It would also keep me from spending around $10,000 on another hobby.

One day we drove towards the Superstition Mountains and enjoyed a little closer inspection of the same rugged skyline we could see from the park. If I haven't said so before I have really grown to appreciate the beauty of the desert landscape.

Saturday, March 11, 2017, Wild Horse Pass Casino

Our next reservation did not start for another day, so we stopped at a casino across the street from the rally - a 1.0-mile move (81,707.2 total). It was a hot one, so we spent some time in the coach with the generator running just to have air conditioning.

This was one of the most impressive casinos that we have been in outside of Vegas. We always sign up for the player card when we are at a casino for the first time. The only time we really enjoy the slots is when we're playing with the house's money. They loaded $10 on each of our cards. Joani pocketed $4.10 from her free $10. For the first time, I had pretty good luck. I managed to parlay my free $10 into a whopping $23.00. We usually end up giving it right back to them at the restaurant the next morning for breakfast.

Wild Horse Pass Casino had a nice section on the west side of the casino/hotel just for RVs that looked much like a Rest Stop RV parking area and felt very safe.  No need to check in and overnight stays were welcome.  Don't forget to apply for a free "players card" and get your $10 of free play.

Sunday, March 5, 2017, FMCA Rally in Chandler, AZ

Our morning "moving day" routine was threatened by a tire that reported low. I figured it was the valve extension, so after a little tightening I aired it up. A few minutes later the tire monitor system said it was low again. This time it was operator error in not properly seating the sensor. We got squared away (tires were all good) and joined a three coach convoy with Loren/Sharon and Jim/Carmen on our way to the FMCA Rally at the Rawhide Western Town and Event Center in Chandler, AZ. Our drive was a modest 148.6 miles (81,706.2 total) and went without incident. We all stayed together despite pretty heavy traffic around Phoenix.  

I think of Kate and Mike anytime I see a Safari Trek with a feline mural.

When we arrived at the rally, things did not go quite so smoothly. It was the first-day parking rush and the crew had to deal with more than 600 coaches. Our trip from Quartzsite took less time than our wait to be parked. In the end, the confusion lead to our 25 coaches being parked in several places, but we were with the main group of about a dozen American Coaches. I am not complaining - those guys were all volunteers and I would not want that job!

A parking goof resulted in a large gap next to our coach that worked well for "Happy Hour" get-togethers each afternoon.

Everybody's parked!  Must be time for happy hour!!  This is why we love rallies - good times with good friends.

Coffee and donuts are a must in the mornings while we enjoy the "Frustrated Maestros" (a staple at FMCA rallies).

Myself, Loren, Virginia, Tony, Sharon, Carmen and Jim are relaxing next to Jim and Carmen's beautiful new American Dream.  American Coach decided to reintroduce the Dream in 2016.  It's gorgeous!

Thursday, March 2, 2017, ACC Pre-Rally in Quartzsite, AZ

Sam was spoiled with long walks at our last location, so he demanded ever further sojourns along Main Street in Quartzsite. After a couple of early morning walks, I finally remembered to take a camera to capture a little of the town's history. I think the adobe house below was falling apart faster than the preservation society could prop it up. 

The Camel Stop Service Station, next to the original Post Office, gave a little hint at the town's past.

Joani researched the town history and adds: Hi Jolly was born Philip Tedro in 1828 in Smyrna, Greece (which is Izmir, Turkey today) to a Greek mother and a Syrian father. He was an Ottoman Turkish citizen of Greater Syria (a bit confusing). As an adult, he converted to Islam and called himself Hadji Ali which sounded like Hi Jolly to the American ear. He was hired by the US Army to bring camels across the American desert to be used as beasts of burden. The army acquired 33 camels (and later 41 - 44 more) and Hi Jolly was the lead camel driver (after all, the camels didn't speak English) hired to help conduct an experiment in using camels for military use

The experiment failed due to politics and the inability of the horses and mules to forgive their intrusion (camels freaked them out). The camels were auctioned off and/or set free and Hi Jolly bought a few. Hi Jolly lived a long and colorful life, but died in 1902 and was buried in Quartzsite. A few old-timers believe camels still roam the Arizona desert. Two movies, Southwest Passage in 1954 and Hawmps! in 1976 were loosely based on the army's camel experiment.

His remains were interred in the camel topped pyramid in the Quartzite cemetery, which is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The ACC pre-rally was very nice, but it does seem like we did a lot of eating. The caterer cooked at an outdoor kitchen and worked magic with our meals. There was always too much and I managed to take home leftovers that we warmed up for days (Sam got to sample a little of the breakfast bacon).

The dining hall served as the ACC meeting room, usually right after breakfast before everyone disappeared for a nap.

It was so nice to see Loren and Sharon, Jim and Carmen and Terry and hear their RVing tales.

Before dinner one evening, the "Naked Bookseller" (the evening's entertainment) spent a few minutes checking out the piano that was just carried into the hall. We had that to think about all through our meal - what were we going to see on full stomachs?

As it turned out, Paul Winer's act (aka/Sweet Pie) was very entertaining. He has had more than twenty years to tailor his show to RV audiences and he was never naked (as we have heard he is in his bookstore).

What a hoot!!  Much of his routine revolved around the clothes he was wearing and the interesting life he has led.  His music was boogie-woogie at its best with hilarious lyrics.