Thanksgiving 2012 - Mesa

So, here we are. Judy did the turkey, Colleen did the dessert. Lee attended, and provided the cooler , Cam did the photos. This was our first brine turkey, and it was wonderful. Our second Thanksgiving celebration this year.

Palmer's in Casa Grande

Gladys, Ray, Cam, Judy, Gerry, Colleen, Eileen, Lee

For two of us in this photo (Ray and Cam), this reunion took 50 years. Gerry, Ray and Cam all joined the Apprentice Soldiers back in 1960, and we spent two years together at the School of Signals in Kingston, ON. On Sunday, we got together with Gerry and Eileen at their home in Casa Grande. The talk was all about the old days. Judy, Eileen and Colleen all grew up on the same forces base, so they've been friends from childhood. Lee was ex-military as well, but Provost Corp.

Goodguys, Scottsdale - For The Goodguys

Goodguys love Scottsdale, and there is a spring and fall event here in the Phoenix area. Here's some of the lads admiring these outstanding customs. You bring a build to this point, and you win Goodguys highest praises. You also win a pretty fancy tool box. I love to photograph these beautiful cars, and the more you admire them, the more they smile. I made a short video of the spring show, have a look.

Cha Cha Line Dance Explained

In an earlier post I mentioned learning to line dance was no longer an option. Yesterday was my first lesson. I'm told if I repeat this enough I will eventually learn this dance.


For those who are still enthused, and wish to move beyond Cha Cha - here's our same instructor with the Electric Slide. Thank you Dave for making this simple.

Town Hall Meeting

If Valle del Oro wasn't an RV Resort, it would be a small town. There are more than 1,800 sites, probably 3,000 people.

How to keep the communications lines open? VDO management solves it in many ways, including a Tuesday morning sit-down or Pow Wow.

Coffee and doughnuts is provided. Information is shared, management is on-hand, and available to answer questions.  The meeting starts at 8:30 and is over by 9 - 9:15, so it doesn't take long, but it helps folks stay connected. Take a look at the attendance, people get up early for this.

Interesting Link: Top Five Spots for Your RV in North America

Veteran's Day Parade Mesa

I spent quite a bit of time trying to decide what my very best Mesa Veteran's Day Parade photo was. In the end, here we have it.

What a great day it was.

Started early, arrived well in advance of the 11 am start. Found a spot near the start of the parade and settled in.

This was a great parade, involving some super bands (mostly, high school bands, and they are good), horses, motorcycles, old cars, a fire truck, military hardware, and of course the vets.

Estimated attendance, some 30,000 people.

It Can Happen Anytime - Highway Mishap

We had our friends Dan and Sandy for dinner last night, and they were relating a story about their trip through Chicago, on their way to Arizona in October.

Similar GMC Denali SUV

Their ride is a 45' Monaco Diesel Coach, and they're towing a GMC Denali SUV. It's daytime, they're in heavy freeway traffic heading west through the 'Windy City.' A transport truck in front is losing large steel grates, and freeway traffic is weaving to avoid them. Dan sees the grates coming, but he's in the passing lane moving with the flow, and there is no way out - he runs over a grate.

Moments later he hears a weird sound from behind, and passing cars are signalling that he has a problem. Given the number of lanes, his only option is to hastily pull over to the left shoulder.

Welcome Back to VDO

Reminder to Cam: next time bring your camera.

VDO's Welcome Back Party was yesterday, and it was totally over the top. Attendance was just short of 1,700 people.

Valle del Oro is a sizable community. There are more than 1,800 sites, the outside perimeter is over two miles. With probably 3,000 residents, it is a small town on its own.

The Welcome Back Party involves dinner, dancing, drinking, and meeting old friends. There was a Western Theme, complete with props that amaze. Some people dress the part. There were three live bands. Activities started at 4 pm, we were home tired and danced-out by 8:30. The difference between young and old - seniors start earlier and end earlier.

The Welcome Back Party is a management sponsored event - NO CHARGE for anything, food drink, dancing, you name it. Imagine inviting 1,500 people to your place for dinner and dancing!

Two things I learned yesterday: learning to line dance is no longer an option; and, the crowd at VDO is definitely looking younger. As anticipated, The Boomers are arriving in earnest. The park is full each winter, and this is not likely to change anytime soon. If you're coming, reserve early.

Smaller World Thanks to The Internet

Dottie on the left. circ 1948

We lost my dear Mom today, she was 95+, living in a nursing home in Calgary. We visited each year, and most recently in August.

She died peacefully in her sleep this morning.

The traveling lifestyle puts people almost anywhere on earth these days, and when things like this happen you're away from loved ones, and there is that feeling of loneliness and regret that you are not closer.

This photo is my family in the 40s, my Mom is on the left, her Mom on the right. Dad is pretending to not have time for a photo. How clearly I remember the thousands of miles we traveled together.

In future photos on this blog, I'll give you some idea what this looked like in those days, homemade trailers and all. I'm in AZ at the moment, this will have to wait.

Mom (and Dad), I miss you. I thank you for the traveling bug.

Thanks to the Internet (Facebook in particular), I've heard today from friends and family everywhere.

I've been maintaining a blog relative to my Mom, it has also helped keep us all connected with family and friends. One thing for sure, we're not alone, although thousands of miles may sometimes separate us.

Country Market - Valle del Oro

There's a side to RVing that Judy enjoys, and that's shopping. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities, including the VDO Country Market, which happens every Thursday morning. It's quite an event, and people come from all over the area to attend.

There are many small merchants displaying their wares, and just as many local artisans and crafts people. This past market day Judy scored a new apron. It's made from men's shirts, which the lady who does them picks up from various second hand stores. Not bad for $15, and it's reversible. A click on the photo will give you an enlarged view.

Earlier this year I did produce a short video on Country Market, you can see it here. If you're in the area on Thursday morning, you're welcome here at VDO, and there's a lunch available.

The Longest Border - Tom Brokaw

Living as we do, in America (some five months each year), we've come to love the country just as we do our own. What we cherish most, is the fact that we're made to feel welcome. It really is a very special relationship, the one we share with the United States of America.

Here's a 'feel good' piece narrated by Tom Brokaw, which speaks to our enduring relationship with America. The Longest Border. It's worth a view.

When It's Not Your Time

Gary and his grandson looking over a Cessna 172

When in Coolidge yesterday, I met an old neighbour from VDO - that's Gary in the white tee. He told me a story that's worth telling here.

Gary gets around, he's a retired U.S. Navy pilot, and a former commercial airline pilot. He's also a full-time RVer.

Last fall his travels took him to Reno, and he moved his rig onto the site for the Air Race Show, and stayed for several days. He also had a box seat, which he occupied on September 16, 2011 when a North American P-51D Mustang, flown by James K. "Jimmy" Leeward crashed into spectators, killing himself and 10 people on the ground, and injuring 69 others. It was the third-deadliest airshow disaster in U.S. history. If you're into airshow disasters there is more on the Reno accident on Wikipedia.

Gary had been watching these planes for several days, so he didn't feel too bad leaving his seat to return to his coach, taking a break from the action. As he entered his coach he witnessed one of the planes uncontrolled climb from his front window. The plane crashed into the seat Gary had departed just minutes before. When it's not your time, it's not your time.

Coolidge Fly-in

The first Saturday of each month there is a fly-in at Coolidge Airport, which is about 50 miles east and south towards Tucson. Here's how you get there: Map. The local Rotary Club does up a pancake breakfast, and it's great sitting down with other aviation enthusiasts for breakfast, then getting out to see the planes up close and personal. I produced a short video earlier in the spring relative to the fly-in, you can watch it here.

It's tough to pick a Best of Show, but this time my choice was the old Beechcraft Staggerwing that's been tuned to perfection, and still gets out on pleasure runs like this fly-in. I loved the leather interior, with the smell and texture of a Rolls Royce. The run down to Coolidge from Phoenix for the morning probably ran this owner $200 or more for gas and oil, but that's part of the hobby - these old girls don't run cheap. Fortunately, there is always Mastercard. The pilot (and owner) is in his 80s. It pays to stay active.

I know some of you are interested in seeing this custom interior, so here's what I have. Not a great shot, but you'll get the idea. Click to enlarge. For more information on the Staggerwing checkout Wikipedia.

Boy in Barn - AZ State Fair

There is a story that goes with these photos. This young boy jumped down in the hay next to a resting calf at the AZ State Fair, and as you can see the calf seemed to be enjoying the attention. I stopped to take a photo. Actually, to be sure I took two. There is a safety lesson here - think hard before you try something like this. The mother only missed by inches.

Arizona State Fair Hotdog

Recommendation: never, ever eat a 22" hot dog at one sitting.

How Hot is Hot?

This is a case of melted candles. What the two candles on the outside should look like, is the one you see in the center of this picture.

How do you achieve this squished (melted) look? Leave them in your un-airconditioned park model over the summer months in AZ.