Poor Air Conditioner!

Lights change every 5 seconds

I like the blues best!

We immediately put on the air conditioner (a/c) in the 5th wheel RV yesterday, about 1pm, and it worked and worked and worked. Never shut off until 3am this morning.  It is so dry here in Las Vegas that typically you see moisture coming out of an a/c, dripping down the sides of the RV.  Not a drop.  And it's very dark inside...we have pulled down all the shades and put out the awning to try to shield the sun off the sides and windows.

As I type this at 2pm today, I am looking at the outside temp of 102.  And the heat of the day is not here yet - about 5pm is the hottest it gets.  Great.  We are located on the eastern side of the main strip of Vegas, have no desire to venture to the big draw casinos but can see them from a distance and at night - wow, the lights! Right next door is another casino called the Eastside Cannery and I was mesmerized by the light display on the building.  Until we went to bed and had to really block out the windows....just to block the light show.  Can't win.  But - I am looking forward to seeing it again tonight, I am a sucker.  The amount of electricity that building along must use to show this light display and all the other casinos and us and everyone else running their a/c!

Sam's Town offers buffet meals and we walked over to it early this morning to get a good breakfast and had to walk through the casino to the buffet.  Maybe 20 people at the slots.  Weird to see.  Any time I have gone to a casino (a number of them around Tucson and Phoenix) lots of people and lots of smoking.  Like a ghost town but with the smoking smell regardless.  Yuck.

Leaving in the morning for a small town called Ely, Nevada.  About 225 miles north of here, and 40 degrees cooler.  Are we looking forward to it!

Hot Las Vegas!

Joshua Trees along highway

We decided to pack up a day earlier than planned and made the 5 hour drive north on Route 93 into Las Vegas, Nevada.  Is it hot here!  Right now it's 100, tomorrow 102, and Tuesday supposed to be 104.  The truck and RV did great, no problems.  Road along the Joshua Tree Parkway and saw enough Joshua trees to not have to visit Joshua Tree National Park.  The tree is not very pretty, just distinctive.  And the scenery as we got near the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead - beautiful.

We are staying at Sam's Town Casino which has a hotel, casino, many restaurants and RV park on premise.  This RV park reminds me of sardines - we are packed in that close to one another. If we sneeze we fall off the front of the site or back of the site.  We are spoiled with having space between us, our retractible awning that opens up over the door could touch our neighbor's awning if I let it out all the way, but I will be nice and not do that.  Take three steps out of one RV and into the next - amazing.  But, if you like to go to a casino and not drive - just walk through the parking lot and you are inside Sam's Town.  We have no plans on visiting the casino - but will take advantage of their breakfast buffet tomorrow morning.

Grace passed out on floor of RV

There is a big security force here - they all are carrying guns - and either they are riding around on bicycles or on golf carts.  Makes us a little nervous.  When we checked in they told us to chain and lock up our bicycles if we have any.  They would get stolen.  We do have bikes but will keep them folded away and locked up.


The heat really bothers Grace (and us)- this picture was taken about half an hour after we stopped and opened up the slides, released her from her carry box that she travels in inside the truck with us, and put on the A/C to try to get it somewhat cooled down.  Right now she's passed out back inside her travel box - her place to get away from it all.  Poor kitty.  Will have to run the A/C all day/night due to the 20 degrees above normal heat wave going on.  Ugh.  I thought we were supposed to get out of the heat!

Jerome

We traveled over two sets of mountains and along some very scenic roads to get to Jerome, Arizona yesterday.  This is a town built on a side of a mountain where the residents lived, and worked underground in the United Verde copper mine.  Arizona was founded on the 5 C's - copper, cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate.  Jerome happened to be the largest copper producing mine in the early 20th century, and at one time the town boasted of 10,000 people.  Today there are maybe 500 folks left.  
Jerome State Park is located inside the Douglas Mansion - one of the early owners of the mine.  The mansion was pretty impressive - had many state of the art conveniences, like central vac system for the home and marble bathrooms.

We compared Bisbee's visit a couple of years ago with Jerome's history and although both were founded on the copper mining industry, how the two towns displayed their history is totally different.  Jerome was more about the town and the effects of the mines had - how the people lived, how many homes and businesses slid down the hill with landslides, the businesses that thrived, hospitals, schools for children, etc.  Bisbee is all about the mining industry, how the copper is mined, what happens to it once it leaves the mine, and you can even go on a tour underground in the old Copper Queen Mine (which we had done). Both towns are now populated by artisans and such - and many of the buildings have been refurbished.  Most of Bisbee's buildings still stand today whereas over half of the buildings of Jerome are gone - slid down the hill or fire/age destroyed.  Good thing there were many pictures.

No wow factor.  Interesting, educational.  Here's some pics of yesterday.

A little background on Arizona and gem producing

Front of the Douglas Mansion - State Park

Jerome as it looks today

We woke up early this morning to coyotes howling.  Then about 7am this scrawny thing came sauntering by.  Grace growled at it big time.  Then it walked over near the dog walk/exercise area - looking for breakfast I presume.

Scrawny coyote!

Wickenburg

Yesterday we traveled into Wickenburg - breakfast out, grocery shopping, general merchant store, fill up truck.  We decided to go to the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, a museum that was touted as a 'really great museum on history of west".  Funny how one person views something and you see something totally different.  Lots of money in this town.  At one time there were over 14 dude ranches functioning and today there are 3 left, one of them owned by Merv Griffin.  We were asked by a young man who was also visiting the museum if the sculpturer - Remington, was the same as the gunsmith, Remington.  After explaining that two different men, he informed us he and his roommate were visiting from Sweden and he didn't see any verbiage about what they were looking at or what they were seeing.  They looked disappointed, wanted to see more of the west.  This museum is a collection of one man's  hobby of collecting stuff from a ranch as well as paintings and sculptures from various other people who contributed to the museum.  The paintings were amazing - most of red rock formations, horses and cattlemen, Indians.

One thing I did learn - every year in Wickenbug there is the Desert Caballeros Ride which is a 100 mile route that people who pay big money can do, and the 67th annual ride was just done 10 days prior to us being there.  No more than 240 people can do this ride, on horseback, sleeping out of doors, just being a cowboy/girl for 5 days, cooking/eating meals while on the ride, etc.  Sounds like fun but not for the price.

Heading to State of Washington - Summer 2013

We moved our stuff out of the park model in Picacho, AZ and into the RV and hit the road this morning.  A little worried that all the things that needed attention or fixed while the RV was at the Jayco dealer this winter, was completed.  So far, so good.  Everything seems to be working.  We traveled west on I-10 through Phoenix (and lots of traffic) and picked up 101/60 out of the northwest side of the town and headed to Wickenburg.  Traveled 147 miles - one of our shortest trips ever, but far enough to escape the heat.  When we left at 10am the temp was already at 85 and by the end of this short trip, the temp was 74, supposed to get down to 52 tonight - YEAH!!!!

Sad to leave our Picacho friends - this past winter was a real bonding time.  We have made some great friends and will surely miss them, but will see them again this fall when we return.  But - want out of the heat - has reached 105 a couple of days last week and thats a tidge too warm for us.

The RV was a disaster in terms of where stuff was - we just piled things in and knew we would spend a couple of days finding the right spot for everything.  And we are very pooped tonight.  But - comfortable and back in our home.  We are at an Escapee SKP park, have to be a Escapee camping member to be here, in Congress, about 8 miles north of Wickenburg.  We are virtually alone here, most folks have headed out either back home where ever home is, or, headed to cooler climate up north.  That is our plan too.  We will visit around here, see what we can in the week allotted, then head north.

Picacho Peak - Done!

Sign at start - note the saddle - got as far as
left side of highest part of peak

Yesterday Dave and I hiked up to Picacho Peak, yes, the peak right by us at our RV park!  It is something I wanted to try to do, and have to say that I am not disappointed that we didn't make it all the way to the top - we made it to the saddle, which I will explain shortly.  The Hunter Trail that leads up to the top of the Peak is rated difficult, an elevation gain of 2400 feet from the base start, but I told Dave I wanted to go as far as I could just to see what it was all about.  Many folks here at the park have gone to the top and I wanted to know.  The trail is 2 miles long one-way, rated difficult, but what the heck - if some of these older folks have done it - I need to try.
We chose a day that wasn't hot and not cold.
Perfectly blue skies, starting out at 10am was 60 degrees.  By the time we got to the saddle it was 75.  I was concerned for Dave and his arthritic knee and he was concerned that I couldn't do it - the steps at places was a very deep climb - I have too short of legs he thought.  And I haven't been hiking for the last couple of weeks.  So obviously, was even more concerned.

Notice Hand rails?

View after climbing 800 feet of the 2400 feet - looking east

More Hand rails.  This one was tame!

Well, we got to the saddle - which from this point on is considered very difficult.  I could see why.  We started out on it and I got scared of the steepness and not knowing if I could get back to the saddle.  You see, you have to go almost straight down at that point - very steep, around the
peak at this point to the back side, using a cable hand-hold to keep you from falling, and then go almost straight up to the top from there.  Ah, no. Nope. Enough.  I was elated I made it to the saddle.  For those that have seen Picacho Peak, it's the area where it looks like a horse saddle - the flat part near the top.  The only mishap was me - of course - I fell a few feet coming down from the saddle and tore my pants and scraped my knee.  I slightly twisted my ankle also at the same time and it was uncomfortable for me on the way down.  Lots and lots of people hiking up and down.  Hindsight - we should have waited till during the week when we really could have taken our time.  Saw poppies just beginning to bloom - hope in another month this Peak will be in full bloom - they say the Peak turns a bright yellow from all the flowers.  Would be lovely to see!
 

Poppies beginning to bloom!

I have to say that coming down was much more difficult (forget about the ankle) because the gravel and small stones made it so unstable.  We weren't out of breath like we were going up and had to stop to rest - just very unsure of our footing.  Glad I did it!  I have now put two more things on the list to do before we head out in a couple of months. 1. A tortoise(s) is living on the slopes of the Peak, we need to find this area which means hiking around the Peak from the south side, and 2. we found a sunset trail which starts on the north side of the Peak and is for those that want to see a fabulous sunset from the western side of the Peak.  Will do!

We begin a couple of weeks of being with the 3 grandgirls, living at their house in Chandler helping take care of them while Jill travels for a week and the second week which is the start of their spring break.  We are beginning to think and plan for our departure to Washington (state) come May 1st.  Getting exciting!

Snow Day!

Amazing - we decided to make Arizona, specifically Picacho Peak, our winter home to escape the winter snows - and guess what?  We got a terrific storm yesterday and now the kids in Tucson which is about 25 miles from us, have a snow day today.  Very rare.  Here's a picture of what snow looks like on cacti.

We have been busy with the grandgirls in Chandler, driving to Jill's house to help with after-school activities and being with them.  Fun time.  This past Saturday they came to our place and the girls and Grandpa swam for hours.  Yes, it was that nice just a few days ago.  This morning we looked out and saw snow on Lowell Mountain just west of us, and Mount Lemmon in Tucson is totally snow covered. It is about 45 out now, supposed to get to the 50s by this afternoon.  We have a few more days of this cold snap and then warming back up into the 70s.

We are still planning on hitting the road to go to Washington state by the first of May, starting to think and plan our route from here.  Want to spend time on the north side of the Grand Canyon - campground doesn't open until May 1, but it will be pretty chilly still at that time - so we will go through Las Vegas first then round back east and probably get there to Jacobs Lake sometime around the 15th of May.

Dave has designed and planted a cactus garden around our place.  Looks great, hope the snow and cold don't kill the plants.  Only time will tell.