W Scottsdale

Erin is one of, if not, the oldest friend I have. We met in fourth grade and have managed to keep in touch over the years. I blame Erin. And this little girl I played tag with in elementary school is now a mother of an adorable little boy. She and her husband Mike had Alysia two years ago and we had a wonderful ...

... footed in the Pacific Northwest, you don't think about where your water comes from. And reclaimed water? Yucky.<br>But here in the desert reclaimed water is what makes the golf possible. And in Arizona, golf is king.<br>Water courses through Phoenix like an Oregon holiday--wet and extravagant. I cringe to see man made ponds, lakes, waterfalls and rivers in this desert decorate developments like baubles on a tree.<br>But when you know they've ...

... sunbelt section of Arizona and California. We've arrived a bit early - the true snowbirds head south after Christmas - but all the same I have to have a plan and we will need reservations at most places. <br><br>We will be staying mostly at membership parks. These require even more planning since you can only make your reservations a certain number of days ahead of time. So, here's where you can find us this 'season'<br><br>11/15/2009 - Manteca ...

Hiking in Phoenix twists your mind. Because you actually hike IN the city. But not in the city like down city streets--you're in nature preserves that wrap you in solitude, surround you with desolation, and thrill you with singular beauty. All this while being actually very close to the congestion and stress of the city you're escaping.<br><br>We hiked up Lost Dog Wash Trail in the McDowell-Sonoran Preserve ...

... areas-today my back hurts and I really could use an hour of back massage! On to Abilene TX for the night. Nuvi sorta failed me here-took me almost to WalMart then a new freeway screwed us up! But she found me a way to recover &#8211; you would have thought I was Charlie the way I was weaving that behemoth around the city streets &#8211; did I mention that it was also 5:15. Finally I was settled in, the only motorhome here tonight-maybe others are still trying to find this place ...

... Lauren ha the ipod playing. We also did coach introductions where you had to tell the coach about the person sitting net to you which was fun. We stayed at the Marriott which was great. Scottsdale is like the stereotypical cowboy/dessert town with seats made from old wagons and cactus's everywhere, felt almost like going back in time. Dinner was at a Greek restaurant where they were quick to get ...

We started our trip from Tempe, Arizona (see how we currently lived there). Our goal was to find a new life and our destination was the south-west, southeast, and notrth-east sections of the United States.<br><br>So it was time to say our 'Good byes.'

... good for looking out so read and talked all the way to Ohio. Got it around 9:30 and Dar was there to pick us up. We were home around 11, but Charlie and Dar talked till midnight till I finally suggested she might want to go home, then we headed out in the Ford that had been left in the drive for food supplies- nothing in the house to eat at all. After returning home we were up till 2 getting some things put away and having a hotdog snack. I was soooo sleepy, but not able to sleep till around 6:30!

... it and we were going to Outback tonight so I could wear it, BUT, there was a 2 hour repeat-special on the opening ceremony of the summer Olympics in China and it was fantastic. We both agreed it was worth staying home and watching it! The high today was 0nly 50. Oh, and gasoline here is $1.45 now! Dec 28th- I was up at 7 but Charlie slept until 11 when I finally just woke him up. It was cold again, though they keep promising us warmer weather. About 42 this morning ...

... gives it a special feeling especially in the morning mist, we felt it was a bit bland. If you´re in this area for a couple of days, it´s worth taking a day trip up to the Agua Azul Waterfalls. The area is a tiered series of cascading falls and true to their name, electric blue pools, which make for a refreshing way to cool off from the blistering jungle heat. *Mexico City- WOW, what a pleasant surprise! You hear so many negative things about the crime, pollution, and ...