TUCSON TO LAKE HAVASU

We picked up Laila, drove the Jeep back to the Fairgrounds, and hooked everything up, including the car seat in the motor home. By 11am, we were on the road again, heading back to Lake Havasu. Traveling with a 5 year old has it's challenges, but in a motor home with your own bathroom, and kitchen, it's much easier. With only a stop for fuel, we pulled into the driveway just as the sun was setting on the western horizon.

With only an occasional "are we there yet", Laila and Grandma stayed pretty busy on the sofa, playing with her new Leapster, and even reading the funny papers. Except for an almost 1 hour delay west of Phoenix, where I10 is down to one lane at a bridge reconstruction, the trip was pretty routine. When we got to the house, Laila was ready to leave the confines of her car seat, and the energy flowed, uninterrupted for the next couple of hours. We watched part of a DVD movie - How to train your dragon, but toward the end, the interest turned more to finding out what Sami and Gracie were doing. When asked how many times she had watched this particular movie, her reply was "about 100 times". Last year when we were visiting in Tucson, we took her to the movie theater for the first time, and this was the movie that we watched.

This morning, the sun is shinning brightly, and the weather forecast is for temps in the mid 60's. It looks like a cold winter storm is on the way, with Fridays highs of only the low 50's. I think we will take advantage of the good weather today, and find some outside activities that will use some of that endless, 5 year old energy.

BACK TO LAKE HAVASU

This morning, we'll be unhooking the motor home from the utilities here at the Tucson Fairgrounds, and getting it ready for travel back to Lake Havasu. But first, we'll be making a quick trip in the jeep, back to Marc & Chandra's, to pick up our Grand Daughter Laila. She'll be spending the coming week with us, as the last of the year 2010 winds down.

The plan as of right now, is for Marc and Uncle Marty to fly in Marty's plane, to pick up Laila on the 2nd of Jan. That is of course contingent on weather, and a few other things, but in any event, we'll have Laila for a week. Probably not going to venture too far from home, but I'm sure we'll stay busy.

Speaking of staying busy, the month of January will take us away from home, as we take short trips to a couple of events. First, we'll be taking the motor home to the Western Regional Family Motor Coach Ass'n Rally in Indio, CA. That starts on the 10th, where we will join a group of our fellow Golden Spike Chapter members, and help them with several planned activities. From there, it's home for a few days, then we'll be heading for Quartzsite, AZ, and the huge annual gathering of RV'ers in the desert. The show in the big tent starts on Jan 21, so we'll probably be boondocking for a week or so, along with thousand of other folks. In February, it's back to Tucson for our annual gig working the Tucson Rodeo, and in March, we're hoping to attend the Gypsy Journal Rally in Yuma, AZ. Lots of stuff to do on the horizon, and I'll be posting entries regarding all of our travels, and activities, so, stay tuned.

CHRISTMAS DAY IN TUCSON

I have always said, "Christmas is for children", and even though there is a much more profound meaning for the Christmas Holiday, it's still a magical day, that millions of kids wait for with great anticipation. Our 5 year old Grand Daughter Laila, is at the age where Santa Claus is very real, and when awakening on Christmas Morning, she realized that the patience required for this special day, had all been worth it. When we arrived at Marc & Chandra's, we were quickly shown all of the new toys, games and other stuff.

Chandra made the return trip from Monterey, CA, arriving back in Tucson around midnite on Christmas Eve. She was still kind of wiped out from lack of sleep, and all of the stress dealing with doctors, and medical issues relating to her Mom's recent surgery and hospitalization. With Mommy being back home, Laila's Christmas returned to normal, and we were all so glad she was able to catch the last flight out of Monterey.

Before leaving Lake Havasu, we knew that if Chandra made it back for Christmas, it would be late. So, we cooked a Turkey before leaving home, and brought most of the other stuff for a Christmas Dinner, which was heartily consumed yesterday afternoon. My camera flash went on the fritz for some reason, necessitating some computer enhancements when I down loaded the photos. The last 3 are a little dark, but not so bad that we aren't at least recognizable.

Yesterday was a relaxing, somewhat quiet afternoon, spent with our loved ones. With all of the craziness in the world today, these special times with family are to be cherished, and kept in our hearts for eternity. We are so thankful that we have opportunities like yesterday, where we can share in the lives of our children, and grand child. Our other kids are on opposite sides of the country, but Mike, Amy, and Dave were in our thoughts, as we celebrated Christmas 2010 in Tucson, Arizona.

A GRANDDAUGHTER FIX

In today's very complicated world, sometimes the best of times are the very simple pleasures of life. Spending yesterday afternoon with our Granddaughter Laila, was one of those times. The world of a 5 year old is about as uncomplicated as it gets, especially when viewed through the eyes of a couple of 60+ year old Grand Parents. Marc had some last minute Christmas shopping to attend to, so, after Grandpa fixed a mega breakfast, including Laila's favorite - Pancakes, we started the day with a bike ride around the fairgrounds here in Tucson.

The Pima County Fairgrounds are expansive, so there were several stops, where some exploring just had to be done. This large rock contained pockets of crystal quartz, and turquoise, and with Grandpas help, a few samples were added to the bag of treasures. Not too long after we left the motor home, Laila decided that she could ride her bike, and hold onto Sami's leash at the same time. She soon discovered that if she placed the leash handle over her handlebars, there were times when Sami would pull her, and she didn't have to peddle as much.

This tactic lasted until Sami got tired, and decided she didn't want to play like a sled dog anymore. But, it was great fun while it lasted. When we got back to the motor home, Laila gave Sam a treat for all of her hard work, and we took off for the nearest playground. Not too far from her house, we stopped at a city park with a playground that Laila was familiar with.

The last part of our afternoon was a late picnic lunch at a second park playground, where we watched Laila enjoying the circular slide, over and over again. It was only about a year ago, when at a playground in Lake Havasu, she was a bit timid about tackling a large slide. What a difference a year makes, as there was not the least bit of fear, as she slid frontwards, backwards, and even climbed back up the twisting ramp.

Today, being Christmas day, is obviously one of the most anticipated days in the life of a 5 year old. We'll be returning to Marc, Chandra, and Laila's later in the day, and share in the joy of Christmas with all of them. Chandra was flying home late yesterday from CA, where she spent several days with her mom Eloise, who is in the hospital. She was due to land in Tucson about midnight, so it's doubtful that a lot of sleep was to be had, especially with Miss Laila's very likely early wake up call, to see what Santa left under the Christmas Tree.

CHRISTMAS 2010

With the Christmas Holiday just a few days away, our plans have changed several times. Originally, Marc, Chandra, and Laila were coming here for a stop on their way to CA., a trip to spend Christmas with Chandra's Mom and family. Due to Chandra's Mom Eloise being in the hospital, that trip was scrubbed, and instead, Chandra flew to Monterey. We will be taking the motor home to Tucson tomorrow, and like the past few years, will spend Christmas there. The plan is for Chandra to fly back to Tucson on the 24th, spending Christmas with us and her family. Hopefully, that all goes according to the plan.

With the recent passing of Chandra's Dad Joe, and Eloise's ongoing medical issues, it has been a tough time for everyone. We hope and pray that Eloise's condition improves, and she is able to return home very soon.

Since we have had the Christmas Tree up for awhile, it seemed like a shame to not take a picture of our kids in front of the tree. As you can see, Sami was a little more cooperative than Gracie. For some strange reason, cats just don't seem to understand the word SIT or STAY! At least, I got her in the photo, just before she walked out of the frame.

Our weather has changed for the worse the past few days. It's still relatively warm (60's), but all of the wet weather and flooding in CA is also having an effect on Western AZ. We've had a few rain showers, and the wind has picked up this morning. Definitely not what you would call ideal boating weather. With any luck, the wind will die down tomorrow, as we make the 300 mile drive to Tucson.

THE MAIDEN VOYAGE

While much of the country is in a deep freeze, (20 degrees in Jacksonville, Florida), the weather here is almost perfect! Yesterday morning, I took the boat to one of the many marine service facilities here in Lake Havasu City, and had a complete annual service done to the motor and out drive. The previous owner said he had put about 50 hours on the boat over the last 2 years, and had never changed the fluids, so I felt better knowing that we were starting fresh with the maintenance. We picked up the boat at about 2pm, and put her in the water for the first time at the Windsor State Beach launch ramp.

A slight wind was blowing from the south, but there were parts of the lake that were glass smooth. When I was much younger, and an avid water skier, these were the conditions that you dreamed about. With most of the lake to ourselves, we headed toward the dam, turning around at Black Meadow Marina. Everything worked flawlessly, and I was pleased with our new toy. Even though Patty put on her sweatshirt when we started cruising the lake at about 30 mph, I was perfectly comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt, with the temperature in the mid 70's.

After a couple of hours on the water, we cruised through the bridgewater channel, and under the London Bridge. Again, on a Tuesday afternoon in mid December, except for a couple of other boats, the channel was almost exclusively ours. It was only a few months ago when we visited the channel, and all of the craziness that goes on during spring break. That's when I started to get the bug for another boat, and had I found the right one before we left for the summer, it probably would have been in the garage when we returned from our travels in the Pacific Northwest. Taking the boat out of the water was a little disjointed, as we re-learned the art of replacing the craft on the trailer. All in all, it was an enjoyable afternoon, as we played with our new to us boat, taking it across the waters of Lake Havasu, on it's maiden voyage.

THE LAST NFR RODEO

The decision to end our 9 year run with the National Finals Rodeo here in Las Vegas is a done deal. Patty and I are in full agreement that most of the fun has disappeared, and in its place, we've been given daily doses of disappointment with this new company - A3 Merchandise. It's not that we're not adaptable to new policies and procedures, it's more that's there is a lack thereof.

Perhaps some folks are perfectly OK, working within a system that clearly is not designed to maximize sales, and in some cases, does exactly the opposite. We just don't fall into that category, and given the fact that A3 has had at least one year to plan and prepare for this multi-million dollar event, it's clear to us that some of the basics have been overlooked. We fully understand that this is their first year, and a certain amount of patience would be necessary. However, the frustration, and in some cases anger, have boiled to the top. I don't have a lot of tolerance for incompetence, and unfortunately, there seems to be quite a bit of exactly that. A few days after the event started, I told one of the leaders that there were a couple of things that we simply would not put up with. We were not going to put ourselves in a position of embarrassment, and we were not going to deal with incompetent people or procedures. So, based on our perception of a company that is less proactive, and more "management by crisis", we have decided that this "ain't our first rodeo", but it sure as heck is our last!

We shared our feelings with our partners and friends, Jim & Megan, who have been great to work with during the past 4 years. They will be free to search for another person, or persons, to help them work the booth next year. All of the negatives notwithstanding, our booth has increased sales over last year by about 15%, which seems to not be the norm at many of the other locations, based on the feedback we're hearing. I guess the bottom line for us, is simply the fact that this has been more drudgery than fun. When we retired a little on the early side, from co-ownership of our Harley-Davidson Dealership, we vowed to work when we wanted to, and only when the opportunity provided a certain amount of fun. The fun and rewarding challenge of the NFR has disappeared, so, as the cowboys would say, "it's time to ride off into the sunset"

RODEO FRUSTRATION

At the close of business yesterday, we reached the half way point, in our 10 days of working one of the National Finals Rodeo Merchandise Booths, inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. Up to this point, sales are up approximately 15%, and in spite of this positive, Patty and I are both frustrated at the overall operation of this new company we are contracting with.

Without going into detail, and understanding that this is their first year at the N.F.R., we will both be glad when this event is in the books, and we can point the motor home back to Lake Havasu. In the previous 8 years of working this event, there has always been a certain amount of fun and excitement, which kept us coming back year after year. This year, it's been a lot more work, which we're not afraid of however, combined with the lack of support, and an archaic method of restocking our inventory, the fun has almost disappeared. Based on my vocal criticism of the many flaws in the system, we may not be invited back next year, and if that's the case, it may be a blessing. At the close of business this Saturday, we will most likely be ending our 9 year run with the National Finals Rodeo here in Las Vegas.

OPENING DAY AT THE N.F.R.

One of the things you hear in the Cowboy World, is "this ain't my first rodeo". Well, even though Patty and I don't work or compete in the actual rodeo, this will be our 7th year selling merchandise inside the Las Vegas Convention Center, with 2 prior years selling merchandise inside the Sands Convention Center. The National Finals Rodeo (N.F.R.), has been in Las Vegas for 26 years, and in addition to the Vegas Convention Center, there are hundreds of vendors at the Sands & Mandalay Bay Convention Centers as well. In a nutshell, this is one of the biggest events that takes place in Las Vegas every year.

The pictures above were taken yesterday, our final day of setup, before the convention center opens this morning. Our typical workday will be from about 8am to 5:30pm, so the hours aren't bad, but it's pretty much non-stop for the entire day. I know by the time it's over, we're both happy campers. I put in a picture of our booth last year, which is posted below, and you can see the difference from the old company (MainGate), and the new company (A3) in the photos above. As with any start up operation, the new company is undergoing a huge learning curve, and we have a few concerns, but until we're up and running, it's a bit premature to make any judgements.
The picture below was taken Tuesday night in the activity room at the Thousand Trails, where some of us have our RV's parked. This XMAS party has become a tradition, and with the gift exchange and abundance of food that everyone brings, it's always a good time. With the help of Jim/Megan, Kurt/Phyllis, Patty and I have hosted the party for the last couple of years. In the past, MainGate has donated $200 for party expenses, and this year, A3 has continued that commitment, with an offer to do the same. I think it falls under the category of building loyalty, and we sincerely appreciate both companies helping with this activity. As this event begins, my hope is that the rough edges won't be too sharp, and we'll be given enough product and the resources to make some money for us, and for the new company. Time will tell, and as the cowboys say, "this ain't our first rodeo".

OFF TO THE RODEO

The "Super Bowl" for Rodeos is held every year in Las Vegas during the first part of December. This is the culmination of the rodeo season, and the top 15 contestants from around the country travel to the National Finals Rodeo, to compete for the chance to win a world championship, and lots of prize money. This is a huge, 10 day event, with rodeo performances each night at the arena on the U.N.L.V. Campus. During most years, the 17,000 seat Thomas & Mack venue is sold out a year in advance.

We'll fire up the motor home this morning, and drive the 150 miles north to Sin City. This will be our 9th year working this event, selling the official merchandise, in one of 3 locations inside the Las Vegas Convention Center. There will be hundreds of vendors inside the convention center, all selling merchandise related to the rural, ranch, cowboy lifestyle. We thought our rodeo careers were over at the end of last years event, when we learned that the company we contracted with (MainGate) lost the contract, and we doubted that the new company would continue to utilize our services. As it turned out, the new company (A3 Merchandise), asked us to work with them in the same location where we have been the last 4 years. All of the merchandise we will be selling can be seen at www.prorodeogear.com.

So, we will be gone for about 2 weeks, and will be quite busy for most of that time. I hope to get a few pictures and posts on the blog from Vegas, but we won't have a lot of free time. With a new company, new point of sale hardware, and a new company philosophy, we have a much larger learning curve than in the past, so we're anxious to get there, and get busy!

THANKSGIVING IN KINGMAN

Our Thanksgiving Day was spent in Kingman, AZ. at Ron & Judy Ellstrom's home. We picked up Bob & Jeanette around noon, and drove the 60 or so miles to Kingman. Jim & Megan drove down from Las Vegas, Judy's son Sean was visiting from Vacaville, CA. and Pam & Hal drove to Kingman from Page, AZ. Judy & Ron prepared a delicious turkey, with all of the traditional side dishes, and everyone else brought something, so there was enough food to feed a small army. After a second helping and dessert, I was more than stuffed. I was totally ready for a meal like that, after a little over 2 weeks of walking/jogging/bicycling on the 3.6 mile island path. The combination of exercise, and no Ben & Jerry's ice cream (that's 0), has resulted in some lost weight, but as they say, "everything comes with a price". Even if I gained it all back yesterday, it was soooooooo worth it. What a great meal! Thanks Ron & Judy for having all of us at your home.
Today, we get the motor home packed up and ready for our 2 weeks in Las Vegas, while we work the National Finals Rodeo. It's been parked under the shade cover for the last 2 months, and this morning, I'll move it down next to the house, so it will be easier to load everything, from clothes to food. The weather has cooled considerably during the last week, with our night time temperatures dipping into the upper 30's the last couple of nights. I'm holding out on the switch from shorts to long pants, particularly with full sunny days, and reasonable daytime temperatures.

Yesterday morning, we got a telephone call from Laila, wishing us a happy Thanksgiving. Patty and I agreed, our day couldn't get any better after we finished a 10-15 minute conversation with our 5 year old Grand Daughter. It will be really nice having her, Marc & Chandra at our house for a few days during the Holidays.

THE BOAT

The house is full of Christmas decorations, the tree is up, and I already have my XMAS gift! Talk about doing everything early this year. We started early because Marc, Chandra, and Laila will be here about a week before XMAS, right after we return from our 2 week work gig at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Thinking that we wouldn't have much time after Vegas, we decided to get everything out early. In addition to all of the other things on our plate, at least "decking the halls" is out of the way.

The boat acquisition was not intended to be a Christmas thing, it just kind of worked out that way. As I mentioned before, I got the bug to get another boat last spring, and it carried over to our return to Arizona this fall. I knew that I wanted a "Deck" type boat, and I looked mostly on the Internet for a couple of weeks. There were a couple for sale here in Lake Havasu, but not unlike vehicles, there is a wide range of quality in boats, depending on the manufacturer. Even though our last boat didn't turn out to be the right one, it was a Sea Ray, and the quality was excellent. So, I kind of had my eye on another Sea Ray, and fortunately, this one popped up for sale only an hour drive away in Kingman. It's a 21' Sun Deck, powered by a Mercruiser 5.7 liter, 250 horsepower, inboard-outboard. There's seating for 10, not that we'll ever have that many folks on board, but compared to the last boat, there's tons of room!



Along with most of the rest of the country, our weather has cooled off a bit, with daytime temps down into the 60's. We probably won't be using the boat a lot this winter, but one of the things we plan on doing, is renting a slip at the marina for the month of March, and perhaps longer. It makes it so much more convenient to just drive down to the lake, jump in the boat and take off. We did that with the last boat, and it was well worth the slip rental cost. Today is the last day of tinkering with the new toy, as we have to start getting ready to head for Vegas in the motor home this Sunday. We're looking forward to driving to Kingman tomorrow, where we'll have Thanksgiving at Ron & Judy's house, and be joined by Bob & Jeanette and Jim & Megan.

A NEW TOY

There's a popular phrase that goes something like - "The best 2 days in a boat owners life is the day it's bought, and the day it's sold". Well, day before yesterday, I experienced the first part of that saying. Somewhere down the road, I'm sure the second part will also be appropriate. We purchased a used, Sea Ray 21' Sun Deck boat from a private party in Kingman, and except for a few things, the boat is in excellent shape. The last boat we had was also a Sea Ray, and they are very well built boats, that hold their value better than most brands. Last spring, before we left for the summer, I got the bug to get another boat, but never found one that sparked enough interest to pull the trigger. I put the full cover on yesterday, as there was a slight chance of showers last night.



One of the things I started working to fix, is the restoration of the oxidized paint on the trailer. As the picture below shows, the before and after are in stark contrast to each other. It will take some time to do the entire trailer, and I may have to wait to finish some areas, at the point where the boat is off the trailer and in the lake. As with any new (to us) toy, I've been busy tweaking this and that, and before I knew it, yesterday had passed by in a blur. I'll post some more pictures in the next day or two, after I take the cover off.

Even with the excitement of the boat, I still managed to get down to the island yesterday morning, and despite the wind, did a lap combining a walk and a few jogs. In the last 10 days, I've walked/jogged 21.6 miles, and bicycled 36 miles. The wind is blowing again this morning, so the bike will probably stay in the garage.

Patty is still busy with Christmas decorations, and it seems kind of strange listening to Christmas songs while still running around in shorts and a t-shirt.

DECKING THE HALLS

During the past week, since Patty returned home from her trip to Greece, we have both been busy with multiple projects that have to get done before we leave for Las Vegas next week. Our annual 2 week stint working the National Finals Rodeo begins a week from tomorrow, and it's been busy around the Chance house. Within a few days of our return home in the middle of December, Marc, Chandra, and Laila will be here for an early Christmas, as they make their way to Chandra's Mom's house in Monterey, CA. So, the decorations are going up for the first time in several years. The holiday seasons in recent years, have been spent with Marc, Chandra, and Laila in Tucson, so we haven't decorated (mostly Patty's job) the house for quite awhile. In addition to decking the halls, we're keeping a strict regimen of walking or biking every morning on the island, and even though it's pretty windy today, we'll be heading out shortly.

The above picture is looking out our front door to the house across the street, and fresh seal coat on one half of the street. This is the messiest stuff to deal with if you drive or walk on it before it dries. Fortunately, the contractor gave us notice the day before, so we were able to park the jeep across the street and get out without driving across this goo. I guess it prolongs the life of the asphalt, but it's kind of a pain to deal with. The house where the jeep is parked was built a couple of years after we moved to Lake Havasu, and like many other properties, is now in foreclosure. I only met the folks who bought the house a couple of times, and they were from the Southern California area. They drove an Escalade, had a $100,000 boat, and this was their vacation home. I remember thinking that this guy either made a ton of money, or, like a lot of people who have lost their homes, was up to his eyeballs in debt. It appears that it was the later. It's a nice house, and it will be interesting to see what the asking price is when it goes on the market.

PATTY'S BACK

Her trip to Athens Greece, and a Mediterranean Cruise completed, Patty arrived back home on Nov 15th. The trip originated in Sonora, CA, so she drove to her son's house in Modesto, and they departed from there. She enjoyed the trip, and saw some amazing sights, particularly being able to walk on some ground where the civilized world began. The Greek islands were a major highlight during the cruise.

This picture was taken yesterday in the parking lot at the Island trail. I've been walking and bicycling the trail for about a week, and this was her first go on the path with the bike. Unfortunately, the gear selector broke, and she had to pedal around the 3.6 miles in only one gear, making one circuit. I dropped her bike at the local bike shop, and it should be fixed today. I made it around the island 3 times for a total of 10.8 miles. It takes a little less than 20 minutes per lap, without working to hard. It definitely is a much more intense cardio workout, than just walking. Getting back into an exercise regimen, now that the soreness has pretty much gone, is starting to feel good. What doesn't feel good, is the absence of Ben & Jerry in the evenings. For more years than I care to count, those guys were my TV watching buddies, and it's just a little bit on the difficult side, to severe that relationship. And I thought quitting smoking over 25 years ago was tough.

Our weather has been ideal the past few weeks, cooling at night into the 50's, and the daytime temps have been in the 70's, low 80's. This is perfect boating weather. If it would only stay like this year round, we probably wouldn't be gone as long during the summer.

WALKING THE ISLAND

During the 8 years that we have spent the winter here in Lake Havasu City, there have been quite a few hours where we may have been seen on this walking/biking/rollerblading paved trail that circles the island. However, last winter, I can't remember once where we took advantage of this very nice walking path. Patty has been walking, mostly with her pal Jeanette, almost every day, but I have not. This year, I have decided that a few things need to change, and specifically, I need to get more exercise. As the weight has kept creeping up, it finally is the time to cut a few bad habits, and get the blood flowing a little faster. I just had my annual medical checkup, and even though everything is good, I realized that my trend toward a more sedentary lifestyle, along with probably the worst eating habits of anyone alive, is not a good recipe for longevity. So, while Patty & Dave have been on their trip to Greece, I have been driving down to the island, and hitting the trail.
The sign above, is posted in several places along the path, and instructs walkers/joggers to go in a counterclockwise direction, while bikers are supposed to go in a clockwise circle. This keeps faster bikes from sneaking up behind and potentially causing a conflict. Most folks adhere to this simple rule, but there are always a few who do not, like yesterday, when a couple on two bikes with a leashed dog came up behind me.
The total distance around the island on the path is 3.6 miles. If I walk fast, and jog a couple of times, it takes me between 50-60 minutes. If I walk normally, it takes a little over an hour. This morning, I'm taking my bicycle for the first time, and I'll see how many times I can pedal around the circle. Today is the day for Patty and Dave to sit on an airplane for most of the day, returning from Athens to San Francisco around midnight tonight. By the time the bus gets them to Sonora, and they drive back to Dave's house in Modesto, it will probably be very early in the morning. I expect to hear from them tomorrow, and Patty will most likely drive back to Arizona in a day or two.

SEAPLANES ON LAKE HAVASU

Granted, these are not full size seaplanes, but nonetheless, they are aircraft that take off and land on the water. This is the weekend of the annual gathering of Radio Controlled Seaplanes at Lake Havasu, and judging by the number of enthusiasts that I saw at Windsor Beach, it looks like a good turnout. Last year, we had our Granddaughter Laila with us when we checked out this event.
These are a few of the pictures I took, that reflect the variety of Seaplanes that folks build and fly. While watching the action in the sky, I couldn't help but wonder if they ever have any mid-air collisions. Even though there is some control, with limited numbers of planes in the air at any given time, and a directional control pattern out over the water, it looked like there were a few near misses during the hour or so that I watched. The only mishap that I saw, was one of the planes came down for a landing too hard, and it ripped the floats right off the plane. The operator gave it more throttle, and the plane continued to fly without the ability to land again on the water. When it was time to terminate the flight, the plane came down with a sort of controlled crash on the water, near the beach.
Some of the detail on these planes is incredible. It wasn't hard to see that lots of hours go into the building of these very detailed, miniature airplanes. The weather continues to be almost perfect here along the Colorado River. It was in the upper 80's yesterday, but it's cooling down at night, and with the house opened up during the evening, it's the time of year when we don't need the air conditioner, or the heater.

HOME ALONE

This is the second day of the Greece trip that Patty and her son Dave are hopefully enjoying, and they should have landed in Athens by now. This trip was organized by the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce, the area where we formally called home in California. They boarded their plane yesterday, at about noon in San Francisco, and the return flight will get them back to CA. late on the 13th. So, I expect Patty will be making the drive back to Arizona on the 15th or 16th. A few of our friends, Lori East, her son Trevor, and his Fiance Kelsie, are also on the trip.

I've been working on yard projects for the last few days, and have added a couple of small circular planters in the front yard, with desert grass inside. When I first landscaped the front of the house, I added irrigation, but have not been able to grow anything very well in this full sun area. These plants are my latest attempt.


After several years of not being able to decide if I wanted to add a wall cap to the front yard retaining wall, I finally decided to do it when I saw that Home Depot had it in stock.

The most recent good news is that the house across the street is now empty and it's sooooooooo
quiet in the neighborhood, that it's almost deafening! Don't know the details, but our street problem child is now gone. Over the years, I had quite a few conversations with the folks, mostly to ask them to turn down the volume on their blasting stereos. It sometimes was so bad, that our windows would rattle, and even with the volume on the TV turned up, the outside noise would overcome everything inside. I never called the police, thinking that I could handle it myself, but I was getting to the point where that just wasn't working. Then a couple of days ago, right after Patty left for CA, I noticed that furniture was being moved out of the house. It didn't take them long to clear everything out, and then there was peace and quiet in the neighborhood.
In addition to these folks not having any respect for the other people living nearby, the house was built long before most of the other dwellings, and is kind of a sore thumb on the street. I'm not one to wish bad luck on anybody, but whatever the reason for the house now being empty, I'm glad that it happened, and now we'll see how the next chapter plays out.