It Was a Long Four Days and Stinger "B" is Feeling Better

(Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

Sunday, March 25, 2018

We started our day with Mass at 9:00 AM. This was a lovely small church and they started the Palm Sunday Mass in their courtyard with the Blessing of the Palms. They then did a traditional walk around the grounds and into the church.

St. Helen of the Cross Catholic Church in  Eloy, AZ
I remember when I was younger that all the statues would be covered in
purple during Lent. This is the first church we have been in, in a long time
that still does this.

We then had lunch at the Bent Prop in Eloy.
This is located right next to a Skydiving
Drop Zone. A popular place to stop by and
watch the skydivers landing. We did not know
this, though the name should have given us a
clue we would be by an airport.
Lunch was okay, we would not go back.

Just outside the above restaurant.

We did not remember the last time we were stopped waiting for a train.
The engines on the bottom left were at the end of the train.
No caboose...:(

We had an appointment for the airbags at the RWC Group at 7:00 AM on Monday and the High Chaparral RV Park was over an hour away.  Not knowing what the traffic would be like we figured we would need to be on the road by 5:30 AM at the very latest. So we decided to leave here on Sunday, drive over, and park at the Casino Del Sol. 

Pulling out of our site on Sunday afternoon.

Stopped in front of the office to hook up the Jeep. 

We pulled out on to I-10 at approximately 4:15 PM.

Our views

as we made

our way

to Casino Del Sol

for the night.

I did not take one picture at the Casino.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

March 26, 27, 28, & 29,  2018

The RWC Group where we had the airbags replace.

We spent two long days in their lounge. The first day they replaced the drivers side airbag and did not get done with this until almost 4:30 PM. They also discovered, in the afternoon, that the 2nd bag was the wrong one and would have to order it to have it there the next day. Tuesday we were done and out by around 3:30 P.M.

After driving there the first day we discovered it would be closer to be at the Diamond Desert Casino so we moved there on Monday.

We did find this this little restaurant called the Bread and Butter Cafe
where we had breakfast  Monday and Tuesday.
The service was excellent and so was the food. 

Lazydays Service in Tucson.
The RWC Group is located just to the left of here.
We spent Wednesday and most of Thursday in their lounge.
While they found the leak to the grey tank.

Once the technician found where the leak was he needed to take apart our bathroom cupboard in order to get at the broken pipe and we left there Wednesday night with our main bathroom sink apart. Luckily, we do have second sink in the bedroom. He ordered the part, replaced the pipe, and put our cupboard back together and we were able to leave about 3:00 PM on Thursday.

Monday's Sunset 

Tuesday's Sunrise

Since, it was now later in the day we decided to drive back to the Desert Diamond Casino to spend the night and have dinner. Once we parked Tom did not even have a chance to shut down the engine when a young man came riding up on a bike to inform us we could not stay. Even though there were not near the number of RV's and Semi's that had been in the parking lot the previous two nights he said that management had decided that they were at capacity and we would need to leave. We then decided to drive to Casino Del Sol and when we got there we found they were closed for the Easter Weekend. So after they very nicely took down several portable fences we were directed out of their parking lot. It was at this point we decided to start heading for Huachuca City.

There are a lot of desert plants in Tucson.

Thursday evening and we are headed east on I-10.
We have left the Majestic Saguaros behind but there are
still Ocotillos to be seen.

The road ahead

with the sun setting behind us.

We can see our exit and the Loves Station.
The Stinger "B" needed diesel and we spent the night in their parking area.

Friday, March 30, 2018

We are headed south on AZ-90.
We can see the Huachuca Mountains in the distance.

Turning onto AZ-82 we see our home spot for the next few days.
Full hook-ups and a quiet peaceful place.

We parked and hooked the Stinger "B" up. Then Tom took a couple of loads of wash over to the laundry while I set up the inside and put together a salsa and avocado crema. (The afternoon Happy Hour snacks were depleted.) When Tom got back he finished setting up the outside while I drove into Sierra Vista to visit Fry's and Walmart to restock our pantry and freezer.

We have a view of the Whetstone Mountains our out front window.

The Blue Moon

The sun setting on our day.

Good News: Tom called the service number for out Splendide washer dryer combo and the technician he talked to said it really sounded like our pump had quit working. He very nicely informed Tom they would be sending us a new pump, no charge, and it will be waiting for us in Escanaba. (Sometimes things really do work out.) 

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Today Tom finished our wash and I did some cooking and freezing so we have some food ahead. Then we sat out and just enjoyed this weather.

I spotted two Quails but only got this one in the frame.

The sun slowly setting behind the clouds.

Wonderful clouds over the mountains.

The last of the light in the east for tonight.

The beginning of our week was long and tiring but the last few days here at Quail Ridge RV Park have been quiet and relaxing.  Just like when you live in a "sticks and bricks" house things need to be repaired and with the way RV's are put together everything is tighter and harder to get at. So for now everything is good and though our bank account is lighter we are moving on.

Hope you all have a Blessed and Relaxing Easter!

Yesterday and Last Saturday (Ajo Sonoran Shindig/Ajo Memory Project/Ajo Scenic Loop)

(Click on the pictures to open them larger in a new window.)

March 24, 2018

Tom spent quite a bit of today giving the Stinger "B" a good scrubbing and then got about half way done waxing the "B" before he decided enough was enough for today. While he did that I took a ride to Walmart and Fry's to restock our pantry. After putting the groceries away I put out some crackers and cheese, Tom made me an adult beverage, and opened himself a beer then we proceeded to sit in these chairs and enjoyed a late afternoon Happy Hour. A nice couple from Indiana out walking their dog stopped and we chatted a bit about being glad we are in the warmth of the Southwest.

As Tom was grilling a couple of pork chops for tonight's dinner we continued to sit and enjoy the last of the days sunshine.

Could not really see the sunset but the afterglow was a nice pink.
The last of the suns rays reflecting on a squeaky clean Stinger "B".

March 17, 2018

(Back tracking to last Saturday)
We enjoyed a leisurely start to our day just sitting and enjoying our coffee.

The sun was already out when I opened our window shade.
The sun was peeking through the branches of the tree
outside our window.

Then just because, I took a second one using the effects setting,
Photo Illustration, on my camera.

Ajo Sonoran Shindig

A little later in the morning we headed over to what was listed as the Ajo Sonoran Shindig which took place at the Ajo Plaza. I googled trying to find the origins of this event but all I can find out is it is a Celebration of the Sonoran Desert and or Spring. From what I read it was the 18th one and it is held on the 3rd Saturday in March.

This definitely is a community event.
Food booths, information booths, booths with things for sale,
dancing, and music., with a little cheer-leading added in.
(They were cute as were the dancers)
 It was a lively place from 10 to 3 in the afternoon.

In the midst of all the things going on 
there was calm praying by this group.

We enjoyed a couple of hours walking around and checking out the various booths. We purchased some locally roasted coffee beans and had a nice chat with the woman who does the roasting. We enjoyed tasting a couple different coffees she had available and are looking forward to trying the ones we purchased later this week. (We/I misjudged how much coffee we use in a given week and we are just about out of the coffee we brought with us from a local roaster back home.) We also purchased a fry bread taco, for me, and fry bread with honey, for Tom, from one of the food booths. There was a long line so we figured it was a good choice and it was.

After we had checked out everything there was to see at the Shindig we spent some time taking pictures of the Murals in what is called Artist Alley on the south side of the plaza. This will be  my next "catch up" post. 

Ajo Memory Project

After taking pictures of the  murals we decided to take a ride and  I spotted this area just past the Plaza heading North. Curious we parked and I took a walk in to see what it was all about. It is actually a Memory Project that was dedicated in 2011. (I am hoping if you click on the pictures they will be large enough to read what is there, if you wish. This is a special project they undertook to bring healing to their community and to keep their diverse history alive.)

This is what you first see when you walk in.

Ajo has been named a Certified Wildlife Habitat Community
by the National Wildlife Federation. Ajo is the second community 
in Arizona and the 65th in the nation to earn this certification.

The pictures below are what hang on the wall starting from the left when you walk in.

Ajo Scenic Loop

First of all we did not know this was a Scenic Loop until we picked up a brochure at the Chamber of Commerce the following Wednesday. If you go to Ajo make it one of your first stops. According to the brochure it is a 10.4 mile drive of which 7.5 is graded but bumpy road, which we can attest to.
We did not drive the entire loop today, about half way we decided to turn around and head back. To drive up to the mine view.

This is a nice ride with a mixture of cacti and Sonoran Desert 
vegetation. The Teddy Bear Cholla can been seen above.

The Ocotillo had green leaves and red blossoms.

We saw a nice number of Organ Pipe Cactus along with the
majestic Saguaros.

This cross honors John Campbell Greenway, the first mine 
superintendent and founder of Ajo. 
It was erected in 1926 shortly after his death.

We saw this sign more then once today.
Wildlife Habitat
This property provides the four basic habitat elements needed for
wildlife to thrive: food, water, cover, and places to raise young.

Coming back down the hill into Ajo 
provides some nice views or the area.

New Cornelia Mine

This is what we originally turned down the street to go and check out. I saw a sculpture on the side of a house so we turned down a street so I could take a picture. Then we saw a house up a hill that looked interesting and before we knew it we were on the above ride. The funny thing is we actually took this loop last year starting at Darby Wells Road off of Highway 85 but did not recognize it from this direction until we were several miles in.

This is a very large whole in the ground.

Some of the same colors that are 
seen in the tailings on Highway 85.

The sun setting on what turned into a day 
filled with memory moments.

We enjoyed today and the day we spent a week ago. Hope your day was filled with good moments.

If you would like to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.