EQUES-TREK               Ride Long and Prosper

Archives-Oct
Where we've been while you were sleeping.

The sixth month of Adventure !  Here is what we wrote earlier, with conclusion on the Adventure page.

October 1-11  Back to Elverta and Then to Stockton

The trailer rocked in gusts of wind all night on the Nevada/California border above Lake Tahoe at over 8000.‘ After little sleep, Ralph got up at 6am and looked out to see snow covering the horses and still coming down. We needed to pack up and head down. At 6:30 we were out of our roadside camp. But we no sooner got on the road than the clutch slipped. So we decided to go back to Al and Jean’s in Elverta, CA for a truck repair. We did make a stop for an RV dump station. We pulled into the Bowman Mobile Home & RV Park and met manager, Julie M. When She mentioned she was praying about a situation, I encouraged her and she expanded a bit more. I said we needed to pray about that and then realized we needed to right then as we would not pass this way again! So right there, with the sewage draining, I prayed about Julie’s situation. After a very brief prayer she was in tears and saying that we had made her day. It was 9:30. Of course, it made our day too to know God had directed us to this place at this time. We waved goodbye and drove on west. Al G. was surprised to see us and very welcoming as was Jean G. who immediately volunteered to drive us to and from the garage as needed. They recommended Motive Car Care which is run by the son of the sister of the wife of Susan’s brother! Haha! I just had to write that down! After we set up camp and ate lunch, Ralph drove the truck following Jean to the garage. I got back on the computer. As much time as I spend on this I am still behind and have not written for several days.

The next day I took pictures around Gold Country Equestrian Center of riders, Al, and Jean & Bill. Jean told us that hunter/jumper centers like hers are the best kept secrets from the boys of America, “for where else can you find lots of girls running around in tight pants everyday.“ It is true the girls seem to out number boys at equestrian facilities. Ralph and Bill talked about knives for awhile and Bill showed Ralph one of his. I saddled up Jur and worked him in the arena for an hour. He did very well and his leg looks fine. Jean bought pizza for everyone. We ended up sharing ours with a boarder, Barbara B., and I gave her a dinner show, showing her our pictures. There are close to seven hundred now.

On Wednesday we got our truck back and ready for the road again and that night we cooked pork chops for everyone. Thursday we drove up to the iron sliding gate at the Jack Tone Ranch outside Stockton, CA. My gelding “Jur” Superstar, is from the line of Arabians bred on this ranch. His grandsire was Fadjur,  a beautiful bay and grand champion. It was not easy to get good shoots with the horses in stalls and behind fenced paddocks but I was enjoying their company and marveling and at the great temperament of the stallions. I also marveled at the similarities Jur managed to acquire - he too is a bay with white socks and some roaning, and the distinctive star with just a snip of white on his nose (like this mare in the picture to the far left). We met Jerry H. when he came to tell us that all the water we were seeing was a flooding program they use on the farm to irrigate. Later in the afternoon I met Kathleen H. (photo fourth to right) and then her daughter Peggy who was riding Fadjur’s Danni (2^nd photo from left).

The next day Ralph joined Jerry on an all day drive to deliver a mare to Yosemite and Kathleen took me around to see the horses. It was not only great to see the horses and hear their stories but I also got to go in the turn out pen with Fadjurz Prize (pictured). He is their key stallion and many of the horses here bear his heritage. Kathleen suggested she watch Jur work. I saddled him up. At first he did fine but you could see in his carriage he was ready to burst. And burst he did, taking off and throwing up his feet. After riding through that a few times Kathleen suggested I get off and work him on the ground. I was good with that! He tore around the pen and kicked out at me several times. Kathleen agreed with me that this needed work immediately. I worked him for an hour trying to get him to give me his attention and slow down. When I got some response and he cooled we quit. Kathleen invited me up to her house to eat lunch and meet her mother, Jack Tone Ranch owner, Marjory Tone. Marjory has lived on the Ranch her entire life. It is the oldest continually owned ranch in California, established in 1849 by her Grandfather. I shared our pictures and about our trip. Late that afternoon I worked Jur again with Kathleen’s help, this time entirely from the ground in the round pen. It was a lesson in getting him to calmly walk and for me not to react too much too late! It was surprising that after nearly an hour is when he exploded again and defiantly kicked out AT me! It was so obvious that he did not respect me and I immediately pushed him hard around the pen telling him how bad that was. After that he settled down and listened but the classes were not over. Jerry suggested we stay here at the Ranch and go to San Francisco from here, a two hour drive. We readily accepted. Not only did we have work (Ralph was going to work on a bathroom) but also a safe haven to see San Francisco from tomorrow. 

We got up at 6:30 and drove over the San Francisco Bay Bridge into downtown to park the “monster.” We walked down Market Street to the piers and a weekly farmers market on the Wharf. It was beautiful with its tent roofs of white against the bluest sky and the colorful array of vegetables, fruits and flowers below. All this against the green blue of the waters of the Bay. There was no way to get it all in one picture with the thousands of people milling about. We joined the crowd and went from booth to booth until Ralph spotted the booth of his dreams - pastries, focaccia and muffins. I was more interest in the nuts and purchased almonds to munch. Inside the Ferry Building (a historical building), we were reminded very much of the Moscow (RU) Mall. A clear ceiling let in natural lights to the aisle way opening to the shops. This building was once the launching stage for the San Francisco ferry. It has beautiful architectural features and a tower clock. Briefly we sat on the dock and munched our snacks and drank coffee. From Pier 43 we started walking west from pier to pier. This a long walk when you start nearly at the Bay Bridge! By the time we got to Pier 39 with the sea  lions and carnival atmosphere, we were ready for lunch but never did stop to eat. At Pier 39 we met Kelly, a carpenter from Mendocino, CA who had driven down for the day to watch the Navy’s Blue Angels. Low and behold, it was Fleet Week in San Francisco, explanation for the vast crowd. From Pier 39 we visited the Maritime Museum and Arcade and then on to the grandstands at the Ghiradelli Building. The grandstands were already quite full so we opted for the edge of the pavement at the beach. It gave us a view of the beach, harbor, Alcatraz, and a bit of the Golden Gate Bridge. We awaited further developments. They started with a fleet parade of both American and Canadian ships. Then there was a spectacular performance by a  quartet of by-planes. Not only did we get to see the daring flying precision of the Blue Angels but also the haphazard sailing of a very immature sailing crew. We watched while they keeled over and then managed to upright the boat, bail out the water and return to sailing the small harbor without further entertainment to the watching crowd. The Blue Angels, which Ralph had seen a bit of in Montana, were fabulous. The crowd oohed and awed at the spectacular moments of which there were plenty.  And just when you thought they disappeared for good they’d come booming overhead to awe you again. I thought I saw the feats as they happened but as I reviewed the pictures the next day I was somewhat horrified by some of the feats. From the ground I did not see one plane upside down, seemingly on top of the other! From Ghiradelli Square we walked up Hyde Street to the Cable Car stop and on to China Town and turned into one of the first restaurants we came to. We were not surprised to see it mostly occupied by Chinese and the wall menus to be in Chinese. Fortunately the menus had English and we made our choices and enjoyed our meal in San Francisco's China Town. We drove out of the city by way of the Golden Gate Bridge. Completed in 1937, it cost 35 million and eleven men’s lives to build the 1.2 mile bridge over strong ocean currents sweeping the deep canyon below and 60 mph winds above. The two great cables holding the bridge (with 27 feet sway) contain 80,000 miles of steel strands, enough to encircle the equator three times! San Francisco is the most beautiful city I have seen. I took a record number 320 pictures! And could take that many more again.

It was hard getting up the next morning but I wanted to work Jur before the ten o’clock meeting I had arranged to help with some accounting books. So I let him race around a bit and then started asking him for some attention. He was definitely improving from the first lesson. I went to my meeting and worked on accounting some of the afternoon. Late in the day I saddled up Jur and went for ride through the orchards with boarders, Mike M. and Vicky E., while Ralph went to talk to Peggy and her husband about their bathroom. After sitting down with the computer for awhile Tony A. and Bonnie came over to announce they had purchased chicken and chips to go with our meal tonight and to introduce themselves to me. Ralph had met and talked with them this morning and invited them to a cookout tonight. We enjoyed a great evening with them, hearing some of Tony’s philosophies and sharing the Good News with him. For two more days we worked at Jack Tone Ranch, I on the bookkeeping and Ralph on the bathroom shower and each evening we spent with Tony and Bonnie.

Wednesday. The last day at Jack Tone Ranch was spent mostly on the computer. Ralph had finished his work and we got things ready for departure. I saw Vicki E. late in the day and she asked if she could treat us to BBQ. So she took the two of us to Waterloo Sports Bar for great BBQ and a celebrity wall of pictures which was quite interesting. Some great shots. She got us a dinner of ribs for me and of chicken for Ralph. When I ask what she got for herself she said, “oh nothing. I’ve got to go home and cook for the kids and husband.” I was so surprised. I thought she was eating with us! She said she just wanted us to relax and enjoy our last night and not have to worry about cooking! Wow! How incredibly thoughtful. We sure enjoyed that dinner! She also told me about the  yellow-billed magpies that frequented the ranch. Pica nuttalli is a large bird in the crow family found only in the Central Valley of California. Apart from its having a yellow bill and a yellow streak around the eye, it is virtually identical to the Black-billed Magpie. Birds, horses, and new friends; I really liked this place!

But after breakfast the next morning we loaded up the horses and pulled out. We needed to keep moving to see our other stops. When Ralph got out to open the gate he noticed a leak under the truck. Jerry came out and looked at it with Ralph and they came to the conclusion to return to Motive Auto Care for them to fix it. So we parked the trailer again and Ralph took the truck. I took the horses back to their stalls and spent some time cleaning out both horse’s stalls and a good bit of the day working on the computer. Ralph returned at almost 4. All was fixed. It was a hose leaking diesel fuel that was the problem. So I worked Jur again that afternoon and then Bonnie and I went for a short ride with Bonnie riding Silver Girl. That evening I showed Tony & Bonnie pictures including the ones of Bonnie on SG. We then took this picture of the four of us. They went to watch the movie and I worked on pictures for the evening. The next morning we would be leaving for Yosemite.

October 12-21 Yosemite, Sequoias, Kings Valley, Joshua Tree

It was raining in the Central Valley of California the day we drove to Yosemite. But it was not bad driving in as we took Jack Tone Road south. The Jack Tone Road is the longest straight road in CA-over 35 miles. Then we took Hwy 120 for 100 more miles. We passed orchard after orchard and field after field. CA is the land of fruits and nuts and no where more evident than here. We saw walnut, almond, pistachio, orange, pear, apple, grape, and tomato along with palm trees and oak trees scattered throughout. The drive was incredibly difficult on Hwy 120 East as there are some very tight passages and turns. Inside Yosemite National Park a very large tree had fallen in the road and held us up for quite a time while they cleared it. We arrived in Yosemite Valley at the large meadow below Half Dome before going to park. Gizmo stayed in the truck and we took the camera and went to a shuttle bus. We soon got the hand of the shuttles and their 14 stops. We asked our first driver about Sentinel Falls as we had read they are the tallest at 2000’ in the U.S.A. She had never heard of them but told us of Yosemite Falls. We went back to our informational brochures and, sure enough, they were one in the same! She asked to see as she has worked in the park many years and never heard them called anything but Yosemite Falls! We laughed and told her we were her “know it all” tourists of the day. We left her laughing. By the way, Sentinel Falls (aka: Yosemite Falls) were barely dripping that day (though we did see them the next) as they dry out by late summer from lack of snow or rain. By then the rain had pretty much stopped and there were times of blue sky interspersed with heavy clouds. I thought the photo conditions were great and wanted to get to every spot. But first we visited the Ansel Adams Gallery. What better way to get inspired than to see one of the largest collections of his photos along with multiple current works by other artists. We also checked out the Yosemite Lodge built in 1927 and the Ahwahnee Hotel, both historical sites. From the Lodge we went to find Sentinel Bridge where I was sure there would be good photographic opportunities. Not only was there some great views there was a brown bear with her cub that I had plenty of time to photograph (with a telephoto lens). It was now past 3 and we felt we better start out of the valley so we could find our camping spot. We went out Hwy 41 south and right before one of the tunnels (there are two on that Hwy) there was a beautiful overlook and the lighting was so wonderful again I asked Ralph to pull the rig off the road, no easy feat. I hope the pictures are worth it! We decided to camp at the Goat Meadows Snow Camp. It was right at the south exit of the park and not a mile in on pavement (better and better for a big rig after a rain). We parked to one side and high lined the horses in the trees. We put their blankets on them as it was already cool (low 50s) and with rain falling again felt colder. The blankets keep them warm and dry. Then we went inside ourselves and I made a dinner of crab bisque and salad. We both read for awhile but without power we try to conserve and made it an early night. At 8:30 we were both in bed.

Saturday we met three interesting people: Tim, Matt and Ed. After sleeping almost around the clock I suggested we go into Wawona (just inside the park) and eat breakfast. The rain had persisted almost all night and was clearing. We fed the horses and decided to feed ourselves at the Wawona Hotel, a National Historic Landmark and a bed and breakfast since the 1850s. The food was very good but the service was especially enjoyable. We were served by Tim who is raising three children and his wife stays home with them on the income from serving in the Wawona Hotel. When I told Tim there was nothing on the menu that was in a portion that I wanted he told me just to “nibble” off Ralph’s plate from the buffet. Tim kept me supplied in coffee and Ralph got me a pancake or two. Ralph enjoyed a bigger variety and a bigger portion. We both enjoyed a dialogue with Tim. We touched on the economy which led to politics which led to how things have changed. I finally had to remind Ralph we had a park to see and I wanted to see it in the “best light.” So we said goodbye to Tim and started the drive to Glacier Point. Vicki E. (JT Ranch) had told us not to miss this. The road had a few hairpin turns that we did not envy the tour buses making. We made a couple of stops along the way at scenic overlooks and it was at one of these we met the second interesting person. Well, we met his good friend, who had the good taste to find Gizmo a marvelous dog. The good friend was friend to Matt LeBlanc, the star of the comedy show “Joey” and also Joey on “Friends” for ten years. Ralph turned to me and asked me if I recognized him. This was right in front of him which I later told Ralph I thought rude! So I look at Matt and say “yes, I know that face” and turn to Ralph and ask where I know it from? Since I watch next to NO TV and saw maybe 3 episodes of Friends, there was no way I was going to come up with an identity. Ralph then told me. I then said, “ah, yes,” and went back to my photography (probably being just as rude as Ralph unfortunately). Ralph had a nice chat with Matt’s friend who also happened to be a lighting technician from the show. They talked about dogs and we told him how great Gizmo is. They, too ,were on the way to Glazier Point, on their motorcycles. Glazier Point is that - a point! A very famous point of rock overlooking many more pieces of rock. This is what we were looking at from Yosemite Valley the day before. We got out to the point and immediately saw Matt L. and friend again. This time Ralph started telling them about Gizmo’s web page and about his cousin, Lan Anders. Ralph even showed the picture of the cousin and people started gathering round and laughing at the sayings Lan Anders has. After some good laughs they moved on and so did we. I had wanted to ask Matt L. to pose with Gizmo but Ralph discouraged me and I did not have the gumption but I sure wish I had. It was my only regret of the day. Then we started the drive back as I wanted to ride and Ralph wanted to rest. I saddled up Jur who was a handful because someone was shooting a bb gun at a target (it is hunting season). I rode a single track out and made a loop. I rode both Sierra National Forest and Yosemite National Park in three hours. I really only rode 2 because the third hour was spent talking to the third interesting person of the day. Ed C. is a professional photographer and I rode past him just inside the park. We stopped to talk and I ended up taking a picture of him and he of me. He was on assignment as he is photographing for a calendar. See his photos for purchase by clicking his image to the right.

October 14 there was not a cloud in the sky; I was looking forward to riding in the beautiful Sierra National Forest more. We left Goat Meadow Snow Park and drove four miles to the trailhead I had mapped out. It was a county road at Fish Camp (that’s a town). One mile out the road is a pack station (that’s a horse outfit that you can pay to take you trail riding). We parked in a wide spot on the side of the road not a half mile in. We rode straight out the road to Frenso Dome, a hunk of granite. Ralph wanted “to move out.” so we trotted the majority of the day, 13 of the 16 miles. At the Big Sandy Campgrounds some campers came to talk to us while we watered the horses in Big Creek. One of the guys had been coming there to camp since 1979. Now his boy was coming out to camp every year. Like my family who gets together every new year’s in Inverness, FL. (Which we will be ending The Trip at this year. See our updated itinerary.) It is a great tradition and builds wonderful memories. We ate our lunch at Fresno Dome and rode back to the trailer. We were loaded up and back on Hwy 41at 3pm. We were on our way to Springville, CA, the home of Gene and Amy U, who were one of the respondents to our letter to the editor. They would not be home for a couple of days so we would use their house for a base to see the Great Sequoia National Monument and Kings Canyon National Park. Arriving at 6:15, we unloaded the horses and put them in covered pens with water. We were all set up by just after 7 and the sliver of a moon was over Gene and Amy’s place just above the Sierra Nevadas.

After breakfast the next morning, we drove to Giant Sequoia National Monument up Hwy 198. What a road that is! About one car wide with many rough spots (looked more like a gravel road than a paved one) it wound up through the hills with many switchbacks. At one place Ralph was sure he ran over a tarantula and I had him go back to see. Sure enough, it was a big one. They are common at the lower altitudes and burrow in the dirt at the side of the road. They are not the deadly type. Hwy 198 went all the way into the park and then became the General Highway through the parks. Once in the park we stopped at the visitor’s center and started the drive up stopping at Hospital Rock. So named in 1873, when Alfred Everton was shot in the leg and treated here. The Petroglyph are from a much earlier people of unknown origin. Then we encountered construction and while awaiting the pilot truck we got out to take pictures. We met the couple in the car from Texas in front of us - Don and Jean W. We talked until the traffic was ready to move and then said goodbye. It was not our final goodbye of the day. We saw them several times throughout the park and always stopped to say hello again. We saw the General Sherman Tree, the biggest tree on earth. Why? Volume: 52,500 cubic feet estimated to weigh 1385 TONS, 275’ tall, 103’ around the base and is 2200 years old. We also saw the California Tree & Tennessee Tree, named from the era when they named the trees for the states. In all the world, sequoias grow naturally only on the western slopes of these mountains. We also drove on to Kings Canyon National Park and the Grant Tree, one of three of the tallest trees in the world and a national shrine to those who have died in war. It is also named the Nation‘s Christmas Tree (by President Coolidge in 1926. Nearby are the Gamlin Cabin and the Fallen Monarch. At five o’clock we were at the restaurant on the west entrance before heading back to the trailer.

Tuesday was errands and laundry day. Amy drove in with her two sons, Cash and Clay, and her two black labs with her horse trailer in tow at about 4. We cooked dinner for her and she sat down to a cup of hot tea with her two boys, Clay playing in the dirt and Cash content in her arms. We were going to leave the next morning but when we found out Gene was coming home a day early we stayed to meet him. Wednesday evening we enjoyed dinner with Gene and Amy and their two sons.

So it was Thursday when we said goodbye to Gene and Amy and the boys. Gene proposed that in a couple of years when they were ready to do the work on the house that we fly out and Ralph and him would do the house makeover while Amy and I go ride the Tahoe Rim Trail. Amy and I agreed it would suit us. Ralph thought it a great idea too. We were on our way to the Angeles National Forest and the Horse Flat Campgrounds. But what a drive! From 2000’ to 5800’ and the edge of the valley wall. At one point there were spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles. Friday I dressed in layers and saddled up Jur. We rode out the Silver Moccasin North Rim Trail to the Three Points Trailhead. From there we rode up the Pacific Crest Trail. This multiuse trail runs from Mexico to Canada.  This part of it is surrounded by scrub oak, manzanita, pinion pine and century plants. At one place I saw sequoias. The view down the San Gabriel Valley was long and beautiful at times but otherwise there was only the lizards to share the trail with. We returned the same way and met Ralph with the trailer at Three Points to load up and head to Joshua Tree National Park.

The first morning in Joshua Tree’s Ryan Campground we saddled up and were on the trail by 9:30; a good thing as we were in a high desert (cold by night, hot by day). We rode the most beautiful loop up the California Riding & Hiking Trail and then the Stubbe Springs Loop. The Joshua Tree National Park covers two deserts, the Mojave Desert (in which we were camped) which is high and dry and the Colorado Desert below 3000‘ elevation. It is the Mojave that hosts the Joshua Tree, actually a giant member of the lily family and a type of Yucca. Mormon settlers named the plant seeing the limbs as outstretched arms in supplication like the biblical Joshua. The park is also very popular for rock climbing. After a wonderful days ride through the desert and dry washes, we rode into camp and met the other horse. They invited us to join them for dinner that night. By dinner we had met all of the adults in the group, four couples who had met via their children’s day care 8 years before and met every year to camp together. Jonathan and Melody, John and Ilene, Arden and Valerie, and Antonio and Lyn and their children had a wonderful time in a “race” of projects. They had to do all sorts of things to move on to the next stage. I was soon taking pictures. I never got a count of all the children but you get the picture! Over dinner we learned what they were employed at: Antonio was a fellow accountant, Jonathan and Arden were rocket scientists working for JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), and John works systems. Jonathan and his wife, Melody, are also fellow endurance riders and had brought two horses. We had a fun evening with the “neighbors” and also enjoyed breakfast the next morning with them too. In fact, they were kind enough to incorporate us into their fun this year AND to invite us back to their annual get together next year. Wouldn’t that be a trip?

We were the first ones to head out the next morning but we all headed into the Santa Ana winds and a battle with desert sands. We were already driving out of the park to our next destination - Cuyamaca Rancho State Park east of San Diego - when I turned to Ralph and asked if he wanted to go or go on to Arizona. We agreed to go straight to AZ and so picked up I-10E. It was not for another 24 hours that we learned of the San Diego fires and the Santa Ana winds we had battled the firefighters were battling. Ralph and I made some scenic stops on the way out to the Cottonwood Exit near I-10. We filled up with water (and gave water to the horses) and had to hold on to the empty buckets as the wind was blowing them away! At about 12:30 on I-10 we ran into a sand storm just past Desert Center, CA. The mountains in front of us totally disappeared and at times we had about 100 yards visibility. Fortunately I had left the windows in the horse trail up. It was 70 degrees but the wind was blowing at about a constant 30 miles per hour with gusts much higher. We passed one car that had driven into the desert, probably from loss of visibility for a short period. Another RV was trying to get their awning under control after it blew open. The gusts, when they came, made seeing a couple car lengths in front of us difficult to impossible. You could see the cloud before you entered it and it was blowing sand across the highway in what looked like sheets of water in a torrential downpour. When we finally drove out of it we stopped and Ralph tapped the sand out of the truck’s air filter. We crossed the CA/AZ line at 1:27pm. In Arizona we stopped in to go through the agricultural check point and found they were closed and we were waved on. Outside of Phoenix we passed the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Station. The mountains in the distance look miles and miles away with the flat desert in front of them. As we went around the city of Phoenix on Loop 101 I called Larry and Connie W. This is the couple we met at Bullards Beach Sate Park in Bandon, OR. Now we were getting a chance to visit with them in their home city. They were excited to hear we already arrived (four days early) and said to come over after we settled. So after we got to the Cave Creek Regional Park and set up camp and fed horses we headed into Phoenix, named for the mythical bird that arises from ashes. Established in 1881, Phoenix has exploding growth pushing it the fifth largest city in the U.S.A. We were here for a week of exploring.

October 22-28  Phoenix, AZ

In Phoenix we are thrilled with Cave Creek Regional Park, another gem. It is slightly high and north of Phoenix, giving us a view of the lights at night. Not only is there a pen for our horses, water, electricity, but free hot showers in the restrooms. There is a dump station and garbage dumpsters and a campground host. Great to have so many amenities. The cacti on the hill are beautiful; Saguara, Beaver tail, Ocotolli scattered through the Mesquite and brush. On our first day we drove to Sedona. Driving up Hwy 17 we see Montezuma National Monument and we made a tour of the “castle.” The “castle” walls were added to the cliffs by the Sugura Indians and are still largely intact in one area. Caves and cliff dwellings speckle the walls around it. Montezuma had nothing to do with the dwelling but did pass this way. Somehow the name stuck. Back on Hwy 17 we took Hwy 179 through the red rock scenic byway of the Coconino National Forest. We got into Sedona about 11:30 and found the Hideaway Restaurant and stopped to eat. I had a huge Antipasto salad and Ralph had a Supreme Sub. Besides a lot of good food there was a great view. The young man taking care of our water was born in Sedona and thought many of the people are “whacked out.” There is a huge influence of the New Age Movement in Sedona. There is a point called “Vortex “ where new age believers consider all the energy of the earth is in harmony and balance. They go there for a spiritual experience. This young man considered “that all hog wash. It’s just a place in the rocks where you are surrounded by so much iron ore that you are in a magnetic field.“ There is much to-do about it in Sedona. At Y2K over 100 people climbed to the top of Bell Rock (pictured here) in anticipation of the rock lifting off. I did not find out where it was to go as it remained firmly on terra-firma. Then I asked the young man, “And no body jumped?” (thinking they might in their despair) and he answered, “No, I wish they had. We don’t need them here.” We nearly choked on our ice tea! Apparently it has really changed the flavor of the town. We went to see it. Unfortunately, there are a lot of the “same ole, same ole” while searching for the unique. And even the unique are very quickly copied. Sedona was made famous by western movies (and there is a motion picture museum commemorating those movies on main street) filmed at the foot of the red rocks. Anyone remember “Riders of the Purple Sage,” “Billy the Kid,” “Cheyenne,” “Gunfighters,” “Stay Away Joe,” “3:10 to Yuma?” These and many more were filmed in or near Sedona. Made me want to go back and get my pony and ride. We headed back home.

The next morning I got my pony and went for a ride. Ralph had what seemed to be food poisoning and did not feel up to a ride. I rode around the mountain and the park. Each morning there was one or more hot air balloons that would float over the city. From down in the bowl the park sits in I rode up another 100’ and had some nice views. I met several hikers on the trails but the only other horse rider was just saddling up when I got back. After lunch and a time of me working on the computer and Ralph tending the horses, we drove into Phoenix. We found a bead shop and a Goodwill thrift store to browse in for a while.

On Wednesday we did not get over to Larry and Connie’s as early as I had hoped. We each packed a lunch and Larry drove us to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Gardens. On the way we went through old Phoenix which retains the flavor but is highly updated. The beautiful desert garden has cacti from all over the world are well as American deserts. The Saguaro is what dots the landscape of Phoenix and is so majestic. It’s waxy surface conserves water and the with its spines protects it from being dinner to herbivores. The accordion-like trunk expands with much water and contracts when water is limited. When transplanted (with a crane) it must be noted which side is north on the plant as it can get a sunburn otherwise. You might think it has a porous interior but it is of a wood strong enough to be used in furniture and objects of art. The desert is a popular stop for hummingbird and Monarch Butterfly migration. But a more permanent resident is this charming lizard hiding in the garden. After the garden Larry drove us to Papago City Park to eat our sandwiches. Papago Park was designated a reservation for the local Maricopa and Pima tribes of aboriginal Americans in 1879. Phoenix. From the park we drove to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Phoenix home: Taliesin West. He bought these 160 acres in the desert in 1920 and built this home and building (via his students who lived in tents to have the “honor” to do so) to house his architectural college. Now it is an accredited college of Architecture and houses 20-30 students at a time owned by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.. The students still produce architectural work in the style of Mr. Wright. We had a wonderful tour guide in Chris and he helped us come to the conclusion that Mr. Wright was actually under 5’5” (most likely) and, as Ralph says, had a Napoleon complex. His doorways were short enough that even I had to be careful. Mr. Wright left a lot of people unhappy with him and without payment for their services. Born June 8, 1867 he was prolific until his death in April 9, 1959 as one of the world's most prominent and influential architects. He developed a series of highly individual styles over his extraordinarily long architectural career (spanning the years 1887–1959) and he influenced the entire course of architecture and building internationally. To this day, he remains America's most famous architect. Wright was also well known in his lifetime. His colorful personal life frequently made headlines, most notably for the failure of his first two marriages and for the 1914 fire and murders at his Taliesin East studio. After our tour at Taliesin, we drove around the city with Larry and Connie as our tour guides. That is the way to see a city! That evening we decided to eat at a Mexican Restaurant past where we were camping. So we came back to our camp and left the truck and went with them to the restaurant. Not only was the food good but we sat on the patio in the cooling night air and enjoyed the light’s of God’s universe coming on.

The next morning Ralph and I rode together. Gizmo rode with me to the beginning of the trail (as he is not allowed loose in the campground which we had to get through to get to the trails) and then he ran the trail. He did a good job of avoiding the cactus. We rode for about two hours and it was already getting hot. We put the horses in their pen and took hung the shade cloth over them. Ralph tied up the shovel and the broom as poles to stretch it on. I got a few things done on the computer and then we drove back up Hwy 17 to Cottonwood. After a brief time there we went back into Sedona and spent a couple of hours there as well. We started the hour and a half drive back to Cave Creek as the moon was rising and the sun setting. When we got back to the trailer I made Korean Beef Stir Fry for our dinner. Late that evening the coyotes were howling to wake the dead but not Ralph. Gizmo gave a few growls and we both went back to sleep.

The next morning I worked on the web page update till about 10. Then we went over to the Cave Creek Arts and Craft Fair. About 20 vendors had set up in the main area of town and we enjoyed a stroll around the booths. There were vases in the traditional Indian style but painted by Mexicans, turquoise and crystal jewelry, paintings and prints and one photographer. After the booths we walked through a few local shops. As we were leaving the small town I saw a feed store so we stopped for hay, feed and propane and then returned to the trailer to unload. Gizmo was excited to see us. The trailer was already 95 degrees so I turned on the air and made us sandwiches. It was almost two when we left again. We headed to Connie and Larry’s. Ralph settled in front of the TV while I set up my computer to use their WiFi to update the web page. After a half hour we drove us out to Greasewood Flats, a Hamburger and hot dog restaurant near Pinnacle Peak. The 80 y/o man who owns it is a hold out on a million dollar piece of property amongst ritzy new 2 and 3 million dollar houses. The place looks like an old farmstead that it is and has three kinds of hamburgers, a chicken sandwich, and hot dogs, beer and soda, and nothing else and does a whopping business. There is live music and a dance floor used by all ages. Everyone sits outside and there are half barrel steel drums for burning fires on the cool nights.

Saturday we joined Larry and Connie again and Larry drove us to the Heard Museum. We joined a tour and the guide took us to the major exhibits and explained a few things. Ralph and I were especially interested in the jewelry and pottery, incredible workmanship. The Museum has a large collection of kachina dolls and Barry Goldwater was a large contributor. It was amazing what creativity can do with so little. That evening we drove to the top of South Mountain to the Dobbins Lookout for a spectacular view of the city of Phoenix. At over 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park/Preserve often is referred to as the largest municipal park in the country. It boasts 51 miles of primary trails for horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels skills. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built many of the facilities in the park, including this wonderful entrance building. Larry returned us to their house and our truck. We drove to the camp trailer ahead of Larry and Connie to get dinner on. They joined us with our washed laundry, 40 minutes later. We made pork chops and sat at the picnic table with Larry’s margaritas. We enjoyed their company and the evening.

Sunday morning we drove to Larry and Connie’s to attend their church service with them. Paradise Valley United Methodist Church had a lovely service and we enjoyed the fellowship. We drove back to Larry and Connie’s by way of the Barry Goldwater Memorial. Mr. Goldwater was a U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1953–1965, 1969–1987 and was called Mr. Conservative. Connie made a fabulous brunch and afterwards we went to the camp to start getting ready for our departure. On the way we saw a sidewalk art show and stopped in. There we met Dave C. and Deborah S. Dave is a silversmith and makes custom silver buckles and conchos. After some conversation, Dave invited us to come to his place tomorrow. So we accepted. We drove back to Larry and Connie’s at 6:15 where Connie had a fabulous pot roast dinner for us.  After dinner we watched Home Makeover: the Extreme Edition and then my slide show of The Trip pictures. That put everyone in the mood to sleep so we called it a night. It was also the end to our wonderful week in Phoenix made so very special by two new special friends. Thanks Larry & Connie. Come see us in Georgia!