Time to put Tucson in the rear view mirror

Joan's Aquasize class

It seems like we have lived in Tucson for a very long time. In reality it has been just three months but as we pull down the curtain on this year’s adventure it is hard to imagine how much we have done during the winter.

Part of me will always be drawn to the dramatic vistas of mountains. I grew up living in the foothills of Los Angeles and in the shadow of Mt. Lukens. Mountains are what inspire me. Oceans and bodies of water are what soothe me.

If there is a regret to this trip it is that Joan’s health and physical well-being is not as good as she would like. It has limited what she could do and how much she could do. We are hopeful, and praying that we can find a good diagnosis and medical solution to her current problems.

Ah, the Doo Wop Divas

Despite Joan’s health issues she had a good time and we have committed to another winter in Tucson here at Voyager so we can finish touring this very beautiful area.

We have met many, many nice folks and look forward to seeing them again next year. The resort is very nice, the facilities are top drawer and the entertainment and activity options seem endless. Next year I want to get involved in even more of the activities while we are here.

No doubt I will continue the hiking, but there are wood working classes, photography clubs and other activities I would like to participate in.

But to review here in chronological highlights from beginning to end is our winter trip: Depart in snow arrive in St. Robert, Mo.;  an extra day in Amarillo due to high winds; Cadillac Ranch, RV Museum and the Panhandle Museum; We arrive in “alien” territory at Town & Country RV Park in Roswell, NM; Alien museums, a zoo, a small air museum, an art museum, wine, freezing temperatures and a wildlife park; a tall climb through Ruidoso, New Mexico and arrival in a frigid Tucson; Bobby Darin impersonator concert; a walk on the Arizona Trail in Suhaurita; our first dance

Kitt Peak

in the park and an unsuccessful search for an Anglican church; Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw; A hike to Bridal Wreath Falls; Arizona Symphonic Winds concert; casino bus trip; high grass desert hike; monsoon rains; winery tours; Empire Ranch stop; Les Miserables movie; Wasson Peak hike; Alley Cats concert; Casa Grande ruins tour, dinner with Chelsea and Ryan; a wash hike; church at the park and Super Bowl Sunday; Tucson Gem Show; Garwood/Carillo loop hike; a visit to La Crescenta, California and a dinner in Montrose; a visit to my Encino boy’s home, a trip to Grandma Smith’s grave and a day of Jay Leno; dinner at Castaways; a visit to the Hollywood sign; a walk down the Walk of Fame, a trip to Santa Monica pier; Cousin Cynthia welcomes us to Danville, Ca.; a visit with William, Brittany and Tim, including a nice long Santa Cruz hike with Tim, meeting Tim’s new girlfriend Toni, a visit with Jan, Lisa and Gina at the casino in Middletown, dinner with the whole family in Santa Cruz, a night near the Grapevine, church with William, dinner with Barbara and friends in Auburn; Harlon arrives in Tucson in time for a snowstorm, a tour of the air museum and Saguaro National Park, dinner at the trailer; a hike to Seven Falls (the first of two such hikes); a hike on the Gabe Zimmerman Trail, lost camera, found camera, Voyager Talent Show; Joan walked part of the Gabe Zimmerman Trail, Colossal Cave; Zero Dark Thirty movie; snowy Bug Spring Hike; Joan’s Aquasize

The sistas

class, Doo Wop Divas; Kitt Peak National Observatory visit, Poco & Mom’s, Empire Ranch hike; Cactus Fly-In, first 80-degree day; Cracker Barrel dinner; Red Wings hockey, trailer and car washing day; Cochise Stronghold Hike; potluck dinners in the resort, Sunday worship at the resort, Men’s Bible study, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, high winds and a rainbow; Desert Diamond and Casa del Sol casino; Harp player at church, pizza special at the resort restaurant; Pontatoc Trail hike; PanStarrs Comet viewing; a new trailer sign and the arrive of Diane, Denny and Patty to Tucson; Boothill Cemetery, Tombstone OK Corral shoot out, Bisbee Mine town tour; Denny and I got to the fitness center, stop at the Star Touring and Riding Headquarters in Tucson with Denny, dinner in Williams, Arizona, a night at the Grand Canyon Inn, a day at the South Rim at the Grand Canyon, Diane confesses to the 45-year-old crime of feeding gumdrops to a raccoon to a park ranger dinner in Sedona and a scenic drive home; a drive through Saguaro National Park with the three sisters; Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, Pima Air Museum and Boneyard Tour, Julian Wash hike; a new RV toilet; a drive to Mt. Lemmon with a rude bicyclist on the way down; reading on the patio, a walk in the desert across from the resort; Ventana Canyon hike; Chiricahua Hike; dinner at Cushing Street Bar and “Wicked,” Market Daze at the resort and a Saguara souvenir to take home; Thing 1,2,3,4 (and 5) arrive and spend four days with us at the trailer, kids in the pool, Sabino Canyon tram tour, Saguaro National Park tour, San Xavier Mission,

Mt. Wrightman summit

Peter Piper Pizza, Arizona Sonora Desert Museum with the children, more pool time, grandma and grandpa babysit in the trailer with Snow White, Peter Pan, and Brave, more pool, a drive in the mountains, the Children’s Museum of Tucson and the Texas Roadhouse for dinner; Mt. Wrightson 12-mile hike; Bible Study breakfast, high winds hit the area, mudstorm, Men’s prayer breakfast, a visit to the casino; dinner with Chelsea and Ryan (again), Seven Falls Hike (again!) and Mary’s Spaghetti Dinner, car and trailer wash, Phoneline hike. (And in case you didn’t keep track that’s 117 miles of hiking trails since we got here.

So now it’s time to head home to Michigan. I know the first morning I wake up and look out the window and not see the majestic back drop of mountains I will feel a little sad. But the beauty of mountains is that they will be here for a long, long time after I’m gone, so there’ll always more chances to see them.

I’ve already thought about how excited I will be when we drive down I-10 next January and I’ll see Picacho Peak looming in the distance as we drive through Casa Grande. The closer we get to Tucson I’ll see the beautiful Catalina, Tucson, Rincon and Santa Rita mountains surrounding Tucson.

But for now we are happy to be going home. To resuming what passes for normal in our lives. We are also eager to return to our volunteer projects and see our friends.

Thank you for joining us on this journey and they’ll likely be a couple more short posts as we make our way home, but essentially our touring is done. Just one favor, please pray that the lousy Michigan weather will evaporate as we arrive back.

I’ll update our mileage, etc. in tomorrow’s post, hopefully in Amarillo.