“Here’s to hoping you thrive in April just as jokesters, tax collectors and the Easter Bunny do.” 

We were singing and dancing to “Roll Out the Barrell” at glass fusion by Henry, Supervisor Cathy’s husband. It’s always a fun place to be.

It’s always neat to see a Roadrunner, you can take a picture when their still but when they take off, they quickly are gone. Roadrunners hold a special place in Native American and Mexican legends and belief systems. The birds were revered for their courage, strength, speed, and endurance. The roadrunner’s distinctive X-shaped footprint—with two toes pointing forward and two backward—are used as sacred symbols by Pueblo tribes to ward off evil. The X shape disguises the direction the bird is heading, and is thought to prevent evil spirits from following.

The Life of a Roadrunner . . .Past prickly cacti and golden blooms, Through tangled brush where freedom looms, They navigate with purpose clear, With every step, they draw us near. Their journey speaks to the heart’s desire, A flame of spirit, a light of fire, Chasing dreams beneath the sun, In every moment, life’s begun.

The weather was perfect Sunday morning for a hike in the canyon. But. . . When we arrived the main parking lot was full, it’s never been full, so we parked in the Overflow parking lot. Not to much of a problem only a little less than a mile to our destination the Visitor Center to get the Crawler to Bear Canyon.

On our way to stop 3 The Bear Canyon Trail, Our driver Chris, was telling us about his recent encounter with a lady who was so dehydrated she was fighting with the rangers because she had no idea of who she was or where she was. She and many other people aren’t prepared to hike, you need lots of water to keep you hydrated. He also told us of other experiences he had at the canyon. People who didn’t stay on the trail got lost, the park closed and it’s dark. Some folks are found by the rangers and some have spent the night. The rangers find them not in good shape and feeling very disheartened. The moral of the story is the Girl Scout Motto –  “Be Prepared”

Sabino Canyon is known for flash flooding too. Several people have died or have been stranded in Sabino Canyon from flash flooding over the years. In recent years someone died jumping in to the falls and a helicopter came to retrieve the body, a bunch of onlookers were swept away because the wall of water came down so fast they could not get out of the way. Another time two deaths occurred due to flash flooding when a wall of water cascaded over a waterfall. In 1985 the canyon had a terrible flash flood that resulted in significant damage and loss of seven lives and 50 people  were injured during the event.  The moral of this story is, “Stay alert for signs of heavy rain and Get to the higher ground If flooding occurs”.

We got off at stop 3 at the bottom of the map at the red crawler shuttle, and started hiking The Bear Canyon Trail. It’s a scenic trail that has a moderate-difficulty hiking trail that follows the canyon floor, eventually leading to Seven Falls. The trail crosses Sabino Creek seven times times, and has beautiful views of both Sabino and Bear canyons.  We figured the hike we would about a 4 miles or maybe 5 mile hike at the most.

The Bear Canyon trail takes you through a multitude of creek crossings, taking you up through and down through the rocks, in between the rocks and sandy areas. It’s a very scenic trail that keeps you a hopin.

We stopped just before the Seven Falls Trail starts, we decided not to go further because we weren’t prepared and there most likely wasn’t any water in the falls ahead. We’ve gone about 3 miles so we headed back the same way then we took the the trail to the dam.

We also learned that people are rescued in the canyon all the time by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the Arizona Dept. of Public Safety and mostly by the Southern Arizona Rescue Association (SARA). SARA it is a non-profit volunteer organization that provides free search and rescue services. The organization has been serving southern Arizona and Pima County since 1958. These people are truly dedicated, they don’t get paid and give up a lot of their time.

They have specific qualifications that need to be met. They do their training climbing up on the Blackett’s Ridge Trail in Sabino Canyon with live saving equipment on their backs. The trail is considered one of the most difficult hikes in Tucson  It’s known for its narrow ridge and steep climbs, requiring experienced hikers. It has an elevation of 4409 feet. The trail starts at 2,725 feet and gains approximately 1,765 feet of elevation. 

On 4-15-25, the SARA was requested by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department to assist in the extrication of a person that had stumbled on trail and injured themselves. The injury did not allow them to walk out and required a stokes out. Just a normal day for them, they truly need them here.

Dave’s favorite Cactus is the Ocitillo

Dave is checking the map to pin point our location.

Dave is trying to hitch a ride.. . 🎵Ride, Ride, Ride, Hitchin a Ride 🎶

We were surprised to see the dam so dry this year.

When we were there last year in May the dam was flowing.

We took the Dam Trail to stop #3 where the crawler picks you up. We were a couple of minutes late so we figured we’d walk back to truck in the over flow parking lot. Dave said we must have walked a little over 5 miles. I was laughing cause we already walked a little past 6 miles. We started walking and when we were part way there here comes the Crawler passing us, It Was Late! So we figured we might as well walk the whole way back a total of 7.5 miles! We were definitely feelin the hike but we we’re laughing cause were Not to Shabby for a Couple of Old Codgers.

On Friday April 11th Voyager had a “Fruity Floats with Friends.” An ice cream party at the pool.

It was a warm day so it was perfect for ice cream at the pool. It just doesn’t get any better.

On Saturday April 12th we went to a Car Show at Little Anthony’s Diner.

It’s always fun to go to a car show at Little Anthony’s. They didn’t have a huge selection this time, but you can always find one that you could picture yourself driving down the road in.

Another reason is to go to Little Anthony’s Diner besides the car show is their delicious food! Especially a delicious Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings, even cranberries. They even ask if you want white meat, dark meat or mixed. Plus the atmosphere is always fun. If your ever in the Tucson area give them a try.

Saturday was the perfect morning for a walk in the desert across from Voyager

You can see the green in the desert and some of the cacti are starting to bloom.

Dave came upon this snake, when it saw him it was ready to strike. We went around it but I managed to get a picture. Our first encounter with a rattler! Good eye Dave!!

It’s Sunday April 20th

Hope Everyone had a great Easter

The Easter Bear here at Voyager

Friday April 25th was my last Happy Hour at Fat Willy’s for awhile. Myself and some of my wonderful friends celebrated. Fun as Always!

           

a shrug, a hug
       touchdown, letdown
  waving, curling, sprouting
 disco, vogue; praise, prayer
 bird-pecked, green-specked
 skeletonized, or multiplied
 flower and fruity fingered
  flipped, frail, or fallen off
  perfected, nested, crested
  ~Terri Guillemets, “Saguaro arms,” 2020

The Cactus were starting to show off their beautiful colorful flowers!

Tomorrow April 29th, We’re heading back East and leaving the West behind us for a bit.

“I had a pard who came from Arizona. All day long and half the night that broncho buster would rave about Arizona. Well, he won me over. Arizona must be wonderful.”
“But Pan, isn’t it desert country?”
“Arizona is every kind of country…“
~Zane Grey, Valley of Wild Horses, 1947

Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Spring in Arizona is from March to May.  It makes it nice to walk around the park and see the flowers in people’s yards.

 

“Some old-fashioned things like Spring flowers, fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat” – Laura Wilder

We celebrated at Fat Willy’s the restaurant here at Voyager. It was Burger Monday so we got a burger, fries and birthday cake. yummy.

“You make the world a brighter place just by being in it—Happy Birthday!

On Saturday March 8th we went to the Fort Lowell Museum located in the park to the “Fort Lowell Day Celebration of History of the Fort and neighborhood.” It included a self-guided walking tour along Fort Lowell Road, and at the historic San Pedro Chapel, 5230 E. Fort Lowell Rd. Tucson.

Fort Lowell was a military supply post that is now run by the Oresidio museum that we went to see in February. Visitors can see the buildings and also the ruins of buildings in the fort which are being protected and rebuilt. You can explore Army life during the Apache wars and see displays about the purpose and history of the fort, its soldiers, and their families, Displays are also included about the Apache of the region and the pre-history of the area.

hospital – before

Ruins of the hospital that they are reconstructing.

Commanding officer’s house Before – Museum Now

The Army moved the fort here because it was a pretty consistent source of water and it was good spot for farming. Another good reason the fort was built here in 1873 was because the Army had worn out its welcome in downtown Tucson. Some rowdy soldiers who frequently got drunk and assaulted civilians were farther away but still available to protect the area and spend money. “The Army said ‘Hey let’s get them ’em out of here, let’s put ’em somewhere else.'” The soldiers packed up their tents and equipment and moved seven miles outside of Tucson, establishing a new location for Camp Lowell. The camp was renamed Fort Lowell in 1879. At its peak, Fort Lowell comprised approximately 30 adobe buildings, including a hospital, commissary, trading store, guard house, officers’ quarters, and kitchens. Hundreds of cavalry and infantry protected the area from Apache raiders until Fort Lowell was no longer needed by the Army and was abandoned in 1891.

Settlers moved in and used some fort buildings as residences, or stripped the buildings of useful materials. By the 1930s, much of the fort had fallen into disrepair or had been sold off. After World War II, this area became known as “El Fuerte” – “The strong.” Mexican families from Sonora soon moved north to take advantage of the “free” repurposed fort housing and framing jobs. In the early 20th century the small village continued to grow west of the ruins of the old fort. Many examples of their Sonoran-style adobe homes can be seen here today. Also visible is an irrigation system built by Mormons in the 1890s for carrying water from the Tanque Verde Creek to their farmlands nearby.

The Tucson Boy Scouts began camping near the ruins of Fort Lowell in April 1912, just a year after the Boy Scouts of Tucson were established. In 1945, with the assistance of Carlos Ronstadt (an uncle to Linda Ronstadt), local Boy Scout troops obtained 40 acres of the fort grounds to prevent developers from destroying what remained. According to historian David Leighton’s research, the scouts were actually the first to preserve some of the adobe ruins. They constructed a metal roof over the ruins of the Fort Lowell Hospital. Eventually the property was donated to Pima County when the scouts could no longer afford the maintenance costs.  I’m thinking camping at the fort was a really neat thing to do.

Ready, Aim, Fire 🔥

Playing games they did back then.

Fort Lowell had a baseball team. On the table they had home made balls, bases and bats that were used back then. Batter, Batter – Swing

The 4th Cavalry Regimental Band of Fort Lowell

Volunteers were cooking food that the soldiers would have eatten back then.

People came into the fort riding their horses with period clothes.

It was fun to be here in the fort with lots of events going on.

We went on a walk with archaeologist Homer Thiel. He took us across Craycroft Road to the other section of the park, which is closed unless special events are going on. There are also ruins on several sites on this side of the park, including three of the original seven officers’ quarters buildings.

Officer’s quarters

Homer Thiel spoke of another attraction to the fort, the Hohokam culture that existed here and in the Sonoran Desert from about AD 500 to 1450. The fort was a large Hohokam village that was here mainly because of the availability of a constant water source that made the area a great place to settle. Living in the desert it’s all about water. The Hohokam are well known for their beautiful painted pottery, elaborate projectile points, carved stone, shell items, ballcourts, and platform mounds.

But the living history of Fort Lowell also needs to be experienced by going outside the museum and into the surrounding neighborhood.

When the Fort was no longer, Mexican families moved into the area. They used materials from the fort’s buildings, they constructed a growing community and built the San Pedro Chapel.  The Chapel sits on a hillside overlooking the Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood with spectacular views of Tucson’s Catalina Mountains. It was such as awe-inspiring surprise to see the San Pedro Chapel and the surrounding neighborhood. It is Tucson’s first designated Historic Landmark, on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built of mud adobe by residents of the neighborhood in 1932 and served as their principal place of worship for decades. Although no longer used for worship services, it is still used for wedding and other events.

A quaint little chapel in the desert

Right next to the Chapel they had music playing, people dancing and partaking in delicious Mexican food.

 

It is called La Capillita, which means little chapel. This small sanctuary is a reconstruction of the earliest religious structure on this site. First erected in about 1915, La Capillita was served by a Carmelite father who rode out from Holy Family Parish in Tucson for the services. The community gathered in front of this tiny structure under the shade of mesquite trees while the priest stood inside. In 1997, an archeological exploration revealed the original walls, the mud adobe foundation, and the packed dirt floor of the original sanctuary.  The sanctuary was restored with historical accuracy.

And outside La Chapillita is a bench with a dead mesquite tree trunk behind it. The story is that the mesquite tree was left in place as a reminder of the original El Fuerte families who stood outside the chapel under a mesquite tree for Sunday Mass.

It was great to see Ft. Lowell but the Neighborhood is what was truly amazing!

Welcome to Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association, Inc. (OFLNA) web site. We are neighbors dedicated to preserving the history and unique character of our Tucson neighborhood … from Hohokam farmers of 1,700 years ago, to the Cavalry of the 1800s, to El Fuerte’s families, to the present day.

The Alterations people made of the existing building through out the Neighborhood were incredible, as they made simple adobes and such into incredible Mansions!

El Callejón is a narrow dirt road in the heart of the Old Fort Lowell neighborhood and historic district. This narrow lane was part of the post Fort “El Fuerte” village that was established in the 1890s and continued through the 1940s. El Callejón was originally settled as a ranchería—a small, rural community of dispersed, often widely separated friends and families living in homes, kind of a small knit family, characteristic of northern Sonora and southern Arizona. The residents here lived a lifestyle closely connected to the land and its resources. It holds significant cultural, environmental, and ecological history, intertwined with the region’s heritage and the families who called this place home in the 20th century.

La Tiendita, or “Little Store,” was built out of sun-dried adobe bricks by Manuel Lujan and his brother Juan in 1947. It was intended to serve as a community center and grocery store for the El Fuerte community, The store unfortunately was only in business for a short time. It was due to the decline of the El Fuerte community due to environmental challenges.  Manuel Lujan and his family eventually moved to Yuma in search of work marking La Tiendita’s end. The building at one time served as a studio for industrial designer and artist Giorgio Belloli. 

At one time the owners repainted the sign. The newer owner’s rebuilt the store making and using adobe bricks. You couldn’t go back in the area but it suppose to be a very nice home with all the hard work they did.

One of the Mansions. Known as “The Hen-House Wall” a designated historic piece of Tucson history located in Fort Lowell Historic Neighborhood. The house was built in 1873 and the holes in the wall provided ventilation for the hen house that supplied Ft. Lowell and the neighborhood with chickens and eggs. Abandoned in 1891 the mud adobe was rebuilt in the late 1930’s. A major renovation in the 1990’s joined the henhouse with its sutler’s cottage to create an updated modern retreat and the henhouse wall became incorporated into the house to reuse the historic structures. The house remains a cherished memorial to their legacy, owned and inhabited by their descendants.

The path we were taking was in back of some the historic houses by the fort, including The Hen House. We were looking at the back yard from the fence in the last picture, which was very nice. I found out the the house was for sale in 2022 and I saw some beautiful pictures of what I call a mansion. The house is huge and beautiful and of course it comes with a built in pool.

The Corbett Irrigation Ditch, dating back to the 1860s, served as a lifeline for agricultural activities in the area. Fed by gravity from the Tanque Verde area, the ditch supported a thriving mesquite bosque, a remnant of the old Fort Lowell Mesquite Bosque. However, urban development and water scarcity have threatened the existence of both the ditch and the bosque, highlighting the challenges of preserving historical landscapes in a rapidly changing environment. The community is helping to save the ditch, one of the things they are doing is removing an invasive plant that is taking over the area.

Dave continuing to walk on the path we’ve been taking to the Juan’s House.

Built in 1956 by Juan Xavier, a tribal leader and former cowhand and welder, the Juan Xavier House stands as a testament to indigenous heritage and cultural exchange. Xavier, born on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation, was known for his storytelling and his contributions to the neighborhood, including the construction of outdoor patios and adobe fireplaces.

We were following a lady who said there was houses further down a different path, but unfortunately they weren’t open to the public today.

Another Mansion, Built in1952 the house was owned by Proto and Felicitas García and later their son Cuauhtémoc, a skilled carpenter and miner, contributed to the restoration in the neighborhood. His craftsmanship and dedication to preserving heritage were evident in the construction of a beautiful capillain in front of his house, honoring his wife and mother.

Unfortunately the Mansion wasn’t open to visit. We continued to follow the path to the next stop.

It was originally built as the Fort Lowell Post Traders Store in 1870 from un stabilized mud adobe in a territorial style. After the closure and decommissioning of the Fort, the property had successive owners and uses including a farm headquarters and tuberculous sanatorium. In 1976 it was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This Mansion we got to see inside!

It was gorgeous! In 1873 John B. “Pie” Allen built a trading post near Fort Lowell.  19-room structure contained storeroom, a bar, gaming rooms for officers and enlisted men, and living quarters. The post trader provided necessary and welcome diversions for the soldiers. After several uses the ranch fell to ruins. The property was purchased by the Bolsius Family in 1934. In 1974 and again in 2022 the house had major alterations and in 2023 the house was purchased again from people from New York. They were kind enough to let people see their beautiful mansion. Dave was talking to the owners and joking asked where the pool was, the owners then pointed to where the in ground pool was, no joke.

1934 – 1960s:  Dutch brothers Charles & Pete Bolsius, and Pete’s wife Nan Bolsius, spotted the ruins of the Post Trader’s Store at 5325 East Fort Lowell on a trip to Tucson from Santa Fe. They bought and restored it, with Nan & Charles hand carving doors and beams and sculpting . Later they bought the adjacent Quartermaster’s Commissary, restoring it in the same way. Charles was a painter, having studied at the Hague; Pete’s primary role was to earn the money which supported all three during the restorations, but he also worked with tin, making candelabras, frames and lamps.

Following the path to Site 23 and 24.

House – Before, The Bolsius home, formerly the sutter’s store, built in 1870, at the Ft. Lowell.

We went into this Mansion too! Check out the carved doors by Charles Bolsius

The Charles Bolsius House was originally a small adobe storehouse-workshop located on the property of the Fort Lowell Quartermaster and Commissary Storehouse. The house was designated a contributing property to the Fort Lowell Historic District and in 1978 it was individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1942, the Quartermaster and Commissary Storehouse Property was sold to members of the Bolsius family for $10.00. Many alterations were made through out the years.

Cheruy house before renovations. It’s now listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Built in the 1870s, this storied adobe has lived many lives—first as a U.S. Cavalry fort stable, then a humble farmhouse, and later, an artist’s sanctuary of famous French artists Rene and Madame Germaine and Rouget Cheruy. Being restored the Casa Cheruy is a place of history and grace with Southwestern charm blended in.

This beautiful mansion is now an AirBnb for only $785 a night with a minimum stay of two nights. What are you waiting for, it’s a steal. 😄

On the property sits this building that was once the blacksmith shop for the fort and at one time was likely used as a barn or hen coop in in the early 1900’s

EARLY ARTISTS & CRAFTSMEN OF THE OLD FORT LOWELL NEIGHBORHOOD

There was a community of famous artist’s in the ft. Lowell Neighborhood, It was called the Old Fort Artist’s Colony. Starting in 1934, Nan, Pete and european artist Charles Bolsius purchased and reconstructed the adobe ruins of the Fort Lowell Post Traders Store converting the property into their home and studio.  Through the 1930’s and 40’s a number other artists moved into Old Fort Lowell creating a artist colony.  Notable artists and intellectuals built homes and lived in the crumbing adobe ruins. The artist colony attracted famous writers and poets including beat generation author Alan Harrington and Jack Kerouac whose visit is documented in his iconic book On the Road.

Two artists, René Cheruy and his wife Germaine Rouget who was born in Paris, were famous artists through out Europe and America. In 1924 they moved to America. But In 1939, “carrying two suitcases”, Germaine Cheruy arrived in Tucson, Arizona to spend the winter.  She rented a small house and described Tucson as a “wilderness” where “everybody was friendly, you never shut your door. You could go to the movies for hours for 16 cents or the market with a dollar for the whole week’s shopping.”  By the late 1940s the couple purchased Casa Cheruy establishing a home and studio. In their home they hosted receptions and and parties for other artist and writers.   I thinks it’s very attention grabbing that such famous artists like Germaine Cheruy would hang out in this area in Tucson. But with an artist’s imagination, cleverness and artfulness mixed with the beauty of the surroundings mountains and I begin to see why.

Germaine Rouget Cheruy Paintings.

After the fort was abandoned the commissary building was modified and converted to apartments. As of March 1, 2023. The City of Tucson now owns the property. We talked to a lady who was on the, Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood Association, Inc., she lived in one of the apartments and said they were very nice and she enjoyed living there.

Today, this Historic area and it’s many stories of transformation capture the Tucson style of the American Southwest. From the Hohokam who inhabited the Tucson basin and settled a large village on the property during the Sweetwater phase (circa C.E. 650-700); to the establishment of the US Territorial Fort Lowell from 1873 – 1891; from the construction of a hispanic farming community in the ruins of the fort to the creation of an artist colony in the desert city in the 1930’s. This area symbolizes the cultures and people who called this place home today. Dave and I were thrilled to have this is opportunity to experience authentic Tucson, especially the residents who opened up their area and homes 1 or 2 days a year and show off their beautiful El Fuerte neighborhood, and for us to see i’s rich historical background and the beautiful mountain landscape of Ft. Lowell.

We were so surprised to see that the Fort Lowell Neighborhood with the old adobe building are now beautiful mansions as well as other new beautiful homes that are now in the Neighborhood of old Fort Lowell.

“Mystery, deep and shadowy broods over the desert. By night stars keep an ever tender watch from their sentinel stations in the sky: and by day white clouds, the great birds […] filt across the azure field. ”

Hike to Picture Rocks Petroglyphs In

March 10th we hiked to see The Picture Rocks petroglyphs at the foothills of the Tucson Mountains and the Sonoran Desert. We drove to Camino del Cerro where to there is a place to park, and headed out to see the petroglyphs. The petroglyphs is a site with hundreds of petroglyphs from the Hohokam era and before carved into the rocks, we were excited to check them out. We started at the Thunderbird trail which passes through State land and a portion of Saguaro West National Park.

Then we picked up Cactus Canyon Trail and followed it to Coyote Pass Trail, then Picture Rocks Wash Trail. We continued down the wash and stopped at an old rusted out truck.

It was a perfect morning to take a hike with the amazing scenery and a few spring flowers here and there.

An old rusted truck on the path.

During World War II, General George Patton used this area as headquarters for tank training. Eventually the railroad and the highways — first U.S. 80 and then Interstate 8 — would parallel the trail that was blazed so very long ago.

A few more steps and we were there.

It was awesome to see hundreds of petroglyphs carved into rocks right next to you.

The site’s glyphs are of a variety of designs, depicting anthropomorphs (human-like figures, but archaeologists are unsure if they depict humans, deities, or something else), animals, and designs such as spirals. Archaeologists are unsure of the meanings of most of the petroglyphs, however, one of the spiral glyphs on the west face of the rock formation interacts with the sunlight in a way that indicates its use as a calendar. During each fall equinox and summer solstice, the light interacts with the glyph to form a “light dagger” through the center of the spiral.

Petroglyphs are pictures that told a story, showed an account of events, were instructional tools, calendars, maps, astronomical charts, etc. They were a part of early communication, and I’m sure some were just someone showing off, like today’s graffiti.

The Picture Rocks petroglyphs are on the property of the Redemptorist Renewal Retreat, so we had to check it out while we were there.

“For visitors who take precious time away from their demanding life circumstances, the Renewal Center becomes what it once was for the Hohokam, who etched their appreciation of life and its meaning on the jagged rocks hundreds of years ago it’s now called holy ground.”

It’s in a beautiful location, in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains and the gorgeous Sonoran Desert. A place that provides a unique opportunity for solitude, reflection, prayer and contemplating life. I know I wouldn’t mind staying there for a week or even two, too be able to renew and repair, what about you?

One of the things they have is a Labyrinth. We’ve walked these before but this one was amaze not just a round circle. So we both walked the path in and out.

People leave personal items at the rock, I believe as a spiritual connection to express grief or remembrance, a simple offering of their faith.

We followed the Stations of the Cross, it’s a way to commemorate Jesus’s passion and death on the cross. There are 14 stations that stations, I thought you might like to see a few of them.

1st Station of the Cross

3rd Station of the Cross

5th Station of the Cross

7th Station of the Cross

8th Station of the Cross

9th Station of the Cross

We’ve reached the 14th station of the cross, “Jesus is Laid in the Tomb,” this marks the end of the Jesus’s suffering and symbolizes the burial of Jesus, a time of sorrow and hope before his resurrection.

The hike we took to the petroglyphs and to the Renewal Redemption Center was spiritual. I think it’s exciting to see remnants of a far gone era. Plus walking the Labyrinth and the stations of the cross you felt a connection between the new and the old existences.

Mission San Xavier del Bac, The White Dove of the Desert.

The first time we came to see San Xavier del Bac Mission was with our friends Scott & Dawna in March of 2023. We didn’t get to see the alter due to the refurbishing being done.

There were four main artists that painted the artwork inside the church, with the assistance of many Pima Indians who filled in the colors with native available stains from plants and animals. Almost every available space inside the mission has a painting or sculpture. The paintings have the look of the Folk and Baroque style art of 1700’s religious figures.

The alter was once again has been painstakingly restored using only original materials found in the desert, basically they hand painted bricks on the wall using plant dies, not an easy job. The amount of artwork on the walls and ceiling is completely overwhelming considering it was done over 220 years ago by Indians climbing up over 50 feet to the ceilings on log ladders that were tied together with leather straps.

We did go back on March 18th to see the alter area finished.

It is for sure an elaborate, multi-colored, decorated alter. When it all really hits you, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

Located at the western end of 36th Street this trailhead takes you to the Tucson Mountain Park and Enchanted Hills Trails Park.

We took the 36th Street trail to the Max Shemell Trail and back.

Walking on the trail on the other side of the wash were these mansions with beautiful views. On the down side, if there is one, they have to have their own roads to get to their driveways.

Walking on the trail above us. . . . . was it a bird, a plane, no it wasn’t superman, it was the Goodyear Blimp! up close and personal, We were both shocked to see it.

We stopped at the Max Shemwell Trail and headed back the way we came.

Another great day for a hike in the mountains of Tucson.

The Thunder & Lightning Over Arizona Air Show was Held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Central Tucson On the weekend of March 22-23, 2025

Dave, Me and Alicia went to see the Thunder and Lighting Over Arizona Air Show.

Celebrating the power and precision of military aviation, with thrilling aerial demonstrations.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is known for its air support missions and ground attack units.

Opening Ceremonies

Let the 2025 Thunder & Lightning Over Arizona Air Show begin: Featured performances by:

• AFA Wings of Blue
• Kirby Chambliss Edge 540 Teaser
• HC-130J Combat King Flyby
• Brad Wursten MX-2
• Jon Melby S-1-11B
• Smoke N’ Thunder Jet Car
• EA-18G Growler Demo Team (2)
• Launch CSAR
• Tom Larkin MiniJet
• DM CSAR Demonstration
• Vicky Benzing P-51
• Ace Maker T-33 (2)
• F-35A Demo/Heritage Flight
• Kirby Chambliss Edge 540
• U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds

We had great seats in the front row.

The ‘Purple Mustang’ is an iconic fixture in the warbird community. Among the highlights of the air show is a performance by Vicky Benzing, one of the few female aerobatic pilots in the United States. Showcasing her skills in the iconic purple P-51 Air Racer, “Plum Crazy.” With very few warbirds still flying in the country, Benzing’s performance is a rare spectacle, especially as one of the few flown by a female aerobatic pilot. She was amazing to watch.

They had a car race a plane.

The Thunderbirds perform these incredible demonstrations all over the world and are part of the USAF combat force and if required, can be rapidly integrated into an operational fighter unit.

It was extra neat to be able to wave to the pilots as they were taking off or coming back down.

The three of us all really enjoyed “The Thunder & Lightning Over Arizona Air Show” Being that close you could feel the excitement overload of sound and energy. You felt the ground shake and the roaring blast of the planes and the crowd cheering!

.

Feliz Año Nuevo!

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
― C.S. Lewis

May this new year bring you joy, succes, cherished moments and most of all a year filled with good health.

2024 was a difficult chapter for some of our dear friends and family having health issues. These people are fighters who made it through the roughest part of their journey. They and their spouses are an inspiration to me and Dave and everyone who knows them.

They keep on fighting and never give up hope and know they gotta keep laughing cause laughter is the best medicine. 🙏✝️ Keep the Faith and Stay Strong 😊💗

Voyager had a golf ball drop that we were planning on attending but unfortunately I read the write-up wrong and thought “The Golf Ball Drop” was going to happen close to 3pm.

We never attended a golf ball drop but this one of the ways it’s done. Participants enter the contest by purchasing a golf ball with a number on it. Then, at a designated time, you drop a large number of golf balls onto a golf course from a helicopter, crane, or cherry picker. The owner of the ball closest to the hole wins a prize.

So we did our own Golf Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve 2024. Maybe next year we’ll show up at the right time.

“May your troubles be less and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door, and occasionally wine and chocolates.” — Irish Proverb

I went to a New Years Day party at my friend Alicia’s new house in the Cove, part of Voyager rv park. It was a good time with friends from Voyager.

 

Me and 3 of my friends went to the sock hop. It was a rockin and a rollin good time.

Did you know that the 1950s American high school gymnasium phenomenon of a “hop” is short for “sock hop”, so named because kids were required to take off their shoes before hopping around to music so as not to scratch up and ruin the gymnasium floor. I didn’t but sock hops were a bit before my time.

“Well, I know that you’re in love with him ’cause I saw you dancing in the gym. You both kicked off your shoes, and I dig those rhythm & blues. song American Pie

The band played Elvis, Chubby Checkers, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brother’s . . . . .

ALERT: for January 25th a Prisoner escaped from UPDATE (1/25): ASPC- Arizona Prison Complex in Tucson, prison staff responsed immediately and implemented escape protocols and alerted local law enforcement to locate Elijah Palmer. He is an inmate that was sentenced out of Pima County for the unlawful use of transportation on August 06, 2024. He is at the Whetstone Unit at the Arizona State Prison.

The Arizona State Prison is a minimum security prison across the street in the dessert about about 3 miles from Voyager.

Elijah Palmer escaped from the prison at 4:00 am. He hid in the desert until approximately 9:00 am. Our friend Alicia when taking her morning walk saw a suspicious man with no shirt on and orange pants rolled up into shorts heading her way. She called the security in the park and the park was shut down and the enternace gates were closed. At 10:00 am Dave & I were walking Cooper, we saw sherrif cars go through out the park and up in the sky was a hellicopter flying all around Voyager. Our first thought was it must have been an illegal immigrant being chased but we were informed a prisoner had escaped from accross the street.

We heard that he took a broom and started sweeping an area near the resturant, then he was seen at the golf club house getting a drink of water.

Palmer, has been in prison since August 6, 2024 and his projected release date was May 12, 2025. The question is why would he try to escape when he had only had four months left? Now he will have to be be in jail for a lot longer.

Just before 2 p.m., the Pima County Sheriff’s Department posted on social media that he had been captured.

That was the excitement that morning at Voyager RV Resort. Prior to this prison escape there hasn’t been one for 29 years.

The best news on January 25th, our friends from Georgia, Skip & Nancy came to visit us here at Voyager.

Actually they didn’t ride their bikes here they came with their camper and their lovable dog Bubah.

We visited the Presidio San Agustin Del Tucson with Skip & Nancy. The Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum is a reconstruction of the original Tucson Presidio that was a Spanish fort built in 1775. It was definitely an interesting place located behind large adobe walls.

The main entrance has gift a shop where you purchase your tickets. There were also some displays and artifacts of Tucson’s history. This area is located in a house where an original Sonoran Row Home was built inthe 1870s. 

A company of Spanish soldiers started the construction of the fort started in 1755.  At first it consisted of a scattering of buildings, some inside a high wooden fence and adobe walls. It was complete in May 1783. The fort measured about 670 ft. The main gate, the presidial chapel, the commandant’s house all were in the center and the interior walls were lined with homes, stables, and warehouses. The massive adobe walls that required constant maintenance, especially when attacks by Native Americans were anticipated. The fort remained intact until the American arrival in 1856, when Arizona became part of the United States.  Afterward, it was dismantled, with the last standing portion torn down in 1918.

 The Presidio Courtyard is made to look like the Presidio San Agustín during its height of occupation. 

On the left is a representation of the living quarters of a soldier with a family, while the space on the right reflects a barracks for bachelor soldiers. The soldiers staying in the barracks hung their uniforms on pegs on the wall and also stored their weapons here. They also ate at a communal table. On one of the barracks beds is a cuera.  It is made from seven layers of deerskin and was worn as protection from arrows.

Soldiers served for 10 years, some would re-inlist because they had a place to live. During the period between the 1790s and 1820s, between 100 and 106 soldiers were stationed at the fortress. As soldiers retired, many stayed on in the community with their families, working as farmers in fields on the Santa Cruz River floodplain.

  The mural was painted by Tucson artist Bill Singleton and his sons.

This Presidio Courtyard murial was painted to look like the Presidio San Agustín during its height of occupation. 

In 1821, Spain accepted Mexico’s Independence after an eleven year conflict. For residents of the Tucson Presidio life did not change much. The Mexican Army did not arrive for a few years and when it did the Spanish flag was taken down and the Mexican flag was put up.

The Presidio remained in use as a protective fort until the Americans entered Tucson in March 1856. By then, residents were interested in newer constructions and bricks from the Presidio were taken and used.

The Siqueiros-Jacome House, built between the 1860s and 1870s, is notable for the fact that the soil used to create its adobe bricks was extracted from a large pit located in the house’s backyard; essentially, the house’s very foundation was “mined” from the land directly behind it. 

How the Siqueiros-Jacome house – Gift shop looks today.

We found the museum impressive, with it’s layers of Tucson’s historical past and the unique stories that go along with the reconstruction. It was a good way to learn about the very beginnings of Tucson. Cause ya know you gotta preserve & appreciate history.

I heard from friends that you have to go to Boca’s Mexican Resturant on 4th street downtown. Now I know why, the food was delicious! Maria Mmazon The chef of Boca’s was featured on Top Chef, Food Network, New York Times, and Travel Channel; Tucson City of Gastronomy Certified; James Beard Award Semifinalist, not bad.

I’m glad we went there with Skip and Nancy it was La comida era excelente!

January 30th, 2025

You walk through the gift shop and then into the museum with everyting from horseless carriage to a new 350 Shelby, with lots in between.

We liked the 1909 Buick Model 10 above because of the open rumble seat or “mother-in-law” seat in the back. It must have been a bumpy ride.

The Horseless Carriages.

There are 48  Ford Model Ts, one of the company’s most successful vehicles that sold more than 15 million units from 1908 to 1927. The last picture is a Mid-Teens Ford Model T Speedster.

Dave is standing by a 1966 Mustang Coupe. He got one when he was a kid, a few years back, fixed it up somewhat and sold it. Could this be his old Coupe?

1968 Mustang GT/CS Nice car, I like the display with the chairs, gril and green drinks in the bottles.

A 1967 She Country Mustang, color is Bermuda Sand.

Bill Goodro Ford in Denver, Colorado was a well-known Denver dealership. After Bill Goodro passed away on May 5, 1965, his wife, Ann, took over the business. Ann Goodro marketed a She Country Mustang starting in April 1967.

The She Country Special had a decidedly feminine design flair, beginning with the vehicle’s color. Goodro ordered 48 She Country Specials for her dealership, including 12 each in the pastel colors of Limelite Green, Bermuda Sand, Evening Orchid, and Autumn Smoke. Each vehicle came with an orchid corsage and a personalized nameplate mounted on the dashboard that included the engraved name of the purchaser. Goodro took the female theme a step further by installing the first women’s waiting lounge in her dealership, which she decorated with colored lights and stuffed animals. The She Country Special was a rousing success, as it helped Goodro increase the dealership’s sales by 12 percent. Ann Goodro eventually became the first female president of the Colorado Auto Dealer’s Association in 1977.

The She Mustang was so popular it is now available through GreenLight Collectibles in a die cast models with all the 4 original pastel colors. of Limelite Green, Bermuda Sand, Evening Orchid, and Autumn Smoke. I sure wish I had the real thing not a die cast model.

They had old bikes thru out the museum. Dave had a brand new 1966 Fast Back growing up. He was stylin. . .

I would also take this 1957 Thunderbird off their hands.

 They had some Ace Hardware trucks around, here are pictures of two. Remember their Jingle “Ace is the place with the helpful hardware store?”

The museum had old restored.fire trucks.

They restored this truck into a replica of the truck on the series “Emergency” in 1973.

This is a long 1923 ALF tiller straight frame fire truck. It had a service ladder that was unique because its rear drive wheels could be steered by a tillerman sitting on the seat in the back. This allowed for enhanced maneuverability in tight spaces. The truck is about 40 ft. long and it took 4 or 5 firemen to work this truck. They just had this fire truck out and about, it would have been neat to see how the operate it.

An old fire truck pulled by horses was called a horse drawn fire engine. Fire departments used horses to pull hose wagons, steam-powered pumpers, and hook-and-ladder carts. 

That makes me feel safe, that’s when you use your fire bucket

Inside the building where the fire trucks are they have a mock fire station.

When you jump make sure you aim for the red dot. I learned at the museum that fire buckets have round bottoms, you can see from picture. The rounded bottom creates a strong, directed stream of water when it’s thrown at a fire and they can’t stand up on their own, making them less likely to be stolen.

They have some early roadsters. They have a sporty apperance and perform like sports cars. 

Here’s some heavy duty machinery.

We all thought this was really neat. Wouldn’t it be fun to ride in one?

The museum also has a doll collection and a collection of old chain saws.

Joe Findysz is the owner of the museum, began collecting cars at age 14. There were volunteers in the museum that actually had their cars there. People who put a lot of time into restoring the vehicles who were proud of the work they did. The volunteers all had stories to tell and they all had an obvious affection for old cars. A great place to visit if your into classic cars.

On February 3rd we took our friends to Sabino Canyon. The Canyon is always listed in the top 5 things to do in Tucson. We love Sabino Canyon and we knew our friends would too.

We took a trail and saw a rare Broccoli saguaro, also known as crested saguaros. They have a fan-shaped crest at the top of their main stem or arms that look like broccoli. Scientists estimated that for every 200,000 normal cacti, there is only one Broccoli Saguaro.

Howdy All, It’s February 4th, Dave and I have enjoyed being in Tombstone again with Skip and Nancy. We went here to see The Good Eenough Mine Tour, eat at Big Nose Kate’s Returant & Bar and see the famous “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. It’s a fun place to visit to check out the historical landmarks and learn about the just how wild the Wild West was.

“The town was established on Goose Flats, a mesa above the Goodenough Mine. Within two years of its founding, although far distant from any other metropolitian area. Tombstone had a bowling alley, four churches, an  ice house, a school, two banks, three newspapers, and an ice cream parlor, alongside 110 saloons, 14 gambling halls, and numerous dance halls and brothels. All of these businesses were situated among and atop many silver mines. The gentlemen and ladies of Tombstone attended operas presented by visiting acting troupes at the Schieffelin Hall opera house, while the miners and cowboys saw shows at the Bird Cage Theatre and brothel.”

Photos of Tombstone in 1881

Before and after, the Bird Cage Theatre and brothel where the miners and cowboys hung out.

Tombstone Silver Mines.

The Gunther’s and Gerber’s

Old mining equipment around the mining areas.

The history of mining in Tombstone began when Ed Schieffelin filed his first mining claim in 1877 he named it “Tombstone,” because he’d been told that his tombstone was all that he would find in the parched, Apache-ruled hills of southeast Arizona. A year later, when he filed his second claim, he named it “Good Enough” because the silver ore was so rich that it was good enough to satisfy him.

By 1880 there were over 3000 mining claims in the Tombstone district. Most of these claims were small operations that did not make a lot of headlines with their productions. However, there were several established operations with machines that produced thousands of tons in ore. Some of the notable mining operations in the district included, The Lucky Cuss Mine, The Tribute Mine, The Tough Nut Mine, The Owl’s Nest Mine and the The East Site Mine.

We took The Goodenough Mine tour that was led by a knowledgeable guide. He took us through the original 1879 workings of the mine, learned all about nineteenth century hard rock silver mining. Saw what the ore looked like and he told us how it was processed, we also was some pretty rocks and minerals. There were old artifacts and structures that have been in place for 130 years.

The whole mining area here in Tombstone is about 400 miles of trails starting at the surface and going about 500 ft. down, it’s like a city down there.

Yes you can get married in the mine. This is what the miners used when they had to relieve oneself.

Our guide told us how hard a miner’s life was. They faced many dieases and dangerous working conditions, miners died when they were only 30 years old. Early miners used a series of ladders that descended hundreds of feet into the ground. Some fell off ladders and slipped on rocks. At the end of the day, when the miners were tired, not everyone made it to the top successfully. Hoists and open cages replaced ladders, but miners sometimes fell or banged into jutting rocks. Miners suffered from mercury, lead or arsenic poisoning. Plus metals like copper, zinc and non-metallic minerals like asbestos, talc and borax. Many got sick from drinking dirty water and living too close together. Power drills and electric lights were advancements that also carried risks. Power drills created more dust, so miners who inhaled too much silica developed the chronic lung disease called silicosis. Many miners were electrocuted after electric lights were installed in underground mines. Also from bugs like hookworm and dynamite explosions.

In the early 1880s, the silver mines of Tombstone produced vast riches, and the thousands of miners making four dollars a day were spending lavishly at Tombstone businesses. While many movies have been made about Tombstone, none of them have captured the frenzied scene undoubtedly unfolding every day on the streets of Arizona’s largest city at the time.

“Mining has always had this glittery Powerball mentality.You can strike it rich, even if your chances aren’t good.”

We all enjoyed the tour, it was definitely a unique and authentic adventure. I never realized and was amazed at how hard a job it was, especially working 10 hour days. As you can tell the life of a silver miner blew me away, I hope I didn’t bore you. Mining continued all over Tombstone for a couple of decades until the mid-1920s when most of the ore had been mined out. By 1930 most of the mines in the district had closed down and most of the miners left town. Mining however continued on small scale for more years. Today the town of is a small town of just about 1000 people. People still venture out into the desert in search of gold and silver using metal detectors and other simple tools.

Estimates vary widely as to how much silver was mined a Tombstone, but it is said that over 32,000,000 ounces were produced, worth over a billion dollars today.

This is a Zebu cattle, also known as humped cattle. The man who owned the Zebu said it was like his dog, he petted it and said once a week it jumps this 6 foot fench and wanders around Tombstone. He said sooner or later someone will tell him where the Zebu is and he’ll bring it back.

Big Nose Kate’s Saloon first got its start as The Grand Hotel opening in September 9, 1880.The Grand Hotel was declared as one of the finest hotels in the state, the hotel was luxuriously furnished, provided thick carpeting, and its walls were adorned with costly oil paintings.   The hotel opened with an invitation-only ball on September 9, 1880. During its first few years, the hotel often housed some of Tombstone’s most famous residents including Wyatt and Virgil Earp, Doc Holliday, Big Nose Kate and the Clanton Gang. Sadly, The Grand Hotel did not survive the devastating Tombstone AZ fire of May 25, 1882. Today, the building is home to Big Nose Kate’s Saloon.

Kate and Doc Holiday

If your ever in Tombstone stop at Big Nose Kate’s for a bite to eat. They have good food and a fun atmosphere. There is always someome singing and people are having a good time.

Theses guys are the real deal, Virgil, Wyatt, and Morgan Earp and Doc Holiday.

The first picture is Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, John Hudson and DeForest Kelly in the 1957 movie

The second picture I’m sure you know, are Val Kilmer, Sam elliott, Kirk Russell and William Paxton in the 1993 movie.

If your in Tucson you gotta go a little further to Tombstone and and see The Famous Gunflight at O.K.

Corral. And if you have time check out Boothill Graveyard with it’s unquie grave markers.

The show was fantastice! Darwin Santos was the lead singer, if you closed your eyes you would think it was Steve Perry on stage. The band was great too, featuring lots of high energy musicians and vocalists who sounded grear together. The fellow second from the left was on the keyboards and guitar, he is from Buffalo NY.

“Better than a tribute band, Voyager killed it note for note, song after song. Vocals, guitar-unbelievable! Highly recommend you see them!” – Morris F. Lots og good reviews

Voyager is an awesome Journey tribute band, they travel all over the world so if their ever in your area you gotta go see them. What’s your favorite Journey song? Is it . . . . Anyway you want it, Faithfully, Don’t Stop Believin, Send her My Love, etc. Or maybe you just don’t like Journey.

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Alisa Dupuy did another fantastic show on Female spies of WWII.

She dressed exactly like a professional lady did in the 1940s with high heels, hat and gloves. She even pretended to be smoking a cigarrette while talking.

Vera Atkins was the Greatest Female Secret Agent of World War II. She is known as the Spymistress. She climbed her her way to the top in the Special Operations Executive, or SOE: Britain’s secret that was created to help build up, organize, and arm the resistance in the Nazi-occupied countries. Throughout the war she trained and mentored the agents for the SOE’s French Section, which sent more than four hundred young women and men into occupied France. But as the woman who carried out this astonishing effort was quintessentially English, Atkins was nothing of the sort. As we follow her through the devastation of postwar Germany, we learn Atkins herself covered her life in mystery so that even her closest family knew almost nothing of her past and were reported “Missing Atkins recruited,

Then Vera Atkins talked about an amazing spy Virginia Hall. Vrginia was an American working for British intelligence during World War II France. She had lost a leg in a hunting accident years before. She named her prosthetic leg Cuthbert, she went by the name of Marie, Brigitte or any of a half dozen other names. Some saw her as a middle-aged newspaper reporter. To others, she was a doddering old woman. To the Nazis, she was an elusive enemy, “The Lady Who Limps.” She was so feared her that Klaus Barbie, among the most savage of Nazi leaders, ordered an urgent search for the woman he called the most dangerous of all Allied spies. She went on to become the first woman field agent sent into France before and during the occupation. She set up spy networks and safe houses, and engineered a prison escape and the explosion of Nazi supply lines. She also organized resistance groups, helped conduct sabotage operations, and reported secret intelligence back to the Allies. She was never caught, and escaped France by trekking 35 miles (56km) across the icy Pyrenees, in constant pain from Cuthbert. She was the first agent to live behind the lines in Vichy. She was one of the first women agents in the CIA and was the only civilian woman of the war to receive the Distinguished Service Cross. Virginia Hall is quite a lady with her immense personal courage and determination, and how she broke through the barriers of physical limitation and gender discrimination to become America’s greatest feared spy of World War II.

Vera Atkins talked about a few other American spies in WWII

Audrey Hepburn, as a teenager growing up in the Netherlands, the Oscar-winning actress bravely carried messages for the Dutch resistance during the Nazi occupation.

Julia Child, years before she learned to cook, she worked for the OSS during World War II. Child had wanted to join military services, but was denied because of her height – a statuesque 6’2. but she wasn’t too tall to join the OSS. She helped develop a shark repellent, so sharks would no longer accidentally trigger bombs. Ever modest Child said, “I was not a spy, only a lowly file clerk.” She received an Emblem of Meritorious Civilian for her work.

Women spies greatly helped in ending WWII, some say it would have lasted a lot longer or we wouldn’t have won the war. Either way, I never realized there were so many women spies that helped tremendously during the war with different skills and abilities. When Alisa Aupuy studied for this show she didn’t realize how many spies there were, especially American women, so she had to only pick a few to talk about. She also mentioned how these great women who were tremendous spies went back home to presume their roles as housewives, cooking and doing the laundry. Not telling any body of what you went thru during the war. If they did tell I’m thinking they would walk away thinking “what the heck is she on”

We have visited both Saguaro National Parks a few times and now it’s time to decide which is best East or West?

The photos above are from both parks. I believe that I prefer West, and Dave maybe East? I’m not sure, we’ll have to go back a few times and maybe decide.

It’s the end of February, Dave & I celebrated our anniversary and it’s also an awesome guys birthday on the 27th. Can you guess who? We celebrated at Little Anthony’s a 1950’s diner in Tucson.

We would like to say “Hello” to a friend of ours, Dick Albright who we’ve known since our first voyage in Florida. He’s a great guy who been reading our blog since the beginning! Take care dear friend!

Holy Mackerel!! It’s Almost Christmas! What the heck . . . .

Here’s what we’ve been doing while the time as been flying by ……

Once again, I went with my friend Marcia and some of her fans to Madera Canyon to bird watch. It’s located on the northwest face of the Santa Rita Mountains in the Coronado National Forest. It’s known for it’s mesquite, juper-oak and pine tree woodlands that offer some of the world’s best bird watching and hiking areas.

What the heck, t’s fun coming here as there are more than 250 species of birds that can be found in Madera Canyon. Among them are the highly sought-after Elegant Trogon, Elf Owl, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Red-faced Warbler, Painted Redstart and more than 15 species of hummingbirds.

Below is the list of birds we saw

Subject: eBird — Madera Canyon–Santa Rita Lodge — Oct 25, 2024

Stationary 90 Minutes

10 Mourning Dove
3 Rivoli’s Hummingbird
1 Anna’s Hummingbird
1 Broad-tailed Hummingbird — Buffy flanks and slight spotting on gorget. Pale eye ring and green back. Bill dark
3 Broad-billed Hummingbird
1 Berylline Hummingbird — Visiting feeders infrequently. Slightly decurved dark bill. Rufous wings and with a green dark head and throat. Buzzy rattle noted prior to feeder visits
11 Acorn Woodpecker
2 Arizona Woodpecker
1 Hutton’s Vireo
13 Mexican Jay (Arizona)
1 Common Raven
6 Bridled Titmouse
2 Violet-green Swallow
4 White-breasted Nuthatch (Interior West)
1 Bewick’s Wren
14 House Finch
1 White-crowned Sparrow
1 Painted Redstart

Number of Taxa: 18

I don’t know if I saw the complete list, if I did I couldn’t tell you what the names of the birds or what colors they are. I know I did see the Arizona Woodpecker, Morning Doves, House Finches and the Raven. Most of the birds I know are common birds that you see everywhere. It’s fun watching birds and bird watchers.

It’s Halloween Eve, it used to be called it Begger’s Night. Dave, me and Sharon went to see Haunted Honeymoon at the movie room in Voyager. Sharon made great popcorn for the show.

It was the first time we saw the movie, we thought it was pretty good. It opened nationwide on July 26, 1986. The movie was the last feature film appearance by Gilda Radner (prior to her diagnosis and death from ovarin cancer. She died in May 20, 1989.

On Halloween Voyager had a lot of hootin and hollarin goin on.

Trick or treating was fun! The people who were handing out the candy wore great costumes.

Cooper got on his bowtie and cuffs and joined in on the parade excitement.

There was a lot of decorated golf carts and dogs and people in costumes. I didn’t get to take half the pictures of the people in golf carts or the dogs that participated. It was a lot of fun, especially for the dogs they got treats from kind people who were watching the the parade.

Halloween night it was time to party!

Even the band got dresses up for Halloween.

There were so many good costumes this year and I only got a chance to take a few pictures, because you can’t take pictures and dance. So I choose to dance. It was a great dance and a great day.

A few of our family members choose to celebrate Halloween too.

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It’s

In the desert

By the end of September, rain has dissipated, leaving behind an autumn desert surprisingly vibrant. Fresh green growth bursts forth, cacti are laden with fruit, and a flurry of wildflowers adds splashes of color. A sense of harmony is restored after the rains. Hope is renewed. Anything seems possible because it has rained in the desert. The low slant of sunlight adds new golden hues to the landscape. Skies are sharp and clear, with views stretching for miles.

~castle hot springs~

A walk in the desert across from Voyager.

Dave and Cooper are

On

Taking walks around the park you always get a nice showing of the sunsets.

“Don’t forget: Beautiful sunsets need cloudy skies…”

The weather here has been incredible almost everyday since we been here in October and so far December as been great too, so we’ve been at the pool in Voyager for a many a day. Especially Dave who does laps. I do laps too, but with a noodle, Not quite the same.

Novemember 21, me and some friends went to Karaoke Night at Voyager. Sharon had the courage to sing “Funky Cold Medina”

Jodi sang “These Boots are Made of Walking” by you know . . .

This guy sounded good singing “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin. I remember the song, but didn’t remember the singer.

I didn’t get a picture of this guy but he sounded really good singing “The Auctioner Song.”

I also didn’t get a picture of the lady who sang “Black Velvet” a song sung by Alannah Myles in 1989. I also didn’t know the song was about the King Elvis Presley.

A good time was had by all. The songs people sang were really diversified. Everything from Frank Sinatara’s song – Fly me to the Moon- to Radio Head’s song – Creep – and everything in between.

A bunch of us in the park get together for Happy Hour at Fat Willy’s on friday, the restuarant inside Voyager. Sometimes we want to try a new place, so we tried BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse on Broadway Blvd. in Tucson.

BJ’s was founded in 1978 by Jim Kozen and Leonard Allenstein. It first opened in Santa Ana, California, as BJ’s Chicago Pizzeria. The original name was BJ Grunts, but due to a federal trademark conflict with RJ Grunts, a Chicago-based hamburger restaurant, the name was changed to just BJ’s.

I took a picture of Elisha and Kathy when when the food came, but once I started eating I forgot all about getting a picture with Bert and myself. The food was very good.

I was to full to try one of these but next time I’m going to leave some room for sure.

The real, original, classic ice cream cookie dessert that brought about a hundred imitations was created at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. They call it the Pizookie. They havenearly a dozen different Pizookie flavors with inspiration from other beloved desserts, but the Chocolate Chunk Pizookie remains one of their earliest and favorite BJ’s innovations. The combination of a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie with cold, fresh vanilla bean ice cream is one of those desserts that you must experience to believe. Each Pizookie is baked thick in a deep dish pizza pan so it’s crisp on the bottom, chewy on the edges and soft in the middle. It looked as good as they describe it.

I can’t believe that it’s this time of the year already! I hope ya’ll had a great day.

We went to see Alisa Dupuy as Mary Jemison “The White Woman of the Genesee.” Also known as: Deh-he-wä-mis. We saw her twice before when she was at Voyager. Once she portrayed “Mathra Washington” and last Christmas she did the “Christmas Carole” she acted out all the roles of the different characters in the movie. She did a great job doing those so we went to see her again as Mary Jemison.

She talked about the life of Mary Jemison who when she was 15 was taken from her western Pennsylvania home by a Shawnee and French raiding party. Her family was killed, but Mary was traded to two Seneca sisters who adopted her. She lived to survive two Indian husbands, the births of eight children, the American Revolution, the War of 1812. In 1833 she died at about age ninety. She talked about the Indian ways and what she had learned. Her mother told her never forget how to talk english and always remember her families names, which she did.

The first picture is of Mary when she 15 and adopted by the Seneca Indians. Pictures of Mary old & young, the first statue is at Orrtanna, Adams County in Pennsylvania and the last picture is the statue at Letchworth State Park in Castile, N.Y. 

She alsospoke of how each tribe has its own language, religion, customs, governance structure, judicial system, and history. The different functions that men and women had. The men would spend their time hunting, trading and fighting. Male children would learn hunting and warrior skills from their fathers and uncles thru competive games like lacross. Women would run the planting and harvesting to sustain their villages. Female children would help their mothers with crops and household chores. Other duties of the women were to choose the clan leaders and they could also remove leaders from power. The women also played a big part in day to day tribal operations, tribal governance, and the practice of the tribe’s religious traditions. For certain Indian tribes, a women can obtain status equal to a man. A lot different then what the Western society still feels today. Way back then women were actually an important part of the tribes. When the native people presented their Western ancestors with some of these same societal notions, particularly the valuable contributions of women, Westerners were repulsed and dismissed these ideas immediately as a savage, inferior way of functioning. What the Hell!! For the Indians their power was shared equally among everyone in the Tribal Nation, with decisions made by consensus in this pure democracy, the oldest continuing one in the world.

According to the Iroquois creation myth, a prominent Native American story, the world was formed when a pregnant woman, known as the “Sky Woman,” fell from the sky onto the back of a giant turtle, essentially “stomping” on the earth she brought with her to create the land, with the help of animals like birds and beavers who brought her soil from the bottom of the ocean; this is why some Native American groups refer to the Earth as “Turtle Island.”. 

You have to admire Mary as she overcame tremendous hardships with sheer willpower, and an acceptance of present circumstances. Her story epitomizes the self-determination that defined the lives of early Adams County settlers”. If you want to learn more about her there are lots of books.

In Tucson, Arizona, the fall and winter growing season is from November to February. If there is a frost it’s usually around December 9th. Fall is a great time to plant in Tucson because the soil is still warm and there’s lots of sun. You can plant native perennials and cool season vegetables like beets, lettuce, carrots, radishes, spinach, turnips, onions, and peas. 

From mid-December through mid-June, Throughout this time, several wildflowers and cactus start blooming. With the greatest number of species in bloom in the first week of May. 

Different cacti through out Voyager park. There seems to be colorful flowers and cacti growing all the time which I didn’t expect in a dessert.

Oh…. I forgot to mention the citrus trees.

In December some citrus trees in Arizona are ready to be harvested. Which is wonderful because lots of people at Voyager have grapefruit, lemon and orange trees, which they so kindly pick and put in front of their home for people passing by and they are yummmmy!

It’s that time of year when the saguaro, ocotillo, agave, prickly pear, etc. cacti and tree trunks of the Palo Verde and Mesquite trees are decorated with Christmas ornametns of all kinds just like a Christmas trees. The folks at Voyager love to decorate as you can see.

People put lights on their cacti, Ouch…. Those prickers are mean, and you have to put the lights on and take them off. Their fingers have to be sore..

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We did go see another barbershop quartet show in the park. It was a Christmas event and they all harmonized splendidly. Another fun show.

A barbershop quartet originated in an actual barber shop where each barbershop actually had its own quartet. The first written use of the word barber shop, as in referring to the harmonizing, came about in 1910 along with the publication of the song “Play That Barbershop Chord”. Barbershop harmony can trace its beginnings to the 19th century. The songs were originally sung in unison, but over the years they slowly began adding harmony. There was no sheet music at this time, so the singers sung solely based on listening.

During this era, the local barber was more than just a hair dresser. Barber’s also pulled teeth, and performed minor surgeries. Talk about being well diversified with more than a couple occupations, it sounds like one stop could fix a few things. Barbershops slowly became a place for the town to gather and play instruments and sing while waiting for their turn.

At the turn of the century, amateur male singers would gather in quartets to perform at parties and picnics. Often time’s barbershop quartets would perform at Minstrel shows as a way to pass time, since no equipment was necessary.

A barbershop quartet there is is usually four singers who perform a cappella in the barbershop music style. The four voices in a barbershop quartet are: 

• Lead: The voice that usually carries the melody
• Bass: The voice that provides the bass line
• Tenor: The voice that harmonizes above the lead
• Baritone: The voice that often completes the chord

Some of the songs they sang.

All-female barbershop quartets are sometimes called beauty shop quartets. The ladies on the left “Havin A Blast” won 4th prize in the USA female barber shop quartet contest this year.

Golf carts in the parade. ❄️ 🎵Oh what fun it is to ride in a golf cart or ride a bike 🎶🎄Or just watch like we did.

Instead of using cigarettes lighters, we were cheering folks on with our cell phones.

We spent Christmas day with our dear friend Alicia.

Alicia made a delicious Christmas dinner with a Danish dish called Pork Roullade made with Prunes and Danish and red cabbage which was scrumptious. Along with mashed potatoes with gravy and green bean casserole. yummy.

We also tried Taffel Akvavit, also known as Aalborg Taffel Akvavit, it is a Danish spirit that’s been distilled since 1846: Flavor: A bold caraway flavor with hints of poppy seed, citrus, lemon, aniseed, and black pepper.  In Croatia where my grandmother is from, the popular drink there is Slivovitz (Plum Brandy). Just like Taffel Akavit, Slivovitz knocks your socks off as you can tell my Dave’s expression. We all had a great time. Thank you Alicia!

“Christmas—that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance—a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.” —Augusta E. Rundel

See you in 2025!

Short and sweet, “BEEP BEEP!” As the only words spoken by the fastest bird in the West, ~The Road Runner~

On Sept. 23rd, we said good-bye to family and friends back East, and headed towards Wytheville, Virginia. where we stayed overnight.

The next morning, September 24th, we headed to Johnson City in Tenneese. Our friends moved here in June so we went to check up on them.

We got to Beth’s & Fran’s new place about 12:30, hung out with them, chatting about anything and everything.

the next day September 25th, we went to check out The Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizbethon Tennessee.

The state park is listed as the most important places in Tennesse’s history. There is a museum where Dave is standing which has interesting displays, stories and artifiacts. In back of the museum stands The Fort at Sycamore Shoals which is a replica of the original replica of Fort Watauga, which is right by the Watauga River.

There is a shallow stretch of the Watauga River near the fort where The Cherokees used as a meeting place. When the settlers came they used the same location. By 1772 there were so many settlers moving to northeast Tennessee, so they figure they need some kind of government to provide law and order and organize their defense against Native American attacks. Ya’ll knew something like that was going to happen. The settlers met here, at Sycamore Shoals, to form the Watauga Association. Today this is considered to be the first majority-rule American democracy.

Three years later in March 1775, settler Richard Henderson went to negotiate with the Cherokee for the purchase of Middle Tennessee and much of Kentucky. Henderson and the Cherokee leaders met at Sycamore Shoals, those negotiations are known as the Transylvania Purchase or The Treaty of Sycamore Shoals. The Cherokee leaders sold the land in exchange for gifts. But when Dragging Canoe, son of the Cherokee chief Attakullakulla, found out he was upset to say the least. He warned the negotiators that there would be deadly fighting over the land purchased that day, he and his followers stormed away from the negotiations.

The Transylvania Purchase got settlers moving into the Middle of Tennessee. Which also started a war between settlers living in northeast Tennessee and Cherokee warriors. Fort at Sycamore Shoals the replica of Fort Watauga, a few months after the negotiations settlers living near the fort were attacked. Cherokees led by Dragging Canoe got together with the British with plans to drive the settlers back across the Appalachian Mountains. The settlers then formed a Committee of Safety. The Comittee acquired arms and built forts, including Fort Watauga. On July 21, 1776, a Cherokee invasion attacked Fort Watauga. The Cherokee’s attack was unsuccessful as John Carter, James Robertson, and John Sevier held the fort for a victory.

A display of the”Cherokee Attack” on Fort Watauga in May of 1776.

On September 25, 1780 the Battle of Kings Mountain at Sycamore Shoals begins. The over the mountain men, frontiersmen from Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, were sent a message across the countryside for all able-bodied men to meet at Sycamore Shoals and about a thousand showed up. Led by Colonel William Campbell, Colonel Isaac Shelby, Lieutenant Colonel John Sevier, Charles McDowell, and Colonel Andrew Hampton.  They set out to find British Major Patrick Ferguson, who had threatened to “hang your leaders and lay waste to your country with fire and sword.” The Overmountain Men crossed the river to intercept British Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist army. They defeated Ferguson in just over an hour in the epic battle of King’s Mountain. Many historians believe that the actions of these men at Sycamore Shoals turned the tide of the American Revolution, and saved America from British rule and control.

The The Overmountain Men crossing of the Watauga River to defeat British Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist army. 

On September 25, 2024 Members of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association will recreate the march cross the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals, just as the Overmountain militia crossed 244 years ago. They have recreated the historic march to King’s Mountain since 1975. Following the crossing, join members of the OVTA inside Fort Watauga as they share the story of the Campaign to Kings Mountain and the patriot victory that turned the tide of the American Revolution. Free Admission!

We were all excited to see the historic march take place by the reinactors. But . . . because of swift flowing water the recreation of the crossing of the Watauga River evented was cancelled. This would have been the 50 year anniversary, we were disappointed. 😒.

Pictures of last years march.

We took the Sycamore Shoals trail to see where the march would have taken place.

They would have crossed the river by the fallen tree. When we got to where they would have crossed you could see the how fast the river was flowing. A reinactor told us he was thankful they weren’t crossing the river because the boots he wears are authenic to what they wore back then, not good for crossing a river, and he did’t want to slip and fall.

All was not lost as we went to check out Fort Sycamore Shoals.

Dave ancestors are Tiptons they call themselves The Tipton Family Association of America. The Family was one of the earliest and largest families to settle in the Watauga Settlements arriving from about 1773 onward. This frontier in East Tennessee was part of colonial North Carolina at that time. His ancestors include great granfather’s and great uncles, that owned property and fought in the Rvolutionary War and Civil War. The Association got to place a Tipton Family Historic Marker on the grounds of the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Tipton’s were very fluentical in the area and were involved in making Tennessee a state. We’ll be back here for sure checking out The Tipton’s history.

Then we went to the museum to check it out.

The museum had displays, artifacts and reinactors who talked about what their role in the area and at Sycamore Shoals Historic State Park during the Revolutionary War.

It was for sure a impressive place ad we decided we’d have to go back to see the River Crossing one of these days.

Later in the day we went to Elizabethon, Tennessee.

Settled in the late 1760’s, Carter County does have a lot of history behind it. The City of Elizabethton is home to both the oldest building in the state of Tennessee, the Carter Mansion, and one of the first written constitutional governments west of the Appalachian Mountains, located at Sycamore Shoals State Park.

Downtown Elizabethton has a variety of restaurants, vintage and boutique shops. Beth and Fran go here for different things like sporting events and concerts. It definitely seems like a nice city to visit and see what’s happening.

On a hill in the city there is a section of old mansons that looks really neat.

Elizabethton grew throughout the 19th century. However, Lynn Mountain was kind of cut off into the east and the Watagua River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To grow westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the Carter County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem — the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge.

After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E. E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Maston who had been an engineera for a railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his “five dollar bridge” since he made a profit of $5 as contractor.

Although logs from a lumber operation and a barn were thrown against the covered bridge and its supports during a disastrous flood in 1901, this was the only major bridge in the area to survive.

The first court meeting was held under a sycamore tree in May 1772 in Tennessee. The court was called The Watauga Court Association. The Watauga Association was the first free government in North America, established by settlers in the Watauga Valley. The court was likely the first English-speaking court west of the Alleghenies. The dedication plaque from July 4, 1991, reads: “In 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence, settlers in the Watauga Valley adopted the Articles of the Watauga Association, the first written constitution in North America.

The sycamore eventually died to disease and age, and the stump still stands near the old covered bridge in Elizabethton. The tree is located on the west side of the Doe River, across from an old covered bridge. The stump of the tree still stand there.

I think it’s neat that they preserved the memory of a meeting under a tree. Couldn’t image any kind of governemrnt meeting held under a tree now.

After we left Elizabethon we went back to our friends place. As it was starting to sprinkle and we had our excitement for the day, so we hung out there for the rest of the day. It rained off and on during the night but nothing bad.

On September 26th we started to hear about the hurricane getting closer and they were predicting rain later. Since we couldn’t do a whole day event. Our friends took us thru different subdivions near Johnson- city that they have been checking out , as our friends haven’t decided if they want to stay in an apartment or not. They were all really nice areas, as they have been checking these areas to see what’s there and are looking at the houses that are for sale. Hurrican Helene hit Johnson City that night with lots of rain and strong winds.

On September 27th, a lot places were closed and didn’t have electricty or even running water to drink. We couldn’t go to the places we wanted to, so we decided a good choice was to go to the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee.

We wanted to go through the shops and and check out their merchandise but they were all closed due to Hurricane Helene, with no power and minor flooding. But we did see the Fall decorations that were out side the stores, they were all very impressive.

The Chuckey Depot and W.C. Rowe Park officially opened in October 2017. The park project started in 2011 following a railroad expansion project that was going to leave the Chuckey Depot in danger of being torn down. It is now a railroad museum because the Town was important in bringing the railroad into East Tennessee. 

Close to the rail road museum is the Tweetsie Trail.

The Tweetsie Trail is a rails-to-trails project to cut across the former ET&WNC railroad right-of-way between Johnson City and Elizabethton.  It’s been nearly two decades since trains rumbled down the narrow tracks and emitted a unique high-pitched whistles that gave the rail line— “Tweetsie” and now it’s called the Tweetsie Trail.

Beth & Fran walk on The Tweetsie Trail a lot and we all wanted to join them.

When we started walking down the trail we noticed some people walking back that were in front of us. That’s because the hurricane did much damage on the trail and the surrounding areas.

Tweetsie Rail road to remain closed for fall season as community focuses on Hurricane Helene Rocovery.

Hurricane Helene left a trail of devastation across the High Country, impacting countless families, small businesses, and employees. Due to the widespread damage, Tweetsie Railroad will remain closed for the rest of the fall season, allowing our staff and the surrounding area to prioritize rebuilding and restoring what was lost.

After we couldn’t continue on the Tweetsie Trail so we went back to Johnson City and walked on the Winged Deer Park path.

On September 28th We knew Helene did a ton of damage in Tennessee. Where we were staying we were higher up so there wasn’t any flood damage but we had a few power outages and saw numerous trees and fallen branches.

We checked on a places where we wanted to go but they were closed due to the huricane, so we went to the zoo, because it was

At Bright’s zoo in Limestone, Tennessee.

Great picture of Fran sitting on the gorilla’s hand.

The last parrot is called a Scarlet Macawa. You gotta like parrots, they are beautiful colors and they even talk back to you.

This is an East African Crowned Crane, check out their hair. The Grey Crowned Crane even has a wine named after it.

Thi is a male Southern Ground Hornbills, I know that because a female would have a patch of blue on her neck with the red.

The Canis Mesomelas, black-backed jackal, looks so cute and calm, I felt like taking it home and giving Cooper a brother or sister.

This cute but prickly animal is an African Crested Porcupine. Beth and I watched as they were teaching it to go into his inside cage and come out in the winter to be fed.

The Scottish Highland Cattle are known as the cow with the bangs.

Camel Fun Facts: One of the camel’s most notable physical traits is its hump or humps. While the dromedary camel has one hump, the Bactrian camel has two humps. They store fat in these humps, which later can be used as an energy source.

They have other features that allow them to survive in the desert, such as double rows of extra-long eyelashes to help keep sand out of the eyes. They are also able to close their nostrils to keep out sand.

Wouldn’t you like them for pets?. They are so cute especially together. Their an endangered spicies.

This zebra sat right next to me and said have a seat, so I did.

This Ostrich kept following Dave and making a kind of skreech followed by a kind of thumping sound. I wonder what he was trying to tell him?

This is a Two-Toed Sloth, they can turn green. They can grow a layer of algae as a camouflage method to help protect them from predators.  And cause they hang up side down all the time, the hair on a sloth’s belly is parted to help water flow off, instead of having a part on the top of it’s head. 

I don’t know what these animals are but I believe that they are Scimitar-Horned Oryx and Sable Antelope. I didn’t get a picture of their sign. But what ever they are they like hanging out together.

I saved the best part for last!

A rare spotless giraffe was born in a Tennessee zoo, and we got to see her!

A female reticulated giraffe was born at Brights Zoo on July, 31st 2023. But unlike her mother she was born without any spots, a rarity. Giraffe experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet. Zoo officials say the only record of a reticulated giraffe being born without spots was in Japan in the 1970s. Her name is Kipekee, which means “Unique” in swahili.

It was definitely awesome seeing Kipekee

Brights Zoo is a private, family-owned facility in East Tennessee. Animals living here include some rare & endangered species such as addax, bongo and scimitar-horned oryx, and bactrian camels. The center also contains more common but exotic creatures like red kangaroos, spider monkeys, pandas and zebras.

I don’t know if we saw all the animals that are mentioned above, but we all enjoyed Brights Zoo. It reminds me of Reid’s zoo here in Tucson. Both are prvately owned and sometimes that gives them a more personal touch.

Beth made delicious chilli for us on Sunday September 29th. We hung out at their apartment and walked around the apartment complex.

They are Buffalo Bills fans, as you can tell.

Beth made popcorn for Dave. He loves her popcorn as you can see, she made a tub for him for the Bills game and for our trip back to Tucson. Unfortunately the Buffalo Bills lost that night. 😒

We left Monday Morning to continue our journey west. Thank you our dear Beth & Fran for your hospitality! Your food, home, and company were an was awesome. We’re So grateful to have great friends like you!

In the Hills of Tennessee there are one lane bridges next to a nice subdivision, old barns going down the road to another new subdivision. It’s nice to see both old and new the same road.

Our friends told us to stop at Buc-ee’s cause it’s definitely a different kind of shopping experience. We stopped at the Sevierville, Tennessee. location. They say they are the biggest convenience store, I agree with that. They have Texas-style BBQ, Buc-ee’s brisket sandwiches are the chain’s biggest-selling item at all locations. Clean restrooms and 120 gas pumps, (60 double-sided pumps) are their claim to fame. They have just tons of everything. People consider it a vacation destination and even get Buc-ee’s T-shirts? If i’m near one, I’ll stop in , especially if I have to use the rest room cause they are clean.

Our next stop was Memphis Tennessee where we stayed over night.

Our next stop was Fort Worth, West of Dallas, where you don’t want to take the highways during rush hour, or should I say any hour.

It gets a bit nerve racking.

The road from El Paso, Texas and Tucson, Arizona are mostly flat stretches on interstate 10. Texas has desert scenery of an oil field, followed by an oil field, followed by you got it, another oil field. With lots of signs saying to watch the occasional wind storms.

We made it to Voyager in Tucson AZ. on October 3rd.

Where we’ve been spending a lot of time in the pool, when we first got here it was in the low 100s.

Voyager Sunrise and Sunset

We like watching skies where ever we go. In the first picture the moon is passing under a cloud and it contines to pass thru the cloud making it black until it passes above moon.

It’s getting close to the end of October and people are starting to come back to the park, which means there will be lots of fun Halloween things happenings. 👻🦇🎃. We’ll keep you posted.

We are also very greatful that our dear friends Mary , Mike, and Dave’s brother Jeff are beating cancer. Yippee!

Two things I like about August are Watermelons and Sunflowers.

“August is here – the month of watermelon, falling stars and sunflowers, the last care-free month for the school children.”

It’s time once agaon for the Summer Olmpics, from 26 July 26 to August 11th. It’s an uplifting experience to see the world getting together for something positive like the Olympics. Especially since The USA and other countries seems to be divided as to what they believe in. To see sportsmanship and cheering for people all around the world is definitely positive. You feel inspired and hopeful in the trying times in our country and the world’s. LET’S GO TEAM USA! !

It’s been hot and humid here so we go to Dave’s sister’s for a swim.

Boy, it felt wonderful! We miss the ocean and going to Voyyager’s swimming pool.

Besides the pool it’s always great to see Karen’s impressive flower gardens.

She named all the flowers. Which I only know a few of of the basic, you know like roses, tulips, daisies and sunflowers. She laways does an amazing job on the gardens.

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What a great water front view of Lake Ontario.

Darcy made a delious lunch for us including a birthday cake for Mike.

It was a fun day celebrating a birthday outside, looking out on the lake. They have a beautiful home both inside and outside.

Hibbard’s has been in the same location since 1939. How does it taste so good? Frozen custard uses much less air than ice cream, Less air = richer flavor. And yes they have a secret recipe. My sister and I have been going there since we were little tikes.
Less air = richer flavor!

Walked around the Town of Lewiston for a bit. If your ever in the area, check out Hibbard’s and the historical town. The town and the area is full of history.

I didn’t get a chance to see a lot of the Olympics but when I did I felt “patriotic” you know a feeling of pride watching the US athletes and althletes from 206 territories compete in amazing sporting events. You felt as if everyone competing and watching from around the globe were a massive group united as one. A positive event that the all the world was viewing.

USA topped the overall medal chart with 126 total medals (40 golds, 44 silvers, 42 bronzes). Way to go USA!

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On August 22nd Dave went on another e-bike ride with his friends.

Dave went e-biking with his friends to Niagara Falls, NY.

They started at Gratwick Park in Wheatfield up towards the Falls and headed back the same way.

One of the stops along the way is the Old Stone Chimney.

The Old Stone Chimney is 31-foot-tall, 60-ton masonry chimney originally part of the barracks and mess hall of the two-story barracks on the site of the French “Fort du Portage,” or “Fort Little Niagara,” by Daniel de Joncaire in 1750, when the Niagara River and its shores were part of New France on the North American Continent. The chimney was primarily used for cooking and heating, and has been repurposed several times since by British and American interests. During the French and Indian War (1754-63), the barracks was invaded by the British and burned. Only the chimney remained. General Peter Porter incorporated the chimney into his private residence, which was eventually demolished except for the chimney.

Relocated three times (1902,1942, and 2015), the Old Stone Chimney is currently located between the Niagara River and the Niagara Scenic Parkway east of the Adams Slip along the bike path on the river. The new site is accessible from the parkway with a small parking lot. The bike path crosses in front of the chimney and the Niagara River is behind it.

Old Stone Chimney in its new location is close to the Niagara River in Niagara Falls USA. In the second picture you can see the skyline of Niagara Falls Canada in the background.

By Paul GromosiakTHE OLD STONE CHIMNEY
“There’s nothing in surroundings now
To match these time-worn stones,
The hum of commerce here has drowned
The rythm of nature’s tones;
Be quick to act, ye who have care,
‘Tis here your duty calls,
Or stones historic soon may grace
Some modern cellar walls.”
— John R. Barlow, Jan. 1, 1912

“Cool winds, open roads, and the gentle hum of an e-bike, that’s the recipe for a perfect day!”

Niagara Falls, where nature is the party and the mist is confetti. “Niagara Falls is the hanging tongue on the face of the earth, drooling endlessly over its own beauty.” – Vinita Kinra

A favorite Niagara Falls State Park attraction for more than 10 years, the Maid of the Mist, the journey begins at the Observation Tower, where guests are given a souvenir rain poncho to wear and board the double-deck Maid of the Mist tour boat. From there, the boat ferries past the base of the American Falls, and onto the basin of Horseshoe Falls–the dramatic passage leading you through the roiling waterfall whitewater and massive rock formations. The Maid of the Mist returns guests to shore with newfound appreciation of the power and grandeur of Niagara Falls.

“Electric bikes make every hill a thrill and every ride a cool glide.”

“Hear the roar of 600,000 gallons of water crashing down around you every second. Feel the mist as it drenches everything in its path. Feel the sheer might of Mother Nature. Seeing the water crashing down right in front of me gave me a sense of thrill, I felt like I was in a “Pirates of the Caribbean” film.” ~ Joey Hadden~ If you ever get to Niagara Falls check it out, it’s definitely worth it. Cave of the Winds in Niagara Falls is fun thing to do.

Niagara Falls was once considered the “Honeymoon Capitol of the World” one of the most romantic places back in 1801.

One of the saying you hear about Niagara Falls is from a little girl who lived by the falls who wrote letters to her best friend and always ended them with it’s “Yours Till Niagara Falls, Falls. Another says is “Yours Till Niagara Freezes Over.” Some people feel the need to go over the falls, either intentionally by daredevils in barrels or across a tightrope, sucicide attempts or accidentally. Some survive, but not to many.

The first recorded person to survive going over the falls was school teacher Annie Edson Taylor, who in 1901 successfully completed the stunt inside an oak barrel.

Sunday September first we went to Donna’s and Jeff’s Annual, we figure 20 years, Labor Day Party.

Along with the Annual Labor Party, is the Annual Kickball game.

When we’re in town Dave is always the pitcher for both teams. I don’t believe it’s an elected position. I think it’s cause he’s older, wiser and cute they let him. 😊

We had a picnic at my cousins on September 2nd.

My cousin got a surrey, with the fringe on top, for her grandsons. We were all excited because it looked like the one my sister and I had when we were little. Actually every little kid in the neighborhood rode the surrey, it was a good time.

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On September 7th I also visited Niagara Falls with my sister and her husband.

We ventured to the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, that is located in the 1863 U.S. Customs House that overlooks the former location of the International Suspension bridge, a point of crossing for many freedom seekers including Harriet Tubman.  The Heritage Center is an experiential museum that reveals authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls.

During the 19th century, Niagara Falls was one of the last stops on the Underground Railroad – a network of secret routes and safe houses that allowed enslaved African Americans and others to escape into Canada. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad but a network of individuals, both black and white, who provided assistance to fugitive slaves seeking freedom. One of the most daring and dangerous routes to freedom involved crossing the Niagara River. Escaping slaves would often travel by foot or boat to reach the river’s edge, where they faced the daunting task of crossing the suspension bridge or taking a boat ride to to Canada. Niagara Falls was a strategic location on the border between the United States and Canada it was a vital crossing point for those fleeing slavery.

Harriet Tubman often led slaves to freedom by crossing the Niagara River into Canada. She crossed over the Suspension Bridge that once stood where the Whirlpool Bridge is today. This 1859 photograph shows the Suspension Bridge from the Americam side of the Niagara Gorge. The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling and built in 1855, supporting a railroad above and a walkway underneath. In 1897, a steel-arch bridge was built around the existing bridge. The Suspension Bridge was then dismantled, leaving the current Whirlpool Bridge you see today.

Another way to freedom was to go down the stairs to the river and get into a boat.

The stairs were very difficult to climb, especially in the dark, the only time the slaves could escape to freedom. Some of the stairs have been repaired but the trail is still described as a challenging experience particularly due to the steep steps and rocky terrain.

Augustus Porter, Parkhurst Whitney built the first stairs near The Heritage Museum in 1818. A similar staircase was built on the Canadian side in 1820.

The slaves at the bottom of the staircase are ready to get on a boat to freedom.

P. Whitney started a regular ferry service with small rowboats to carry passengers and slaves across the river to Canada.

The way to freedom was described as “a stairway which is laid in a deep excavation of solid rock. The bank was very steep, and was slippery with rain and half-melted ice. When we got down at the bottom we were drenched to the skin by the mist, walking over some broken rocks, deafened by the noise half-blinded by the spray, and wet to the skin, at the river getting into a row boat to freedom.”

We didn’t have time to take The Gorge Stairs Trail but we definitely want to.

True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Free at last, free at last
Thank God Almighty
We are free at last.
— Martin Luther King

I went to the Buffalo Zoo with Gail and her two grandsons, Axel and Archer, who are both so cute . I can’t remember the last time I was at the Buffalo.

Originally a deer park in the northeast corner of Frederick Law Olmsted’s in Delaware Park, The Buffalo Zoo was established in 1875 and has really come along way since then.

This is a capybara, it’s a large rodent and it’s cute.

The Delta Sonic Heritage Farm recreates a historic farm from the mid-1800s with heritage breeds of domestic animals.

Lions, tigers and bears, Oh my . . . . . wait it’s Zebras, Giraffes and Otters.

And a Snow Leopard

The Zoomagination was impressive during the day, I hear it was awesome at night all lit up.

On a sunshiny day, September 12th, I got together with four awesome friends for lunch and a walk by the river.

We went to Woodcock Brothers in the old Wurlitzer building in North Tonawanda for our lunch, which we all enjoyed!

We started our walk from Webster Street, North Tonawanda and continued along The Shoreline Trail (part of The Empire State Trail) which is a continuous multi-use paved pathway along Lake Erie and the Niagara River, within both Erie and Niagara Counties. It’s a popular trail for biking, running, walking or just sitting, relaxing while enjoying the river.

“Life is much like a river. I can’t determine where the river comes from or where it’s flowing to. But I can immerse myself in it as it’s flowing by me.” – Craig D. Lounsbrough

We walked awhile on the path and then headed back, but you can ride a bike from downtown Buffalo to Niagara Falls NY, that’s the e-bike route that Dave took earlier with his friends.

It was such a great day we had to end it with ice cream at Platters! If you live near North Tonawanda, NY and you haven’t been to Platter’s don’t hesitate go now. The ice cream is great but the homemade chocolate is delicious.

We went to our friends Gail & Tim’s grandson Archer’s 1st birthday party on September 14th.

The party was held at Mayer Park, right nex tto the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda.

My Dear friend Tami, made me a drink called an “Aquarium,” made with fruit pebbles on the bottom of the glass, Tequila, some kind of juice that made it blue, and a gummy worm on top. There was probably other ingredients in it too. It was for sure a good drink for a hot summer day.

Archer birthday party was fun. We got to see people we haven’t seen in a bit and I got too see Tami and Gail, great friends that I’ve known most of my life.

May he have many, many more brthdays and be blessed with loads of Love, Happiness, Health and Success.

A Thanksgiving Dinner on a Summer’s Day September 15th.

Since we haven’t been here for Thanksgiving My cousin Kathy made a wonderful turkey dinner with all the trimmings for us.

Everything was delicious! Everyone couldn’t come but we were thankful for the ones who could.

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Today September 18th and every Wednesday since we arrived in North Tonawanda, Dave has joined his friends at Scooter’s Place for lunch. Scooter’s has been in Pendleton for a long time. It’s owned by a friend of ours and a great place to go, the food is always great!

Dave and friends (The Lunch Club) on Scooter’s porch. Sometimes, the men would let us join them, only if we sat at another table, just kidding.

Scooter’s always has fun things happening, and they had a birthday on August 8th, 1980. I can’t believe their 44 years old. Congratulations!

Before we left we went to visit Dave’s brother Jeff, sister Karen and sister-in-law Donna. It’s always nice to see how their yard is decorated for every season. The mums with the pumpkins between certainly gave a pleasant sense of Fall.

Dave always helps his brother Steve with projects to remodel his house when were back home, it’s an ongoing mission to fix up an old house, although their nearing the end of the mission One of the projects was to put in a new floor and ceiling. It’s lookin good!

Like the sign says “Summer Favorites” which they are. Before we left I got together with Gail & Tami for lunch and ice cream at Mississippi Muds.

That’s how we spent our Summer in New York, I left out some things because I just wanted to get the blog done since , what the heck, it’s already October 8th and we’re in Tucson Arizona!

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“Brings the symphony of crickets and the dance of fireflies in the evening air.” — Unknown.

We got to celebrate the 4th of July going to three seperate gatherings!

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Wouldn’t it have been a blast to have a bounce slide when we were kids.

We saw the fireworks in Pendleton where we use to live from our friends backyard.

Thanks to my cousins, friends and my former boss and her family, we had a grand 4th of July filled with delicious food and laughter.

On Sunday July 7th myself and my cousins.

You gotta have really strong triceps & biceps to do these stunts.

First there was one motorcycle, then there were two.

Clowns are the pegs on which the circus is hung. – P. T. Barnum
 Be a Clown. – Barnum & Bailey Circus:

It was a fun time seeing the circus, but I missed them not having animals.

I’ve been helping Warrens Corners Methodist Church get ready for their

It was from Friday July 12th to Saturday July 13th.

They have great helpers who set up the tables inside, the garage and outide for the sale. As well as people to work at the sale and people who pickup after the sale.

The Sale was a huge succes! I truly enjoy going to this church because of all the awesome people.

Everything was Excelente!

Lots of food and drinks that were delicioso, just like a mexicano restaurante.

Thanks Tasha for inviting us to the party it was magnífico seeing you and friends.

We went to CanalFest a large outdoor festival along the banks the Historic Erie Barge Canal. It is a 8-day festival that is shared by the Twin Cities of Tonawanda & North Tonawanda close to where we’re staying in Western New York. Our main reason for going was to see the Seneca Chief. It’s a replica of the original Seneca Chief that was the first boat to travel down the Erie Canal when it opened nearly 200 years ago in 1825. It is 73’ long, 12’6” wide, and it will weigh over 40 tons, rebuilding it has been a community project with 200 volunteers that came to the Buffalo Maritime Center at the Longshed to build and bring the Seneca Chief to life. This It has been under construction for four years and it came to Canalfest to show off!

The “Seneca Chief,” was built to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Erie Canal happening in October 2025. It will depart on the voyage from Buffalo to New York Harbor to commemorate the Bicentennial of Gov. DeWitt Clinton’s 1825 Inaugural Voyage. The Boat is central to the story of the Erie Canal and the history of New York State. One objective of the Erie Canal Boat Project is to work with the community to teach and preserve traditional boatbuilding skills. Another objective is to inspire awareness and conversations about how the Erie Canal has impacted the people and places of the state and the rest of the country.

The original “Seneca Chief,” with Gov. Dewitt Clinton on board, made the first Erie Canal trip on Oct. 26, 1825, travelling 4 mph and being pulled by mules traveling adjacent on towpaths.

Governor Clinton and his party boarded the packet boat Seneca Chief, with two wooden barrels of Lake Erie water, to begin the journey from Buffalo to New York City. Eight days later, Clinton ceremoniously emptied the water into the Atlantic Ocean to marry the waters as a symbol of the importance of this canal.

 The construction of the Erie Canal was a landmark civil engineering achievement in the early history of the United States. When built, the 363-mile (584 km) canal was the second-longest in the world (after the Grand Canal in China). Originally 40 feet wide and 4 feet deep, it is now 120 feet wide and 12 feet deep with 34 locks in its current 351 miles.

 A tremendous success, the waterway accelerated settlement of western New York, Ohio, Indiana, and the upper Midwest including the founding of hundreds of towns such as Clinton, in DeWitt County, Illinois, and DeWitt, in Clinton County, Iowa.

On July 21st The church that Dave belonged to growing up in Swormville had their annual 175 church picnic. D It was a three day event. We met some friends who have been going to the picnic often. We were saying that on the first picnic they came in horse and buggy.

It was fun seeing friends there.

Dave went e-bike riding with friends.

He borrowed a friends e-bike to go for a 31 mile round trip. They on Cleveland street in Tonawanda and continued to Delaware Paark and then the Peace Brifge and back.

Unfortunately one of the guys got a flate along the way, but the issue was solved and they headed back to Cleveland street.

Dave enjoyed riding the e-bike. He said it was a work out becasue they did pedal often. And if they had regular bikes they would never driven 31 miles in the lenght of time they did. I’ve only driven an e-bike once for a very short time, it was defintely different and great for up hill. I’m not ready for an e-bike and I don’t think Dave is either.

“Make hay in May for you may never know what June is coming with and you may never know what July will present! When you see May, make hay!” ―Ernest Agyemang Yeboah

 Sabino Canyon is one of the most popular hiking and recreation areas in Southern Arizona. For more than a century, Tucsonans have made their way into the Catalina Foothills to picnic and play in the scenic canyon. What is nice is thar it is a National Forest, so if your old like us you can use your National Park Pass to get in at no cost.

On May 1st, we hiked on over to Sabino Canyon, Also known as An Oasis in the Desert. We have been to Sabino Canyon a few times last year and this year, as it’s a great spot for hiking and taking in the scenery.

Hiking on familiar roads and paths we’ve been on before.

Hiking now off the familiar path. Sabino Canyon is a unique place where there is mountains and water in the desert.

We noticed the nest above, is right inside a cactus’s branches. Ouch!! It’s the nest of a Cactus wrens, they are skilled at slipping through the sharp spines of cactus thickets, choosing to build nests and raise their young there.

On a hot day in Tucson, we did what Tucsonans do. Go for a hike and find the nearest water spot, take your shoes off and enjoy. It felt really good.

Sabino Canyon is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the Coronado National Forest. The Santa Catalina Mountains began forming 12 million years ago. There is evidence in pieces of pottery, or shards, and pit house foundations that the Hohokam people lived in the canyon between 300 and about 1400 AD.  With the Gadsden Purchase in 1854, Sabino Canyon became part of the United States.

In 1890, the Forest Preservation Act was passed by the United States Congress and in 1905 the Forest Service was created.

In 1938 two ladies relax in Sabino Canyon and in 1959 University of Arizona students are doing the same.

In 1992 two guys runnung across the top pf the dam and people swimming at the bottom of the dam in 2010.

Cars were allowed to drive up the canyon through the 1950s and 60s.

In 1978, the first shuttlebus service began in the canyon. Soon after cars were no longer allowed. Today, trams take Sabino Canyon visitors to the end of the road. In addition to riding the tram, people hike, bike, swim, and picnic in the Sabino Recreation Area.

A great hike at the canyon.

What a great way to end our hiking trip, with a stop at Little Anthony’s for a chocolate shake. We also had chicken fingers and fries. It was very good.

If you like the color pink, this is Little Anthony’s Pink Flamingo. All hitched up and ready to go.

Jennifer my sister and Doug her husband gave us a restaurant gift certificate forour anniversary in February and we used it at

It advertises Real Southern Smoked BBQ in Arizona.

We started out with a bottle of Vodka which Dave is pouring in our glasses, Actually it’s water.

Dave had a pulled pork sandwhich and fries. I had a Smoked Zucchini & Grilled Cauliflower Steak, which was cauliflower and zucchini grilled with roasted cherry tomatoes, onion, pepper and a bit of cheese then smoked in tomatoe-vinaigrette, It was really good! Who needs meat?

It was fun and the food was delicious! Thank you Jennifer & Doug.

How Exciting, Fat Willy’s restaurant at Voyager now has what is called “Wednesday Night Bar Bingo”

What the heck, me and a couple of my friends from Voyager have been going.

During the busy season Voyager has Tuesday night Bingo in the Ball Room. The place is big and it’s packed, with money prizes in the $300 & $400 range. We don’t go to that cause it’s well . . .boring.

On May 20th we left Voyager RV Resort to head back to Niagara County NY to see our families and friends.

Our first stop was

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Then

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And then

It took seven years, $13 million, and 43,226 tons of stainless steel to build the Gateway Arch. The Arch is 630 feet high, situated in St. Louis, Missouri. On June 2, 1987, it became listed as a National Historic landmark, being the world’s tallest arch and the tallest human-made monument in the western hemisphere. They say on a clear day you can see a 30-mile views over the St. Louis skyline and the Mississippi River. We didn’t go inside this time but maybe next time.

When we were staying at St. Louis we heard this very, very loud noise we thought it was from a factory we could see, but it was the cicadas! You know those bugs you’ve been hearing about on the radio & tv.

This spring marks the first time since Thomas Jefferson was president 221 years ago that periodical cicada Broods XIII and XIX will emerge in the U.S. at the same time. There could be as many as 60 billion cicadas in St. Louis city alone,” said Nicole Pruess, invertebrate keeper at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Cicadas are the only insects capable of producing such a unique and loud sound. They can produce a call in excess of 120 decibels at close range. This is approaching the pain threshold of the human ear!

But. . . It might not be as bad for some people who might have an inkling to eat one, as cicadas are high in protein, fiber and minerals. Anything you can make with shrimp you can make with cicadas,” said Pruess, who said it’s best to collect them just after they emerge and have molted, so their exoskeleton is still soft. “I’m very excited to try it.” I know we’ll pass on that.

We also stayed in

This one “humanized deer” was close to where we stayed .

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Stayed overnight in Willoughby Ohio

We stayed at our friends Bill & Barb’s house.

Bill & Barb took us to a brand new ice cream parlor by them. Because of the location of Jojo’s I know it will do good and people will continue to keep coming back, I know I would. 😊🍦

Jojo’s is by Osborne Park a lakefront park located on the shore of Lake Erie in Willoughby. It has a great swimming pool that has really tall water slides, plus a lot of other amenities. The pool is huge, we could do our laps, me with a big noodle underneath my arms like I do at Voyager.

We truly enjoyed ourselves visiting our dear friends Barb & Bill. Thank you again for your time, hospitality and great memories. You guys are the Best. 🥰

May 25th arrived in North Tonawanda, NY , where we’re we staying until September.

One of my cousins had a Memorial Day Party

How many of you have tried Weber’s new mustard potato chips? Weber’s is a big name in mustard in Western NY. We all thought they were good.

It was a nice day so how about tossing water balloons at each other?

Only a few brave people joined in.

And then the heavy loaders came out . . .

We had a fun day and it was really nice to see some of our family.

Welcome

On June 3rd we helped our dear friends Beth & Fran move to Tennessee.

It didn’t take much time at all and they were loaded up and ready to go. We’re going to miss them not being in the area 😒, but we know for sure we’ll see them in our travels.

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coehlo.

If by chance your planning a trip to The Canadian side or American side of Niagara Falls make sure you have the correct paper work to get you across both borders. It’s definitely better to see the Falls from the American side as you can see Horseshoe Falls (also known as the Canadian Falls) Which is definitely the largest falls. Nearly 90% of the Niagara River flows over these falls. Goat Island separates the Horseshoe Falls from the Bridal Veil Falls, which is on the American side. If it’s a nice day you have to take a ride on the Maid of the Mist.

June 4 th

Nestled in the corner of the Niagara Region just beyond Niagara Falls, the picturesque Niagara-on-the-Lake definitely has old town charm, you feel as though your walking thru a 19th century village. It’s only about a 20 minute drive from the Canidian falls. It has much history and is bordered on both sides by waterfront among lush gardens.  Wander along the streets and you discover boutiques, antique shops and bistros, wineries and even a horse drawn carriage or two.

My friend Marcia, from Tucson also was in the area, so we visited Niagara-On-The-Lake.

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Marcia & myself lived in the area so we both new about Niagara Home Bakery. The bakery was eatablished in the 1960s and has contiuned to make awesome bake goods. We just had to stop in and buy some sweet treats.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is also hot spot for film makers. In fact several popular movies and television shows have been filmed here such as Dead Zone, The Ref, The Old Feeling, When Michael Calls, Canadian Bacon, etc. and TV shows like, Kings of Napa.  Looking like a little village that’s straight out of a Christmas movie, it’s no coincidence that Niagara-On-The-Lake has been used several times as a location for Christmas movies. Including he Holiday Calendar, Christmas Inheritance and a few Hallmark movies as well.

the clock tower they have as been in different movies.

We went to Niagara on the Lake when I was little and I remember it looking like these pictures. So check it out in the winter too.

 Father’s Day, in the United States is the (third Sunday in June) to honour fathers. Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth.

We all love our Dads, and miss them when their no longer here, you can have a father figure in your life that can be uncles, grandfathers, god fathers, elder brothers, family, friends, father’s of dogs, etc.

Someone you connect with on a emotional level. Actually there were two fathers there but lots of other “father’s” like Dave were there. It was a good time.

（づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～（づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～（づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～（づ￣3￣）づ╭❤️～

I can’t believe that it’s the end of June already, and what have we been doing? You know when you get older you go back home because of doctor’s appointments, we’ve been doing such.

We would like to express our sincere concerns for our dear friends Bill, Mike, Mary and Jeff, and their families as they have been going thru their own specific health concerns. They are all brave, awesome individuals that are going thru a rough bout but will make it thru being stronger, confident while always being the priceless folks they are. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.