Back to the playground

November 15 - 30, 2017:

It was a 106 mile ride today on route 80 through Tombstone to Benson where I get on I-10 west to Tucson.  We are now back at the senior playground of Desert Trails RV Park where we will reside for our winter break until mid March.  We have a new campsite across the road from our previous one which is a big improvement.  It has a much more private sitting area behind the RV bordered by cactus, creosote and palo verde trees and lots of birds.  Alice loves it !

I make a stop at the Horse Show Cafe in Benson

The backyard

I have a long list of things to do this winter, I won’t be bored, but since we won’t be traveling much I will reduce the blog frequency.  The social activities are in full swing here already with a 4 PM happy hour somewhere every day and all sorts of activities to participate in if desired.  The weather has been clear and dry with above average and some record high temperatures, in fact they say  November has had the hottest average temperature for Tucson ever recorded, but I’m sure that will change soon.   

On the live music front there is always something going on here;   I went to the Hotel Congress for a show opened with a “Sweet Ghosts” band trio, followed by a solo Billy Sedemyer and then a segment with a Gabriel Sullivan backing band.  The highpoint as usual was a spirited rendition of “Tucson Kills”.  Afterwards a Swedish singer whose album is being produced by Sullivan did a performance backed by the band.  I left shortly afterwards practically fighting my way out the door through a line of college age kids, mostly girls in tight fitting dresses with excessive anatomy parts exposed, their fathers would not approve.

Billy Sedemyer, Gabriel Sullivan and blues great Tom Wallbank

I had missed seeing Kevin Pakulis at a Desert Trails show a day before we arrived where he had noted during the show something about me not being there.  As a result, Twinkles and I made sure to go to his weekly Sunday Sessions at Borderlands Brewing.  We had seats at the bar right in front and it was about as good as it gets.  He had a packed room, the Sunday Session’s have definitely gained a following.  We return the following week with another couple from the campground who are interested.  http://kevinpakulis.com

Our first Desert Trails concert was to see Danny Kreiger and Steve Grams who we I have seen many times, but they are always entertaining.  These guys are both inductees into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame and play with several other area bands.  

I was at Monterey Court a few times; first to see a duo called “Gypsy Stew”  from California at Monterrey Court who were very good and entertaining.  They were a married couple with interesting bio’s, he once toured nationally with Kim Simmons and the Savoy Brown Band and she was an artist.  He was a very talented guitarist and she played an interesting drum set made up of tin pans and other such stuff.

Next was another trip to Monterrey Court with a group from the campground for a special event celebrating the sixth anniversary of Monterey Court.  The band was not exactly a favorite music style of mine but they were very good musicians and everyone had a good time.

I also made it to LaCocina to see my friends Lana Rebel and Kevin Mayfield do their usual interesting show. They have the “Old Paint” record store at the “Old Town Artisans” that is loaded with original artwork, posters, comics and classic vinyl records.  http://oneoldpaint.com/index.html

I’ve been concentrating mainly on RV maintenance issues so far since arriving .  Our hot water heater tank had developed a leak a few months ago.  It is a Atwood Heater which has a replaceable aluminum tank. I ordered  the tank from Amazon and it was delivered promptly as usual.  It is a pretty intensive job to replace it, you have to remove the heater assembly, disassemble it and replace the inner tank.  The only real hard part is installing the retaining rings that hold the tank to the heater housing.  It’s another instance of bad engineering’s, it would be so much better if there were brackets on the tank to bolt it to the housing.  I’ve also been busy cleaning the roof, resealing an area of the front seam and applying a coat of UV protectant.

Twinkles has been going out in the desert behind the campground for a few miles each morning towards reaching her daily step goal.  I usually pass on this activity, but we have done one of our favorite hikes at Brown Mountain.

   

The view from the Brown Mountain Trail

A large Saguaro fallen across the trail

View from the top is special

I also went on a hike at Madera Canyon with a group from the campground.  It was steadily uphill hike to a saddle and then downhill back to the parking lot for a total of approximately 6 1/2 miles.  It is a heavily forested trail with great views making it a very interesting hike.

Heading up the trail

View from the trail gives the impression that we have gained considerable altitude 

Sign for a group of scouts who perished here during a storm in 1958

Marie, Jeff, John, Linda and me pose at the saddle

A few additional photos taken in the desert behind the campground.

I found a Cactus Bob's geocache just wandering around out there

A very special Saguaro skeleton
  

They are a work of art

The lowly creosote bush has beauty too !

As does the spines of Teddy Bear Cholla trunk

If put an empty box out, our baby "Alice" will find it and crawl inside.

   

We have a big activity filled weekend coming up so this is a good place for a break.  Keep watching, it’s going to get crazy in December !

Also watch other obsessive wanderers on:  hitchupandgo.com

Twinkles and Slick