Leaving Arizona

The winter months are over and spring is here. Cindy and I are spending our last 3 days here at Augies and are heading to Texas for a few weeks before our arrival in Estes Park, Colorado. This past couple of weeks we have enjoyed spending time with some of the people here in the park. We went to the Arizona Opry and had a meal and a show featuring John Denver. The man performing did a very good job of telling the life story and singing the songs recorded by John Denver.

We rode along with Larry and Evelyn and after doing some shopping they took us to Organ Pipe Pizza. It’s very hard to imagine what the place looked like just by seeing the pictures but it was a truly an amazing place. The organ and all of the attached pipes located throughout the building were installed at a cost of $1 million. The stage with the organ lowers into the floor when the organ is not being played and turns 180 degrees when it is being used.

DOUBLE CLICK PICTURE FOR FULL SCREEN!




We had the opportunity to ride in a parade being held in Gila Bend. John asked us if we wanted to take his 4-wheeler and join along for the fun. Talk about bringing back memories, this reminded us of all the times we were involved in the “Big” Little League Baseball parades from Sharpsville to the ball diamond. I think the whole town of Gila Bend turned out just like it seemed the whole town of Sharpsville did. We actually enjoyed watching the little kids running for the candy and filling up their bags ( reminds me of Dylan when Connor was in the parade).

As I stated in the first paragraph this is our final weekend at Augies. We would like to thank John and Donna for giving us the opportunity to come here and spend the winter. To all of the people we met while staying here we wish you the best that life has to offer, and for you to know we have been blessed to spend the winter months with you. Our travels will take us to the “Hill Country” of Texas for the next few weeks, and then we are heading to Estes Park the last week of April. Until then remember this ”Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anybody can start today and make a new end”

Laughlin NV, Grand Canyon, Sedona

Well it’s the first week of March already and we’re getting anxious to hit the road for a few weeks before heading to Colorado. This past week Cindy and I took a few days and headed to Laughlin, Nevada. We had the chance to drive through Quartsite, Az but luckily nothing was going on. The reason I say this is because a month ago there were somewhere in the neighborhood of 150-200,000 RV’s camping in the desert around that town. People have told us from high up it looks like a sea of white (roofs of the rv’s) in the desert. Now for those of you who know me understand why we waited till it was over before traveling there ( I’m not into the BIG crowds).

The pictures of the London Bridge are actually the real London Bridge located in Lake Havasu . The family that owns the McCullough Brand of tools, actually bought the bridge, dismantled it piece by piece, and shipped it over here. The waterway you see under the bridge was man-made and branches off of the Colorado River. This is definitely a case of someone with too much money and nothing better to do with it than spend it on a bridge.




We spent the next couple of days in Laughlin, NV at the Riverside Hotel and Casino, the 1st hotel/casino built there, sightseeing and doing some hiking in the surrounding area. Our plans were to head to Vegas and see the Hoover Dam then maybe take in a show, but decided instead to go to the South Rim of Grand Canyon. The temps were a little cooler up there than what we have been accustomed to. Upon our arrival in the town of Williams we were greeted with temps in the high 30’s and snow on the ground. Actually it was kind of nice to see that white stuff again ( I know, you’re all tired of it) and it did make the views of the Canyon even more spectacular. We spent the night in Williams, a Route 66 town, one of many that is struggling to stay alive, and made plans to go to Sedona, Arizona the next day.

Wednesday we headed to Sedona to take in the beautiful red rock that is there and to do some hiking. The area surrounding the town itself is beautiful with all the red rock formations, it’s just the town in one big tourist trap. The average selling price for a home there during the first part of this year was over $500,000. Now trust me, these homes are not mansions, these are single family homes, that are selling for this price. We drove through the town (as fast as possible) which was about 15mph, and headed out away from the rat race to take in some beautiful scenery hiking. Back home to Gila Bend where the temps were 70+ to do some absolutely nothings.