Tag: photography

Day 2375

Thursday, April 4th, 2024

Dear Journal:

Today is looking like it could be our last Arizona adventure this spring, we are off early this morning enroute to Chris & Lynnea’s home in Globe. Lynnea is our immediate supervisor and is the manager of the gift shop for the Arboretum, she has been at the Arboretum for over 25 years. Lynnea and Laurie hit it off from very early on, they both speak their mind and if you ask a question you should be prepared for an honest answer.

I usually do the “Wordle puzzle every morning, or at least I try to complete it.

And there is nothing more depressing than not getting a single letter on the first word!

But also nothing more exciting than guessing the correct word on your second attempt!

Todays adventure started early this morning with some fresh perked coffee with a splash of Irish cream, followed by an omelet breakfast, as we prepare for the unknown. We don’t know exactly where we are going other that to the Globe area. We have put an address in the GPS and are heading off on an adventure.

Miss Laurie drove up to Globe and I snapped this photo while driving through downtown Miami Arizona, of the Mexican Poppies blooming. They are growing along the highway, either side of the concrete sidewalk.

After some confusion over the directions we eventually, got some follow up direction as well as a rescue pilot vehicle to guide us in. Lynnea had told us a number of times that the road to their home could be challenging, but I was not prepared for what I actually seen and experienced. Lynnea knew we were lost when we were late arriving, apparently we are known for being punctual. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but we do like to be on time and complete our commitments. In retrospect instead of an address we should have just asked for the GPS coordinates as we often find rural addresses can be incorrect no matter what guidance system you use but coordinates remain constant.

Chris & Lynnea live in a rural area north of Globe, their home is at 4100 feet of elevation and is located on a hill side with a million dollar view. Today we are going exploring into the Tonto National Forest that surrounds their home, we are using a Honda ATV that seats four, we have packed a lunch and a few beverages for the adventure and will take us a number of miles through many BLM trails. Here are a few of the phots that we captured along the way.

Well believe it or not neither Laurie or myself have ever ridden in a All Terrain Vehicle, and I expected to return all beat up from the terrain. But that didn’t happen i was surprised at how well it absorbed the trails that we encountered. Miss Laurie had time to do some rock hounding and we got to know our hosts a lot better, as well as the area surrounding Globe. We seen areas with native pottery, and could see signs of native life in many areas, it is also amazing how the this rugged but beautiful land is being grazed by cattle, as the local ranchers are granted grazing right on BLM land. We encountered many gates that had to be trans versed as we enjoyed the views and the ruggedness of Arizona.

We returned from our adventure mid afternoon and after a tour of their home Chris grilled steaks over a wood fire, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal while chatting about their next projects around their home. It is always an honor to be invited into someone’s home, and your don’t build a home in a location like this without wanting some privacy. So to have them take one of their days off to take us sight seeing was also a big ask. We are lucky to have people like this in our lives.

Day 2351

Monday March 11th 2024:

Dear Journal:

Can 6:10 be considered sleeping in? Whether yes or no, this morning I woke up to dawn in the Arizona desert, it was light enough that it just felt like time to get up. I made my way to the galley to get Mister Sam his morning treats, check the coach temperature 61ºF (16ºC), chilly enough to prompt me to start the heater, to just take the chill off. At 6:39 I’m standing on our patio in my housecoat to snap the above photo, well most of you folks have just endured another time shift for daylight saving time, a practice that Arizona has decided not to participate in and it is great, no worrying about being late to events, oh we still get lots of clock adjustments as we travel and we now have three hours to adjust for as we head back to Ontario next month.

Miss Laurie has been recruited to help in the garden this morning as with the wet winter has a surplus of unwanted growth (weeds) in the gardens in front of the Arboretum visitor center. Everyone looks for Miss Laurie to help in so many areas of the Arboretum, she has been taught most tasks around the visitor center and of course she finds weeding to be relaxing, which makes her a hero with the horticulture staff. I on the other hand, I’m not nearly in as much demand, which works out ok for me, I have some projects in the coach today, and a book to read, possibly a beverage or two that I need to consume before heading back north. I know sounds like a tough job but I am up for the task.

With Miss Laurie starting work this morning at eight o’clock, it make me feel a little guilty so I will tackle some of my projects earlier than normal. It is not lost on me that we are heading north in less than a month, and I have so many things that need to be done before we start the trek. And this is going to be a few weeks of so many little updates and repairs.

Miss Laurie didn’t make it back to the coach till after two in the afternoon, as usual she ended up finishing the weeding on her own as the other volunteer had to leave before eleven o’clock. Then she offered to cover for some of the staff lunches in the gift shop.

The afternoon was spent with Mister Sam and Miss Laurie napping on the bed and me ordering some items from Amazon and reading. Mondays are our down day after a weekend of volunteering in the admission booth.