Life events have changed

After a wonderful time touring the US (west and east) in our RV,and sending out info on what we saw and learned in our blog, Gary and I decided to sell the RV in 2017. We moved back east to be closer to my family. However, the SW continued to pull us back and we arrived in AZ last spring. Since then, as we deal with the pandemic - staying close to home and being careful to avoid exposures - I began to “reach out” by reading some of our favorite blogs’ posts.  

Many ways exist to “visit” others, but reading posts from other bloggers continues to provide a connection. And, we plan to share what we learn on day trips around interesting locations in AZ. That will be a starting point. When the coronavirus is conquered (I am keeping optimistic) we will be on the road again, in some fashion.

Take care and happy travels.

Leslie

Tijuana Estuary

Visitor Center at estuary

The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (or Tijuana Estuary, for short)

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

Several years ago, Gary and I visited this historic area, but there is so much to see and do that we were ready to go check it out again.

San Diego Zoo and it's Animal Ambassadors

This was not my first visit to the San Diego Zoo, but the last visit was about 15-20 years ago.

For Gary, it was a first.

Balboa Park - "Where Culture and Nature Meet"

Though we are staying a month in San Diego, there are an overwhelming number of choices on what to see and do.

Leaving the AZ Desert in the Rearview Mirror

It’s been quite a while since we did an RV trip outside of southern AZ.  Usually we plan a trip for summertime – when we are more than ready to move to cooler climates. Last year we had to postpone our usual migration due to a freak accident Gary had while barbequing (resulting in a shattered collar bone, surgery, etc.).

Organ Pipe National Monument

Leslie and I are busy working with the Green Valley Gardeners at the Desert Meadows Park project.  A big upcoming event for the club is the annual garden tour where community members can visit a variety of types of local gardens.  This year in conjunction with the tour is an Art in the Park event.  Vendors will showcase art, photography, and a variety of plants.  In addition will be a silent art auction to benefit the ongoing activities at the park. 

We did get a chance to caravan with some friends on an RV getaway to the Organ Pipe National Monument in SW Arizona.  It was a great three day trip.  The weather was warmer than expected (90 during the day) for a stay with only limited generator time, but the beauty of the desert was worth it.

Weeki Wachee Springs

After a week in the busy, metro area of Miami - Ft. Lauderdale, it was time to continue our tour of "Old Florida".  We drove west, over Alligator Alley, returning to the Gulf side of Florida.

Weeki Wachee Springs was on my "to see list" because it is the home of the mermaid shows, a roadside attraction since 1947.  Similar to the changes at Silver Springs, tourism at this attraction had become severely reduced and the Florida state park system has converted this tourist spot into a state park.  I was impressed to see that Florida is working to keep certain areas of "old Florida" existing for new generations.

Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens, Coral Gables, FL

Another day trip in the Miami area was to the Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens. 

Everglades National Park

With a week scheduled in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami area, we planned several activities with our good friends Nancy and Verlin, who were escaping the winter snows in PA and visiting Florida family and friends.

Merritt Island, Florida, Part 2

Leaving the high tech world of NASA and entering a wildlife refuge tends to "ground" me.  I know technological development has an important place in our world today.  However, what I love the most is "getting back to nature".  And, there is no place better to be "grounded" than at Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. 

Merritt Island, Florida - Part 1

Actually, today's maps show 2 large barrier islands extending along the Atlantic shoreline from Titusville to Melbourne, Florida, as Merritt Island. 

Perhaps, best known worldwide as the home of NASA's space launches,

Favorite Photos of 2015

Today is cleaning and packing day, so what better way to procrastinate than reviewing photos from our travels this last year.  Here are my top 10 favorites.

Dawn at Monument Valley

Sunrise at Monument Valley

Classic view of Monument Valley (seen in many Western movies)

Devil's Garden Hike, Arches National Park

Double Arch, Windows Area, Arches National Park

Approach to Double Arch, Windows Area, Arches National Park

Turret Arch, Windows Area, Arches National Park

Mountain view from exit of Park Avenue Canyon, Arches National Park

Gunnison National Park, Colorado

Trichocerus Cactus 

Hope you enjoyed some of my favorites from 2015.  More photos from our travels can be seen at Smugmug.com   Next Horizon Photography

Gary

Manatees, and more manatees!

A goal for this trip was to see manatees.  What are manatees?  Not exotic sea mermaids, as some sailors may have thought (during a very, very, long voyage and, perhaps, after some rum....). Manatees are very large aquatic mammals living in several areas of the world. 

Silver Springs - a True Florida Icon

Silver Springs, located near Ocala in central Florida, has been known and used by humans for a very, long time. 

" Old Florida" - the theme for this trip

Likely there are many definitions out there to define "Old Florida".  Some might think of times before the rise of super theme parks, others the very early, pre-history human inhabitants or the visits by European explorers long before the Mayflower.

Family Holiday on the Florida Gulf Coast

Having family time between Christmas and New Year’s on the Gulf coast was great.  We had a diversity of activities to keep all three generations engaged. Jesse’s first priority was the beach (even though it was cool and windy).

“Semper Gumby” (always flexible)

Computer issues have plagued us for the past couple weeks.  But Gary has persevered and spent hours both reading and online “talking” with the experts, and now we seem to be back to “internet normal”.

Desert Meadows Park

Most of our posts have been related to our RV travels.  However, Gary and I spend considerable time periods in our retirement community in Green Valley, AZ.  Today’s retirement schedule can be every bit as busy as being employed fulltime!  Our generation seems to be more focused on volunteering than that of our parents.

Taos

We traveled from Great Sand Dunes National Park to Angel Fire, New Mexico.  When planning the trip we didn't find many good parks in the Taos area.