Pilot knob, Winterhaven,CA/Mexico 4/4-4/9

Isn't this a lovely camping spot. Nice shade trees, a slate patio, and an incredible view of the mountains.

This is the dentist office Lee went to. He had two very nice crowns done for a total of $340. compared to state-side cost of $840./ per crown.

Sunday we crossed the border to Los Algodones, Mexico to locate the office of the dentist that Lee would be seeing on Monday. On Monday we went to the dentist and he prepared Lee's teeth for the permanent crowns. Lee said he was very efficient and very pleased with the work he did. While we were there we did a little shopping and had a lovely Mexican lunch at this nice courtyard. I ordered a pair of glasses, bought 2 lovely leather purses, and a lace tablecloth. This entire border crossing is predominantly dentists, opticians and pharmacies. We have spoken with many people from Arizona, California and as far away as Oregon and Canada who come here for their dental work.

The area reminded us of some of the Caribbean shopping areas. Sidewalk vendors, cute court yard eateries, and music on the street corners.

We met a lovely couple at the campground. Bart and Jann DallaMura. As you can see they have a black standard poodle, Camille. She is 11 years old and looks like a 4 year old. She and Nicky had a great time playing together.
Jann gave us some grapefruit off their trees that were delicious. Never tasted a grapefruit so sweet and juicy. We really enjoyed the time with had with them and hope to see them again while we are in Palm Springs. We will be in different campgrounds but close enough to get together.

Click below and watch these dogs at play.

Las Vegas, Lake Havasu 3/29--4/4/09

It was so good to see family!! We visited with our niece, Brooke, and her husband Sean. Brooke took us out to dinner at a restaurant in Bellagio's and then Sean met us there and gave us a tour of the nightclub in Bellagio's that he manages. During our stay in Las Vegas we also went out for breakfast with Brooke and had a great time just catching up with one another. Brooke gave us a tour of their place and also drove us around some of the developments they've been looking at as future home buying possibilities. It is so nice to be able to picture Brooke now when I'm talking with her and can visually picture where she is. The cream colored house below is Brooke's
This is Las Vegas taken from our return from Hoover Dam . It gives you a good general picture of where Las Vegas is located in conjunction with the surrounding mountains. It's really quite pretty and the sunsets are lovely.

All tourists do this. So we decided why should we be any different!!

The next two pictures give you a little overview of the strip. There are so many cassino's and they all have different themes. It's a fun place to study people and touring the various buildings is fascinating.

This is the casino in which Sean's nightclub is located , it's called The Bank

This is a picture of Lake Meade. I saw this lake when I was in my teens and it has receded greatly since then. You can see the line on the rocks of where it used to be.

This is the new bridge that is being built over the Hoover dam. It is due to open in 2010. What you are looking at is suspended over the water and men are climbing all over this portion of the bridge walking up ladders. The whole process is fascinating. There are cables everywhere holding it in place as they work on it. If you're in the area it's well worth the trip to see it.

Hoover dam

This is a picture of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu, AZ. We were only in Lake Havasu for 2 nights. While there we spent time viewing the lake and also touring some model homes. We love the architecture of the homes here. The floor plans are very open and the courtyards and entry ways are beautiful.

The water looks like the Caribbean doesn't it!!

This is a picture of Nicky's new friend, Parker. Two big,bad boys on the prowl in the desert.

This sunset is taken from our camper at Lake Havasu.

Grand Canyon March 25-27

We left Verde Valley, AZ for Williams, AZ to put us within and hour's drive of the Grand Canyon.





During the next 2 days we visited the various vistas around the South rim. I saw the Grand Canyon when I was 17 while Lee on the other hand has never seen it. I wish I had been able to capture the expression on Lee's face as he first beheld the majesty of it.







We walked one of the trails part way into the canyon. Bright Angel trail down to the base of the canyon and the Colorado River is 18 miles round trip. If we had had more time we would have enjoyed doing this. Nicky went with us the first day and we walked his legs off. We got back to the camper and as soon as he had dinner he was out like a light.

The immensity of it is hard to take in. As you walk around the rim the colors and configuration of the rock varies.

Doesn't it look like it goes on forever?

I hope all the grandchildren get to see this someday.

This is the trail going down into the Canyon.

We met this little guy along the rim trail.

I got some of my Christmas shopping done in the Hopi gift shop. Most of our time was spent seeing as much as we could of the canyon in the two days we had there.

Verde Valley and Sedona AZ

The drive from Las Cruces,NM to Tucson, AZ was beautiful. We stayed one night in Tucson and then left for Verde Valley, AZ. The drive there was breath-taking.

While in Verde Valley we spent days driving all over Sedona. Definitely one of the most beautiful sites I've ever seen.










Pictures cannot do it justice. This truly is something that must be observed with the naked eye.

















































We visited Jerome, this precariously perched "city in the sky", was one of most famous copper mining camps in the country. Today Jerome boasts a renowned art community with several switchbacks worth of shop, restaurants, and galleries.








Next day we visited Montezuma's castle. This ruin was home to the Sinaqua indians who farmed at the base of the tall structure.












We also visited Montezuma well. The well is an immense sink hole that provided water to the Sinaqua.










Another outing was Tuzigoot National Monument,a prehistoric pueblo built by the Sinaqua Indians.












We visited property owned by our good friends, Leon and Francine. We pray that one day they will be able to build on this beautiful setting.











On one of our driving tours around Sedona we visited the "Chapel of the Holy Cross". Yes that is a chapel up there and the view from it is incredible.










That same day we stopped for lunch at Tlpquepaque Village. A lovely place with many very unique shoppes. We had a lovely lunch at one of the Mexican restaurants within the village.









There's much to see within this general area and not near enough time to do it all. Guess we'll have to do it again!!!

Nicky and I thoroughly enjoyed hiking the many trails at the campground.

Las Cruces March 13 -15

Are you looking at this?? This is the view from our camper here in Vado, near Las Cruces. That field out there is where I walk Nicky. No picture can truly capture what we are looking at.










The first picture showed what we look at out our front window and this is what we look at out the back.











These are some of the mountains we came through on our way here. A spectacular drive here from Carlsbad the entire trip was beautiful.

We used our time here to catch up on bills, correspondence, laundry and Lee changed the oil on the rig.

This is our last stop in New Mexico.

Sitting Bull Falls March 11

What a beautiful sight!! On our way to the falls we passed lots of open pasture and cattle roaming freely everywhere. Nicky particularly loved seeing these guys up close and personal!!

Today we went to the "Sitting Bull Falls" located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. They are the second largest falls in New Mexico. We were just so surprised to see water after looking at stream after stream all dried up.

The flowers are just beginning to bloom.

This is the entrance to the park where the falls are located and a very nice picnic area. The picnic tables are in the rock enclosure.

Lincoin National Forest March 11

The next day we took a car tour of the 5 point vista in Lincoln National Forest. There were 5 vista points and the views were breathtaking.


Don't you just love that lone cactus.

Who says there's no open spaces left??