Arizona Jan to Feb 2014

We arrived at Casa Grande AZ and checked into Sunscape RV Resort on January, 2014. Spent Jan and Feb there enjoying the warm weather and catching up with friends we met in AZ last year. We revisited the Mesa Market several times.  We went to State Capitol in Phoenix and down to Tubac, an artist colony south of Tucson.  We explored all the galleries and shops.  Mostly, we just relaxed and took it easy.  This is a very nice park, with very friendly people and much closer to the city, which we like. We are planning to return here next winter.

Arizona Sunset

WWII Memorial Arizona State Capitol Guns from USS Arizona and Missouri

With Doc Holliday and the Earp Brothers Tombstone AZ

Yuma Territorial Prison Cell Block

Arizona State Capitol

Update

We spent Sept and Oct in Port Townsend volunteering at the Visitor Center at Fort Worden.  We really enjoyed our time there and plan on returning next Aug for 2 more months.  We spent the month of November at Lake Pleasant RV Park in Bothell WA.  We spent a lot of time with Sara, Todd and grandkids and we enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner at their home.  Best turkey I ever had. Kudos to Sara and Todd for all their efforts. We left WA the first of Dec and headed south towards California with our travel buddies, Bob and Leah Garrettson. We spent 2 days in Sacramento and toured the Capital and Railroad Museum.  We had planned on staying at a park in Sacramento but when we arrived, the park was enclosed by a 10 ft. masonry wall with concertina wire on top and all the homes around  had steel bars on the windows and iron gates around the yards.  Needless to say we decided to stay in Lodi at a park we had stayed in before.

 We left the Garrettsons in Bakersfield where they proceeded on to Hemet CA and we went to Palmdale to spend the month of Dec with Jeff, Vicki and family.  We enjoyed some great family time and had a very nice Christmas with them.  Our son, Dave , was also able to join us for the holidays.  While we were there we went to San Diego and toured the USS Midway Museum and Old San Diego. It was a great experience. 

California State Capitol Sacramento'

Garret and Justin

USS Midway

Enlisted  Sleeping Quarters USS Midway  (Yikes)

The Brig

Christmas Day

We met up with the Garrettsons at Yuma AZ. While we were there, we toured the Yuma Territorial Prison.  There are a lot of RV Resorts in Yuma but not a place that any of us are excited to return to.

We are now at Sunscape RV resort in Casa Grande AZ and plan on being her until Feb.  We have been enjoying great weather and some pool time. Yesterday we visited the Capitol in Phoenix, another step in our goal to see as many state capitols as possible on this trip.

Olympic Game Farm

Our friends, Larry and Julie, are here visiting from Idaho. We took a day trip to the Olympic Game Farm. Needless to say, we got up close and personal with several of the animals.  It was great fun and good company.

Last day at Port Angeles

We spent our last day in Port Angeles hiking the Spruce Railroad trail.  It was 7.5 miles round trip which is our longest hike to date.  The trail follows an old railroad track built during the WWI to haul logs out of the forest surrounding Crescent Lake .  We enjoyed great views of the lake and explored several old tunnels.

Lake Crescent

Railroad Tunnel

The only wildlife we spotted

Sol Duc Hot Springs

We have always wanted to see Sol Duc Hot Springs so we finally went. There were lots of people taking advantage of the hot springs pools.  The highlight for us was the hike to Sol Duc Falls.  After the hike and a great hamburger at Granny's Café, we decided to go to Hurricane Ridge.  It was a beautiful sunny day - a great day to take in all the views.

Sol Duc River

Sol Duc Falls

Olympic Mountains

Strait of Juan de Fuca from Hurricane Ridge

Altair Campground Hike

Today we took a 4 mile hike from the Altair campground and ended up at a beautiful creek.  It was the longest hike we have attempted so far and it was well worth the effort

 

Olympia Nat'l Park

Spent yesterday in Olympia National Park hiking various trails. The day was warm and sunny.  We started at Madison Falls which was a short walk to the base of the falls.  We then drove further down the road and hiked the 1.5 mile trail to Marymere Falls.  It was a beautiful day so we decided to go to the Hoh Rainforest and hiked one of the nature trails at the Ranger Station.  Those huge trees and hanging mosses were amazing.  It felt like walking through a cathedral as the trees were so majestic and it was so quiet.  Got back Port Angeles and had dinner at Sabai Thai Cuisine.  A fantastic meal.

Marymere Falls

Maple Grove  Hoh rainforest

Hoh Rainforest