Gypsy & The Navigator

Images at 70 Miles Per Hour.........A Road Trip to Quartzsite

The sky was still black as we headed from Apache Junction west toward Quartzsite.

Not long and we were in the "I10 deck park tunnel" in downtown Phoenix.  For those of you who wonder why there is a tunnel in flat desert Phoenix it is because when Interstate 10 was being completed to connect the west coast (at Santa Monica) to the east coast (at Jacksonville, FL) the only part left to complete was a 20 mile section through Phoenix.  

The City was in a quandary as to exactly where the freeway would run through the city. The ideal pathway would take it right through historic neighborhoods just north of downtown Phoenix. The residents of the area were very disturbed with the thought that their neighborhoods would be divided by this huge strip of concrete, whether it was built as a sunken roadway, creating a huge canyon, or above ground creating another obstacle splitting their neighborhoods.

After years of wrangling between the city, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Federal Government and the local residents, a wonderful solution was created. Why not run the freeway through a tunnel beneath ground level and actually enhance the neighborhood by creating a park-like setting above the tunnel with recreation and other amenities for the residents. This solution would actually better the neighborhood area, instead of destroying it. So, that's what they did.  It was completed in 1990.  Above the tunnel is a Japanese Garden and other recreational facilities.

The sky started to lighten and show off the pretty pink and purple clouds.  We were on our way to Quartzsite to meet Sylvia, David, Tresa & Jerry to get a bit of the "Quartzsite RV Experience".  Our full calendar didn't allow time to hook up Gypsy and pull over for a few days to camp so we headed out for a one day road trip.

All of the photos in the post were taken from inside the car.  Most from 70+ miles per hour.   Be prepared for blurs.

The traffic was light for the approximately 2 and 1/2 hour trip.

The desert was beautiful in the early morning light.

It was spectacular when the bright blue sky appeared.

We have arrived.  There's the Q.  And a light cloud cover filled the sky.

Yes,  we see the big tent.

And the Michelin Man was giving us a thumbs up.

 We had just arrived and Tresa, Jerry, Sylvia and David pulled up and we headed into the Big Tent to see what the vendors had to offer.  Everything RV and more.  Must be a lot of us old folk RVer's in pain because there were booths and booths offering pain relief from the top of your head to those aching feet.  Lots to see and lots of walking up and down the aisles to tire us out and a break for lunch was in order.

 Followed them to their campsite past RV's parked everywhere in the desert.

Their spot was great.  Flat, gravel covered, no dust and no close neighbors.  Thanks Tresa and Sylvia for such a great lunch.  We were definitely spoiled.

 Then back past the rows of RV's to the Tyson Wells Swap Meet.  More booths full of must haves and booths that have you wondering who would ever want those things.  We did our share of purchases.........2 new camp chairs, a collapsible rake, a pad for Walt to kneel on when he has to do things that require being on the ground, a new glass nail file for me and the requisite kettle corn.  No time for the rocks and minerals that were the start of the Quartzsite experience and no time to drool over the million dollar RV's on display. 

Soon we were on the road back to Apache Junction.  The desert scenes flew by in a blur.

The sun dropped lower and gilded the scene with a golden glow.

The beautiful sunset was behind us.  No stopping for a photo op.  I hope no one was watching as I twisted and turned backwards in the seat while trying to keep my seat belt on so I could get the picture.  They would have really wondered what that crazy old lady was doing.  Good thing traffic was light.  I admit for the next picture I took my seat belt off and told Walt not to crash. 

 A perfect end to a perfect day.

A Day Spent With Friends Is Always A Day Well Spent!

Not only did we get to spend Friday with friends on Sunday we were able to spend the day with Joyce and Paul.  They live in Albuquerque but are in Scottsdale for a couple of months while Paul undergoes a bone marrow transplant.  His spirit amazed us and we know he will sail through this and our hope is that if there is a wave or two it won't be too high.  He and Walt do need to keep in mind that the girls day will come and we will beat them at Canasta.

To top it off on Tuesday afternoon Charlotte and Carl stopped by for a visit while they were in town.  It feels like we have won the grand prize in the friend department. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Butterfly Wonderland........With A Little Girl That Flits Just Like A Butterfly

5 year old Kristi came to stay with Grampa & Grammie for a couple of days. 

She had been to Butterfly Wonderland and was sure it was somewhere Grammie would love so off we went.

Butterfly Wonderland is located in Scottsdale.  It boasts that it has the largest butterfly pavillion in the United States.

 After purchasing tickets you enter the lobby and are directed to the 3D Theater to view "Flight of the Butterflies".  Walt and I donned our 3D glasses but true to the 5 year old stubborn behavior Kristi elected to view without the 3D glasses.  Oh, what she missed.  Wow, it was breathtaking.  You felt like you were flying along with the butterflies and at times it was as if they were flitting so close that you could reach out and touch them.  

It is the story of the Monarch Butterfly and the longest known insect migration on Earth – an adventure of epic proportions. In following the migration cycle of the monarch butterfly, the production team filmed hundreds of millions of monarchs along their migratory routes from Canada, across the United States, to their remote overwintering sanctuaries in Mexico.  Beautiful and educational too.

From the movie you enter the Butterfly Emergence Gallery.  There are rows and rows of chrysalis in all colors.  This group made me think of jewels.  Turquoise, amethyst, amber and jade.  

 These looked like dried leaves but the butterflies that emerged are full of color.  This one was already out when we came by.

This beauty emerged as the crowd watched.  Fascinating.  

Then on to the 10,000 square foot conservatory.

Thousands of butterflies from around the world fly, flit and flutter all around. Doesn't this one look like it has been dusted with gold glitter? 

This little blue dotted one was so beautiful but so elusive.  I finally tracked him down at one of the feeding stations.  Best I could do.

Look at the ragged wings on this beautiful guy.  Instructions are given several times to not catch, pick up or otherwise torment the butterflies.  It is OK if they land on you...............when that happens you can enjoy their visit but let them leave when they choose.  Unfortunately I saw many intstances of chasing, catching, and picking up that led to ragged wings and worse.  I know that butterflies have a very short life span but it still makes me sad when they are treated badly.

 

The atrium is filled with lush tropical plants, a waterfall and koi pond.

There are tiny ones............

Ones with long, skinny wings............

Perfect patterend ones..............

Familiar ones.........

And some I had never seen before.

Kristi loved it when one landed on her skirt.  Let's not talk about earlier when a HUGE one landed on her foot and she had a melt down.  

 Walt and I were both honored by several butterfly landings.  Just like the quote " Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you" we found that since we didn't hop, skip and jump like Krisit they would stop by for a visits often.  

There are feeding stations everywhere but these are my favorite.  They cover brightly colored feather dusters with nectar.  

This was the fan favorite.  Big blue wings and they were flitting about everywhere.  I didn't try to identify many of the butterflies but this one was hard to miss.  A Blue Morpho from the rainforests of South America.  Gorgeous,  iridescent and interesting.  

 Interesting because this is what they look like when their wings are closed.  They can be flashy or plain!  

 There is also a small aquarium display.

The fish are all native to the Amazon.

There was also a Touch Tank where sting rays could be touched.  Quite a crowd there so no photos.

A very fun day with a cute little caterpillar that morphed into.......................

a beautiful little Butterfly.

 

Nature Right in the Town of Gilbert.........Riparian Preserve

The moon was still in the sky the other morning when we left for the day.

Since we are staying in Apache Junction and it is over 20 miles to Gilbert (where the family and most of our errands are done) when we have something in the morning and then again later in the day we find things to do in between instead of driving back to Apache Junction.  Sometimes it is a drive out into the farmland.

This day we went to the Riparian Preserve in Gilbert.  It is a place we had gone to a lot when we lived in Gilbert.  We used to take our dog, Poppy, there for walks.  She would get very excited about the ducks.

The Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch is a water recycling facility for the Town of Gilbert. Gilbert treats its wastewater, and then pipes it into the basins here where it replenishes the underground water supply. The water can then be pumped out of the ground to support the water needs of the homes and businesses in Gilbert. This system, then, creates an opportunity for habitats for many kinds of wildlife and plant life that you might not see in other desert areas.

The park covers 110 acres and there are 4 1/2 miles of trails that wind throughout the park.  Some of the trails are paved and others are gravel. 

 

 There is fishing.  Some young boys were proud to tell us they had caught three. The lakes are stocked with Rainbow Trout, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish and Catfish.

 

 

 

 There are bunnies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Furry little rodents.

 

 

 

 

 

But, the stars of the show are the birds.  Ducks in particular.

 The geese are fewer in numbers but seem to think they are in charge.

There are plenty of places to climb and play.

There is a small Observatory.  It is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights.  We were there one night and got to see the Saturn Rings.   

It is an amazing place right in the middle of a highly populated area. 

We stayed long enough to enjoy a beautiful winter sunset.

We are very fortunate to have the time to enjoy sights like this.  

Another nice day taking time to enjoy what is right under our nose.

"It takes a little talent to see clearly what lies under one's nose, a good deal of it to know in which direction to point that organ."
-   W. H. Auden   

Look What The New Year Brought Us......Snow on the Superstitions

A rare sight indeed.  Snowfall greeting us for the New Year.  

It does happen from time to time but they say that this year was unusual because of how far down it came on the mountain base.

It was a backdrop that you normally would not see in the desert.

The snow on this grey and cloudy day brought out hundreds of people making the trek to Apache Junction to get a peek at the unusual sight.

Cars parked anywhere and everywhere.  People walking, people taking pictures and plenty of mud to be stepped in. 

A nice way to start the New Year..............with something unexpected.   

I hope that 2015 will be a Forrest Gump year............"Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you are going to get."  I never met a chocolate I didn't like.   

For those of you that are in the market for bugs or weeds there are several locations in the Phoenix area for your shopping enjoyment.