World Class Sky Diving

We had the greatest day today. Our motorcycle crowd got on their 12 bikes and Ron and I, who seem to be the little old folks in this crowd, followed them in the car. We stopped at the Galloping Goose for a pit stop and coffee.

We headed down the back roads to Eloy to the municipal airport. The weather is ideal here with no winds and people come from around the world to participate. Here's a tandem jump.

 There were 6 planes we saw up at 16,000 - 18,000 ft. that dropped 120 divers who formed a star formation and then finally they started swooping down onto the field.
Some landings were great and some others slid along on their bums.

Next the parachutes were re-packed and away they went again.

I talked to 4 women  (3 from the UK and 1 from Holland ) who were here to break the world record of 41 women, and they did this morning. 100 women tried out for slots and  64 qualified. They jumped out of the plane together, going 180 mph, heads down to get into formation. Then the trick is to slow yourself by spreading yourself bigger if you get ahead so the rest can get into their appointed slots. Quite fascinating. I told them that I couldn't do this as I had promised my daughter that I would never sky-dive or river raft. One girl told me that she had to promise her mother that she would never ride a motorcycle. This was after she'd hurtled down threw the sky setting a world record. I laughed and said I'd just joined a 'motorcycle gang' this morning.   Great experience
Unfortunately the following Tuesday 3 men collided at 250', with canopies opened coming in for their landing and 2 crashed to earth and perished.
 Here's one of the photographers, complete with nose and mouths cannula's for Oxygen. I think they hover longer at the highest spot capturing the shoots to prove that it is a world record.

American Thankgiving

We have celebrated their Thanksgiving since 1984 when we were shopping in Ferndale Washington by chance and were given 10 lb potatoes and all the trimmings for thanksgiving dinner as a thank you for buying a turkey at the CostCutter store. We start our day by watching the Macy's Parade in New York City. The floats are gigantic and the huge balloons had to be tethered down by 32 handlers and flown very low due to higher winds.

We had 12 for dinner outside, the day was perfect and everyone's favourite recipes were to die for.

This startled me when I saw these orange Poinsettias in the grocery store celebrating Thanksgiving and Autumn. We grew them in our Brown Bros. Greenhouses at Haney as a red Christmas flower decoration.

Good Movies

We've had a little rain overnight and a cool day so Roger and Myrna and we went to Harkin's Theaters to see 'Last Vegas'. It's a must see if you want a good laugh. We thoroughly enjoyed it and Sunday drove them to the Sky Harbour Airport for their flight to their Panama Cruise.
We had another cool day Wed. 27 so we went and saw the film Capt. Phillips, played by Tom Hanks. It was a very thought provoking, serious movie based on a true story of Somalian pirates boarding a Maersk container vessel and how it worked out. Very well done.

It is so easy to drive here. There are 3 main freeways, 6 lanes and very good signage. There is so much to do and everything is within 30 minutes.

                                                                  Interesting sky.

Quilt Shop Hop

After our fascinating Quilt Art Show last week, 3 of us headed to Paradise Valley. We enjoyed the Bernina Connection which had a great button selection, all in different sized tubes.

  Quiltz was next and probably our favorite. This store was just bustling with people sharing ideas and buying stuff. Here's a purse they'd made.

We got all the way up to Cave Creek to The Olde World Quilt Shoppe. This place had beautiful wood floors, antique furniture and armoires for the fabric.There was a coffee table and easy chairs in front of the fireplace near the magazine area. Here's a 4 poster bed used as a display spot. Very charming.

Pebble Creek

We went over to see friends in west Phoenix today and were treated to Chuck's famous Margarita's. I need to have one a year and his are the best.

Pool Time

This is usually part of our afternoons - enjoying the pool, sunshine and friends.

                    Apparently, this is how Ron and Joe exercise poolside, their elbows that is.

                                    Many matters are decided in the pool.
We will visit so long in the pool that we then have to go warm up in the hot tub.

Patio Sales, then Fabric Art

Myrna and I rode around on our bikes yesterday. There were 3 sales getting ready on my street and we rode 40 minutes until we found another one. I announced to the sellers that I wasn't buying anything, just looking as I lived in a motorhome and wasn't adding any weight or taking up any space in our coach.
Then I saw and bought a basket for my bike for $2. They laughed but lucky me. All set now for future patio sales.

That is some pretty dark looking sky but it blew away.
This afternoon 3 ladies decided on the spur of the moment to go to Chandler, 25 minutes away to an ARTrageous: Art Quilts Year  XVlll. This is the 1st prize winner, Eagle feathers hand-painted, then layered on the fabric.

This artist was inspired by her love of gardening and nature.The 9 separate pieces hung together have birch bark and leaves prominently displayed.

 My very favourite wouldn't be called quilt art by me as it is mostly fabric paint to achieve this beautiful effect and then the picture was quilted.

.Myrna and I couldn't resist our friend, a purple ostrich outside a quilt shop where we observed a class.

Organ Stop Pizza

Friends spent the day here with us up in the Courtyard listening to the great music which we enjoy Mon to Fri. We played some pool in our pool hall where we have 12 tables, then listened to the music.
Next stop was the Organ Stop Pizza where it's pretty much serve yourselves, find a spot at long tables with benches and enjoy the music.  

The younger fellow played tonight and was fantastic as usual.
Here we have the 4 cats dancing above him.

                                  We sure enjoyed the delicious pizza and company.

Tortilla Flat, AZ, Population - 6

We had never been here before so Myrna and I meandered out here on our little road trip. It was only 18 miles, took 20 minutes but I wouldn't repeat it. Up and down, left and right, it was one of the worst winding roads I've ever been on. It was 20 mph and slow to 15 on every curve. My only saving grace was that I was driving and felt like I was in charge of the twists and turns. We stopped at every view point for a break so I could settle my vertigo disease and carry on. We viewed Canyon Lake where the Sternwheeler gives tours.

Tortilla Flat is the last surviving Stagecoach stop on the historic Apache Trail. Think about it for a minute   -   where did the Apaches go?  It seems to me, we saw the area of their demise up at Camp Verde last year where there is an old fort with an entire history of where the Calvary wiped out the Apache Indians in this area so the white settlers could settle the area and then the mining deposits were found. It has been an important supply station along this road for over 100 years, even before they were building the Roosevelt Dam. this antique town is complete with a poor soul hanging on the front street. The original gallows was outside the schoolhouse.

 The restaurant is a hoot, dollar bills stapled to every surface in the place, but when I went to the Ladies Room, I found Ladies in them. It was a bit of a shock to sit down and disappear behind the cut off door, then stand zipping your pants as someone waits for your stall, smiling at you eyeball to eyeball.

Goldfield, AZ

Our next stop yesterday was this original gold rush town. This is basically the main street of the town ending with the Church at the top of the hill and town. It had a service going on so we couldn't go in today.

You can just see the circular wrought iron staircase going up 2 floors to the Bordello on the left.
There was a strolling guitar player in front of the Saloon.

We lucked in, as you always do when it's unexpected and there was a 'Poker Run' on horseback with some young women in elaborate chaps and shirts, even one who was the current Rodeo Queen. Fun to see.

This is the main saloon in town, quite large with a full wagon assembled on stage and wagon wheels in front, sponsoring the Poker Run.

Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Musuem

 The guys went to the NASCAR Race in Phoenix today. They took an escorted trip from the park and it included Pre Race Pit Passes, a very interesting experience.
 so Myrna and I headed for the Superstition Mountain Museum which she'd never seen. Here we are in the Elvis Memorial Chapel which today can be booked for weddings. This was originally at the Apacheland Movie Ranch which began it's claim as the 'Western Movie Capital of the World",  where the film Charro was made by Elvis during which the steeple of this wedding chapel was blown off. The chapel and the barn were moved board by board to this present location as well as the Hanging Gallows on site.

 It is very well done by volunteers and the Boot Hill Cemetery at the back really cracks me up.

The Headstones are priceless. This one says, "Here lies big Nosed Nate, shot a  fellow at her gate, wouldn't pay the going rate.

There are also constant reminders to "Stay on the Path, beware of snakes" so trust me, we obeyed.
The Superstition Mountains are beautiful in the background.

Fountain Hills Craft Show

We cooked this up last night when we were playing Mexican Train. The bikers wanted to ride out to this yearly amazing Craft Show with about 500 Vendors. As Becky says, we little old white folks just drive along behind in our cars. And, so we did. The first thing was this huge fountain in an 29 acre 100 million gallon effluent lake. It is said it  is the largest in the world although I can't find that information on the town website. It is situated in a 64-acre passive recreation area which is the anchor to the town center.
Then we started with the many Vendors. There was glass, metal art, incredible photography.

                                After walking forever, we had to hydrate ourselves.

It was so much fun to see all the very different artistic things that are unique to this area with the different Juried Artists. Very well done. We stopped at the Saddle Bronco's Grill for lunch on the way home and it was delicious. Just so you know where to go.

Curtis in the Courtyard

Curtis and Sandy are our neighbours across the street and he is very talented. He was our entertainer in the Courtyard today. You can see Ron and Myrna sitting at our table in the shade. The large concrete planter behind them was demolished today as well as the wall at the other end and concrete laid so there's more room in the Courtyard. Curtis is on stage and changes hats with every song - goes from cowboy, to rock, the 60's, to reggae, even  Rastafarian. It's quite delightful.

Now he's down on the floor getting all the line dancers to do the Cupid Shuffle - I thought he said the Stupid Shuffle. It is so silly  - to the right x 4, to the left x 4, then turn yourself around, and they do and continue on.
He is so popular that the place is packed.You can hear the music well in the pool area, so here's more fans sitting under the umbrella poolside listening in.

Tia Rosa's

Myrna and I met friends at Tia Rosa's for a Margarita while the guys watched a hockey game.

It is so authentic with wooden antique doors and painted tiles, you think you're in Mexico.

Pool Party

               The line dancers on the deck were going right as the ones in the pool were going left.
                                        

                                                   The annual pool party was today. Water pistols were encouraged, some were very large.

ss