Golf, Ghost Town, Desert Museum

10th Tee Las Sendas Golf Club

Goldfield Ghost Town

Charlotte says "my that's a big one"

Scene from the old west

Old Glory flying over monument to unknown prospector

Monument to Unknown Prospector RIP

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House of ill repute

House of worship. Services still held here.

Lots of stories here too.

Did I say these fascinate me?

Inside cave at Desert Museum

Grey desert wolf

Lazing coyote

Storm's a brew'in

Beauty at every turn

Prickly pear blossom

More beauty

Views from I17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff

Peek over the guardrail

Down in the valley

We found Elvis in Williams, AZ

Had dinner here

Cheers!!!!

Seems like lots has happened since last post. Monday took Charlotte to see the golf course I played and while in the area located an old ghost town, Goldfield. Very interesting and enjoyable afternoon. It was out near the Lost Dutchman State Park east of Mesa. Tuesday I washed the outside of the motor home and Charlotte cleaned the inside getting ready to head to another location. Drove south to Tuscon Wednesday for the motor home's day spa appointment. While it was being worked on we drove to the western edge of the Saguaro National Park to the Desert Museum. Its a living museum representing everything desert, vegetation and animal. Spent much of the afternoon there. Highly recommend a visit there if you are ever in the area. Spent the night in the Lazyday's campground before departing this AM for Williams, AZ. 291 miles later arrived in Williams. Williams is considered a gateway to the Grand Canyon and it is also the last city on the infamous Route 66 that was bypassed by I40. Got the land yacht anchored and wondered into the city. Lots of shops selling Route 66 and Indian paraphernalia. Appears to have some nice restaurants as well. We dined at Cruser's Cafe 66. Off to the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest tomorrow. 

Scenes from Arizona

Landscape  - AZ

View from rest area in AZ.

Another rest area view.

Picacho Peak State Park

More of Picacho SP

Charlotte taking in the view.

Looking from park across the valley.

Saguaro Cactus

Looking up the gulch.

Waving with bouquet in hand.

Blooming Saguaro.

Another Saguaro...fascinate me.

Looked like a fuzzy watermelon to me.

Interesting flora.

Baby Saguaro.

Arrived in Casa Grande, AZ Thursday afternoon after traversing 343 miles of desert-like countryside. Rather easy drive across I10. We both chilled out all day on Friday. Saturday I played golf at a beautiful desert/foothill golf course called Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa, AZ. Its supposedly rated as one of the top 100 in the US and top 10 in AZ. Difficult but very scenic. Charlotte opted not to play because she's still experiencing pain in her shoulder. She did do some house cleaning, laundry and sewed some while I was out playing. I know, sometimes life just isn't fair......Today we took a drive south toward Tuscon to Picacho Peak State Park. Most of the pictures you see above were taken there. Taking it easy the rest of the afternoon. We're here in Casa Grande until Wednesday AM when we take the motor home for some minor repair and an oil change at LazyDays, Tuscon.

Scenes From New Mexico

Texas/New Mexico Border

Mountains East of Las Cruces, NM

Tall Cacti at the welcome center.

White Sands National Monument

Dunes

Where's the ocean?????

White Sands flora.

Plants holding on to this dune

Chihuahua Desert

White Sands flora

Beautiful flowering cactus in the middle of the desert.

Winding road into the mountains

We made our way 286 mi from Ft Stockton, TX to Las Cruces, NM on Tuesday. Arrived at the campground early enough (got another free hour and found something useful to do with it) to explore a little town called Mesilla just south of Las Cruces. Mesilla was a stop on the Butterfield stagecoach route and is the town in which Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced to hang in 1881. Mesilla is now home to quaint little shops offering area significant items, souvenirs, and wines from New Mexican wineries. We sampled and purchased some wine and then made our way to St. Clair Winery and Bistro for dinner. Didn't buy any wine there but did sample some. The dinners were outstanding and the ambiance spectacular. Outside seating looking up at the mountains to the east. Very enjoyable.  We took off this morning for the farmers market in downtown Las Cruces. It was a little disappointing but did have local artists displaying their wares. Went east from there through the mountains to White Sands National Monument. Don't know why its called a monument and not a national park but it isn't. Strange seeing all that white sand out in the middle of a dessert. Pretty scenery though. Hope you enjoy some of the photos. Off to Arizona in the morning.