We moved on to Las Vegas . Arrived at Red Rock Canyon BLM campground. This is without a doubt the prettiest spot we've had yet. Got settled in and began planning the next 6 days. Went in to Las Vegas (about 6 miles) and John and I both donated $20 to the economy. Had a huge Valentine's day lunch at Margaritaville. On Thursday we hiked to La Madre springs. I'm always amazed when we hike up these parched canyons to find a beautiful oasis at the end. We weren't as lucky in our sheep sitings, but they do use this spring. Following that, we took some short hikes to see some pictographs and petroglyphs. It's amazing how well preserved they are. Friday was a hike to Calico Tanks. Nancy didn't make it - too many huge boulders to scramble over. But, John did and he took the picture you see. In the evening we got a call informing us that I'm going to be a grandmother in September. Mike's wife, Sandy, is expecting. Saturday we hiked up Ice Box canyon and John did the wonderful rock art that you see here. Today I got even more good news - Leslea is expecting in October. Now we have 3 babies in a row - Aug, Sep, Oct. I call that my Las Vegas JACKPOT!!! Sunday was a hang-out day after church. Monday we moved on to Lake Mead and toured Hoover Dam the following morning - what a structure. Was completed in 5 years and under budget. They're in the process now of builing a bridge across the canyon that will cost $240 mil. and it's already late and over budget. Times change. Weds we hiked White Rock Canyon which was magnificient! Very high canyon walls of several different types of rock, red, white, green, gray. Took us right down to Mojave Lake where we had our lunch. Had dinner at a cute little local place called The Bistro. We've been trying to have lunch or dinner at one of the local spots in each play we stay. Thursday was museum day and I got my nails done. Tomorrow we're off to Bullhead City where we'll pick up our mail. Then more adventures and another blob

We were not too happy with our campsite until we realized we couldn't see people on either side of us, or in front of us. Plus we had a dead tree where we could hang the Christmas present hummingbird feeder. Turns out we loved our spot. Unfortunately, both John and I are suffering from allergies - don't know if it's dust or something else. I ended up going to the clinic and got nose spray and eye drops. Has helped a lot, but we still have problems. On Feb. 6 we hiked up Palm Canyon which started right in the campground. We were told we might spot some bighorn sheep at the oasis at the end of the canyon. The first person we met who was coming out said there were no sheep. However, just before we arrived at the oasis, we met some people who said there was a herd of 14 ( 5 rams and 9 ewes) just above the waterfall. When we arrived, a ram showed his head above the waterfall and began his descent to the right of where we were standing. He watched us for a few minutes, and then started down. Then came another, and another, and John and I were in total awe. All 14 came down and were feasting on watercress in the stream about 30 feet from us. Neither of us had ever seen such a sight. What a treat!

The following day we did the"hike from hell 'for me. It was called "alcoholic pass" and I can see why. I would have done much better had I had a drink or two or three. The path followed along the side of the cliff with lots of loose rock and some large rocks you had to climb over. Besides that, there was no pretty lake or bighorn sheep at the top. I was GRUMPY.

We followed that up with a trip to Julian, AZ where they are well known for their great apple pie. Not only was it a cute town, it was GREEN!!!! We indulged in apple pie ala mode and checked out the town. John got a soaring eagle at a neat bird store who now flies above the coach when we're parked. We ended this great day with an earthquake. We were watching TV that evening, and all of a sudden the coach began to shake. I looked at John and said "earthquake". By then, it was over.

Next day we joined an organized hike to a slot canyon. We have done slot canyons before, but they were rock. This one was hard sand, and quite different. Had quite a climb out at the end, and one of our leaders had to take it very, very slowly.

The following day we headed out to Yucca Valley, CA, where Les was going to meet us that evening. She arrived about 6:30PM in time for dinner. She wanted to check out the Twenty Nine Palms Inn, so we stopped there before we went for a hike up another canyon on Saturday This time to another oasis surrounded by palm trees. After we enjoyed a nice crab cake dinner and a game of Mexican train, Les got a call from Cyndy saying she was in the hospital and her blood pressure was very high. By now, it was getting late, and Les was tired after our hike, so she decided she would head home Sunday morning. John and I helped load her stuff about 6:30 AM and she headed out. Cyndy was due for some more tests on Sunday and Monday, but seems the high blood pressure was causing her problems.

We were going to spend a week in Joshua Tree National Park, but we are getting tired of the allergy problem and decided to head to Las Vegas on Tuesday. We visited Morongo Preserve today for a nice walk and some bird watching.

On to our next adventure.

On Jan 25th we headed out for Yuma, AZ. Toured the Yuma Territorial Prison and had Lunch at the Yuma Landing, one of the longstanding places in town. The following day, after partaking of a pancake breakfast at the RV park, we hiked an interesting canyon to see a grove of palm trees growing in a steep side canyon.

After church on Sunday, we went to the Arizona Marketplace. This was a really great flea market. It was set up under rows of big white tents with each row having an assigned letter. They had a lot of hard to find stuff. I bought orange peelers, a butter dispenser for corn on the cob, and some trains for my domino set (to play Mexican train). John bought an antenna to put on the coach to improve cell phone reception. They also had an ice cream booth, so we indulged.
After 6 days in Yuma, we moved on to a hot springs on BLM property where we dry-camped.

We've been having an ongoing problem with losing voltage during the night when nothing is running, so we don't even try to watch TV unless we're hooked up. While at the hot springs, we attended an educational program at an experimental farm run by UC Davis, CA. Had coffee and popcorn on arrival, then a video and lecture, fresh salad lunch, and then jumped on hay wagons for a trip to the fields. We got to pick cabbage, beets, white radishes, and broccoli. When we got back to the RV, our neighbor brought us over some cauliflower. We feasted on fresh veggies for the next week. John and I were invited to sing with the entertainers during lunch for which we received a CD. Our part...we got to chime in with "I'm getting old.....".

On Feb 3, we arrived at Anza Borrego State Park.

Jan. 27, 2007

We departed Ajo after church on Jan. 14 and motored down to Organ Pipe National Monument. We spent a week there hikiing to several old mines and one canyon, which was a little terrifying for Nancy. It's pretty desolate country, and it's hard to imagine all the hardships the miners suffered. We did one 8 mile hike that really pushed our limits. It wasn't a difficult hike, in that it wasn't a lot of uphill, but we hiked in washes that were about 6" deep with fine gravel and sand. Each step took a lot of effort. Those last 3 miles got to be pretty long. We managed to get to most of the evening ranger talks on various topics regarding the park.

On January 21 we headed down to PuertoPenasco, MX. We had done a scouting trip to check out some RV parks and found one right on the beach. Purchased our Mexican insurance and were on our way. Life on the beach was very good with beautiful sunsets and great margaritas. (A special "thank you" to Susan for the magic bullet - it makes great margaritas). We walked the beach, and I collected some shells. Got into town a few times for a little local color. We bought fresh shrimp and fish at the open air fish markets and enjoyed both. John and I both fed the seagulls, but John actually got two of them to eat from his hand. More later.

John and I arrived in Ajo, AZ on January11 after having solar panels and a catalytic heater installed in the coach in Glendale. Since we got a late start out of Glendale, we decided to spend the night in Ajo, and then motor on to Organ Pipe National Monument the following morning. After discovering the beautiful old plaza here, and taking a look at the HUGE copper mine, we decided to stay a few days and explore. One of the places we explored was the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Preserve. After driving in about 17 miles on a dirt road we did some hiking around the area. Found some pronghorn antlers, but didn't see so much as a rabbit. However, the following morning we encountered a Javelina when leaving the RV park. You just never know when the wildlife is going to appear.

Tomorrow we will leave for Organ Pipe after attending an old mission style church which is currently pastored by a Methodist. We were planning on attending the Presbyterian church, but met the organist for the Methodist church when we did a preview of Organ Pipe. She agreed to play my favorite hymn , so we decided to be Methodists for a day. After a week at our next destination, it's on to Rocky Point, Mexico where we have reserved a spot right on the Sea of Cortez. I can't begin to imagine how beautiful it's going to be watching the sunset while sitting on the beach in front of the coach.

After Rocky Point we will probably head for Yuma AZ and then on to CA. We will update the blog when we get to Yuma and have internet connection again.

Love to you all.

Hi all, we fled the snow and are in beautiful sunny (and no snow) AZ. Would you believe we decided to leave Tues AM to beat the snow, and were on the road by 2 PM. Good trip down High lite was a stop at the Boscque del Apache wildlife reserve in NM. It is a major wintering spot for Snow geese and Sand Hill cranes. We got there in the late PM to see them coming back to their watering spot. Then the next AM we got there to see the watering spot looking like a snow field. Shortly after we arrived they took off in mass. What a sight. Attached are a couple of photos.

We will be here till next Tuesday (after the Bucs win the BCS bowl) then off to Organ Pipe AZ then points west. Will keep you posted.

Nancy & John (Mom & Dad)