Running the Wash on Saturday

Ah, yes, it is still raining when we tried to get into Catalina State Park north of Tucson.  
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We wondered how the wash just past the park entrance was faring so we called ahead. 
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At 10, it was closed.  We were told to try again at 2.  
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At 2, we drove down in the little car.  Still closed.  

Nobody could get out – nobody could get in.  300 campers trapped for now. 

The wash wasn't necessarily deep but an abundant amount of sand comes down from the mountains behind the campground.  

We were told to try again at 4.
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At 4, our "high clearance" RV made it through the wash in the path just made by the dozer and we had explicit instructions to stay in the path he just made.   

Enough sand comes down that in this last picture the dozer's new path was moving a foot of sand out of the way.

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Good news – the wash was done running 12 hours after the rain stopped.  A day later the puddle was gone too and the ranger was sweeping off the road.

A Spectacular Sunset

Yep, it rains down here in southern Arizona.  And even though the area is in a drought, heavy rain causes mud and flooding.  All in all, pretty ugly.
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But on this crazy overcast wet day, we found a spectacular sunset on Grandpa Lyle's RV.

Just think, traveling in this RV you can enjoy a brilliant sunset everyday.
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Grandpa Lyle's blog is www.OnTheRoadAgainAgain.com

Super Bowl In View

At this campground we have the same view as the Seahawks. The Super Bowl.

They also have the Super Bowl (stadium in Phoenix) in view.

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Go Hawks

Out Of This World

The theme for this rally was "Out of This World".  We just got a kick out of all the great ideas the groups came up with for the parade. With aliens, saucers, and shuttles.  Oh, my!

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Besides the seminars on tires and MW cooking and African safaris, must-haves to buy, and entertainment every night, we also enjoyed two ice cream socials, donuts and coffee in the morning, and a pizza party. 

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Ok, so maybe we have too much fun out here?  Nahh!

Seattle Weather 2014

We have interesting weather at home.  Not necessarily "nice" like laying on the beach nice but not too cold or too humid and no tornadoes or hurricanes.  Works for us but sometimes we do miss the:

When talking to other friendly travelers down here, they always think they know why we are snowbirds and why we are down south in the winters.  Sun.
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Yep, they are right.  We are looking for sun.  That unfamiliar orb in the sky in the northwest.
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Proof of that was brought home by the year-end synopsis by our local weather blogger, Scott Sistek. 
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November was the 4th sunniest month this year with 7 official sunny days (30 percent or less cloud cover). Meanwhile both October and May went the entire month without an official sunny day. 

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When we tell people that it rained lots while we were building our new house February thru July, these figures prove that out.

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Rainfall records also went down in droves -- 10 to be exact (3 in March, topped by 1.27" on March 8), one in April, two in May, one each in July, August, September and October.) 

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So after we get a healthy dose of sun down here in Arizona, we will be ready to return to our our ever-cloudy Seattle.  Where we call it "marine air".  More palatable?

Date Picking Without A Ladder

Calm day.

Sun and no winds.

Just right for picking dates directly from a hot air balloon.  

Really?

Hmm.   For such a busy area, he is awfully low.

Do you think this is really what the pilot had in mind?  

Power lines and hot air balloons don't mix.

All's well that end's well.

Off he sailed into the sunset - - - very slowly.