Geocache Adventure #2

We decided to head to Prescott for our second adventure in geocaching. Prescott is about 90 miles northwest of homebase, so the temperature is a little cooler. The day was sunny, the time was early, the team was ready! We had quite a long list of possible caches to find. Even though we only ended up finding one, we had a good time hunting. We found the area on a few of them, but were unable to locate the cache due to locked roads or other obstacles keeping us from the final victory. Sometimes the little country roads fly by too fast and we are unable to safely turn or even notice that we missed a turn. We enjoyed the trip, it was a nice drive and we learn a little more about geocaching every time we go.

Cemetery and Altar

Roadside altar

We found this altar right on the roadside before entering Miami, AZ. It was pretty cool, someone has made the ultimate in roadside memorials and not a distracting roadside memorial. There was plenty of room to pull off the road, park and look around. People tacked pictures of their loved ones up inside and lit candles and left poems and other memorials. In Miami we found this cemetery that was really unique. The plots were sectioned off by cement slabs. Some had picket fences around them, some wrought iron, some had stone laid on the top and some were left plain. Grass doesn't grow that well so they were more dried grass and dirt. It was very interesting to walk around and see all the different gravesites. Sound a little creepy? Well it wasn't, it was fascinating. Oh, the things you will see!!!

Globe Hotshots

Smoke signals to lead us back??

No it was a forest fire!

Geocaching isn't just about the destination it is about the journey. When we were up on the mountainside at the ranch, we could see the smoke coming over the distant hills. I naturally thought it was the geocaching helpers sending us a smoke signal to get us back to the main road, nevermind that there was only one way in and one way out or the fact that we got in there with a GPS and apparently it would find our way out if we needed it to. No I was sure it was a "sign". When we got out on the road we saw the fires and the Globe Hotshots who were on the scene and keeping things under control. We are not sure if it was a random forest fire or a controlled burn, but either way it was my first forest fire and pretty amazing looking.

Geocaching Adventure #1

Team photo at find #2

We have found a new family activity and it is called Geocaching. Go here to learn more about it. Geocaching is basically a treasure hunt with a GPS. People hide containers (geocaches) and enter the coordinates, basic driving directions and other hints. You browse the website to find caches in the area you want to hunt, load it into your GPS and go on your treasure hunt. We decided to give it a try and had a blast searching for the caches. We headed to the Miami/Globe area and our first find was very easy and fun to get us started. It was what they call a cache and dash.

Team mascot "Frizzle" at find #1

Frizzle at find #2, he is a great hunter!

At the ranch where we found our 2nd cache.

Who says a minivan can't handle off-road driving?

Yes, we are way up near the clouds and that road down there is the only way out!

Our second find was a little more involved and turned out to be a 30 minute ride each way on that windy dirt road that led to a cattle round up. It was between 4,000 and 5,000 elevation and the views were gorgeous. We were totally secluded, didn't see another car until we were almost out, a truck was coming in. The land was a ranch and near our destination were corrals, an old shed and water trough for the cows. It was a lot of fun, and we will be planning another hunt soon.

Margaret's visit

A hummingbird was hanging about.
Margaret arrived on Saturday March 14th to visit for a week. First stop was the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit and also to enjoy the garden. The wildflowers were in full bloom and may I just say we saw more here than we did in our "Wildflower trip" last year. Not quite sure how I managed not to take any pictures of them, must have been enjoying their beauty. Margaret, Pat and I had a lovely day walking around and then we stopped for my favorite margaritas and appetizers at Z tejas.

Most of Margaret's visit was spent relaxing outside reading books and magazines and just enjoying a little warm weather. Mike and William were on spring break that week so she got to spend some time with the two of them. One early morning Margaret and I went to the Riparian Water Ranch in Gilbert to take a walk around and look for some wildlife. The cactus were in bloom and it was a very pleasant early morning walk before the heat of the day set in.

Mike, Grandma and William

Planning their escape, I think.

Zane Grey's cabin or at least a replica

On Friday all of us took a drive to Payson to see what there was to see. In a couple words - not too much - but it was a beautiful drive in the mountains, and we did go to the Rim Country Museum. Apparently Payson's claim to fame is that Zane Grey had a cabin there where he did a lot of his writing. They have a replica of his cabin and some other interesting artifacts. It was a beautiful day and a nice drive and somewhere we had never been, so it was worth the trip. The Rim is in that area somewhere, but I am not sure how soon I will be making that drive again as I was quite nauseated by the time we got there. I am not even sure what the Rim is but apparently it is something you should see if out that way and it looked to me like it involved more mountain roads and not headed towards home, so not this time.

Koopmanns' visit

Bob, Laura, Frank and Lyla came to Arizona the first week of March for a spring baseball league that Rockford College was playing in. Bob had Wednesday off and William and I went with them to the zoo. It was a beautiful day to walk around. It didn't get too hot out, the sun was shining and we were all exhausted by the end of the day. While they were here we went to some of the baseball games and I couldn't even tell you how many they won or lost all I know is it was so nice to have them here visiting. We were able to have dinner together a couple nights and I really enjoyed them being here and was sad to see them go. I hope that they keep Arizona as their permanent spring league destination!!!

MIA

Wow, looks like I have been busy being out of my mind somewhere else lately. I apologize to the two or three of you that check in regularly to see what we are up to and promise to put some new posts up this weekend with pictures of our winter visitors and more.