Our Adventures Continue...

Tom & Diane Howlett are our very good friends. They were just visiting Nacogdoches, TX, Rusk and Tyler to show us some fun and beauty. Catch a glimpse of what Texas has to offer this time of year. The helicopter is a model although it almost looks real. Note: If you click twice on the arrow and turn your speakers up a little you will get the full effect of the video.

Note: If you click twice on the arrow and turn your speakers up a little you will get the full effect of the video. Imagine: this desert is your home. You know when the seasons change, how the plants grow, where the animals hide. You know the gentle rains of the cool months, and you know the hot months, too, when temperatures soar and dust storms obscure the horizon. Weeks pass wthout any rain, and when at last it comes, it is with violent thunderstorms. The summer months are not easy, but this is your home. The Sonoran Desert is a harsh land. Annual rainfall averages only 8 inches and temperatures can reach 120 degrees. This was the Stone Age. These are the Hohokam People. Take a look across the compound. Imagine how the Hohokam used ingenuity and hard work to adapt successfully to the desert. Using stone-age technology, they built a civilization that lasted over a thousand years. Their archetectural tradition culminated in the construction of the Casa Grande. The ruins of the Casa Gr...

On the day that he bought his new Specialized Road Bicycle for his cross country foray from San Diego to Savannah, he was so excited, he even changed his first flat tire before we even got our Sonic burgers.

This is a beautiful spot. Right off I-60 just a few miles from Mesa and Landis Bike Shop. Not too far from Apache Junction and beautiful Superstition Mountain. Great Hiking. We are signed up for another week till the end of the month. Then we head to Las Vegas and the Utah National Parks.

Tony, Al and I did a 4 mile hike in this beautiful country. We have lots of pictures and it was a great hike. The wild flowers are spectacular.

I know, we told you all that we were going to do Alaska this year. We were, but then Mike's house has not sold and diesel gas prices are skyrocketing to $4 a gallon. This all makes for a very expensive trip. I don't think gas will get cheaper any time soon but maybe. Anyway Tony found a great ride. He has always wanted to bike across the US and this planned fund raiser just fell in his lap. Fuller Center for Housing is having their first annual bike across the US fund raiser and they are biking from San Diego to Savannah. What an adventure for Tony. Finally he has a dream come true. So needless to say he is out shopping for a road bike and well he should. He never spends money on himself so I am happy for him. Me, what am I going to do while Tony is biking across America, well I haven't decided yet. I might volunteer at the Care-A-Vanner desk in Americus for a month, or I might just go back to Michigan with side trips to Chicago and maybe Cleveland and just kick back and ...

Our very special friends Peter and Patty from Quartzsite. They are the greatest hosts anyone could ever have. We are sorry we won't be joining them on the trip to Alaska, we wish them safe journey and hope to meet them down the road someday soon. Bon Voyage Peter & Patty, safe journey.

Our friends are the most generous hosts anyone could every have. We are sorry we won't be going to Alaska with them and we wish them safe journey. We also hope to see them again down the road.

The sun is shining, the weather is warm and the desert is blooming around our favoite place, Quartzsite Arizona.

This is a most beautiful Park with spectacular views. The desert is beginning to bloom, I'm so glad we are here at this time.

We went to the Mall in Irvine from Aliso Veijo and had a Mexican meal that was fit for a king and queen. Course we had to wait 30 minutes for our table so Tony, Amy and Andrea decided to take a ride on the Merry-go-round. What fun. Of course I had to take pictures.

Let me tell you about our adventure of going over the mountains. We should have known when we saw the sign that said construction ahead prepare for delays that there would be fun in the making. We should have known when we went by the flagman at dusk that he might possibly not be there ALL NIGHT. We never saw the big, digital, flashing road signs either way that said This road (the only road to our campsite) would be closed from 8:30pm to 4:30am. Bummer! But, not to leave you in suspense we drove 35 miles to get to see Amy and 75 miles to get back to our campsite. I will post a map. So laugh if you dare, it could happen to you sometime. Just check out the route. First X on the right is our campsite at Lake Elsinore, second x is Amy's place in Aliso Veijo, that winding road you see was our quickest way back but noooooooooo, it was closed, so we had to go all the way around. And the adventure continues...

Tom Cavanagh a classmate of Tony's is doing fabulous in California's Pacific Palisades. We hope to come and visit again sometime and have a great time. What a guy.

And for Entertainment we had Peter Noone Herman's Hermits and he was fantastic!

Pomona California FMCA RV Rally Beautiful Setting Great Rally

It is great to be in Quartzsite this winter. Went to Pomona, Cal for an RV Rally for the week, what fun. We will continue visiting friends for an excuse to stay out here in the southwest. We miss our family and friends, why don't you guys join us out here? Hugs the Campbells

This is a great place to hike and ATV around the foothills Still here basking in the sun and warmth of Arizona desert. Tony is over his cold and, oh yes, I am finally over mine. I joined a running group called joy_of_running and they have been such a great inspiration and support. I have begun walk/run exercise so I can get rid of some of this fat and I really think that it is the only way I can lose weight/fat. To get my pulse rate up to 120 for 20 minutes at a time for as long as I can hold out is the only way to go because I love to eat and I can burn off a meal that way. Here is what our neighborhood looks like. I'm in heaven with no excuses for not walking. Hi to all our northern friends who are freezing and shoveling, our thoughts are with you, stay warm.

Well we finally made it to our first destination. It has warmed up considerably and we are enjoying 40 to 60 degrees and sunny weather. We have been invited by our friends Peter and Pattie to visit them here while we make our plans for our trip to Alaska. This is a fabulous place to winter, plenty of walking space and plenty of sun. Tony is recouperating from a cold virus that is beginning to disappear and he hopefully, will be his old self again soon. Hi to all our friends that check on us from time to time. Hi to our friends on Jekyll Island we hope to see you guys next year January, don't work too hard. Hi to our friends in Michigan, New Mexico, Arizona and let me know if I have left anyone out. Hi to my sisters back in Royal Oak, stay well and keep in touch. Hi to the whole Campbell Clan wherever you may be. I will add pictures as soon as I can get them together, this place is breathtaking been so busy looking and enjoying, haven't taken many pictures. So stay health...