Arizon - Part II

Avatar for klrambo
Community Leader
Registered: 10-19-2000
Arizon - Part II
7
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 1:07pm
Arizona trip May 2003 - - Part II

Ric had wanted to head from Tuba City east to Canyon de Chelly ( http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/du_cdc_main.html - http://tinyurl.com/d24u ) on Sunday morning, but that would have meant another two days on the road and my body was not going to handle that. It is amazing how riding on the back of the Bandit was killing my knees and legs in spite of the muscle relaxer and Motrin! So we headed south to Mesa. We’ll go to that area next time I’m out there - maybe! We went out to a rib place for dinner that night - yummmm! Then for a nice long walk - walked out some of the stiffness in my back and legs - different muscles being used! - - M/C trip thus far was a bit over 900 miles!

Monday Ric modified the Bandit to include a small rear-tilting backrest for me and changed the front tire (much needed!). The tire we had been riding on had almost non-existent tread. And the rear safety bar had worn a raw spot on my lower back - ow!! We bought some gigantic shrimp and some fresh vegies and cooked out on the grill that evening! I checked briefly on the board Monday evening late and saw Judy’s post about not hearing from me - I had somehow switched things around in my head and thought she was not expecting to hear from me till Tuesday, so I quickly sent her off an email telling her we would be heading back her way Tuesday and that she’d hear from me about noon.

Tuesday morning we had some tea/coffee and a bite to eat and headed back north to near Flagstaff. Where we got off the E-way and stopped at a park that is part of the fairgrounds. I called Judy from there and we set off down through Oak Creek Canyon ( http://www.oakcreekcanyon.net/ ) . We had ridden it in the fall of 2001 when I was out there and I had lost the camera I carried that day. I’d like to go back and do that ride in the fall again...such beautiful country! On south through Sedona (yes, there really is a Sedona, in spite of what country singer Jamie O'Neal tells us!!) ( http://www.sedona.net/ ) and Jerome (an incredible art community on the side of a mountain!!) ( http://www.azjerome.com/ - http://tinyurl.com/d26g ) then into Judy’s home town.

We had a great visit with Judy - ladybugs, she is standing so-o-o tall these days!! It was so good to hug her and talk with her again. Ric was on his ‘best behavior’ and after visiting with us for a while asked Judy if he could go out in her back yard to smoke a cigar. While he was out there he pulled some weeds - he can rarely be outside without doing ‘something’! That gave Judy and me a chance to enjoy some ‘girl talk’!

Then back down the mountain to Mesa. Miles on Tuesday were close to 200. We had some Mexican take-out that night. I packed up most of my stuff and got ready to head out on Wednesday morning. Got up at 0530 (5:30a.m.) and to the airport by about 7:45. Took forever to get through the lines (or so it seemed!!). Met up with my friends at our departure sitting room and grabbed a Starbucks mocha frappuccino for my flight! We left Phoenix at 9:00a.m. and arrived (3 hours and 45 minutes later) in Detroit at 3:45p.m.! Found their car and headed for home. Took some back roads and stopped in a small town along the way for a bite eat at a Wendy’s. Got home about 6:30p.m.

Hazel greeted me as I came in the front door, talking up a storm...which she kept up throughout the evening and half of the night. I can’t figure out if she was glad to see me or if she was telling me that TC was missing! I took her with me this morning when I went to the vet clinic to retrieve him - she needed her annual shots. He had to have two teeth pulled while he was there - costly visit! Now we are all home again and she is being downright nasty to him, as she usually is after he visits the clinic. I think she does not like the clinic smell about him! He is trying to find places to hide. Bless his heart, he’ll be back to normal in a day or so. Meanwhile he is on pain killers and antibiotics and not a very happy camper.

I came home to find a message from my DGD (Stephie) that her other Gramma had died the day after I left for Arizona. She had not been well for a long time...and she is with her Maker now! The family seems to be dealing with it well.

That’s it for this report!!!!

Kt

Co-Community Leader at:
50 & Up Friends | Menopause & Perimenopause
 
My Web sites:
50 & Up Friends | Ladybug’s Recipes | Menopause Oasis

You are loved ~~ far more than you may ever know!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-1999
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 6:55pm
KT, the sites you have sent us to have been amazing! So much beauty in our country that I have never seen. Thank you for sharing the links with us.

I am so very happy to hear your good report about Jude. Makes me smile to know she is doing so well.

Our cats do that too -- when one goes to the vet and returns home, the others hiss and spit and make the one who went to the vet feel very unwelcome. Homie had to go to the vet this morning, and Kate and Chipper have been very nasty to him this afternoon, but then, they have never really been nice to him, poor little guy. And poor TC -- hope Hazel will get over the nasties soon. Funny creatures, aren't they?

Sure is good to have you back.....BB

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Avatar for justjudy75
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 7:43pm
Congratulations on surviving the Bandit. It is a nice way to see the countryside, tho. When I asked about the switchbacks and, after reading your post.............yup, you were on the switchbacks. I don't mind them "much" from Flagstaff side (next to the mountain).

I don't know how you get the web links in. I have tried and they don't underline to click. Must be my setup.

You left Arizona on a good day. It was 110º on the day you left. Almost breaking the heat records from around 1916 (?). Stay cool.........Hugs, Just Judy


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 8:26pm
KT, I read both parts of your report just now. That way I did not have to wait for the second installment. All I can say is, "Wow, oh wow!" You had a fantastic trip to AZ. You have got me geared up to write to my uncle in Tempe (sp) and see if we can come out for a visit. I am sure that he and his wife would love it. I am so glad that you had such a great time.

Sorry to hear about Stephie's other grandmother. I hope that Stephie is doing all right.

Hugs for her and little Jordyn.

Have a great weekend, KT.

Hugs,

Dannie

 

             

Avatar for klrambo
Community Leader
Registered: 10-19-2000
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 11:14pm
To put a clickable link in a post it must include the http:// at the front and not be touched by any letter or symbol at either end! Then the system should make it clickable!

If Ric were not such a good rider those switchbacks would have scared the dickens out of me!! But he is good, and I have ridden *many* miles with him these past 30 years - on a variety of cycles!

Spending time with you Tuesday afternoon was the icing on my visit to Arizona, Judy!

Kt

PS everyone....the system made that http up above look as if it is a clickable link....it is NOT!!!!!

Co-Community Leader at:
50 & Up Friends | Menopause & Perimenopause
 
My Web sites:
50 & Up Friends | Ladybug’s Recipes | Menopause Oasis

You are loved ~~ far more than you may ever know!

Avatar for klrambo
Community Leader
Registered: 10-19-2000
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 11:17pm
I am a little worried about my big baby - he has eaten very little since he came home...and his pain pills are all gone. If he doesn't eat tomorrow I am going to call the vet clinic. Hazel is still sissing and baring her teeth at him, but he's ignoring her!

Poor little Homie - it isn't fun dealing with an allergy! I posted some instructions for you under your post!!

Hugzzzzzz

Kt

Co-Community Leader at:
50 & Up Friends | Menopause & Perimenopause
 
My Web sites:
50 & Up Friends | Ladybug’s Recipes | Menopause Oasis

You are loved ~~ far more than you may ever know!

Avatar for klrambo
Community Leader
Registered: 10-19-2000
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 11:26pm
Thanks, Dannie, Stephie is doing just fine. I was able to spend a couple of hours with her and Jordyn this evening - very nice!

If you do go to Tempe be sure it is not during the summer! It gets mighty hot in that valley that time of year. Ric will be leaving to come back to MI by the end of June to visit family and friends up here until the end of August! Did you see the temp that Judy just posted to me?! Yikes!!!

Hugzzzzz

Kt

Co-Community Leader at:
50 & Up Friends | Menopause & Perimenopause
 
My Web sites:
50 & Up Friends | Ladybug’s Recipes | Menopause Oasis

You are loved ~~ far more than you may ever know!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: klrambo
Fri, 05-30-2003 - 11:54pm
Thanks for the links, I loved seeing some of the great places you got to go to.

Sorry to hear about Stephie's grandma, my sympathies to her and the family.

Hope TC is feeling better now. Not a good thing to come home too..$$$..if you know what I mean!! Reminds me of when my mom died and I was up in NJ for so long and Shelby had to have stones removed from her bladder while I was gone. That along with the boarding bill for over five weeks came to the little tune of $600 bucks!! Yikes!!!! I could've taken another trip to somewhere tropical or something for that!! Oh well, our furbabes are sure worth it.

~~Susie

Hugs,

..