Long Time between Posts............

Hi Folks and welcome to busy world of a retiree ! I am utterly amazed at how fast the hours and days go by and that it has been 40 days since my last Post. I sincerely apologize. We are "wintering" in Tucson, Arizona in a resort RV park and are parked next to good friends, Bob & Betty who also have a coach. We've been sightseeing, playing golf, having dinners out, playing golf, enjoying some board games, oh did I mention playing golf and just plain enjoying life.

Bob & I have hooked up with a group of men from the Park and also a community in Green Valley (just south of Tucson) and we play at different courses around the area on Monday's and on Wednesday's we play in Tubac at a resort course with three 9's and just fabulously maintained. Tubac is an "artsy" community half way between Tucson and Nogales, Mexico surrounded by mountains and beautiful vistas. I'll get some pics this Wednesday and post them.

Now to update you on our past travels since January.

We left the Houston area in early January and headed west towards Arizona. Our first stop was San Antonio, Texas. We've been there several times. I started my Air Force tour in basic training in 1970 in San Antonio. A "rough around the edges city" that hosted a World's Fair but then seriously declined. We came back in 1991 while on our x-country MH trip with our daughters and surprise, the city had been reborn & gentrified. A new "river walk" complex running through the downtown with shops, restaurants and safe vistas. We were anxious to see the sights again. Unfortunately, once a year the city fathers divert the water in the San Antonio River away from the downtown and send in the workers for a clean-up.

They retrieve the cell phones, cameras, i-pods, restaurant silverware and assorted beverage bottles during a 4 days shut down in January. So, we got to see the river without the river, just the mud. It was actually pretty fascinating. The city is still friendly and most of the restaurants are open along with the shops. The Cotton Growers of America was there with a big convention.

We moved onto New Mexico and much higher elevations and real cold temperatures. One night in Deming it got to 15 degrees at night. Way too cold for us. We moved on quickly. But we did stop at a neat little Ghost Town called Shakespeare. The place was only open 1 weekend in January, and we were lucky. But we were the only tourists there. However, a local newspaper was doing a travel section piece on the town and they sent the editor and travel writer and we had a extra special tour and got interviewed for there article.

The Old Town.


A wagon from Days Gone By


The town's land has been owned by the same family for years since it was purchased back in the early 1900's after falling into disrepair. Billy the Kid once worked at the old hotel in town and the place is really a neat walk back in time.

(from Left) the Editor: Cheryl Fallstead; Travel Writer Bud Russo and land owner: Mr. Hill.

Laurie listens in as Mr. Hill explains the town.

On January 12th we moved on to Tucson and the Voyager RV Resort. A full service "campground" with over 1500 sites + 2 housing developments. Voyager boasts it's own 9 hole golf course, restaurant, market and small hotel. 3 pools, hot-tub, tennis, and pickle ball courts + boccie, horseshoes and every craft imaginable from glass fusion to wood working and lapidary. There are several full time activity directors and a staffed clinic, full gym and enough to keep you busy every day.

Laurie has joined the "fun band" and is practicing each Monday night and they have their first concert later this month. Like I said, I've been playing golf and we've been sightseeing.

Tucson is nestled in the southwest valley of Arizona between several mountain ranges. The Catalina's, the Rincon's and the Tucson mountains all compete for your eye. Mt. Lemmon in the north at 8,250 feet boasts a great ski resort. The snows can be seen from the valley floor while I'm in shorts. For me, that's the ONLY way to see snow. The Saguaro National Park is close by and Noagales, Mexico is an hour away.

Saguaro National Park

Laurie's cousin lives here with her husband and we've had time to visit with them. Long ago neighbors from East Northport also live here and are on our list of folks to see.

We plan on being here till mid-March before moving north to Phoenix and Sedona then over to New Mexico and a big RV rally in late April.

Happy Valentines Day to all and I'll post more (I promise) in a few days.

Til then,

Gene & Laurie