Spring/ Summer 2015

Hello everyone!
It has been a long time since I have posted here. I have had a few problems with Google with no results so I am doing it their way.

Last you heard from us we were headed to New Mexico. First stop was Faywood Hot Springs, just south of Silver City. We met up with Carl, a friend from Maine who had moved to Las Cruses. We hadn't seen him since we left Maine 4 years ago so it was great to meet up with him. He also brought a friend of his, Randy Granger, who is a very accomplished musician. His website is www.randygranger.net . We had a wonderful afternoon soaking and catching up!
Silver City was our next stop to visit with Susan and Mark! Our visit was filled with hikes, some local and one to the Gila Cliff Dwellings, and great food.  We also got to see Mara and Ted in the new house. Wonderful place!

From Silver City we headed south to Las Cruses to meet up with Carl and Randy again. Ranger had a potluck for us. Great cooks! But on our way into town we stopped at a rest area to see the "Roadrunner". It stands maybe 30
feet tall and is made from recycled materials. The breast is old sneakers, the eye balls are car head lights, etc. Very interesting piece of sculpture.
               

It was now getting on time to start heading north for Lava. We had just agreed to come back and work for the summer and needed to be there about the middle of April. But we had a few more stops to make. One place we went to was about 60 miles east of Tucson in a town called Dragoon. There is a museum there called the Amerind. (American Indian) It was first the old Double FF Ranch, both owned by the Fulton's who got married and moved to the west early in the last century. Mr. Fulton was an archaeologist, and the Mrs. was a horse woman. He dug, and she started the American Quarter Horse Association. Some of her breeds are still the top breeds around today. He added on to the ranch one building that became a museum to hold his personal collection of artifacts. It is a wonderful space and an amazing collection.

  

 Another stop was at Sally's new place. Now, Sally is a friend we met the previous winter while in the Zion area. We all became fast friends! Well, she bought a place just south of Maricopa, AZ., for winter get-aways from Montana, and she needed some work on the place. We spent a couple of weeks putting on new roofs and getting started on the landscaping. Beautiful acreage - 7 acres of cactus, all kinds of cactus. Very cool place. We even got the cast iron tub moved out in the yard under a tree for cools soaks!

As we moved west then north we had one night at Lake Mead. I have never been there before but it was alarming, to say the least, at how low the water was. The campground we stayed in : Las Vegas Bay, was dry. Actually the nearest water was at least a mile away. In the top pic here, the islands in the foreground were underwater. 

Water is a big problem out west. It is not limited to California by any means, and there is a lot of States that are losing water as the population continues to grow,  and there is much less snow out here for the last few winters. Lava only had 3-4 inches instead of feet. How much more before our resources are maxed out? We are so close now.

After that sobering afternoon/evening with that thought we continued on in our bus that gets 7 miles to the gallon... 

Next stop was Las Vegas to meet up with some friends of John's that he hasn't seen in 20 years! Arlene and Trudy! We had a wonderful dinner out, time to catch up and then we hit the road to find a place before dark.

 We made our way steadily north with some beautiful remote camp spots along the way to Lava.

Seems Lava has become our summer home these last 3 summers. And we love it! Wonderful friends, great food - what else do you need? Well, there is work and we have had wonderful bosses the last few years!

This summer was even busier then last. We did get out and about a few times. One trip, on August 3rd, we went up into the mountains outside of town. Came through a hail storm that left 2-4 inches of hail on the ground! Off the mountain  it was still 90 degrees!

And of course our weekly Tuesday potlucks, and the Monday night jam sessions with local musicians. Politic's aside, it really is a great community.

It was almost October so off we went to Boise. But along the way was this magical hot spring. Gold Bug Hot Spring at Elk Bend, Idaho. After hiking about 1.5 miles up a canyon there is a hot spring flowing down the canyon. It has many waterfalls and pools with fabulous views. Nothing like standing under a hot waterfall!

Well, it's time to go. I will update again for fall and Thanksgiving in Kansas after Thanksgiving.  

Be well!

Scott and Johnney

On Road Again

  Hi Folks, It has been a while with all the changes with cyber-land and our "wander-filled" lives.        We left Lava Hot Springs, Idaho heading to Boise to finish work for friends and neighbors of Sue, John's sister.  Had a great time with Sue, Katy, John, Kai, Mia, Rae, Connie, Marian and all the friends of Boise. Kai and Mia especially, with soccer games...

 and holiday dress up!

  Come October we enjoyed another Halloween holiday at Chris and Missy's caring for Panda, Coco, Pete and Nit-nit. As well as the Mustang convertible and the hot tub!  Found a good restaurant with our friend Willie: the Jade.  They actually grow their own greens in front of the building.
We did make a stop back in Lava before going south. Our friend Dee was opening her own shop, Salon Deone, and we made it in time for the opening. Congrats to Dee!

Heading south with Kathryn along for the ride we headed back to Salt Lake. We got a tour with Kathryn and Milan of the Temple lights in Salt Lake.  Millions of lights on the trees, bushes, and buildings. Amazing to see. The Christmas holidays were spent with John's family  in SLC. We had a wonderful time!!

SLC was getting too cold for us, so it was time to head south. On the way through Nevada we made a quick stop in Mesquite to see Shannon, John's cousin, We made it to Rob's in Palm Springs in time for New Years and spent it in the hot tub. Thanks for the hospitality Rob!!  Had a grand time as we met many new friends and went Two Stepping! And it was WARM!

   Couldn't get that close to and not head up to Joshua Tree National Park, a favorite of ours.  While there had the good fortune to met a young couple Patricio and Natalia from Venezuela. Hiked in to 29 Palms Oasis with them and then they treated us to a traditional Venezuelan veggie dinner (they loved being able to stand up while cooking) and concert with Patricio on the hand pan and Natalia on the uke..AMAZINGLY wonderful sound. Their van is tiny compared to the bus. They travel in a 4 wheel drive mini-van. They left Venezuela (the first time) 5 years ago!! Traveling through South America, Central America, western US to British Columbia and back again.  We left them in Yucca Valley as they were heading to LA to see a hand pan maker and then on to Mexico City in hopes of flying to Spain.

  Made it through Phoenix to say hello Fran and Sam, Steve and Heidi and family and meet Fred, Bern's lucky guy.

  Picked up apart time job in Mescal, AZ doing handyman jobs on a ranch. A guy had bought a run down property and is in the process of rebuilding it.  It was the location of World University. Dr. Zitko was the founder and built many of the properties numerous buildings, all of which were in serious disrepair.  We did a lot of roofing before the dramatics of the people became overwhelming.

 

  So we returned to Anna's to repair her leaking roof, and in time for Rex Fowler's (of Aztec Two Step - remember them from Maine way back when?) house concert and viewing of his documentary "Two Hundred Cadillac s."  It is about Elvis and his generous gifts of cars, mostly Cadillac's, to friends and unknown people.  Rex, along with Anna's quartet, played and sang a number of Elvis tunes afterwards.  A really great time and thank you Anna for the hospitality, and Rex for a CD of Aztec Two Step. Another side trip while in Tucson was to Tangue Verde Falls. It is in the Saguaro National Forest. Absolutely beautiful with the big saguaro's everywhere, and many waterfalls along the river. Warm sunny days - heaven!

  As chance would have it, Dave and Alice, friends from Lava Hot Springs were staying in Tucson. They wanted to see Bisbee, AZ., so off we went to show them the funky town. Had fun touring town and tasting the culinary delights Bisbee has to offer.  Thanks to them for the camp site at Queen Mine RV right in town.  Bisbee lives up to it weirdness and wonderfulness.  Found "Whyld Ass Coffee Shop."  An organic, vegan cafe owned by a couple of super guys.  Luckily we made it on Sunday, as it was their last day in Bisbee before moving to Flagstaff to start a new and expanded restaurant! Good Luck to Keith and Ryan!!

 We are now at a campground just outside of Bisbee, heading off tomorrow for Faywood Hot Springs, New Mexico. Then on to Silver City to visit with Susan, my old office mate from Maine, and her husband Mark. Then it's back to Tucson, Maricopa, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Mesquite, Salt Lake, and Lava Hot Springs for the summer!

Til next time, our friends,
Scott and Johnney