AZ GeoCaching

Hubby found his first AZ geocache on November 2nd. There is an excellent support group in the resort for geocachers. Geocaching is a scavenger hunt using a GPS. After some time in the desert on Monday, he now has 10 desert finds. I think he likes it!

Some of the cache hiding places.

So What Do You Do All Day?

I know some of you wonder what on earth I do to fill my time in a resort full of retired people, especially those of you still working, juggling families, meals, chores, and a home larger than 400 sq. ft. Thankfully, not all days are like this past Monday. Here was my Monday...

Should have awakened about 7:30, but did not climb out until 8:10; had to shower before coffee meeting; got there just before 9:00 to find very few donuts left. (Didn't get my maple frosted favorite.) Meeting from 9 to 9:35ish then a hiking club meeting. I am secretary/treasurer for the hiking club. I try to keep the guys on track during the informal discussion, exchanging of war stories, and general bragging and ribbing. At the end of the regular meeting today, after 10:30, I met with a group of 6 new hikers and shared more specific to them information. After that 10 minute meeting, I did my paperwork for the hikes for the week. Information is put on paper on clipboards stating the hike, distance, elevation, rating, time for leaving and other pertinent info. I completed that for two hikes and got the boards on the wall of activities open to all resort residents. Then I stopped in the office to get some more forms copied. I tried to schedule a meeting with the activity director to begin discussing the cancer week activities. Got back to the desert casa about 11:15ish. Started making phone calls, ordering online, screwed up the order, had to call and fix my mistakes. Still no meeting time.

So I began to organize the information I picked up at the Health and Wellness Fair on Saturday. The cancer week co-chair and I stopped at the Apache Junction fair in hopes of getting the names of health related businesses and services that may be of interest and assistance to the resort's residents. First I had to match the business cards with the correct propaganda and stapled it together (it had all been tossed into a large, free Walgreens shopping bag) then I organized the info by categories: hospitals & clinics, chiropractors, dental, holistic programs & services, cooking & dietary, donation opportunities, etc. I wrote the categories on paper with the service/business name & contact person. Then I made notes about services that were not represented. I searched for my notes and information from our last cancer week benefit. I made a couple of phone calls to people I had talked to on Saturday to ask a couple of questions. A couple of hours later, still no meeting for later in the afternoon so I cleared the table of cancer week papers and moved onto...

the hiking club. I entered the names of the hikers into an excel document to keep track of the days and distances they hike. (It is important because we have contests and awards the end of the season. I take charge of that, too.) I organized the registration forms in alphabetical order. (Every hiker signs a form the beginning of each season; there are about 30 of us so far.) I created and sent an email to the hiking yahoo group giving the hiking information for the week for those who do not attend the Monday morning meeting. I cleaned out the 3 inch 3 ring binder of last year's registration forms and paperwork on each hike (at least 2 per week). I looked at the treasure report and tried to find how and why we have $200 to $300 more than I can actually reasonably account for. (Did not come up with a reason. Wish my personal account grew like that!)

It was now 4:30. Time to check on hubby who had been wandering in the desert; he was a block from home. I listened to his adventures. It was now time for an adult beverage and a decision about what to fix for our meal that day. The grill was heated. The salad was created. At the table enjoying a simple meal at 6:00. Hubby did dishes. (I cook. He washes dishes.) TV turned to DWTS at 7:00 pm. 

Downloaded photos onto the computer. Worked on the blog. Checked emails and Facebook. Tomorrow is another day...

The Saga of the Hummingbirds

One of the first things I did after getting settled was to put sugar water in the hummingbird feeder and put it out on the post. The birds are so entertaining. I wasn't sure how long it would take for the little guys to find the feeder, but it took less than 24 hours. By the time Daughter arrived the birds were coming often and providing lots of delightful moments on the deck.

This is a female Ruby Throated

This guy spent a lot of time at the feeder.

He thought it was his own personal feeding station.

He did not share. He guarded it.

We knew it was the same bird because of the out of place 

feather on his head. 

He guarded from the back feeding station.

He guarded from the yucca plant. 

On a rare occasion a second hummingbird was allowed 

in the area. There is one on each side of the yucca leaves.

After watching the Alpha Hummingbird for a few days

I decided to buy a second feeder, hanging it in the posts

in the back of the yard. I didn't think he could monitor two

feeders.  Again, it did not take long for the birds to find the new

sugar water feeder.

Look  at the beautiful green feathers!

He still did not share well. He continued to guard the feeders,

dive bombing whenever another hummer flew to either feeder.

I tried to get a picture of the hummers fight flight, 

but they move way too fast. You will just have to take my word.

So I bought a third feeder.

 The hummers found it.

On rare occasions one gets to drink from it

before it is chased away.

This is still my favorite feeder. 

But now the bees have found it, too.

One of the times I was bird watching I caught one of the 

hummers singing and got it on video! 

The photography is not that great, but if you turn the

volume on high, you should hear the little guy telling the world

who is in charge.

I am easy to entertain!

More about our winged visitors in another post.

B.G. (Before the Game)

Prior to the ASU and Oregon Ducks football game, we spent some time in downtown Tempe, or at least the campus part of Tempe. The campus is so spread out, there are 3 stops on the light rail train for ASU. We took stop #2 with the intent of walking (on sidewalks, yippee, yippee) the long way around to get to our destination across the street from stop #3. Hubby and Daughter were sure they could find the ASU bookstore and other buildings they wanted to show me. After wandering rather aimlessly for several blocks, I voted to head to our destination. They listened and we did but on the way I saw a couple of new sights and one of my favorites.

The new sights:

 I was tempted to walk through the fountain. It was certainly warm enough.

There is an up and down escalator next to the stairs. I do not know if this is an office building, apartments, bank or something else. It is next to the guard and the fountain.


My favorite:

I crack up every time I see this sign. One of these times I am going to go inside the establishment and actually check it out. I'll let you know what I encounter.

Our afternoon destination was Rúla Búla. Daughter flies 1750 miles to eat & drink here each visit. Her usual choices...

a Black & Tan

Bangers & Mash

We also enjoyed this appetizer:

Hot Bollix Spicy Potato Balls (and they were)

I had the Rueben

Hubby enjoyed Fish 'n Chips

The early afternoon pre-game crowd of black (ASU) and green (Ducks)

enjoying the AZ sunshine and temps on the patio 

The Beginning of Hiking Season

Although the temps have been in the 80s since we arrived, enough seasoned hikers and new folks interested in hiking have been in the resort ready to hike. Thus hikes have been scheduled and folks have walked in the nearby mountains and desert. 

I did not go along on any of these hikes because...
1. It is too warm.
2. I have been there before, more than once.
3. My ankle has been bothersome.
4. I liked the alone time.

So all the photos in this post are hubbys. I have linked each hike to the same hike from another season. You can compare photos and the scenery, especially if you were not a blog follower the last few years.


Apache Lake Road
This was the first hike of this season. Probably not our best choice of destination as it is a 5.5 mile round trip. It is 2.25 miles down to the lake and 7 miles back up, at least that is what it seems like when it is hot, you are a newbie AZ hiker, and it is 80 degrees. Some of the hikers needed rides back to the top. This is one of the few hikes in which that can be done without the help of emergency vehicles. It won't be first on the list next year!

 Most of the hiking group last Wednesday

 Unusual rock formation

 Someone on the hike told hubby these two markers

are from the death of two teachers who taught at a school

near the dam when it was being built in 1924-1927. The school was for the

children of the workers living in the community at Apache Lake.

Don't know if it is accurate or not. The markers are a good reminder 

about driving safely in the mountains.

 The hikers commented on the amount of traffic on the road

and the patrol helicopter in the air above the road.

Another interesting formation

No bighorn sheep sightings this trip!

Butcher Jones Trail at Saguaro Lake

This is a 5 mile round trip hike with very little elevation gain around a lake so it is scenic and 'easier' for beginner AZ hikers in warmish temps. Saguaro Lake is the fourth lake in the SALT river project which provides hydro-power to much of central AZ. The dam was completed in 1930 and is farther downstream from Apache Lake & Dam. I like this hike, but not in 80º.

 Beautiful, bright, clear water

 Most of last Friday's hikers

 This view is never disappointing.

Chino's first hike & swim of the season.

February 4, 2011 and/or November 2010  I posted about the lake & view, the people I saw that day & the birds I encountered; each a separate post from Saguaro Lake.

Hieroglyphics Trail  (photos from Kari's hike in February 2010)

I have not hiked this trail since winter 2007. Now it is not a trail friendly for my broken ankle. This trail is also misnamed. The markings at the end of the trail are petroglyphs, symbols etched in the rocks by the natives living in this area. I have read that some of the etchings can be dated to more recent visitors, which is too bad. It is still a very pretty hike with an unusual reward at the end of the trail. (See Kari's photos for petroglyphs) This hike is 3 miles with 600' elevation gain. 

 The Superstition Mts. are part of the Tonto National Forest

 Saguaros and palo verdes

 Some of Wednesday's hikers

A view of Apache Junction