From Balloon Regatta to the Arizona Desert, November 4-18, 2011

It's been a while since I sat down to write so I'll do a fast update of our last few weeks. When we left Zion the weather across Utah and Arizona was changing. We were spending the weekend in Page, AZ with my sister in law, Peggy.  Our first time to see her colorful condo...beautiful desert colors and so warm and inviting.  We parked our little cottage at the Elk's but spent all our time over at Peg's. It was the annual Balloon Regatta in Page so many of Peggy's Canyon friends were also coming up for the weekend.  A nice chance for us to visit again with all of them. Saturday was a biting cold wind but we bundled up and walked around the booths downtown but the big event of the evening, The Balloon Glow, was cancelled due to the weather, so disappointing. I guess they usually would close off the main street of town and line up the balloons then one by one they fire up their balloons...must be a be beautiful sight.  But thank goodness, Sunday morning the weather was perfect for launching balloons across the desert. We met up early and headed to the staging area.

Peggy and Terry volunteered to help crew for a team from San Diego while Paul and Dan watched nearby...which also meant Peg got to ride in the balloon! So fun to watch the balloons being inflated and then sail off across a bright blue sky.

Paul got into the action...though when the gas was lit so close to him it took my breath away and his too!!

Soon Peggy was loaded into the basket and away they went.

Paul and I drove out to the desert view area where they were flying and enjoyed the sight. Must have been about 40 or so balloons, floating so softly across the landscape.  The sky was also changing from the clear brilliant blue to cloudy and dark.

We spotted Peggy's ballon and started walking out along the edge to get a closer look.

We just kept walking along the bluff and watching for her balloon.

Amazing thing was by the time the balloon was ready to come down we were very near by so Paul helped pull the balloon in and hold it so they could maneuver it over the fence onto the airport property where the chase truck could meet up with them.

Up and Over.

Then time to deflate and pack away.  Just a perfect morning!

By Sunday evening the dark clouds let loose and it started to rain. We decided to stay another day till the storm blew over which gave Paul that wet Monday to add the missing baseboards all around Peg's condo. I did laundry and played on the computer making our plans for December.

Tuesday morning the rain had stopped and the sky was once again a gorgeous blue but soooooo cold! We packed up, and left for Flagstaff mid morning...late enough for the sun to have warmed up the roads with little risk of ice. The view of the desert was stunning....covered in a dusting of snow.

Views as we drove south kept me clicking my camera.

Since it was too cold and snowy in Flagstaff for us to camp we drove on down the mountain to Sedona. Found a wonderful private little RV park right along Oak Creek and settled in for  a few days.

Took walks and just stared at the beauty of the red rock formations all around us.  Spent one day at Red Rock Park, another day visiting the nearby towns of Cottonwood,  Jerome and Prescott.  It was so funny that one day our phones got great reception for the first time and we were getting calls and chatting along the trail with Ann and Diane, sending tests too.

I fell in love with Sedona...even walked through an Open House of a beautiful new home for sale. What an amazing place that would be to live, but we're not ready for that yet.

We drove up Oak Creek Canyon to the overlook with the top down and of course as the elevation changed so did the temp and we were back in the snow. Since we were only 10 miles from Flagstaff that afternoon we drove into town to visit the Northern Arizona Museum. Wonderful geology and archeology displays. I'm sure we looked a little strange...those crazy convertible Californians!

After 5 days in Sedona we were ready to go further south to our campground north of Phoenix and spend some time with our niece, Mandy. We are now staying in a beautiful desert campground at Cave Creek Regional Park. It's perfect! Warm sunny days, open desert landscape and dark night skies

Visited Montezuma Castle: ancient cliff dwellings 

Fall color along the Verde River

Foster checking out our campsite

The only drawback is that Phoenix is really spread out so there's lots of driving to do anywhere we go. But worth it to be in such a beautiful surrounding. Our campsite is huge and looks out at a large saguaro and palo verde trees. We are close enough to pick Mandy up after she finishes with her first graders and spend time in some very pretty places for Happy Hour or a campfire here with us.

Sunsets are beautiful and Mandy finds some beautiful locations...love the tower of fire!

Yesterday we took our kayaks out for a couple of hours of paddling in nearby Lake Pleasant. My really first big time to be in a kayak, not being much of a water person this is a biggie for me. But such fun.

Today we'll visit the Botanical Gardens and maybe the Phoenix Art Museum. While I am sitting here this morning writing on the computer, Paul is right outside my window playing his piano!

Piano Concert in the Sonoran Desert!

Thanksgiving Day will be at Mandy and Logan's house, with Peggy, Wes and Alena joining us. We'll  also meet up with Paul's sister, MarLyn and her family, before we drive back to San Luis next weekend. And...YES...we love this traveling life in our little yellow "cottage"! 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING To Everyone!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.  ~Cicero