It's been a lovely cruise...... Lowering the curtain on the Valley of the Sun 2016

I like the way your sparkling earrings lay

Upon your skin so brown

And I want to sleep with you in the desert night

With a million stars all around

I get a peaceful easy feelin'

And I know you won't let me down

'Cause I'm already standin'

On the ground

(Lyrics by Jack Tempchin.  Song recorded and performed by "The Eagles" in 1972.)

Yes, I get a peaceful easy feeling when I reflect on our adventures to, in and from the Valley of the Sun 2016.  It has been a wonderful experience.  Sure, we had some bad days, but when I look back it is hard to remember too much about them.  Why do you suppose that is?  Maybe it is a glass half full kinda thing.  I'll have to ask my brother Mike about that.

I'm not sure I can put into words how much we loved our community in the desert.  It seems that every year we return the bond with old friends gets stronger.  A bonus is that we continue to make new friends which make our community even stronger.

January got off to a great start.  Dana and I got to ride our bikes in the sun on New Years Day.  A beautiful memory.  Then, one day later I went down with a flu bug.  I lost 2 weeks, maybe 3 until I felt fully recovered.  I plan on speaking with my medical team back home about the value of getting a flu shot when 2 years in a row I have ended up with the flu.  Dang!

Once again this year we played in the Bocce Ball League with Tony and Gayle.  We finished league play with a winning record.  There are 500 plus members of the Bocce Ball Club playing League.  The physical condition of the players range from athletes to invalids.  I have not seen anyone playing from a wheelchair or walker but there are some players that require physical assistance from team members to participate.  Okay, I'm only going to say this once.  Bocce Ball is a diabolical game.  I have not consulted my theologian friends but  I'm pretty sure the origin of the game is the Garden of Eden.   It is written somewhere, I think in the book of Bocce, verse 666, that Satan was behind the development of the game.  Back then instead of man made bocce balls they used apples.  I'm not making this up, I'm just telling you what I heard.  Adam and Eve were the first to play, and lose.  The rest is as they say, history.  But I digress....

I had a pretty decent golf game this year.  Of course, being that it was golf my game was up and down, good and bad, sometimes (rarely) very good.  Thursdays with brother Mike and the gang at Superstition Springs was a great time.  Sundays with a larger group called the "Royal Canadians" at Sun Land Village was less frustrating and equally a great time.  As was the case last year I got in a couple of rounds with JD at Sun City West and one round with Steve at Red Mountain.  The round at Red Mountain was special as brother Mike joined in for the fun and frustration offered by one of the toughest desert course in Mesa.

Birding and bird photography this year was fantastic.  Dana and I did not bird as much as last year, probably owing to the cold weather in January but all the same we got out a lot and saw a lot of great birds and birding locations.   Good news is that we did not see any snakes.  Not that I was over concerned about seeing snakes.  We got to renew friendship with our birding friends, which was special.  I got some good photos many of which I have yet to review, edit or delete.   By the way, I have found that the secret to photo file management is to be very disciplined in the application of "R.E.D."  That stands for Review, Edit, or Delete.  Some days I come home with 700 or more photos.  If I don't apply RED, in a few days I could be overwhelmed with photos.  Consider this a free tip on digital photo management.

We really enjoyed staying in our new trailer house on 14th street.  This year we had to move from 1402 to 1413.  The new (to us) trailer had some extra space the 1402 did not have.  The drawback was only one bathroom but other than that the new place was very comfortable and well equipped.  We left a deposit with the owner for January-March 2017 so our intentions are to return for another winter.  Lucky us!!!

I remain fascinated with the political scene in the U.S.  In a weird sort of creepy way it has been special to be in the U.S. during these very turbulent times.  I think everyone has long given up trying to predict what will happen next, or heaven forbid, what the outcome will be in November.  I know I have.  Oh, it was fun at the beginning to observe the silliness and the sensational, then write about it.  Now however after 3 months and more mud slinging than you might see at a Jerry Springer show, it is just very tiring, frustrating, confusing and fascinating and compelling.  Very weird, eh.  My last word on the outcome is that Trump will not get the nomination on the Republican side because just before their convention there will be a revelation about Trump that will sink his hope for the nomination.  John Kasich will garner enough votes on the 3rd ballot to win the GOP nomination.  All will be revealed on FOX News and detailed in the National Enquirer, both now reported by themselves to be legitimate news organizations dedicated to truth and justice in reporting.   God Bless America!

Seriously, the state of the State of the Union is precarious.  In my view the U.S.A. is at a crossroads in their history.  State rights are playing an increasing role in shaping public policies.  Many of these policies have morphed into state laws and many of these laws violate the U.S. Constitution.  The U.S. federal government seems paralyzed and is unable to deal with rogue states.  The 2 party system that has existed since the creation of the country is in the process of collapse.  Is this the start of an evolution, or revolution?  Frankly it is difficult to say at this point.  What is safe to say is that emotions are running very high throughout the country.  Current and prospective political leaders appear unwilling or unable to cooperate or compromise to reach consensus on major issues.  Public intervention is on the increase and may escalate from peaceful demonstration to something more sinister.  How could one not pay attention to this situation.  I am looking forward to observing it from the safe confines of Canada.  Welcome home!  Yessss!!!

I don't want to close out my last post ranting about the U.S. political crisis.  So, I want to tell you a little bit about our trip north to Canada.  Okay I am actually still in the U.S., Point Roberts to be precise, but we formally crossed into Canada this afternoon as we were enroute to the Point.  This was the 7th year we made the return trip from Arizona.  Hands-down this was the best return trip.  The roads were great.  The accommodations were good.  We found plenty of coffee along the way, which as you know is very, very important ;-)  We got see niece Carly in Salt lake City, truly a highlight for UB & AD.  And, the icing on the cake was our 2 day visit with Aunt Lynda and Uncle Bob on Whidbey Island.  A bonus is being at the Farm here at the Point with loved ones.

Our routing north was pretty simple.  Green Valley to Kanab, Utah via Interstate10 and Hwy 89/89A. Kanab to Salt Lake City via Interstate 15.  SLC to Pendleton, Oregon via Interstate 84.  Pendleton to Seattle, then to Whidbey Island via Interstate 82, 90 and 5.  Today we drove Hwy 20 to I-5 then north to Canada, eh.  Just givin' 'er, eh.  God it's great to be back north.  Whoa!  Did I just write that?  It's raining.  It's barely in the mid 50's.  But yes, it is good to be back, close to home.  Tomorrow we will catch the ferry to the Big Island and then we will really be home.  I'm really, really trying to stay positive about being back north.  I had such a great time in the desert.  I love the heat of the desert.  I love the sounds of the desert.  Heck, I love everything about the desert, except maybe the scorpions and snakes, er, I mean politicians.

Well, that's a wrap.  Time to bring the curtain down on another fabulous Adventure in the Valley of the Sun.  I hope you have enjoyed my stories, rants and raves, and the photos.  I have enjoyed bringing them to you.  Next year, God willing and the creek don't rise we'll go back to the desert for another Adventure in the Valley of the Sun.  Some J.J. Cale to close the show......

Sometime you do, sometime you don't

Sometime you will and sometime you won't

Sometimes it's better to leave it alone

Slow it down, ease it, you let it be gone, gone, gone

Bring down the curtain, we've been movin' on

Lyrics by: J. J. Cale - Bring Down The Curtain | MetroLyrics 

Vermillion Cliffs at Navajo Bridge, northern Arizona.

The view was "Golden"

As we continue our northward migration to Canada, our travels took us through Zion National Park.  Our excitement for the day occurred a few miles before we entered the Park.  About 9:00 a.m. we we cruising along not seeing much other than the beautiful red rock hills.  Then, off to our left on 2 power poles we notice 2 large dark brown birds.  Not Red-tailed Hawks.  I slowed down and Dana says, "Those are Golden Eagles!"  I keep driving for about 200 meters and pull off the road.  I hop out and dig out my camera from the back of the 4Runner.  Dana hops in as driver and we turn around and drive back to get a better look at the eagles.  We pull well off the road and turn off the truck.  I start shooting photos.  The eagles stayed with us for about 10 minutes.  Awesome!

Okay, let me explain to birders and non-birders what we experienced.  First of all, Golden Eagles don't just sit on power poles beside the road.  NOT EVER!!!  They are rare.  When they are observed it is when they are soaring high in the sky.  They often occur singly.   They nest on high rocky ledges and feed on small mammals such as rabbits and occasionally small pets.  (Penny - Just kidding about the pets ;-)  Of all the bird reports I have seen I have never seen Golden Eagles reported perched on power poles beside a highway.  This is how special this event was.  At least it was special for Dana and me and why I wanted to share it in our blog.

btw:  Tonight we are in Pendleton, Oregon.  We ate fantastic burgers at a brew pub this evening.  Downtown Pendleton is a happening place this Saturday evening.  A wedding reception at the world famous Hamley's Steakhouse (I got to hold the front door open for the Bride and Groom) and next door at the Slickfork Saloon above the world famous Hamley's Cowboy clothes, Saddles and Tack store, Michael Martin Murphey is performing live in concert with his band.

Here is a photo of one of the Golden Eagles that we saw yesterday morning in Utah.  (PS:  I know I have said some rather uncomplimentary things about Utah in the past.  I think I am changing my mind about the state.  It does have a lot to offer.....)

I generally to not post "power pole" shots of birds.  I am making an exception for this exceptional bird.By the
way, large hawks are about 20 inches "tall".  Golden Eagles are 30" tall, or in length.  That is how big they are!

Farewell Arizona!!!!!

At 5:45 p.m. this evening we crossed the state line into Utah bringing to a close to our 2016 Arizona adventure.  Wow!  What an adventure it has been.

Dana asked me this evening if I was going to blog tonight.  I said, "probably".  This is always one of the toughest posts to write, the one after we leave Arizona.  I usually start the post with lyrics from a song, or maybe a photo.   Okay, I'm waiting for some inspiration, or just plain imagination.....  Still waiting.....   Nothing yet.....   Maybe if I wrote a little something will come to me.

Since my last post we have been staying in Green Valley, Az. at the AzBirder Casitas.  If you google AZBirderCasitas you will see where we were staying.  Dorothy and John own 3 casitas and rent them by the week or month.  We stayed there last year and enjoyed it so much we went back.  This year was a bit special as our friends Bud and Joanne came down from Victoria and stayed in the casita next door.   The four of us spent the week birding some of our favourite locations in southern Az.  If you want a great vacation in this area I highly recommend you inquire about renting one of these casitas.

Over the course of our 6 days in southern Az. we birded pretty much non-stop.  I think the term is "industrial strength birding".  We were out of our casitas and on the road by 7:00 a.m. every day except the last one when we started at 6:30 a.m.  We travelled approximately 600 km going to and from locations.  I have yet to finalize my bird species lists for all locations.  I will put these details in the next post.  I can say that I added a couple of birds to my life list, and many to our year to date list.

I took quite a few photos during our 6 days of birding.  Alas, once again all of birds.  I had great intentions of taking landscape photos but every day I forgot my landscape lens.  Maybe I need a separate camera body for landscapes.  That way I don't have to worry about changing lens or forgetting to pack the 18-55 landscape lens.  You know, that is a great idea.  I will run that one by my accountant.

Oh by the way, tonight we are in Kanab, Utah.  We got here by way of highway 89A out of Arizona.  Fantastic scenic byway that cuts through northern Arizona, north of the Grand Canyon.  It is a 2 lane road that winds up into the mountains topping out at 7,980 feet of elevation.  Lots of red rock cliffs and tall pine forest.  Fortunately there was very little traffic.  If you went on that road in the busy season it would be very, very slow going.

Kanab is a very pretty town.  Tonight we ate the Iron Horse Restaurant.  Plastered on the walls were dozens of black & white photos of movie stars from the days of western movies.  They call Kanab, "Little Hollywood" where over 200 movies and TV shows have been shot.  If you are a western movie buff, a visit to Kanab should be on your list of places to visit.  Google Kanab, Utah and check out the film and TV credits (Gunsmoke, Outlaw Jose Wales, Stage Coach, Lone Ranger, Death Valley Days, etc.....)

Still nothing on the closing lyrics.  I will definitely come up with something on my closing post.  No this adventure is not over yet.  6 or 7 more days on the road before we get home.  I leave you with a few photos from our birding in southern Az.  Enjoy!

Bell's Vireo

Northern-beardless Tyannulet

Violet-crowned Hummingbird 

White-faced Ibis

Yellow-Romped Warbler

Anna's Hummingbird with pollen on her throat

Hooded Oriole (female) 

Last night in the Resort.

The days drift by
They don't have names
And none of the streets here look the same
And there aren't many reasons I would leave 
Yes, I have found me some peace
Yes, I have found me a home.

"I have found me a home" Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett.


Mixed emotions.  Yes, I have mixed emotions as we pack our belongings and clean the park model in preparation for leaving the Resort tomorrow morning.  We have been here for 3 months.  In some ways it seems like 3 weeks.  In some ways it feels like, well, 3 months!  A lot has gone on in 3 months.  Notice that I did not say that "a lot has happened" in 3 months.  It seems that most days are "groundhog days".  Up early, breakfast, riding, or birding, social activity, dinner, sleep; get up: repeat.  Never boring.  And the weather?  Except for a spell back in January it has been awesome.

Dana says she is ready to go home but we have one more adventure before we point the 4Runner north.  Tomorrow we go to Green Valley for a week of birding and sight-seeing with our friends from Victoria.  I will write about our adventures in southern Arizona later.

This past week we have said goodbye to many of our friends and neighbours.  It is hard to say goodbye, not knowing if they will be back, or if we will be back.  Of course we plan on returning but nothing is ever for certain.  Got to maintain our health, which as everyone over 60 knows is their number one job.  On this note we are looking forward to being home and getting back to our routine of going to the gym 3 times a week.  While we have been able to visit the gym here, it has been far from regular.  We do miss it.

On Monday we had our last bike ride with Steve and Joanne.   The ride even included our traditional stop at Starbucks for drinks.  Of course we also enjoyed munching on "cookies by Dana", our healthy snack for cyclists.

Yesterday we went birding for the last time here in the Valley of the Sun.  We were going to return to Mesquite Wash, 30 miles north of here where, last Friday we got two Vireo species for our year to date list.   Monday evening I sent an email to our friend Marcus to let him know where we intended to bird on Tuesday.  He sent a return one line email saying "I catch lots of rattlesnakes at mesquite wash, birding excellent there." I shot him back a reply saying "seriously?" Marcus returned a reply; "Should be fine, watch for them, birding should be fine."  I have to say this kinda freaked me out.  Luckily the weather Tuesday morning was cold, windy and some rain.  A great reason NOT to go to Mesquite Wash.  We elected to go to Granite Reef where we got the newly arrived Bullock's Oriole, our 158 bird species of the year.

Last evening our friends Tony and Gayle treated us to dinner at one of the favourite Italian restaurants. The food was splendid and the company was awesome.  Tonight, Lila and Leroy had us over for a fish fry.  Leroy cooked up Walleye and Small-mouthed Bass.  Awesome food, awesome company.

No question we are going to miss our friends here in Mesa.  It has been 3 or 4 years since we have stayed through to the end of March.  We are usually home in Victoria by now.  The days are getting longer, and hotter.  There are fewer people in the resort as many have already departed to their home in the north.  In some ways it is hard to stay in the moment and enjoy the wonders of what the desert has to offer this time of year.  Many cactus species are beginning to blossom.  We are hoping that the Saguaro cactus blossom before we leave the desert.  Regardless, it is amazingly green in the desert this time of year.  The Palo Verde and Mesquite trees have all leafed out.  They are very beautiful.  Of course this is making bird photography very difficult as the birds are hard to see in the trees.  That's okay.  I love a challenge.

The resort has been our home for the past 3 months.  This is the 7th year that we have come to Arizona during the winter.  We are so thankful that we are able to come to the desert.  We are so thankful we have our health.   We have logged over 1,200 kms on our bikes - not a single kilometre in the rain!  We enjoyed another year playing Bocce Ball with Tony and Gayle.  I have golfed way more than normal.  Dana and I have birded a lot, but perhaps a bit less than last year.  We have enjoyed many social events here at the Resort.

Yes, I have found me a home.  Then again, home is where you hang your hat and next week our home is Green Valley.  After that we will be on the road again.  Our destination, Victoria.  Sometimes I feel like I'm living the Johnny Cash song, "I've been everywhere".  Bet you know some of the words....

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Travel, I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

That's it for now.  I'll write again from Green Valley.......

Sing along and add your own towns and cities...

I've been to.....

???????

The not so Common, "Common Black Hawk".

In desperate need to rid my mind of gutter politics, at least for a few hours, Dana and I, joined by our 83 year old friend Carl, headed up the Bee Line Highway this morning for a bit of birding.

It was a wonderful morning.  Not too hot.  Not too cold.  We birded 2 locations about 30 miles north of Mesa.  The results were excellent as we picked up 2 new species for our year to date list.  These were; Warbling Vireo and Cassin's Vireo.  The highlight of the morning was the sighting of a pair of Common Black Hawks.  The hawks were busy next building so we observed from a safe distance, got our photos and left them to their business.  When I got home and reviewed the photos I was thrilled with the one of the hawk just before it took flight with a branch for the new nest.  Hope you like it too.

Short post tonight.  Mission accomplished.

Things are getting personal on the Republican campaign trail...

"Donald Trump, you are a snivelling coward"!  Words from Ted (I'm not a Canadian) Cruz this afternoon while campaigning in Wisconsin ahead of this weeks primary in that state.  Cruz went on to say to the Donald, "It's not easy to tick me off. I don't get angry often, but you mess with my wife, you mess with my kids, that'll do it every time.  Donald, you are a snivelling coward and leave Heidi the hell alone."  This latest tirade in response to the Donald re-tweeting a set of photos, one of his  wife, former fashion model Melania, and the other a less than flattering photo of Ted's wife Heidi.  It was the caption "A picture is worth a thousand words" that got Cruz in a lather.

WTF!??  What the hell is going on?  Where is this going?  Are these kids running for Leader of the Pack, or the leader of their country?  Okay, initially I thought it was going to be fun having great comic material from the Republican Presidential Candidates, who aren't even actual candidates yet.  I did say these are the halcyon days for political satire.  I poked fun at the missteps, misquotes and mistakes by and from those representing the Republican Party who wish to rule the kingdom of these United States of America.  I have written of the contrast between the GOP race and that of the sometimes feisty yet boring dust-ups between Bernie and Hillary on the Democrat side of the house.  But this latest twist in the already embarrassing Republican race takes us into uncharted waters, even for comedians and satirists.

"You are a snivelling coward"!  Whoa!  What's next, a challenge to a duel?  Pistols at 40 paces?  No wait, that would be too respectable.  No, I think to settle this latest tiff Donald and Ted will mud wrestle.  No, better yet, at the recommendation of Duck Dynasty fans who through social media, voted 102,346 to 46 for Donald and his wife Melania, and Ted and his wife Heidi to tag team mud wrestle.  All 4 will wear thongs and tear-away T-shirts that will be emblazoned with the words "My wife is prettier than yours"!  6 Delegates will be up for grabs in this winner take all event.  This might even set a standard for future contests in order to avoid the lack of Polling Stations like in Arizona last week.  That is another story altogether.   Arizona, shame on you!   No, you can't make this shit up.  Really, you just can't!

Yes, I have to admit that this is far better than "ambulance chasing".  However, the more I follow America's shame, ah, for anyone not following me I am indeed referring to the 2016 GOP race for the nomination as candidate for President, I am beginning to feel an actual need or even desire for information.  There are a lot of great sporting events going on around the world.  Pro cycling in Italy, Spain and Belgium.  PGA World Match Play in the U.S.  NCAA men's basketball "March Madness".   Yet when I get up in the morning what do I look at first?  NPR, CBC, then the New York Times.  I look to see who said what in the GOP race.   Then after I am satisfied that I have all the information I am craving I check to see if Alberto Contador won the current stage in the race in Spain, or if Kansas knocked off Duke.

Oh boy!  We are witnessing history.  We are shocked yet we can't get enough.  We swear that we are done paying attention, then we eat up the latest information as if it were Tillamook Mudslide ice-cream and we just finished an 80k hard effort on the bike.  Best take a deep breath, and let it out very slowly.  Another one......  There.  Better.  I fear the best is yet to come.  No, I'm not making that up.

Hot weather brings out the reptiles

In keeping with the theme started in my last post, I want to address the looming issue of possible reptile encounters.  The weather here in Az. continues to set records.  Hot, hot, hot....  Tomorrow the temperature will be a cool 75F.  No one is going to complain about seeing the daytime temp dip into the 70's after many days in the 80's and even 90's.  This will be a one day event as the temps go back up to 80 for the rest of the week.  I can see the faces of our Pacific Northwest friends who have been suffering through one of the wettest winters in some time.  I don't know if the look is bewilderment  but I know these are not happy faces.  I digress......

Right.  Reptiles.  Dana and I went to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum this morning.  We had not been to BTA for several weeks.  The last time we were there it was not "very birdy".  We had better luck this morning by identifying 26 species of birds, including 3 species new to our year to date list.  These new birds are: American Robin, Hammond's Flycatcher and Broad-billed Hummingbird.  

Here we go.  Reptiles.  In addition to the many birds that we saw today at BTA we also saw many lizards.  The are 107 species of reptiles in Az.  There are 49 species of lizards, 6 species of turtles and 52 species of snakes.  There is a saying here in the desert that when you start seeing lizards, the snakes are not far behind.  I can't say for certain how many species of lizard we saw today, perhaps only a few.  I did get a good picture of one which I have included in this post.

No, we did not see any snakes today but we were certainly on the lookout for them.  While we don't spend all day talking about snake encounters, it is a topic that comes up whenever we venture out into the desert.  We are trying to educate ourselves on how to avoid snakes, what to do when we encounter one and of course what to do in the event we are bitten.  The Arizona Fish & Game Department has a website page dedicated to "Reptiles".  It states "Among the snakes are 13 species of rattlesnakes, which is just over one-third of the world’s rattlesnakes, and more than can be found in any other U.S. state".  Such an upbeat statement.  Yippee!  We have more snakes than anyone else in the U.S.!!  Fine.

It would be so easy to become paranoid about being bitten by a rattlesnake and dying a slow agonizing death in the hot Arizona desert, Turkey Vultures circling waiting to feast, while Coyotes yip with excitement and anticipation of an easy meal.  Of course that would be sooo... Hollywood.  The reality is that only 150 people get bit by rattlesnakes in Arizona each year.  Deaths are rare.  They say that the best way to avoid being bitten is to avoid "handling" rattlesnakes and to "walk" away from any encounter.  Got it.  Check, check and double check!  No handling and walk away.  Got it!

I leave you with two photos from today.  The first one is what I believe to be a Hammond's Flycatcher, although my friend and master birder has yet to provide his feedback on my identification.  The second is a photo of one of the lizards we saw today.  It is a Greater Earless Lizard.  I can't say with any certainty how huge this lizard was but apparently it is harmless but I did not handle it so I don't know for sure.