Back in Arizona, Again

Well we made it back to Quartzsite and for our northern friends it is a balmy 82 degrees. Had a good visit with Nancy's kin the last week in Texas. We also went looking for some lake property so we'll have a place to go in the spring and fall. Made what we considered a low offer on a lot on Lake Brownwood and the seller accepted so we will be "texans" as soon as we close.
This is a picture of the small cabin on the lot. Nancy is already talking of enclosing the porch and rearranging the rooms. It may be lots of work but hopefully Nancy we let me take my time.
Here is a pic of our dock and a view of the lake where we are told there are lots of bass and catfish. Maybe she will let me fish between remodeling tasks.

Weatherford Texas

We're in Weatherford Texas visiting Mom, Sister Joyce and all her family and Deb and Todd who were also visiting here. The first weekend Joyce said there was a car show in town but didn't know anything about it. When we found it, it was a all MG show which I have an interest in as I have a 1957 MGA. As you can see from the picture there were quite a few cars. The one in the picture below is what mine should look like when I get it restored.

Her is Mom holding her new great granddaughter Autumn Rose.This was taken at a cookout at Joyce's new home near Weatherford.


We joined mom for lunch at her care center. They have a separate room for families to eat with the residents. Picture also includes Joyce, Deb and, Nancy, of course.

Deb and Todd hosted another cookout at the city park in Mineral Wells. The recent Alaska residents thought the weather was balmy but the rest of us had to bundle up a bit. You can see mom is 'hogging' that new ggranddaughter again.

HEAT RETREAT

They lied about the weather in the 80's and low 90's. After we got to Quartzsite they predicted 100 for last weekend so we headed for the hills. We went to the national forest just south of Prescott AZ for about 4 days. Stayed in this campground for two nights. Lots of ponderosa pines and about 15 degrees cooler than Quartzsite. This area is about 5200 feet altitude.














We then moved to an area where they have "dispersed" camping. You still have to camp where it is authorized but the camp spots are mostly for only one camper. And Free.














We went into Prescott to do a little shopping and explored the many forest service roads in the area. As you can see from this picture, we did some more "leaf peepin" as the oak were changing color in the region.

Arizona

There was snow in the mountains, it was 37 degrees one morning and the forecast for Quartzsite was upper 80s and low 90s for 15 days so here we are. We came down throughthe polygamist communities of Hildale, UT and Colorado City, AZ. Went through the national forest by Jacob Lake and on to the Vermillion Cliff area. Beautiful! This was the first time we've seen them and we decided we WILL go back. Here is a picture of the cliffs from the hiway.


We then stopped at Cottonwood AZ to visit my two lovely aunts ( I have to say nice things about them so they won't talk about me). We had made arrangements to stop and pick up a transmission for our Tracker in Phoenix so that was our last stop before getting home to Quartzsite. Everything here was fine except the sprinkler system on our citrus trees failed during the summer.

LEAF PEEPIN'

This time of year in Utah is beautiful in the mountains as the "colors" start showing so we decided to go for a drive up Logan canyon to see them.










Another picture showing many different colors.















OK! OK! We're not really leaf peepers. We used the colors as an excuse to stop at La Beau's in Garden City on Bear Lake for a locally grown raspberry shake and a juicy hamburger.

Alaska Moose Hunt

Thought I would add a little more on my Moose Hunt experience. After picking up Todd from the airport and doing our final provisioning, Mike, Todd, my son-in-law and I Towed the boat with everything in it to the launch site on the Salcha River (about 30-40 miles from Fairbanks. We Then went by jet boat (an enjoyable experience in itself) down the Salcha to the Tanana River to the muddy creek to the clear creek and then up it to Mike and Bernies cabin. This is about a 1 hour run at 15-25 mph so if it wasn't for the dozen cabins along clear creek it would be complete wilderness. This is a picture of Mikes jet boat in front of their cabin.

Here is a picture of their cabin. Not really "roughing it". They have running water, electricity, and a comfortable outhouse. About 1/4 mile away from the cabin is a large muskeg area with a treestand that normally provides a good vantage point for feeding moose although we didn't see any this year. Todd and I floated the creek two mornings. The first morning we got the moose you see in the previous post. Pretty exciting for both of us.




After Mike's son-in-law John got off work and to the cabin we loaded this tent and all of our gear on their 4-wheelers with large trailers and trecked 4-5 miles further back into the wilderness and set up camp in another area that promised to have some good hunting. We hunted about 3 days in this area- saw a lot of sign, heard a lot of bugling, heard bulls scraping their antlers. John saw one large moose but couldn't tell if it was a legal. (My permit was for any bull but they had to have a bull with a 50 inch spread or at least 3 brow tines on one side so you have to have a pretty good look at the animal before you pull the trigger). Mike's wife Bernie and John's wife Michelle stayed at the cabin while we went back to the tent camp and they needed to get out on Monday so Todd and I also came out, Helped butcher my moose and caught a flight back to Utah. Mike and John went back to the tent Tuesday morning so here is wishing them good luck.

Great White Hunter

Success in Alaska. Flynn and Todd spotted this moose while floating down the river. Flynn took the first shot and then Todd made sure this big guy didn't get away. It went down close to the river so it was loaded in the boat for transport back to camp. They were happy but tired hunters that day. There are several members in their hunting party so they are now trying to help others fill their permits and enjoying every minute of it. Deb and I have been keeping busy. We attended the Utah state fair on the one and only rainy day, had a good time anyway. We have done our fair share of eating and shopping too!