The Holidays are over and it is time to look for a few new activities beyond the Friday hikes, 5 mile walks to Starbucks twice a week, volunteer shifts at MIM, golf twice a week and whatever else is repeated on the calendar. So – the Chihuly exhibit at FLW’s Taliesin West brought to mind a stashed away list of FLW houses in the greater Phoenix area and E’s desire to tour them all. The Harold Price, Sr. house popped out as a home that had tours a few times a month and would be a great Saturday outing for a few of us at Vi. Having a tour time, we set off to see this 7 bedroom house set on a 9-acre plot built by FLW for Harold Price and his wife – mainly to have the grandchildren visit (therefore, referred to as The Grandma House). Following Price’s death in 1964, the estate was sold to U-Haul president, Sam Shoen, who has maintained the house as a private residence (but does allow tours). The house is a typical FLW one level, concrete block structure. It has a wonderful, large open-air atrium, which connects the bedroom wing of the house to the living room and kitchen. A GREAT example of a FLW house and furnishings – especially since it has been so well maintained thru the years.

OK – so there was one brief out-of-town trek during this first couple of months. It was reportedly a good time to see the eagles on the Verde Canyon RR trip out of Cottonwood so the car was packed to meet friends Linda & Chuck for the RR trip and night out in Sedona. The trip was great – just NO eagle sightings;-(

Was it mentioned that we stayed an extra night to golf and have dinner with friends in Oak Creek??

Time to get back to some of the regular stuff – hiking and MIM concerts, which are now back in full force (thank goodness!!)!

It is such a delight to have concerts back at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)! AND – one of the best that we have seen there was Janis Ian. A great story teller and musician – just her on the stage. See her if you have the chance;-)

Actually, there was another overnight – Tucson to see niece Demi and her friend Ryan. There was a pretty full, fun day of breakfast, a woman’s basketball game at U of A, dinner and a dorm room tour;-) This was all followed the next day by fun at the Champions Tour Golf Tournament.

A very fun thing in our “Sr. Community” is referred to as “The Artists Wall”, which each month features the work of one of the residents. The art might be paintings, stitching, quilting or maybe photography! The month of February was the Dickey/Biaett feature – –

This guy didn’t make it to the wall – but, we’re glad he is back – –

And so – 2022 is off to a pretty good start keeping us busy and enjoying life. Wish the same for all of you.

E & G enjoying life

2021 was drawing to a close and our resident owl was continuing to look over us – –

There was no major travel the last couple of months of the year – just more of the usual. The normal Friday Vi hikes and an outing to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum kept us busy at least a day a week. This Arboretum is Arizona’s first and oldest botanical garden, with collections from many of the world’s deserts and miles of trails to explore them all. A wonderful place to get outside when visiting.

A brief overnight escape was made to Prescott to see the decorated Court House Square. It is a beautiful, fun sight around the holidays.

Unfortunately, the Biaett holiday gatherings were small and quiet in 2021 – Mom/Dorthy was missed. So small (I guess) that no pictures exist – only the dessert for our dinner got a remembrance picture;-(

The events with the Shoe Crew, on the other hand, were well documented. A Christmas breakfast with the obligatory Christmas poppers, a hike to Mom’s ashes (which is where we want ours to go and thought we should show the granddaughters so they can get us there!) and an evening at the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit were all on the agenda.

Though some of the gatherings were small, it was wonderful to be with family. New Year’s Eve we raised a toast to the new year with sister Barb and friend Joe at the Biltmore.

Just like that, another year was gone and we were looking forward to 2022. After 2020, everyone expected 2021 to be so much better but – it, too, had its moments. So – here’s wishing you all an even more ‘normal’ 2022 ;-).

With Lots of Love from E & G

People who complain about birthdays clearly don’t have family and friends to celebrate with. What could be better than a week (or more) of dinners, visits and escapes? In our family birthdays were always a big deal. So, naturally mine started with a surprise dinner with my sister and niece at a favorite restaurant the night we arrived back in town after five months on the road. For the next two weeks there were celebration dinners with many dear friends!

Then – there was the BIG escape. Three days at an oasis in the Arizona desert – Castle Hot Springs. Castle Hot Springs was established in 1896, but the springs were first utilized and the area cultivated by the Yavapai Tribe. Then settlers moved into the area and ‘the springs’ were developed into a health resort that drew the likes of the Rockefellers, Pews and Vanderbilts. Cecil B. DeMille staged his cast and crew at the resort during the Depression and filmed an early “talkie”. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed several of the buildings in 1976 and the resort fell into disrepair. Recently it was purchased, restored and added to with lovely casitas, a ‘farm’ (which grows most of the fruits and vegetables utilized in meal preparations) and revitalized grounds. Most of all – the hot springs have survived all these years and are the main draw to the resort.

One really has to want to enjoy all there is to offer here, as the trip is not an easy one – but much easier than they had it in the early 1900’s!! A drive of approximately 15 miles heading north off of 74 (the extension of Carefree Hwy that takes you to Wickenburg) will get you there – AFTER 7 miles on an interestingly maintained dirt road;-)

Then you come around a corner and there is the oasis of Castle Hot Springs!

The grounds are beautiful – and so are the accommodations! The staff is extremely friendly and cheerful and the food is delicious. And, no one let me forget about a birthday;-)

Of course the main attraction is the mineral water – hot springs – in the three pools at varying temperatures.

Other sights and sounds of the resort take one back to the days of old – –

There are scheduled activities much of the day, which one can participate in as much as wanted. A short walk into an adjacent canyon takes one past the ‘castles’ from which Castle Hot Springs derived its name and petroglyphs from the original inhabitants.

As always – the sun goes down on our adventures and it is time to fly away back home;-(

Only an hour from home, but a world away in relaxation. AND – a perfect way to conclude birthday celebrations.

E saying a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to G for a wonderful birthday celebration;-)

For anyone who plays golf – The Old Course at St. Andrews is on the bucket list at No. 1! But, while waiting to get that accomplished, Bandon Dunes is closer and a bit more affordable. A very apt description of Bandon is ‘an adult golfer’s Disney Land’! Great links golf in a stunning setting – which means one never knows what they are going to get in the weather department;-( This year the Golf Gods knew this might be a last trip for a few years and they rolled out the red carpet. Our first two days spent in Bandon, OR were at a hotel just above (and within walking distance of) the old town – The Bandon Inn. The view was fantastic and the weather the best ever seen here!

For years people have recommended the local municipal course as an alternative to Bandon Dunes. But, the calendar always fills up with too many days of golf and playing this course – Bandon Crossings – never made it into the schedule. This year two extra days were built into the itinerary to see what the talk was about. And, Bandon Crossings did not disappoint. A great lower cost alternative to Bandon Dunes – on another beautiful morning.

After the scare of a VERY wet, pouring down rain Sunday, the move was made to our room at the Bandon Dunes Inn. Keeping fingers crossed, the curtains were opened Monday morning to the glorious sight of blue sky!! Bandon Dunes newest course – Sheep Ranch – was the target for the day. This course is one of five 18 hole courses (also a 13 hole par 3 and an 18 hole putting ‘punch bowl’) on the property and just opened last year. It quickly became E’s favorite;-) The pictures might give hints as to why –

The next day our second favorite course – Old MacDonald – was on the agenda. A bit cloudy – BUT, NO rain or wind! AND, the Golf Gods really made E’s day with that elusive birdie she had been trying for on THIS course for years;-)

Stays at Bandon Dunes are always too short – BUT longer than the old legs can handle;-) So, another rainy day sent us packing with a rainbow for safe travels – –

So happy that we have the ability to enjoy such beautiful sights and wonderful activities. This is always a great end to a memorable summer. In three days Scottsdale will be in sight!

E & G headed for the barn

Leaving the Rainforest to search for sunshine was a good move. Hoquiam/Aberdeen became the new base, but Ocean Shores, Seabrook and Westport provided the sights and sounds. Ocean Shores was a typical beach town – but, with a nice golf course. It was a beautiful day WITHOUT rain so we enjoyed the golf and good fish & chips at Bennett’s.

Friends are the best and the Sampson’s and the Weaver’s made our visits to Sisters and Jacksonville OR times to remember. AND – did you all notice all the blue sky in the pictures? Beautiful weather – beautiful times;-) Thank you to all of you for making our times special!

E & G thankful for good times and wonderful friends;-)

The Olympic Peninsula provides a wide diversity of weather and sights. The leeward side is ‘advertised’ as a “blue hole” of sunny skies, calm seas and little rain. Unlike the rain coast, which houses the Olympic NP rainforests! So – for us it rained everywhere;-(!! But, that was OK as ‘windows’ of good weather were found to achieve the objective – which was to enter the NP from two little visited areas – and see a few WA state parks while at it.

The Olympic NP was established by FDR in 1937, and when looking at a map the massive, mountain interior of the Olympic Peninsula is pretty much all NP. It is made up of a mountain wonderland in the middle and east, lake country to the north and northwest and rocky beaches and rain forests on the west.

First up – Staircase, a well kept secret of Olympic NP. Possibly because in order to get to this area of the park, one must travel about 13 miles on an unpaved road out of Hoodsport. Much of that road parallels Lake Cushman – which provides its own beautiful sights – –

Staircase features a number of subalpine hiking trails in the old-growth forests surrounding Mount Ellinor. Today’s hike would be the Staircase Rapids Loop Trail, which would take us on bridges across the Slate Creek and the North Fork Skokomish River, through striking forests, around moss covered rocks (everywhere!) and even send a blue jay to escort us!

Moving on – E & G

Definitely one of our favorites – Chelan provides a beautiful glacier fed lake, cute little town and an awesome RV park (City of Chelan Lakeshore RV Park) right on the lake. It is also the gateway to the southeast corner of North Cascades NP, which you can only get to via a ferry ride north 50 miles on the lake to Stehekin and then an 11 mile hike or bus ride to the entrance to the park. You kinda have to want to get to this one, but the journey is fantastic!! AND, since the getting there is so difficult there aren’t very many people. Also, there are no internet or cell connections and no TV. One can truly disconnect and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. There are two additional benefits – one is that Stehekin is adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail just 80 miles from the end of the journey at the Canadian border and the second is that there is a delicious bakery just two miles from the ferry landing (and the Lodge).

Having visited Stehekin previously for just a day trip on the ferry, it was a desire to return – for the bakery and to visit with all the hikers coming off the trail to eat and reprovision. So – it was time to board the Lady of the Lake and head to the Lodge for a couple of days and all that Stehekin has to offer;-)

The bakery – Stehekin Pastry Company – is exactly two miles from the Lodge. This became our ‘breakfast/lunch walk’ for the three days in Stehekin (a replacement for the two mile one way walk to Starbucks at home). This is where one gets to visit with all the hikers off ‘the Trail’ and hear their tales. Fascinating!! It is now late September and those that started at the Mexico border began their trek in late April or early May. Over 120 days hiking and about 2500 miles;-( They have much more energy and resolve than we do.

A typical hike for folks like us is the 7 mile round trip hike to Rainbow Falls (1.5 miles past the Bakery – so a stop there makes it palatable;-) On the way, one passes the 100 year old Stehekin School. After looking in on the old, it was good to see a new school has taken its place just up the road.

Getting to the North Cascades NP entrance from this direction was a must and an 11 mile hike (22 miles round trip) was NOT on our agenda! So – we found a CanAm to rent for a couple of hours to check out High Bridge and to get to the park entrance. Off we go – – –

Other sights of Stehekin that ‘entertain’ one during their visit include the Red NP Busses that will get one from the Lodge to the Bakery and High Bridge, if you are willing to abide by their schedule;-( There are many other sights that amuse – but the upload time won’t allow for many!

The stay in Stehekin was awesome! It is a world away that only takes 2.5 hours to get to. Try it sometime.

A stop would not be complete for us if there wasn’t a round or two of golf. Gamble Sands (about 40 minutes north of Chelan in Brewster) is the top rated course in Washington state and it is easy to see why. There are panoramic vistas of the Cascade Mountains and Columbia River on every hole. Designed by David McLay Kidd the course is built in the middle of apple orchards and vineyards as a links course. Therefore, one never knows what kind of roll one is going to get. Actually – quite a fun round although freezing cold on this particular day;-)

Bear Mountain Ranch was a little closer to town, the weather was better – but the course was MEAN!! It did have beautiful views of Lake Chelan, the apple orchards and vineyards all around – –

It was VERY hard to leave this beautiful area. Definitely one of our favorites. But, the time came to say goodbye to Lake Chelan and then to the Columbia River, which we had been following for about a week.

It is always sad to leave Chelan and Stehekin – there is such beauty and remoteness that is hard to duplicate. AND – It makes life so simple;-)

But, as always, we must move on. So – with a tear in the eye we head west to the Fjord of Hood Canal and another remote entry to another NP. Stay tuned;-)

E & G off on another adventure

So – MiniMagic and Magic Carpet headed north to Yellowstone NP. ALWAYS taking the road less travelled, the Pioneer Historic Byway was the route this morning. Sights such as the Soda Springs Geyser, a landmark on the Oregon Trail attracting pioneers to its mineral springs, and the Bear River Massacre Site, where the single largest massacre of Native Americans by US troops west of the Mississippi took place, were seen along the way. On a more positive note, there was beautiful scenery including fall colors, which were sadly lacking in Park City;-(

Our home base while visiting Yellowstone would be Gardiner, MT, the little town at the North Entrance to the park, which is guarded by the Roosevelt Arch. A wonderful structure that probably would NOT be approved today, it provides a grand entryway to the first National Park. In 1903, the arch was dedicated by President Theodore Roosevelt, who laid the cornerstone. It is composed of hundreds of tons of native columnar basalt that were hauled from a nearby quarry and rises 50 feet high. The inscription on the plaque on the Arch is from the 1872 legislation that established the National Park: “For the Benefit and Enjoyment of the People”. We love this area of the Park and drive through the Arch every chance we get;-)

Gardiner is only a short 5 miles to Mammoth Hot Springs, a favorite area of ours for so many reasons. Since it is at the very northwest corner of the park (and some distance from Old Faithful), it is not as heavily visited. Yet it is full of history, ever-changing travertine terraces AND herds of elk;-)!!

Just imagine in 1872 the creation of a “National Park” -the first NP – and what that might have meant. It was established as such to protect the land, its features and the animals. But, there was no Bureau or National Park Rangers to watch over the land or administer/admonish visitors. But, now people were coming to see what was so beautiful and unusual that it had to be protected and saved for “the enjoyment of the people”. Visitors were just as stupid then as now – jumping into bubbling pools, throwing rocks into geysers and climbing on fragile ecosystems. Finally the US Army was called upon to protect the park in its first decades. Therefore, an Army fort was originally housed at Mammoth Hot Springs and one can still take a self-guided tour of the installation.

Travertine Terraces are also found at Mammoth Hot Springs, where the interactions of water and limestone create chalk-white travertine. These terraces are among the fastest changing features in the park. Canary Spring is a beautiful cascade of terraces – and just happened to provide a resting area for a bugling stag elk and his harem the day of our visit – –

The Lamar Valley drive is a must when visiting Yellowstone. It is home to herds of bison and elk AND black and grizzly bears as well as wolves. Unfortunately, no wolf sightings this trip and the only bear was some distance away. But, lots of other wildlife.

If one continues out the northeast entrance of the Park, it is possible to experience the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Designated an All-American Road in 2002, it has been described as ‘the most beautiful drive in America’. This 68-mile drive reaches heights of nearly 11,000′ and offers skycap views of snowcapped peaks glaciers, alpine lakes and plateaus. Here we go on a new experience – and one that should have come long ago!

Another day and back into the Park – today was geyser day. First up – Norris Geyser Basin, the park’s hottest, most dynamic geyser basin. It includes Steamboat, the world’s tallest geyser. Unfortunately, Steamboat is VERY unpredictable erupting every 3 days to 50 years!! It did go off on 9/11/21 at 6:39 in the morning – but we missed it;-( The Basin is a must (sometimes one needs lunch first, though!).

A short drive south to Lower Geyser Basin and another favorite – The Great Fountain Geyser on the Firehole Lake Drive. The Great Fountain Geyser is a little more predictable than Steamboat, as it goes off almost every day. The hour varies but is estimated by the park rangers +/- 2 hours. So – everyone just goes out, parks and waits – with several hundred of one’s closest friends – –

Yellowstone NP is truly a wonder to behold. Get out there and enjoy it!!!

And, if you are camping, consider Rocky Mountain Campground in Gardner. It is the best and comes with a herd of elk that bugle morning and night and wander through the campground. What could be better?!?!

And it was time for us to move on, also. It is very hard to say good-bye to Yellowstone. But, we’ll be back for more I’m sure. For now, on to Chelan with a temporary stop at a wonderful little campground (Nugget RV Park) in St. Regis, MT.

Can’t say enough about our National Parks – except get out and find out how wonderful they are for yourselves!!!

Enjoying – E & G

Summers are always awesome in Park City, and this year was no exception. Great weather, reunions with friends, cheap golf, amazing hikes – what more could anyone ask for? One just needed to be careful as it was never known where someone might be watching to see if you were vaccinated, wearing your mask or staying home if feeling ill;-)

Frequent dinners with old friends and neighbors kept us busy several nights a week. This summer we were also fortunate to have several sets of friends come and enjoy what Park City has to offer. The Miller’s and Plumley’s – both from Scottsdale – decided to escape the AZ heat for the month of July. This gave us plenty of time to enjoy many dinners, golf and drives with each. It was great fun showing the Plumley’s that sometimes the shortest distance to a destination is NOT the most fun. They got to experience a several hour drive (instead of 1 1/2 hr.) to Evanston, WY via Mirror Lake in the Uinta’s, where a cinnamon roll and coffee break was enjoyed in a beautiful setting.

Next up were the Malone’s, who stayed with us for several days. This allowed for two days of golf and a favorite hike in the Uinta’s to Wall Lake.

Gary Solberg was our next visitor. But, before he arrived the Park City Art Fest returned after COVID required a cancellation last year. The Friday night ‘Locals Night’ is always a MUST to attend. The talent on display from artisans from all over the US is something to see and enjoy.

Then Soulman arrived. Another opportunity for a hike to Wall Lake – this time with Gary and friend Sally.

A new experience for us with Soulman. During a day trip to Sundance, Ray’s and Arrowhead lifts took us to the best chicken burrito ever at Bearclaw Cabin!!! Oh – and the views toward Deer Creek and Utah lake were also spectacular!

The weather and terrain in Park City provide the perfect situation for beautiful hikes. A few favorites include Dawn’s Trail, Armstrong and Loose Moose. Great for enjoying a little exercise with friends;-)

Then there are the animals. Moose, deer, turkeys, sand hill cranes, blue herons – AND, strangest of all – a VespaDoodle?!?!

Moose always amaze and entertain us. This year a cow and her calf spent several days in ‘our yard’ and just outside one of our windows. Needless to say, many hours were spent watching these two.

The best part of Park City is all the friends and the time we get to enjoy with them during the summer months. Sally is a hiking, dinner, theater and exploring friend. She has held together quite well for the last year and a half as she has done a major remodel of her house. Last year we had dinner in her bedroom, which was just studs and plywood at the time. This year was to be a nice dinner on her beautiful new deck. Only the rain decided that was not to be. So – the second annual dinner party in her bedroom, this time completed;-)

We were also included in the 90th Birthday celebration for our ‘old’ next door neighbor’s Mother. What fun to share the afternoon with Bobbye – –

Another friend, Phyllis, from AZ – who we loved and enjoyed spending time with during the summers (she also spent summers in PC and lived next door to friend Sally) sadly passed away in PC this past month. We were so fortunate to know her and will miss her greatly.

And so, the sun sets on our summer in Park City. It is time to see what new is in store for us in the coming months.

Thank you to all our wonderful friends that fill up our lives;-) See you next year –

E & G headed north

So – today’s drive was another four hours north on the Oregon coast leaving plenty of time for all those stops that might be found as ‘necessary’;-) And, what do you know? The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport caught our eye. This wonderful facility invites one to immerse themselves in the mysteries of the ocean. It is a living classroom and, therefore, a vital educational resource for the state. The Aquarium plays an active role in conservation and animal rehabilitation efforts. The displays are captivating! Well worth the time. (AND, there is an excellent, family owned fish restaurant a block away – Fishtails Cafe!)

Full of chatter about the otters and stomachs full, time to continue north. Guess what was found next? Yep – Tillamook, Oregon. Even better than the cheese (which is the best) is the ice cream!! Again, we came away with our stomachs FULL, as well as the refrigerator and freezer;-) By the way – our route home was altered for one more stop at Tillamook for the BEST grilled cheese sandwich and more ice cream.

Fort Stevens State Park Campground was the destination – and finally reached. The campground is huge with approximately 500 sites. BUT, the real gem is the military installation, which saw 84 years of service from the Civil War to WWII! Yes – the Civil War. The original earthen fort was completed in 1865 to protect the mouth of the Columbia River from Confederate gun boats and the British Navy, which Lincoln believed would side with the south and try to attack from the west. The post later served as Oregon’s only coastal defense fort during the Spanish-American War, WWI and WWII. It is the only military fort in the US to be fired upon by an enemy during war time since the War of 1812, when it was attacked by a Japanese submarine on June 21, 1942. Wandering the grounds is amazing – but, a tour is the best! Views are pretty good, too – –

Mixing a little history with pure fun – head to Seaside (the Coney Island of the west coast!). Pig ‘N Pancake is a good place to start with a great breakfast;-) Then one can shop, eat ice cream, walk the boardwalk along the ocean – even ride a bumper car! Does that take you back a few years?!?! (Just an FYI for the ‘older folks who might be golfers’ – just north of Seaside is a gem of a course, Gearhart. It was founded in 1892 with three holes strewn across sand dunes – making it the oldest course in Oregon and west of the Mississippi! It is now a fabulous 18 hole course.)

For those “The Goonies” aficionados (“The Goonies” is a 1985 film produced by Steven Spielberg and has developed a bit of a cult following), Astoria is the Mecca, as much of the film was shot here. So, for the Shoe Crew, this is what they had been waiting for. The tour of the various filming sites starts at what is now The Oregon Film Museum which served as the county jail in the movie. Outside is the actual jeep that was used by the Fratellis in the movie.

Next up is the Goonies house. Fortunately for the Goonies followers, the owners of the house welcome the visitors just asking for respect of property and parking restrictions. A neighbor indicated there is typically a steady stream of visitors up and down their street to see this landmark.

Another location is Ecola State Park, a little south of Astoria near Cannon Beach (a charming little coastal town great for exploring, shopping and eating). This is the backdrop where the Goonies search for the start of the treasure map they are searching for. A BIG hit with the Shoe crew;-)

Back to Astoria for a landmark – the Astoria Column. The Column was erected in 1926, sits atop Coxcomb Hill and is a unique work of Northwest art offering a view of the meeting of many the roads taken by those who conquered this land. The Column itself is beautiful as is the view of the Columbia River over to Washington state.

Only a couple of days left of this year’s adventure, so off to show the granddaughters Salem, the capital of Oregon. The route took us through Tillamook for one last helping of ice cream and a side trip to Corvallis to see the University – –

And so – this trip ends. It is the hope that there will be fond memories of a couple more NP’s – but, the Goonies and Tillamook ice cream may be the most vivid memories;-) Oh yes – and the mosquitoes, which became known as “little shits”!! There is so much beauty in our country – please get out and enjoy it and share it with your family.

E & G with many fond memories from these 2 1/2 weeks;-)