MAKE NEW FRIENDS, BUT KEEP THE OLD

Apache Jct. March 8 - 14

MAKING NEW FRIENDS
That ol' tune, "It Ain't Home 'Til the Wheels Come Off" keeps playing over and over in my head.  It took a week, and taking the wheels off, to get the Southwind's brakes fixed.  During the week we learned there was a recall on the Workhorse chassis because of the very brake issue we had.  Jim made new phone friends this week while spending countless hours talking to the RV dealer in Yuma, the extended warranty people in Ohio, the Workhorse regional rep, and the mechanic fixing the brakes.

Our neighbors at the Countryside RV Park, Darrell and Marion, are from Alberta, Canada and had just bought the Park Model next to us.  They invited us over for Happy Hour and a new friendship began.  Their sense of humor and kindness made the stress of the week more bearable. 

Getting Happy with Darrell and Marion.  These two are a hoot, eh?

SEEING OLD FRIENDS
Ed and Donna Archey, friends from MI, own a gorgeous home in Scottsdale.  On Sunday we met Ed and Donna at the Phoenix Botanical Garden.  The Botanical Garden was started over 70 years ago by citizens who saw a need to conserve the desert environment.  The garden has grown to 65 acres and has developed into a premier plant research institution.  We spent a couple of hours strolling along the winding trails through the displays of desert plants, then drove to Scottsdale to spend the night at Ed and Donnas' house.  As we were standing in the kitchen, Jim spied a bobcat in the courtyard by their front door.  That was a special experience.

We always have great conversation and laughs with these two. 

INTERESTING PEOPLE WE MEET ALONG THE WAY
As we were shopping one day, a guy said to me "I can tell you aren't from around here!"  I said "Oh, how come?"  He said "I've never seen such white legs."  I said, "I know, you better get your sun glasses on before you go blind".  He said "I'm from Louisiana, and moved here 40 years ago.  I came here with blond hair and blue eyes, and look at me now!"  He was a black man with brown eyes, with a wonderful sense of humor. 

At a rest area along the Freeway, we met this unusual guy with his custom GEO.

Custom paint and features on this Geo.  The lanterns above the front tires are the directional signals. 
The frame work in the back is for his "covered wagon".

The proud owner demonstrating all the car's features, while I snapped the pictures.
The back lifts up with a remote control.  That's a dummy trying to escape.

INTERESTING PLACES
Tortilla Flat is an old stage coach stop about 20 miles from Apache Jct. Getting to this little wide spot in the road we took scenic Route 88 (Historic Apache Trail).  The road goes past the grandeur of the Superstition Mountains, and winds its way through the Tonto National Forest, and past Canyon Lake.  The scenery is magnificent. 

Back in the saddle again.  We had lunch in Tortilla Flat.
The walls of the bar/restaurant are papered with dollar bills and foreign currency
autographed and dated by the customers who stop here.