Greater Phoenix

Yesterday began with a day-long, 190 mile tour of metropolitan Phoenix, first visiting friends, Jim and Karen Werner in their new Del Webb Festival home. We didn’t get there until we got lost wandering around ‘west’ Phoenix, where streets in ghost subdivisions appear and then disappear as if written on a map with a failing ball-point pen. The sub-divisions have 4 lane roadways with curbs and flood-canals, but nary a house in sight. It will be a long time before they are built.

Del Webb has the answer for 60-something geezers who aren’t ready to spend the twi-light years in a rocker watching the tube. Nice houses with access to fabulous facilities and activities. We are seriously interested in this, though not necessarily on the western plains of Phoenix. Oh, did I mention the golf course?

Speaking of golf courses, I’ve got to give Arizona a failing grade. Reasonably priced muni-courses are few and far between, and offer rates for AZ residents that are a bargain as compared to out of staters. Other public access courses are similarly stacked against non-residents, unless you want to play in the middle of summer or want to squeeze 18 holes in after 4 pm.  Don’t know how I forgot this from the last time here. Note to Arizona: I don’t do $100 golf! Give me Oregon or California!

The visit to Cliff’s Welding produced a complete repair of our tow-bar at no cost in one day, thanks to the great folks at Blue Ox Mfg. I am a customer for life! 

Today produced a short bike ride in the a.m., washing clothes in nearby Cave Creek at noon, and then a 3-mile hike in late afternoon. Annika demonstrated her trail skills -- failing only when snagged by a cholla cactus bristle.

Tomorrow a.m. promises a breakfast meeting with another Copper Canyon couple, then a long-sought day of ‘doing nothing’.  We have decided to stay put here over the weekend, rather than gamble on finding a spot at Lake Pleasant on a Friday.