Thursday, January 26 through Tuesday, February 7: Conquering the Deserts

Becky's reminder feature on her phone calendar reminded her that it was time for her annual flu shot.  Off to CVS Pharmacy she went!  It was also time to prepare the dog food packets for the upcoming weekend.  Ramsey and Kelsey were dropped off at Grand Paw Pet Resort on Friday.

Becky had lunch with Linda Brockie.  They went to a local fish place.  Yes, fish tacos!  Linda is a ranger three nights a week at Thousand Trails Palm Springs.  She has been very helpful --- locating last-row pull thru sites when Becky is coming into the park.  Linda, and her husband Rick, were the last Williams visitors before Richard died.

Becky dropped Libby off at VCA Valley Veterinary facility for medical boarding.  They will give her the needed medicine and cleanse her wounds the next day and one half.

Becky drove off to Laguna Niguel for the Organization of Women Executives' Spa Weekend.  She and her roommate, Honoria Vivell, decided to just go the one night.  The Spa Weekend is at the Ritz-Carlton.  Nice!

Becky had a delicious 90 minute massage with Spenser.  It turned out that Spenser went to San Marino High School --- obviously, years after her!

The group had a nice cocktail hour and dinner.  And, the next morning, it was a buffet brunch with an omelet bar.  What a beautiful setting!

The Spa Weekend was over, so Becky headed back to the desert.  She first picked up Libby.  Sunday was an hourly rate at the veterinary facility.  Then, over to Grand Paw Pet Resort to get Ramsey and Kelsey.

Becky had a hair appointment with her old desert hair stylist, Bunny.  She had not seen her for almost two years.  But, Bunny is familiar and reliable. 

Friends, Becky and Tom Poremba, stopped by early Monday evening to say hello.  They had just arrived to Palm Desert.  They also have an adorable dog named Moxie.  Becky and Tom are avid hikers.

The trip to Palm Desert to Tucson is a long haul, almost 400 miles.  Becky decided to break up the trip by staying at Arizona Oasis RV Resort on the Colorado River.  So, she played pickleball Tuesday morning, and then leisurely packed up the dogs and trailer for the 112 miles.  When she got to the RV resort, she didn't even unhook the truck and trailer.  Becky and Richard used to stop at this park many times.  It is a nice setting.

The trip from the Colorado River to Voyager RV Resort in Tucson took over four hours.  Becky arrived just after 3pm.  There was a long line at the registration desk.  This Encore property is HUGE.  It has over a thousand RV sites --- and several motels.  A ranger in a golf cart escorted Becky to her site.  Oh no, a back-in site!  Ranger Pete was very patient --- coaching Becky on how to back the trailer into the site.  Thanks, Ranger Pete!

There are a number of Becky's friends who are snowbirds --- staying three months at this Tucson Park.  So, it was a nice reunion.  The Tucson Senior Games are using this venue for their pickleball play.  Ed and Sandra Smith, both in their early 70s, are playing in the tournament.  Ed is in the foreground of this photo.

Sandra is in the bright yellow shirt.  Way, to go, you guys! 



On Friday, Becky decided to go on a field trip with the dogs.  The historic town of Tombstone is only an hour away from where Becky is staying.  So, Becky loaded up the dogs and away they went!

Tombstone was very cute.  And, with the three Dalmatians, Becky and the dogs attracted attention.  Even one of the outlaw cowboys came over to participate.

Tombstone has three streets blocked off for carriage rides and reenactments of gun fights.  There are a number of men and women dressed in period costumes.

While driving to Tombstone, Becky recognized the name of a town about 30 miles southwest of Tombstone on the same highway.  It was Bisbee.  Sue Boles and John Gilmer moved to Bisbee from New Mexico last year.  Becky worked with Sue and John ten years ago at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  Becky decided to give Sue a call.  Yes, they are in Bisbee.  So, after Tombstone, Becky and the dogs headed to the mining town of Bisbee.  Becky had a nice one hour visit with them and their dog, Blue.  Ramsey, Kelsey, and Libby were sleeping in the truck.

On Saturday, Becky watched an early match in the Pickleball Tournament with friends Mark and Dan.  They played two fellows who eventually won the gold medal in the over 50, 3.5 level play.  Needless to say, they lost the first two matched.

Becky reached out to Barbara Gates.  Barbara's husband, Clark, used to work with Becky at Union Bank.  Barbara and Clark have a summer home on Cape Cod and a winter home in Tucson --- on the Omni Tucson National Golf Resort.  Becky and Barbara became fun friends over the past six or seven years.  They have seen each other in Cape Cod once and twice in Tucson.   

Clark was playing golf all day Saturday and had a dinner engagement, but Barbara invited Becky over to their new home.  They moved within the same golf resort, but to a new community.  Their new home was magnificent --- overlooking the golf course with views of many mountains.

Becky had not felt Richard's active presence in several days.  She asked him to make contact in some way.  Halfway through the day, Becky lost her left earring.  Fortunately, it was not a valuable one.  Then, she put on another earring set.  Late afternoon, Becky lost another left earring.  Okay, Richard, enough is enough!  Becky took out her flashlight and walked the paths she took that day with the dogs.  No luck.  Then, while getting ready for bed, Becky found the first missing earring on top of the bed spread.  The next morning, Becky shook out the dog bedding that Libby was using.  Ah! There was the second missing earring.  Thank you, Richard!

Becky played pickleball on Sunday.  Linda Ostiguy slipped Becky into the 3.5 level players.  Normally, you have to be rated to play on the courts at the 8am to 10am slots.  Thank you, Linda!

More pickleball for Becky on Monday and Tuesday.  On Tuesday, Becky met a player from Flagstaff. He lives and plays pickleball in Flagstaff May through October.  Becky knew there was pickleball in Flagstaff.  So, John Grahame gave her some information about where they play and they exchanged cards.  Perhaps Becky can carve out several hours a week and play pickleball more regularly.

Some Thousand Trails friends, Shirley and Jim Portzer, bought a Park Model home in a development down the street from Voyager.  Becky used to play pickleball with Jim.  Shirley and Jim lost there cat, Sammy, late last year.  But, they found a new kitten, Sully, at the animal shelter. So, Becky went over to meet Sully, see the Portzers, and visit their new home.  Shirley and Jim still have a motor home and will travel in it when it is too hot (May through September) in Tucson.

Becky spent several hours a day walking the three dogs at the Voyager RV Park.  There are certain streets and resort areas where dogs are welcome. What a sight!

Now, Becky started to get ready to leave Tucson on Wednesday.  As she was unhooking the sewer hoses, she noticed that one had a leak. Fortunately, there is a store on the property that sells RV supplies.  So, Becky had her first experience buying and installing a new sewer hose. Mission accomplished!