HEADING HOME!

Family gathering. L to R - Patrick and Julia McCasland (baby Haidyn soon to arrive), Dick and I, my "little" brother, Joel and his son, Cameron. My sister, Kathy and her husband Pat, Chelsey and Matthew (my sister's son and his fiancé).

As you know from the last blog we were visiting my sister in Foresthill, CA. We only planned to stay for eight days. We always say that and then end up staying two weeks. Last year we were there for my niece's (Julia) wedding. The timing was right this year to visit when her baby was due to arrive. Her due date was May 13 and we said we wouldn't leave until the baby was born.

Haidyn Grace arrived on the 22nd so I had a chance to hold my beautiful 

grand niece a couple of times.   

Replacing a pump system at a Sacramento Elementary School.

Our brother-in-law, Pat, owns his own business  Custom Pump & Power. He manufactures large commercial pump systems. He needed a right hand man for several days. Dick was the guy. It worked out well and paid well (it will pay for our gas to get home). They work great together and I'm sure Pat would have kept him working a bit longer but we needed to begin our trip back to Michigan. We want to be home by mid-June. 

Grandpa Pat and Great Uncle Dick stopped after work to hold Haidyn once more.

A fun evening playing Cribbage  R to L: Dick, sister Kathy, brother-in-law Pat and myself.

We're heading for Yellowstone National Park for a few days. Today I happened to see on Facebook that some friends we met in Florida a couple winters ago were traveling the same route as us in Idaho. They from the east and we from the west. I kept checking in on Facebook chat and it was amazing how the timing was perfect that we could meet at the exit they were taking south. We had a nice picnic lunch together.  

Posing for a selfie with Kimberley and Greg! It's a small world.

From Yellowstone we're continuing east to the Winnebago Factory in Forest City, Iowa.  It's nothing serious, just want to replace a few things. Along the way we'll visit several of our favorite places in South Dakota and then from Iowa on to Michigan where we plan to visit Marlene and Dave Ferguson who are hosts at Burt Lake State Park in Indian River. They want Dick to give a campfire talk about his Arizona hike. We'll camp a night or two before heading on to the Ole' E Ranch (Oleo Acres). I'm looking forward to being home for awhile. To all of our family and friends, if you're driving by, you'll know we're home if the lawn is mowed. We would love to see you. 

While in Yellowstone National Park our friend Bob Howell from Bozeman just happened to be in the park doing some night photos. We connected for a great evening visit. Yes, that's a buffalo grazing in the background. Check out his website - amazing work. http://roberthowellphotography.com

THE FINISH LINE

You are all wondering if Dick is done with his hike. He’s finished and now food is his number one priority. With no meat on his bones he does need some fattening up. Also, his legs never stop moving at night. Soon he’ll return to normal, whatever normal is for Dick. He’s saying this will be his last long hike and will stick with shorter 100 to 200 mile hikes???
To read about the last leg of his hike click here:  http://lookingatlifethruoneeye.blogspot.com/2014/05/finishing-at-utah-border-after-week-of.html He’s also added a Youtube video. Put on your own music for background listening.

After the Grand Canyon we traveled north to visit our friends Mike & Rochelle in Utah. They are the ones with the Smith Hotel in Glendale who we visited last year in Mormon country. 

While visiting them Mike helped Dick make a bowl out of a chunk of aspen. It was my Mother’s Day gift. Then Mike taught me how to make Sushi and we made enough to last me a couple of days. Yummy.

We then headed west across desolate Nevada. We were told there was a nice Rest Area a few miles before Tonopah that we could stay overnight. But when I saw the REST STOP sign full of bullet holes we decided to move on. Besides it was only 1pm. We ended up at a campground north of Lee Vining, California. We were also warned to make sure we filled up with gas in Nevada because the gas in California was very expensive. The cheapest we could find was $3.90/gal. in Tonopah. Our Gas Buddy App said it was only $3.85 in CA. so we just passed Nevada gas by. We squeaked into Lee Vining running on empty and found gas was $4.99/ gal. Dick wasn’t a happy camper. He decided to only get enough to get us 90 miles north to Minville, NV which wasn’t that much out of our way, where it was $3.85/gal. There we bought enough to last until we leave CA. 

We met my brother at Bear River Resort for a couple of days before heading for my sister’s in Foresthill, CA.  Joel took time off from work to camp with us.

He brought his boat and would get up early to fish for 4 or 5 hours. Dick’s not a fish eater. He said, “If cows could swim he’d be out there too.” Joel must LOVE to fish to be out on his boat by 5:30 a.m. He did enjoy catching several Mackinaw. Then we'd make a huge breakfast  when he returned.

Above is a picture of our first camping trip with Joel in 1978. He was about fourteen.

We have just arrived at my sister's where we set up camp for 8 days.

Remember last year we were here for my niece's wedding. This year we're in time to meet our grandniece who is due to arrive any day.

SUPPORT REPORT

I enjoyed my stay at the Desert Gardens RV Resort outside of Florence, AZ.  A beautiful time of year to be down here in the desert. There was lots to do and I had no time to get bored while Dick was gone 18 days hiking the AZ Trail.

Besides being close enough to visit with my parents a couple days a week, I met a group of people in the park who played Cribbage and other fun games several evenings a week. I also joined the water aerobics group. I made some lasting friendships. They all wanted to meet Dick when he returned and planned a little dinner get together. I think they were beginning to wonder if I made him up. When he reached the Grand Canyon he took a shuttle back to the Phoenix airport where I picked him up. Driving in that traffic was awful. I'm thankful I don't have to do that every day like most of those people.

The day we planned to leave Desert Gardens, Dick was very ill. We didn't know if it was giardia or food poisoning. He was up all night and not doing well that morning. We had reservations at Deadhorse State Park about 170 miles north in Cottonwood. I drove while he slept on the couch. He was feeling better by the time we got there but slept most of the afternoon. By the next morning he was a new man. Fortunately, it wasn't giardia. Considering all the mud puddles he's drank from, it was a concern even though he purified everything.

John Reid Donahue (cousin) with Nancy Ingalls 

While we were in Cottonwood, a distant cousin of Dick's visited us. (John is Dick's dad's mother's brother's son's son - got that?) He has been following our blog and connected through email.

See the deep cut in the distance? That is where Dick walked to reach the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

I am now camped at the Grand Canyon and Dick left from our campsite Wednesday morning to complete the last leg of he Arizona Trail. He expects to reach the Utah border in about four days. At that point he'll decide if he wants to walk back to me at the Grand Canyon or call it quits and have me drive the motorhome up to meet him. I think it will depend on the weather.

This place is truly a wonder of the world. It makes you stop and realize how truly small you are and that we're just a speck in time. I love the beautiful historical buildings and the beauty surrounding them. Lots of wildlife too. While walking on the rim yesterday, I saw California Condor F-3 and later spotted several elk while riding my bike. This park is biker friendly. This is a wonderful place to be while Dick is hiking but I'm thinking of hanging a sign around my neck that reads "CRIBBAGE ANYONE?"  I got hooked on playing cards with my group of friends at Desert Gardens. Problem is, I may not find anyone that speaks fluent English. There are people from every corner of the world here. Dick calls this the UN of the National Parks.

(Above) At Hermit's Rest, one of my favorite historical areas in the park.

For those who want to catch up on the happy hiker. Here is PART 4 of his blog:

http://lookingatlifethruoneeye.blogspot.com/2014/04/azt-superior-az-to-grand-canyon.html

Funny Face took over Boo's bed.

AND THE HIKE CONTINUES....

Wow - lots has happened since I posted last! Dick was just beginning his Arizona Trail hike and now he is almost to the town of Pine which is approximately 460 miles under his belt. Over the past few days he is having problems with heat in the 90's and water has been scarce. Everyone is saying it's hotter and drier than normal. I didn't hear from him last night but he tells me not to worry, if anything happens while he's hiking then he died happy. Is that comforting or what? At the beginning of his hike he would come in every 2nd or 3rd day. During this next leg I will not see him for about 12-14 days.

We enjoyed our stay in the Patagonia area. Our base camp was Patagonia Lake State Park. Since Dick was hiking for several days, I introduced myself to a group of RV neighbors that pulled into camp on St. Patrick's Day. They invited me to join them for a true Irish meal. After a couple days I drove 45 miles north to pick up Dick and when I brought him back to camp he right away walked over to introduce himself to my new friends and said, "Hello, I'm Gaila's long lost husband. I smell bad, I look bad, but I feel good!" He was immediately accepted into the group even without a shower.

We connected with friends from home, Maryanne Macy and Gregg Chance,
 who were renting a place near Patagonia Lake.

The Patagonia area is a flyway for migrating birds and also spring-breakers. The campground was full. We found that if you didn't make a reservation during this time of year you probably won't get into many campgrounds in the south.

This beautiful Elegant Trogan winters in Patagonia Lake State Park. Photo taken by Dick Mallery

We traveled on to Catalina State Park in the Tucson area. This park is being encroached upon by malls and homes, but once inside the park it's peaceful, beautiful with amazingly dark skies at night. Where does all the water come from for all these people? Dick asked a local this question and the answer is the Colorado River.

On this trip I read a book called WOMAN OVERBOARD by Camille Gannon and could relate to many of her feelings. I enjoyed the book so much I decided while in the Tucson area I would contact her and see if we could meet. Dick and I met up with Camille and Peter and had a fun evening talking about our adventures.
A fun read. http://www.womanoverboardbook.com

Our campsite with the Catalina Mountains in the background.

Then on to Florence, AZ to the Desert Gardens RV Resort, my home right now. Sounds fancy doesn't it? Well, it is. Since Dick would be gone 12-14 days on this leg of his hike, we scouted for a good place for me to stay that was safe, had something for me to do and near enough to my parents. I'm here off-season so many of the snowbirds are leaving. I have met a group that plays card games in the evenings and also joined the daily water aerobics. Last night I was invited to go out for dinner with a group. So I haven't had a chance to get lonely or bored. There is a beautiful 2 mile bike/walking path around the perimeter of the park that I love riding at sunset. It's nice being here this time of year to see the different types of cactus in bloom and all the nesting birds. I'm hoping the quail have their babies soon. I'm 5 miles from Florence, home of the third largest county jail in Arizona. I'm told Florence is one of the top safest towns in Arizona. If anyone escapes they're not going to hang around here - right?

We've had several visitors here. 

My parents only live about 32 miles from me so I see them a couple times a week.

Carl Fromholz and Lisa Grise, from home, had been in Mexico all winter and stopped 

to camp a couple of nights with us at this park. This park has lots of

rules. After only one night's stay, the next morning they knocked on our door to tell us that they'd been booted out because their trailer was older than 15 years and their breed of dog wasn't allowed.

We were sad to see them leave. If I hadn't already paid I would have left too.

Bill and Laurie Bassett, from home, came for an afternoon visit and the next day we all went to the trailhead outside of Superior to send Dick on his way for the next leg of his hike.

Dick is enjoying this hike. Sometimes during the day he'll call me when he's hiding under something to get out of the heat. A couple times I've offered to pick him up but he says, "No Way".  Here are his last two Blog entries if you're interested in his hike. (Margie - you may not want to read these because there are lots of snake pictures.)

PART II -  http://lookingatlifethruoneeye.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-just-finished-another-hundred-and.html

PART III -  http://lookingatlifethruoneeye.blogspot.com/2014_04_01_archive.html

Picture from the latest photo shoot of BOO.

Bob and Norma Bogard, from home, were at an RV park only a half hour away. 
It was fun connecting with them down here. Bob was our UPS man for nearly 19 years. 

            Amazing all the different cactus blooms!  No wonder it's called the "Painted desert". 

SOUTHWEST HIGHLITES

From Alpine, TX. we ventured west and stayed a week at Oliver Lee State Park near Alamogordo, N.M. We always enjoy our visit there when Marlene and Dave Ferguson, friends from Michigan, are hosts. I happened to time it right and was there during the Oscars and watched them with Marlene on her big screen TV in their RV.
Oliver Lee is a quiet park, high on the side of the Sacramento Mtns. in the Chihuahuan desert. One day Dick hiked 20 miles up Dog Canyon, carrying his 25 lb. backpack, training for his 800 mile Arizona Trail hike. This time he took more food and water after nearly having heat stroke in Big Bend National Park when he did a 20 mile hike in 90 degree weather. When he made it back to the motorhome he almost fainted several times. He kept having to lay down on the floor, in front of the fan, in between bites of the big meal I made him. Crazy man!!
From the campground we can see White Sands National Monument several miles west of us. It is often windy and it whips up the white sand (gypsum), creating a sort of sandstorm. Near the Monument is the White Sands Missile Range where the first atomic bomb was tested in 1945. Dick says he wonders how much plutonium is blowing our way. It has a half life of 24,000 years. If we knew everything about places we visit, we'd stay home! In fact, while we were there we heard on the news that they discovered a leak in the underground plutonium storage facility in the Carlsbad area and we had just camped near there. Just Great!!  nuclear-waste-site-stays-closed-after-radiation-leak

Taken from the hike to the top of the mountain looking down at the Oliver Lee campground. Our
motorhome is the lone one on the far left. We aren't anti-social, we park in no hook-up sites because we have solar.

We never get lonely while traveling. Every year we make new friends and keep in touch with many of them, as well as meet up with friends from home!

The Fergusons

Next we traveled to Pancho Villa State Park in the quiet little town of Columbus, N.M.

Friends we met at Big Bend National Park joined us in Columbus.

Judy Preston and Mike Hoeinghaus from Gabriola Island, B.C. 

We contacted our friend, Ed Trautwein, who was staying in Demming, N.M. and the five of us went to Palomas, Chihuahua, Mexico just over the border from Columbus to have lunch at The Pink Store.

We always have a good time with our friend, Ed Trautwein.
(Sorry, Ed, I know I told you I wouldn't put this on my blog but couldn't resist! 
Just following your advice to put more pics.)

This is the courtyard outside of The Pink Store. This sculpture depicts
a fictional Panco Villa and General Pershing - shaking hands! Pershing hunted
Villa for about a year in Mexico to no avail!

We then traveled to the Chiricaua National Monument in Arizona. The park's campground is for small RVs. Last year we discovered we could park on a corner of National Forest land right outside the park entrance. We liked it so much we wanted to return. Plus, we love the hiking among the beautiful rock formations. We were contacted by email earlier in the day by friends, Ellen and Jon Konnert, wondering where we were and saying they were in Tucson heading for Patagonia. We had just parked our motorhome when another large motorhome pulled up. We were surprised to see it was them! Then Mike and Judy Preston pulled in the next day. We had a little gypsy camp for a couple of days and had a great time together.

Our Gypsy Camp outside Chiricaua National Monument

We had to get a move on because Dick needs to start hiking the Arizona Trail. We headed for Parker Canyon Lake area to the closest campground we could find to where he would begin the hike. When we arrived we went to scout out the area. Once we looked at the dirt road that led 18 miles to where I would need to drop him off at the Mexico border, Dick didn't feel comfortable having me drive the 18 miles back by myself. Lots of smuggling and illegal traffic in this area. So we had to come up with another plan. We could call our friends Mike and Judy who offered to drive down and help us. Then I remembered two couples sitting outside at their campsite and said we should ask them if they knew anything about the area. We began talking and it led to Dick saying he was planning to hike the AZ Trail but not sure how he was going to get down to the trailhead. They all at the same time said, "We're hiking the 1st section of the trail and hired a shuttle service to come down from Tucson to pick us up in the morning." They said to show up at 8 a.m. and see if he'd take on another hiker. It worked out perfectly. Our first "TRAIL MAGIC!

So another adventure has begun. I will keep you posted.  Here is Dick's blog on his hike so far:
CLICK HERE TO READ DICK'S BLOG


Thought this was cute:
SNOW IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

Travelin' on!
(Yes, we still have Funny Face but she's not as much of a show-off!)

TEXAS COWBOY POETRY GATHERING

We met Marvin & Nancy Kelso from Gaylord, MI while at Big Bend
and reconnected at the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. 

Fred and Jill Moon, friends from Williamsburg, Michigan
                

Dale Burson (Ctr)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qRgCLI0Anw - great guitar player!

I know it's been awhile since I last blogged, and there's so much I want to share with you about what we did between New Orleans, LA and Alpine, TX, but I just have to tell you about what we've experienced over the past few days in Alpine, TX!!  We had heard of the TEXAS COWBOY POETRY GATHERING over the years but "steered" clear of the area while it was happening.  This year friends from home, Jill and Fred Moon (pictured above), happened to mention in an email that they were looking forward to getting out of the Michigan snowbank and flying to West Texas for this Cowboy gathering. We arrived in Big Bend National Park on Jan. 30 and thought somehow we needed to try and "hitch" up with them while they were so close. They said they had done this before and LOVED it and it was a must do. So we stayed at the National Park for three weeks and joined in on the fun. What fun it was and we for sure will attend next year if we're out this way. From the Chuckwagon breakfast with real cowboy coffee to the old and young cowboys and cowgirls singing or reciting poetry, it was so much fun. So if you are ever down here the last weekend in February make sure you join in. 

Cooks start campfires at 4 a.m. to bake Dutch Oven buiscuts. 

Delicious Cowboy coffee!

A favorite: Dan Roberts  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1ABpZfhhqc

So many varied interpretations and styles of poetry, great stories and music. So inspiring and entertaining. Here are a few more of my favorites.

Click Here:  KRISTYN HARRIS. Her yodeling was contagious.

Loved Mike Blakely:  MIKE BLAKELY MUSIC
Also Mary Kaye: MARY KAYE


Enjoyed so many great poems. This one is a true story about the Texas Buffalo written and recited by Linda Kirkpatrick.

Mary Ann's Legacy I rode to the edge of the caprock And gazed in the canyon below I thought of a time and a lady And of her life of so long ago. I watched the remains of her legacy Thundering within the canyon wall, While the red-tailed hawk soared peacefully Beckoning with its lonely call. The preservation of the buffalo Was the center of her dream, And because of this honored lady The hunter was not supreme. She had returned in desperation To a Texas she’d once known. Vowing to never leave the canyon And to forever call this land home She saw to the needs of her husband And to the cowhands on the old JA She was wife, mother, sister, doctor And preacher when they’d lost their way. Life in the canyon was lonely Her chickens her closest friends Her undying love for the buffalo Stayed with her until her life’s end Mary Ann Goodnight grieved and watched As progress raised its vicious head And as way was cleared for progress They shot the buffalo dead. During the day she heard the rifles ringing And at night the orphan calves bawl, As these sounds echoed the canyon With their haunting lonely call Her heart pained for the buffalo babies And her feelings she did convey So Charlie went out and roped two for her The ancestors of these today. The rest of the herd was swallowed up As if it had never been As the canyon walls loomed in silence And Mary Ann’s buffalo lived within. Millions once roamed the canyons But now there are only a few But thanks to Mary Ann Goodnight Hers are here for me and you. Mural in downtown Alpine, TX  This mama is letting her babies grow up to be cowboys!

Mary Ann's Legacy
I rode to the edge of the caprock
And gazed in the canyon below
I thought of a time and a lady
And of her life of so long ago.

I watched the remains of her legacy
Thundering within the canyon wall,
While the red-tailed hawk soared peacefully
Beckoning with its lonely call.

The preservation of the buffalo
Was the center of her dream,
And because of this honored lady
The hunter was not supreme.

She had returned in desperation
To a Texas she’d once known.
Vowing to never leave the canyon
And to forever call this land home

She saw to the needs of her husband
And to the cowhands on the old JA
She was wife, mother, sister, doctor
And preacher when they’d lost their way.

Life in the canyon was lonely
Her chickens her closest friends
Her undying love for the buffalo
Stayed with her until her life’s end

Mary Ann Goodnight grieved and watched
As progress raised its vicious head
And as way was cleared for progress
They shot the buffalo dead.

During the day she heard the rifles ringing
And at night the orphan calves bawl,
As these sounds echoed the canyon
With their haunting lonely call

Her heart pained for the buffalo babies
And her feelings she did convey
So Charlie went out and roped two for her
The ancestors of these today.

The rest of the herd was swallowed up
As if it had never been
As the canyon walls loomed in silence
And Mary Ann’s buffalo lived within.

Millions once roamed the canyons
But now there are only a few
But thanks to Mary Ann Goodnight
Hers are here for me and you.

Mural in downtown Alpine, TX 

This mama is letting her babies grow up to be cowboys!