Where the Heart is

A 253-day adventure by Geezers in Paradise Read more

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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:29 AM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 3,579 ft
United States Hackberry 35.374478, -113.72256335°22’28” N 113°43’21” W
Hackberry General Store on Route 66
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
We stopped at the Hackberry general store on historic Route 66. Notice the Phillips 66 sign in one of the photos. Heather's dad worked for Phillips 66.
Did they have the old fashioned Coke with real sugar? Now I have a question for you two - a good friend has moved to Oly and is looking for an excellent massage therapist - have any ideas? Steph Eldringhoff
11/19/16Reply
Margaret NicholsI love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Of droughts and flooding rains. I love her far horizons, I love her jewel-sea, Her beauty and her terror The wide brown land for me! ...Dorothea MacKellar about Australia but equally about Arizona!
11/19/16Reply
TravelerStephanie, I'll email you.
11/19/16Reply
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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 11:43 AM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 4,268 ft
United States Truxton Spring 35.449366, -113.63469735°26’58” N 113°38’5” W
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Route 66 in the middle of nowhere
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Richard Clarke Beautiful!
11/20/16Reply
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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 12:28 PM
☀️ 59 °F
Altitude: 5,141 ft
United States Audley 35.415595, -113.03938635°24’56” N 113°2’22” W
Burma-Shave
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Boy, talk about a drive down memory lane. I wonder if anyone younger than Gordon and me remembers these Burma-Shave signs. They once peppered the country highways and byways, keeping families entertained on vacations and drivers awake.

If you don't know
Who's signs these are
You haven't driven
Very far
Burma-Shave

30 days
Hath September
April June
And the traffic offender
Burma-Shave

Don't lose your head
To save a minute
You need your head
Your brains are in it
Burma-ShaveRead more
Bonnie BenedictI remember!
11/19/16Reply
Traveler:)
11/19/16Reply
Karen AndersonAh... Burma Shave and the great outdoors. The signs have
11/20/16Reply
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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 2:55 PM
☀️ 68 °F
Altitude: 5,243 ft
United States Watson Lake Park 34.595242, -112.42323334°35’43” N 112°25’24” W
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Point of Rocks RV Park, Prescott AZ
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
And we mean ROCKS! We love this campground! Hot showers, too.
Richard Clarke You're seeing lots of rocks!
11/20/16Reply
Karen Anderson What a gorgeous spot. I bet it is spectacular at night under the stars!
11/20/16Reply
Traveler Not sure about the stars ... we've been sleeping too well. But we sure enjoyed climbing on the rocks today. Got a tremendous view in all directions.
11/20/16Reply
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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 5:09 PM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: 5,351 ft
United States Prescott 34.542061, -112.46985634°32’31” N 112°28’11” W
Dinner at the Prescott Brewing Co
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
I forgot to take the before picture. I will leave it to your imagination what the brats with garlic mash potatoes, apple sauce and house made chutney looked like before we descended like a plague of locusts on the plates. Oh yes, and the whole wheat beer bread. Oh so full. Can't walk. Must walk.

Fun note: our auto-correct tried to say we ate BRAINS. Perhaps it knows we binge watched the first season of Fear the Walking Dead the other day.Read more
Karen AndersonWow...Prescott has it all. Rocks, Brats, Beer, and Nomes!
11/20/16Reply
Travelerheh heh! You said it.
11/20/16Reply
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Day 23
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 6:37 PM
🌙 57 °F
Altitude: 5,243 ft
United States Watson Lake Park 34.595367, -112.42327934°35’43” N 112°25’24” W
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An evening stroll around the square
November 19, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 57 °F
Desiring to walk off our oversized repast, we took a stroll around Prescott's main square while the sun set. Lots of interesting shops, eateries and bars. Blingy cowboy boots that rivaled any I saw in Texas.

We broke our rule about not buying any Christmas things until after Thanksgiving when we passed a shop with some VERY cute Christmas gnomes. We decided to wander in just to look, knowing they were too big and would cost too much. Boy, six bucks for the cutest Christmas gnome that is about 4 inches high, and will absolutely 100% guaranteed not break rattling around a trailer. How could we resist? He is sitting in the microwave until the season breaks in a week.

The garrulous shop owner gave us her life history by way of explaining to us that we would absolutely LOVE Prescott if we decided to move here, and gave us her daughter-the-real-estate-agent's card.Read more
Annanaomi Sams I really like Prescott!
11/19/16Reply
Annanaomi SamsConsider visiting Superstition Meadery, just a couple of doors up the street from the PBC. Wonderful!
11/19/16Reply
Traveler One of these days I'm going to get to see a rodeo!
11/19/16Reply
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Day 24
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 4:02 PM
🌧 50 °F
Altitude: 5,243 ft
United States Watson Lake Park 34.595314, -112.42330234°35’43” N 112°25’24” W
Lazing under the rocks
November 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
Snug in our cozy trailer while rain patters on the roof. Plans of visiting the YMCA rapidly dwindling as happy hour approaches.
Karen AndersonYou geezers look so relaxed and happy! The colored lights are a festive touch. So much fun!
11/20/16Reply
Thanks for sharing your journey! Looks lovely! All the best this holiday season.
11/21/16Reply
Bonnie BenedictI vote for happy hour!
11/21/16Reply
TravelerYes yes ... a MOST happy hour!
11/21/16Reply
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Day 24
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 5:51 PM
🌧 45 °F
Altitude: 5,686 ft
United States Canyon Retreat Mobile Home Park 34.547806, -112.4081534°32’52” N 112°24’29” W
And soup for dinner
November 20, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Shrimp and corn chowder at the wildflower cafe. Sitting next to the fireplace. Perfect close to a rainy day.
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 11:07 AM
🌧 43 °F
Altitude: 5,135 ft
United States Willow Creek 34.601704, -112.44683434°36’6” N 112°26’49” W
Goodbye Prescott
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 43 °F
Oh my what storms we had. This morning we watched as the window got covered with hail. But we have a window of sun...enough to break camp and head out.
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 12:05 PM
🌧 48 °F
Altitude: 4,259 ft
United States Coughran Canyon 34.504211, -112.68738634°30’15” N 112°41’15” W
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Skull Valley AZ
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 48 °F
We went slightly out of our way so that we could go through Skull Valley because ... because ... SKULLS!

Actually, we did see a ghost. An old wizened women wearing a shapeless ankle-length shift, with long, tangled gray hair blowing in the wind. She gave no sign that she saw us there, just squinting into a distance we couldn't see. We were afraid to take her picture, and she probably would not have shown up anyway.Read more
Rosemary EngleThose are darn threatening clouds for sure. heh heh heh. a ghost eh?
11/21/16Reply
Majestic!
11/22/16Reply
"Skull Valley" sounds pretty spooky. Richard
11/22/16Reply
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 12:56 PM
☀️ 50 °F
Altitude: 4,478 ft
United States View Points 34.201997, -112.76547134°12’7” N 112°45’56” W
Leaving the high desert
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F
Rosemary EngleYou take such awesome pictures and will have to put them all in a book - or all these posted anyway.
11/21/16Reply
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 2:29 PM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: 2,001 ft
United States Turtleback Wash 33.951035, -112.70815333°57’4” N 112°42’29” W
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Horspitality Rv Park & Boarding Stable
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Wickernburg is a great little town, very Western in flavor, with absolutely enormous cacti everywhere. Gordon opines, the horses here sure look like bunnies.
What is this? Richard
11/23/16Reply
This one looks just like a bunny. Richard
11/23/16Reply
Traveler That's what GORDON thought ... THAT's not a horse!
11/25/16Reply
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 2:31 PM
☀️ 61 °F
Altitude: 2,182 ft
United States Casandro 33.963496, -112.75488733°57’49” N 112°45’18” W
Pie Cabinet & coffee shop
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Couldn't decide on where to eat lunch, so we skipped straight to pie

Heather had the Ruth Nicoll memorial sour cream raisin pie smothered with whipped cream. Gordon had a (relatively) healthful blueberries and cream. And we were shocked to find a place that made a pie crust as good as Gordon's.

We felt satisfied with our meal-planning for the day.Read more
Rosemary EngleOh my.... I am sold on anything with whipped cream! Ok now I have to go find some pie! That was pretty darn smart to just go for the pie - forget the main lunch. Gee you are going to hit the border soon!
11/21/16Reply
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Day 25
Monday, November 21, 2016 at 4:00 PM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: 2,047 ft
United States Wickenburg Railroad Station (Historical)33.968849, -112.73030133°58’8” N 112°43’49” W
Desert Caballeros Western Museum
November 21, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
This was an amazing little museum. A tremendous exhibit of saddles through the ages. A whole little townful of memorabilia from the Old West Wickenburg. And a fantastic collection of very high quality Western-themed paintings, drawings and sculptures, most by well-known artists. Of course Gordon's favorites were the rifle display and Heather playing like she was riding a buckin' bronco.Read more
It is not too late for that rodeo career. Steph
11/22/16Reply
Karen AndersonYee ha!
11/24/16Reply
TravelerYou SAID it! If laundry weren't such a hassle in the campgrounds, I'd start looking for some ACTUAL horses to ride.
11/25/16Reply
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Day 26
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 61 °F
Altitude: 1,693 ft
United States Burro Spring 33.837058, -112.31661533°50’13” N 112°18’60” W
Wickenburg to Sedona
November 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Saguaro heaven!
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Day 26
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 1:19 PM
☀️ 57 °F
Altitude: 4,193 ft
United States Mortgage Draw 34.853241, -111.76435134°51’12” N 111°45’52” W
The Sedona Vortex
November 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
No doubt you've heard of the Sedona vortexes (vortices? vorti?). How spiritual the place is, to say nothing of it's natural beauty. We were all set to really settle in for a few days and enjoy the place, visit the great restaurants, hike amongst the incredible red rocks, and spend a relaxing Thanksgiving.

Uncharacteristically for us, we did not think to reserve a spot at the campground for a holiday weekend. When we arrived, the campground was as promised ... absolutely beautiful, and walking distance to the shops and restaurants. And full. Full through Saturday.

Apparently the vortex does not like us. Sucked us in and spit us out. No other campground for miles, and those were a little more rustic than we were hoping for over the holiday. Just to find LUNCH we had to go pretty far afield since NO place in Sedona has pull-through parking that would accommodate our weensy, itsy bitsy trailer!

Sucked in and spit out. We took some (gorgeous if I say so) photos to prove we were here, grabbed a black bean omelet for lunch at the Red Rock Cafe in Oak Canyon (where there IS pull-through parking), and weighed our options. Our choices were constrained by a preference NOT to spend Thanksgiving where the nights are below freezing. Even though we are cozy in the geezer-mobile, we don't want to be confined to it.

The angels spoke. Head South young geezers, head SOUTH.Read more
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Day 26
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 at 5:13 PM
☀️ 66 °F
Altitude: 1,345 ft
United States Orangewood Village Mobilehome Park 33.659938, -112.12065233°39’36” N 112°7’14” W
Scottsdale AZ
November 22, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
It may be a parking lot, but it is warmer than the other places we thought to go.
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Day 27
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 11:22 AM
☀️ 66 °F
Altitude: 1,270 ft
United States Desert Botanical Gardens 33.462124, -111.94477133°27’44” N 111°56’41” W
Gertrudes at the Botanical Gardens
November 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
We had a bit of trouble getting started this morning. So as we started out, we decided that perhaps the best place to start our days exploring was someplace with food. So off we went to Gertrudes at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I very much enjoyed my $17 hamburger. Heather had a $16 chicken salad wrap that she swears had some cactus in it.

There was a cute quail hanging out around the tables waiting for some food. It tried to get a photo, but he never left the shadows and was invisible in the photos.Read more
Bonnie BenedictBrian and I went to the botanical gardens when we were there last December. Great isn't it?
11/23/16Reply
TravelerIt was SO great! We walked our legs off.
11/25/16Reply
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Day 27
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 4:14 PM
☀️ 73 °F
Altitude: 1,276 ft
United States Desert Botanical Gardens 33.462076, -111.9451133°27’43” N 111°56’42” W
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Desert Botanical Gardens
November 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F
After being fortified with lunch, we decided it was time to launch our trek through the desert full of cactus. There was an amazing number and variety of cactus as we wandered through the gardens. Fortunately, most of the cactus were labelled multiple times, so by the end of the walk we (and by we I mean Heather) were starting to become familiar with some of the cactus. There were a few cactus that we never did find out what they were, but we felt that we could leave something for next time.Read more
Karen AndersonGreat photos and beautful place to wander about and enjoy! Just WOW!
11/24/16Reply
TravelerCan you believe their gift shop didn't have a SINGLE book on cacti? We wanted to buy one to help cement our memories.
11/25/16Reply
Annanaomi Sams Beautiful!
11/25/16Reply
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Day 27
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 4:34 PM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 1,693 ft
United States Palm Springs 33.400711, -111.52958733°24’3” N 111°31’47” W
Apache Junction KOA
November 23, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
We opted to stay at the KOA in Apache Junction for Thanksgiving. I wanted to stay somewhere safe and familiar, so the KOA it was.
Karen AndersonHappy Thanksgiving Heather and Gordon. Your campsite next to the palm and tree looks so pleasant!
11/24/16Reply
TravelerThanks, Karen. Yes, it is shaded and private. We decided to stay an extra day. (Gordon's eyes lit up ... "We can do LAUNDRY!" he cried.
11/25/16Reply
Karen AndersonOh how the simple things in life can bring such joy!
11/26/16Reply
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Day 28
Thursday, November 24, 2016 at 12:11 PM
☀️ 72 °F
Altitude: 1,296 ft
United States Mesa Shadows Mobile Home Park 33.402274, -111.72207133°24’8” N 111°43’19” W
Eureka!
November 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
On the way to Whole Foods Mr sharp-eyes saw a sign for AJs, Purveyors of Fine Foods. We chanced a visit and were oh so happy we did! We got our Thanksgiving dinner, our artisan bread, and as you can see, DESSERT.Read more
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Day 28
Thursday, November 24, 2016 at 12:50 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 2,083 ft
United States Lost Dutchman State Park 33.460796, -111.47781133°27’39” N 111°28’40” W
Lost Dutchman State Park
November 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
Thought we should have a little walk before indulging in our special dinner, so we headed out to the Superstition Mountains not too far away from our campground. We of course took a wrong turn and are feeling VERY hungry right about now.Read more
Mark FoardHappy Thanksgiving 🇺🇸😀
11/24/16Reply
Karen AndersonBeautiful place and your photos are amazing.
11/25/16Reply
TravelerThanks Mark and Karen. An excellent Thanksgiving it was. (Actually, we were in Canada for your Thanksgiving as well!)
11/25/16Reply
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Day 28
Thursday, November 24, 2016 at 5:21 PM
🌙 70 °F
Altitude: 1,693 ft
United States Palm Springs 33.400727, -111.52953833°24’3” N 111°31’46” W
We are thankful
November 24, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 70 °F
Mark FoardBon Appetite!
11/24/16Reply
Bonnie BenedictYummy!
11/24/16Reply
TravelerIt WAS yummy! And so was the Key Lime Pie.
11/25/16Reply
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Day 29
Friday, November 25, 2016 at 5:29 PM
🌙 72 °F
Altitude: 1,693 ft
United States Palm Springs 33.400733, -111.52956233°24’3” N 111°31’46” W
Chrismas time is here
November 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 72 °F
This is our little gnome that we got in Prescott.
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Day 30
Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 10:35 AM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: 2,316 ft
United States Tom Mix Monument 32.821558, -111.20335132°49’18” N 111°12’12” W
Tom Mix, RIP
November 26, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
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