Since we are leaving tomorrow, today is the day we put things away that we will not require such as the extra chairs, Bar-B-Q and the second TV. For some reason the storage area seems to shrink after we take everything out but by packing and repacking the orginal space re-appears. Then the wind started to blow in gusts so that reminded me to roll up the awning before it ended up in some other State.
We then went to Safeway to pick up a few groceries so we wiould not have to shop on our trip north. Also, we have enough Safeway points to get 10 cents off per gal of diesel and I needed to fill up before leaving. Furthermore, Safeway fuel is the least expenive in this area. The down side is that I'm not the only one that knows that, hence the line up exceeded my patience level so i left. Since the Safeway fuel station is open 24 hrs I decided to return after the Seniors have gone to bed.
We had arranged to have supper with Bob and Karen since they too are heading back to Alberta on Saturday. After supper we returned to B and K's house for a desert and to watch the remaing period of hockey.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Friday, 30 March 2012
28 March Wedesday
Today is Farmers market day in Green Valley and of course this is a weekly event. However, farmers market is totally the wrong name for it... it is nothing more that a Flea market , albeit a dam good one. I'm sure there was at least 200 booths and we ( mostly Carroll ) checked our every item. I was surprised with some of the booths as one had danish bakery, another had special lasagne booth; there was a fruit and vegetable store on the same parking lot but that was all that was related to a Farmers market. I even talked to one guy who was selling a Catus tree called the Saguara... that is the huge one with several arms ( probably called branches but I have never herd anyone call them branches ). O K, so that took 2 hours out of our life. Then I went to the gas station to get the 30 lb ( 7 gal) propane bottle filled. I should have ask the price.. it was 4.75 a gal. In Apache Junction it was 3.00 a gal and i assume the price would have been close to that or I never would have filled the bottle.
Wed night is Potluck night and we always attend, if for know other reason to meet people. Carroll checked the list to see what was needed and determined it was potatoes so she did Scalloped potatoes.We did met some new ( to us ) folks but as usually they were friendly and informative.
Wed night is Potluck night and we always attend, if for know other reason to meet people. Carroll checked the list to see what was needed and determined it was potatoes so she did Scalloped potatoes.We did met some new ( to us ) folks but as usually they were friendly and informative.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
27 March Copper Mine Tour
The temperature at 6 AM was 7 C. Did i mention that we are in Arizona. By 8 AM the dress is Short and Tee shirt so ir warms up quickly. Today and every Tuesday morning is "Sticky Buns " for breakfast at a cost of $2.00. Forget the diet; these are a must buy. However, as i said last week, why some people get up early to bake these Buns and have them ready by 8 AM is beyond me.
In the afternoon we decided to visit the ARSCA, which is a working Copper Mine, and took the 1 1/2 hour tour. The tour guide was a retired miner so you know we got more information then we could ever remember. But he was great. After the intro, we loaded on a Bus and went to the Open Pit Mine where they were working, loading the trucks. Then we went into the operation building to see how they separate the Copper from the Ore. I was amazed at the size of the Trucks as they carried 320 ton of material from the Pit to the crusher. The loading shovel is run by Electricity and it drags a huge cable around as it loads the Truck. this certainly amazed me. Also interesting is that they have enough Silver in the ore, which they separate out and they get enough money from the silver to pay the "huge " power bill. Copper is marketed at 3.80 a lb and this mine can produce copper for 1.75 a lb so there is good money in copper. This is a Mexican owned and operated company.
After the tour we returned home and since it was extremely hot by now we took in the pool to get some pool time and catch some rays.
I spent the evening watch 3 hockey game.
Did you hear about the little boy in Toronto who was always being beaten by his family so he took them to court. The judge said he could select someone else to raise him and he chose the Toronto Maple leafs. He said he would be safe there because the don't beat anyone.
In the afternoon we decided to visit the ARSCA, which is a working Copper Mine, and took the 1 1/2 hour tour. The tour guide was a retired miner so you know we got more information then we could ever remember. But he was great. After the intro, we loaded on a Bus and went to the Open Pit Mine where they were working, loading the trucks. Then we went into the operation building to see how they separate the Copper from the Ore. I was amazed at the size of the Trucks as they carried 320 ton of material from the Pit to the crusher. The loading shovel is run by Electricity and it drags a huge cable around as it loads the Truck. this certainly amazed me. Also interesting is that they have enough Silver in the ore, which they separate out and they get enough money from the silver to pay the "huge " power bill. Copper is marketed at 3.80 a lb and this mine can produce copper for 1.75 a lb so there is good money in copper. This is a Mexican owned and operated company.
After the tour we returned home and since it was extremely hot by now we took in the pool to get some pool time and catch some rays.
I spent the evening watch 3 hockey game.
Did you hear about the little boy in Toronto who was always being beaten by his family so he took them to court. The judge said he could select someone else to raise him and he chose the Toronto Maple leafs. He said he would be safe there because the don't beat anyone.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
26 MARCH Momday Titan II Missile Museum
Today we visited the Titan II missile site which is now a Museum. This is the only Titan II missile left over from the Cold War. Please bear with me while i provide a little history so hopefully the Titan II makes some sense.
After WWII the Americans and the Russians did not trust each other and each assumed, with reason , that each would try to "wipe out" the other. The USA was sure that Russia was building a hydrogen Bomb and had the rocket Engineering knowledge and ability to deliver it anywhere in North American they chose. So the USA had to built a missile that could annilate any city in Russia by traveling 6000 miles with a Warhead. Hence the game of who had the "biggest and best toy" would win. Therefore the USA built 54 Titan II missiles and installed in several location around the USA.
You probably remember the Cuba Crisis, around July in 1962 ( I join the Air Force in 1962 )when the USA determined that Kurschev had installed missiles in Cuba and Kenndy gave him 48 hours to dismantle the Missle or USA would attack.
Finally, after years of a " Cold War" between Russia and the USA , they agreed,in 1987 that this was no way to fight a war so they both agreed to destroy all Missiles including the Titan II Missile sites which they did. However, the USA was allowed to keep this one for a Museum and of course it does not have a " War Head ". These Missile sites were built in 36 Months and took 5000 men working 24 hours. They were allowed to stand down for Christmas day the 1st year but not the 2 nd year. This was an obvious race to get them built first. The Titan II warhead was 10 Megatons or put another way was 100 times more destructive then the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
All that to say, that we toured the Misslie site,including the Silo which hid the Rocket and the Command launch Centre. The missle was completely underground and would have been launched in situ ( meaning it was not raised above ground ). The Command Centre ( also underground )was only 50 feet away but it would not feel any vibrations when the rocket was fired. The construction was unbelievable. This was one of the best tours we have been on and the cost of 8.50 was cheap.
After the Titan II tour we drove to Campers World in Tucson to get a trailer Brake actuator that appiles the the electric brakes on the traler when I apply the truck brakes. The one we had was getting too hard to adjust so after 13 years we figured it probably did not owe us anything.
After supper we dropped in on Karen and Bob to see if they required us to take anything home for them as they mentioned they could be overloaded. So far, they think they can get it all in the car but will check with us on Thursday.
After WWII the Americans and the Russians did not trust each other and each assumed, with reason , that each would try to "wipe out" the other. The USA was sure that Russia was building a hydrogen Bomb and had the rocket Engineering knowledge and ability to deliver it anywhere in North American they chose. So the USA had to built a missile that could annilate any city in Russia by traveling 6000 miles with a Warhead. Hence the game of who had the "biggest and best toy" would win. Therefore the USA built 54 Titan II missiles and installed in several location around the USA.
You probably remember the Cuba Crisis, around July in 1962 ( I join the Air Force in 1962 )when the USA determined that Kurschev had installed missiles in Cuba and Kenndy gave him 48 hours to dismantle the Missle or USA would attack.
Finally, after years of a " Cold War" between Russia and the USA , they agreed,in 1987 that this was no way to fight a war so they both agreed to destroy all Missiles including the Titan II Missile sites which they did. However, the USA was allowed to keep this one for a Museum and of course it does not have a " War Head ". These Missile sites were built in 36 Months and took 5000 men working 24 hours. They were allowed to stand down for Christmas day the 1st year but not the 2 nd year. This was an obvious race to get them built first. The Titan II warhead was 10 Megatons or put another way was 100 times more destructive then the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.
All that to say, that we toured the Misslie site,including the Silo which hid the Rocket and the Command launch Centre. The missle was completely underground and would have been launched in situ ( meaning it was not raised above ground ). The Command Centre ( also underground )was only 50 feet away but it would not feel any vibrations when the rocket was fired. The construction was unbelievable. This was one of the best tours we have been on and the cost of 8.50 was cheap.
After the Titan II tour we drove to Campers World in Tucson to get a trailer Brake actuator that appiles the the electric brakes on the traler when I apply the truck brakes. The one we had was getting too hard to adjust so after 13 years we figured it probably did not owe us anything.
After supper we dropped in on Karen and Bob to see if they required us to take anything home for them as they mentioned they could be overloaded. So far, they think they can get it all in the car but will check with us on Thursday.
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
25 MARCH Sunday
Today we arranged to have Breakkfast with our friends ( Bob and Karen ) from Med Hat and another couple from Med Hat dropped in so the 6 of us spent about an hour and a half swapping stories while having breakfast. We are all leaving for home this week so they other two couples were talking about having enough room in their car for all their "stuff " and that it would take a few days to get organizedand packed. Then Bob ask me how long it took us to " Pack Up" and I said about 20 minutes; just a few min to close the slides and about 15 mins to hook up. He just shook his head.
After breakfast we decided to tour a small tourist town of Tubuc, about 20 miles away. This town is an Artsy/ Fartsy town with many many store selling Mexican pottery, real expensive pottery, high end Quilts ( I call $1500.00 Quilts as high end ) very expensive but hand made ladies clothes, Jewelry , Art and most anything else a tourist with money could want.
After 2 hours of looking at things we could never afford we decide to take a 2 hour Scenic drive thru the Desert and Mountains. Believe it or not the desert, althought seeming ugly, is actually very Scenic with many different specis of catus which are in various stages of flowering.
After a while we came upon a Border patrol check point which did not surprise me as we were very close to MX. With my " CANADA " licence plate on the front, they just waved me thru. Then I noticed we were actually going north and I knew we would have to find a road going west to get back home. So I told the " navagater" to plug in the GPS and get me heading towards home. She typed in " Diamond Desert Casino" which is 5 miles from home and apparently they were the only words she could spell. I guess "Green Valley Resort" was too hard to spell. Long story , short; we dropped into the casino long enough for Carroll to drop $20.00 and then we dropped another 20.00 for the Buffett supper.
We arrived home just in time to see the last end of the World Curling and we were happy that Switzerland won. It was now time to hit the Hot tub and swap stories with whoever else was soaking their old muscles. Amazing to us is that not many seniors use the Hot tub at night.
After breakfast we decided to tour a small tourist town of Tubuc, about 20 miles away. This town is an Artsy/ Fartsy town with many many store selling Mexican pottery, real expensive pottery, high end Quilts ( I call $1500.00 Quilts as high end ) very expensive but hand made ladies clothes, Jewelry , Art and most anything else a tourist with money could want.
After 2 hours of looking at things we could never afford we decide to take a 2 hour Scenic drive thru the Desert and Mountains. Believe it or not the desert, althought seeming ugly, is actually very Scenic with many different specis of catus which are in various stages of flowering.
After a while we came upon a Border patrol check point which did not surprise me as we were very close to MX. With my " CANADA " licence plate on the front, they just waved me thru. Then I noticed we were actually going north and I knew we would have to find a road going west to get back home. So I told the " navagater" to plug in the GPS and get me heading towards home. She typed in " Diamond Desert Casino" which is 5 miles from home and apparently they were the only words she could spell. I guess "Green Valley Resort" was too hard to spell. Long story , short; we dropped into the casino long enough for Carroll to drop $20.00 and then we dropped another 20.00 for the Buffett supper.
We arrived home just in time to see the last end of the World Curling and we were happy that Switzerland won. It was now time to hit the Hot tub and swap stories with whoever else was soaking their old muscles. Amazing to us is that not many seniors use the Hot tub at night.
24 MARCH
Today was a beautiful, sunny day ; just the type of day to laze around the pool and catch some rays which has been sparse this year. But first we had to watch the curling, especially Team Canada , in hopes that they could at least win the Bronze. After Team Canada lost to the Koreans in the playoff, we decide to "drown " our disappointment by going to the he Pool. Obvious, the Americans in the pool don't know or care about curling so we did not have to discuss the game.
Tonight was also Kareoke Night for those "Wanna Be " singer or should I say that "time has pass them by". We invited our friends, Bob and Karen over to the Kareoke and it was not too bad. It was a two beer Performance and it did help to kill an hour and a half. One lady was an excellent singer ( An American ) who sang the first half of the song in French and the last part in English without the monitor so it was not her first time signing that song. I would suggest that Elvis keep his day job for awhile yet.ha ha
About the only thing I can say is that we killed another day.
Tonight was also Kareoke Night for those "Wanna Be " singer or should I say that "time has pass them by". We invited our friends, Bob and Karen over to the Kareoke and it was not too bad. It was a two beer Performance and it did help to kill an hour and a half. One lady was an excellent singer ( An American ) who sang the first half of the song in French and the last part in English without the monitor so it was not her first time signing that song. I would suggest that Elvis keep his day job for awhile yet.ha ha
About the only thing I can say is that we killed another day.
Sunday, 25 March 2012
23 MAR
This RV park has a Computer club, so to speak but it is mostly a small group who meet to help us "computer Illiterate" people to solve our problem . I went to the meeting to get help to "organize " the thousands of pictures I took while in ZA. There were 3 guys at the meeting that were very knowledgable and one other lady who had a question about her pictures. Her problem was solved quite quickly so she left and now the 3 guys all wanted to help me.
I have my pics on two programs: " My Pictures" and on "Picasa". What I ask of them was to show me how to pick out about 100 pics from the 1000 or so I had in " My Pitures " progam and put them in a folder so I could tranfer them to a disk. Then i wanted to know how to do the same with the 1000 pics i have in "Picasa". So one guy worked with me on "My Pictures ". He was very methodical and had me practice and then make some notes which I truly required. The other two guys worked on the Picasa program and in all fairness, they do not use Picasa so they had to "Hunt " for the easiest method so they could simplify it for me. These guys were great and I'm sure they love the challange. I was invited to return next Friday but we are leaving so I hope they can find another challange.
Tonight was a windup night as people are starting to head home so the had a "Talent Night" better known as "No talent" but it was a fun evening to see people had the nerve to get on the stage and perform. We were a little late and when we got there the place was full and all the chairs were taken so I had to go to the RV and get our own chairs. It just proves that Seniors will attend anything that's Free.
I have my pics on two programs: " My Pictures" and on "Picasa". What I ask of them was to show me how to pick out about 100 pics from the 1000 or so I had in " My Pitures " progam and put them in a folder so I could tranfer them to a disk. Then i wanted to know how to do the same with the 1000 pics i have in "Picasa". So one guy worked with me on "My Pictures ". He was very methodical and had me practice and then make some notes which I truly required. The other two guys worked on the Picasa program and in all fairness, they do not use Picasa so they had to "Hunt " for the easiest method so they could simplify it for me. These guys were great and I'm sure they love the challange. I was invited to return next Friday but we are leaving so I hope they can find another challange.
Tonight was a windup night as people are starting to head home so the had a "Talent Night" better known as "No talent" but it was a fun evening to see people had the nerve to get on the stage and perform. We were a little late and when we got there the place was full and all the chairs were taken so I had to go to the RV and get our own chairs. It just proves that Seniors will attend anything that's Free.
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