Picacho Peak Park 2016-2017 was quite a year.  We were busy with the Park being full from Christmas forward, no matter the weather.  I guess the improved economy and major shifts in the RV community with more younger people becoming RVers brought them in record numbers.  The Newspaper speaks to one of numerous rescues required during the course of our stay there.

                                                                                      Just prior to our leaving Picacho Peak the Civil War Reenactment was done.  2017 proved to be the last one as the State of Arizona refused to host it any longer.  A very sad loss as local and away participants would come and live as soldiers from 1860's.  Their uniforms were very authentic down to the buttons and weave.  The cannons would echo off the Peak and it sounded like the real deal.

 Dale and Julie came and spent a few days with us.  It is always good to see them and they did come last year as well.  We are visiting the site where Tom Mix died.  So much history in Arizona.

 We had a sweet younger couple volunteer to work with the Park.  Briefly their history was they were in the Navy together and had been briefly married 20 years ago.  They divorced, lost contact with each other and then less than a year before their time at Picacho they ran across each other on Facebook.  They hooked up and fell back in love.  She sold her house, quit her teaching job and joined him on the road working as a volunteer.  They decided to marry at Picacho and it was a beautiful ceremony.  Our wedding gift to them was to work their shift the next day which ended up being the busiest day we had seen!

Our time at Picacho ended and Volunteers are honored for their service and hours.  Carolin, shown in the yellow shirt was the number 2 Ranger and has gone on to be number 1 due to the retirement of Rob.  In the second frame Bill and Michele are pictured.  They are Mainers and we did get to visit them in Maine this past year.  Our volunteer work at Picacho Peak was an awesome experience. It was fun working with new people, gathering around campfires and sharing the experience.  This is the good part of the RV experience.

We left Picacho Peak and headed West to the Colorado River.  It was here Grey Lady swam across the river, becoming a mere dot, and on into California.  We spent four days there and loved every minute of it.  The beach was open and the dogs were able to run freely on the beach.  After almost a half of a year of living in the desert a large body of water was just too tempting for Grey Lady!  Our travels took us North to Laughlin and Bullhead City where Jenny, my niece lives.  She was happy to see us and gotta say we had a great time.

Sadly leaving Laughlin and Jenny we went to Williams Arizona.  Williams is 6775 above sea level, or 1700 feet higher than Albuquerque and about 4000 feet higher than Tucson.  In early April it is cold and remained as such to these lowlanders.  We did hop a train to the Grand Canyon for the day and managed to be faux robbed along the way.  We chose first class for the morning and then went to tourist class for the return.  The monetary savings was excellent plus breakfast was provided and as you can see the views were awesome.

Returning home we were reunited with our toys and I built a fire in the backyard to celebrate coming home.  The dogs are so funny as when we first walk in the house they become very excited, running over to their beds and jumping around.  Sometimes the best part of leaving home is coming home I guess.

On a more serious note I rode up to Sipapu and looked over a fire that had burned down the cabin our group has stayed in for the past twenty or more years.  I guess some lady skier became so intoxicated she passed out setting the fire.  I spoke with the owner who was justifiably angry.  It has not been rebuilt and sadly I did not go this past year.

Carol got a car.  We found a little Chevy.  That little car is loaded with technology and even has a turbo.  It is a fun car to drive.

What can I say, hail!

Vietnam Memorial in Angel Fire NM

Getting ready for a ride on the Great Pumpkin

Kicking back in the backyard.

This item is a backpackers cot.  I had been sleeping on the pad, the orange mat pictured, for years.  Perhaps back to the 70's, I am not certain.  I went over to REI to explore sleep systems I could use for motorcycle camping when I go to rallies.  Enter the Helinox cot pictured below.  It works, no rocks, no holes, no lumps, just 4 inches off the ground and comfortable.

4th of July which Carol and I enjoy.  I even have my special 4th hat with faux hair.

Visiting Paonia Colorado for a motorcycle rally lends itself to the unexpected.  This aircraft was parked just off the street sans wings.  It is a curiosity that cannot be overlooked.

This puppy reflects big hearts.  We ride fast on the Grand Mesa having a ball doing what we do.  On the way back this pup popped out on the side of the road.  I stopped and Jim stopped with his car and we coaxed the little guy into his car.  We dropped his off at the local shelter and kept trying to reach the owner by the telephone number on one of his tags.  Jim got the person and the pup was returned to its home.  On the same ride a picture of Bob, Mark and Jim.  Jim drives his car at rallies but the rest of us motorcycle.

My mother fell about the time we returned to Rio Rancho and I assisted in getting her to the ER and later into Rehab.  That whole mess ended up in a very serious split in my family where we are no longer talking.  Prior to the split we were visiting mother in the hospital.  When we went to leave there was a puddle of water left by the janitor which Carol slipped on breaking her wrist.  It resulted in surgery and about a year of healing although she still has issues with it.