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| View from our patio. |
We moved our party in May to our new place in Arizona. Now that we've spent almost all summer here, we're not quite sure what the big deal about the
HEAT 😈 is! Sure it's gotten pretty toasty here a few times, but when it's
really hot it's also
really dry. The only time it feels a bit uncomfortable is when you're out in the direct sun. Tucson is also not usually as warm as a hundred miles up the road in Phoenix. It's on average five or ten degrees different. In fact, as I'm writing this the monsoon has kicked in again, and it's raining and 88 degrees. Well, anyway, now we're looking forward to the fall this year and the mild, resorty winter weather that this place is famous for. We've spent the better part of the past three months reestablishing ourselves with new doctors, hair cutters ( M A is very happy since she found a great solon for herself right out of the box!), trying new eating places (this town is a hidden gem for foodies!), and just getting more familiar with the surroundings. The coach is stored almost right across the street from our new apartment so I have been enjoying having a great spot to keep it maintained. Speaking of it, we have had some time to get more familiar with certain areas of this beautiful state that we knew little or nothing of before. In July, we headed north from here, through the amazing Salt River Canyon. Imagine driving a 38 foot RV down one side and up the other (
almost) of The Grand Canyon! It was quite an experience.
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| The Salt River Canyon |
We headed up to Show Low, a summer and winter getaway for those who know and want a change of weather in both seasons. It's much higher elevation so much cooler in summer and good sking in winter.
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| The original Fort Apache, near Show Low |
We took the coach from there further up to I 40 and back over to Flagstaff for a quick drive by, then back down I 17 through Phoenix and back to Tucson. In the beginning of August we headed a different direction to Southeast Arizona and the Sierra Vista area. This includes some pretty well known places like Tombstone and the quaint little mountain mining town, Bisbee. We've been to those locales on previous trips, so this time we headed to the pretty Three Canyons area near Sierra Vista for a little cool and shady hiking. Ramsey Canyon gave us just what we were seeking, a long winding hike along a hard running stream.
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| Ramsey Canyon waterfall |
We both almost thought we'd gotten lost and ended up somewhere in North Carolina, near The Blue Ridge Parkway! Now that we're back home until our next big trip in the fall, we'll have to settle for hiking on our bike/walking trail right behind our place or at The Catalina State Park, right across the street. Food! I could write volumes already about the food scene here (and I probably will), but so far, a few places in a couple of catagories are really high on the list. The first has got to be my new number
ONE burger...anywhere! Truland (and it's fast casual sibling, Graze). These guys know burgers. From the bun to the grass fed (or slightly less expensive, basic organic) beef, to the whole perfect salty, cheesy, and organic condiment topped conglomeration,
this is my new burger to hold to all burger standards! Even their fries and sweet potato tots are amazing. A photo just wouldn't do it justice.
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| Truland in Oro Valley |
Two other faves are Prep and Pastry and Welcome Diner, another
way better than average local kitchen. We'll be updating lots more Tucson eating places here as time goes on, but since we do like to cook and eat in, it may take a while longer because there is...Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and Frys (Kroger), all within about five or six minutes from our door! The next update will most likely be the fall roll out from here...West!
