Leaving Parker

As we leave Arizona, I want to share with you a few special pictures that I've taken the last few days.

We have seen much beauty in the desert this winter and spring, but nothing is more beautiful than to see Old Glory flying high in the sky. 

May she ever wave freely.

God bless America

Wednesday in the Parker Area

The view of the Colorado River from our site. Our first adventure this morning took place on Parker Dam Road.  The following pictures were taken from the California side of the Colorado River.

Parker Dam, the deepest dam in the world, from the California side of the Colorado River.... ... from the Arizona side.  No one is allowed to walk or stop on the dam.  There was a security guard present.  The dam is also closed to tourist from 11:00 PM - 5:00 AM. It's a wildflower weed, but it's still pretty. We pulled into the Buckskin Mountain State Park found they had a nice cactus garden.  I said nice, not awesome... nothing was blooming.  This is an Ironwood tree. I like the way they identify the plants. The views of the river are so relaxing.If we could have gotten this man's attention, we'd have given him $20 for a ride!"Anybody home?"My man loves the water... have I said that already?  I know we will be going down the highway most of tomorrow, but I pray you have a wonderful birthday.Ok, so we've just had a too relaxing of a morning... time to shake things up!  This is Cienega Springs Road and we are driving the five miles through the Buckskin Mountains to Nellie E Saloon, which is closed except on the weekend. This drive reminded us of our trek through the Aqua Fria and the Tonto National Park last March which took five and one-half hours to go 54 miles.  This five miles took forty minutes. Don was told by several people that we just had to see this place, even if we couldn't get in.  The lady in the office here at the park where we're staying said that the owner, Ken, started this business accidentally over thirty years ago when he took a cooler of beer up in the mountains while four-wheeling and other four-wheelers started buying cold beer from him.  (excuse the reflection of Clifford sleeping on the dash) This is the owner's home and the saloon is behind.  Check out the pictures on their website. Also, read about this chapel that he built.  Notice the old rusty Model A to the left of the chapel. This is as close as we could get to take pictures.  Both entrances were closed. Well, now, we started back to Highway 95 and I kept looking behind us to see if we were being chased.  We made it out of there in twelve minutes!We met one car the entire trip...  I think she lives in the big house. Deciding we had been jostled around enough, we came back to the Quantum for a sandwich and a nap.

For dinner, we went down the street to the El Serape Restaurant. It was pretty good.  When we got back to the Quantum, we walked down to the river to watch the sunset. And my favorite.  I didn't even realize the cranes were flying!

We are so blessed.

Awesome Day

It's 12:50 AM, Wednesday.  I just finished filing the pictures I took today and I'm in great need of sleep, but.... I just have to post a few pictures.  I will be back and update this post, so come back soon.

In the meantime...

Oatman to Kingman... thank you very much, Mike Moore. We are so blessed. 

On the road again (so original)

I woke up this morning around 6:40, stretched and said, "Good morning, Lord.  I love you. Thank you for dying on the cross for me.  Thank you. Father."  Immediately a dove cooed a couple of times.  The smile in my heart made it's way to my lips.

Add to that the blessing of two new Saguaro blooms this morning. (close-up of Saguaro bloom for Margie) Add to that the blessing of having Toma and Jim as neighbors.  Sweet Jim took our picture.  Toma is so tall!NOT! We sure are going to miss Toma & Jim  and her flowers. Toma's oleander hedgeOleander in the Arizona morning sun.Snap Dragons. So now we are on the road again, headed for Parker, AZ.  Construction on Hwy. 85 from Gila Bend to Buckeye. Sure needs work, very rough.  (lots of variety in THIS post)

The Saguaro in the desert are blooming, lots.

12:00 noon, stopped for a sandwich.

Prisons on the left and right of the highway, acres and acres of prisons.

Big landfill on the right.

Huge nursery on the left.  May be part of the prison.

Going.down.the.road...

Passing Buckeye, AZ. "Hi, Jody!!" (We've been online friends about 12 years.)

Nice traveling day. Overcast. Slight breeze, but not too bad.

Mmmm, guess the wind is blowing harder than I thought.

I know this is all terribly interesting to you.  I'm just entertaining myself.  I wonder what this is?

I didn't venture into this area of the Rest Area. The sign kind of scared me. "Poisonous snakes and insects inhabit this area."

Talked to Kathy and Tom Burge, friends we met in Coffeyville.  They are in the Black Hills of SD for the summer.  Got ten inches of snow Saturday and they lost electric power, but everything is good now. Great couple.

Talked to Leslie. She has an interview at a new bank in Round Rock at 3:00 PM today. Also, there's a family interested in leasing their Waco house for a year with an option to buy after 12 months.

LaNae is taking her nursing school entrance exam today.

BTW, have you clicked on the Blogger's Choice widget at the top to vote for my blog?  Thank you!

This can't be good. (pardon the bugs on the windshield) Destination, Parker, AZ, in view.  3:00 PM. We are parked 50 yards from water!!! My wonderful hubby is oh.so.very.happy. Local fowl. We ate in tonight.  (not duck... chicken) Just relaxing and being very grateful to have arrived safely. 

We are so blessed.