It was a long summer

It was a brutal summer with fire ALL over the West, we decided to travel to Montana where a third of the state was on fire. Smart! AND we got caught-up in the eclipse frenzy. After leaving our friends in Capital Reef Utah,

we headed north and got swept along with thousands of "crazies" traveling to get into the best spot to see the eclipse. We finally found a place to park behind a casino north of Pocatello Idaho. We fell asleep to the rhythm of dings from the slot machines. The next day, we decided to hi-tail-it farther north as quick as our truck would take us before the crazies caught up to us. We landed in Three forks Montana, off the beaten path. We did see the eclipse in a small town of Virginia City Montana, while buying some wine.

We have a neighbor here in Arizona who has a place in Three Forks, so we went to visit with him in his "Solo Bar".

After a few relaxing days of exploring the area, we talked about retiring our 2006 F250 and buying a new one. But not now, we are on the road. Turning East, we hit the Lewis and Clark trail for some history and went to Little Big Horn for some more history, and finally out of the smoke from the fires.

The route turned South through Wyoming where we toured an old state prison and then back into Utah where trouble hit the truck. I yelled and screamed words I can not post, so that clenched it...WE ARE BUYING A NEW TRUCK, but when we get home. So now it's November and things got busy since the trip. BUT, I did buy a new truck two days ago... finally.

So things are beginning to slow down now at the "Hacienda Del Arroyo" (house next to the wash), and no more truck problems. But I do have another project in the shop, a 1978 El Camino SS. We'll see how this one turns out.

4th July at 8000 ft.

Over the 4th Of July weekend, our family along with another family with camping (RVing as you were) on John and Tina's property in Nutrioso in the White Mountains of eastern AZ. As many parts of AZ burned with wildland fires, the area was covered with a thin cast of smoke, but cleared when the wind picked up. No electricity, no water and no sewage there. Just what we had in our RVs, so you have to conserve. For a lady friend from NC, and raised in NYC who came with us, it was hard for her to understand why she could not show each day and why her hair dryer did not work.

Menus are a family affair, together, and kid activities are a must. Some of the kids are very inventive, or bored, so they chew a scary mask out of a tortilla. We went in the Springerville (20 miles away) to watch the 4th of July parade, and laugh at the water balloon fights between the crowd and parade entries, which was refreshing one a hot summer day. Later there was a rodeo and fireworks which was spectacular. I made a visit to the neighboring town of Eagar to visit some firefighter friends holding their annual pancake breakfast as a fund raiser for the volunteer department. It was a great weekend and we ALWAYS enjoy camping with the kids, small and large. We hope you also had a great weekend with your friends and family members. Take care and cherish these moments.

Emily's 10 year old trip

Nancy told the G-kids, "When you are 10 years old, I'll take you on a trip. A place or activity you want to go or do." Emily has wanted to see 'Winter" ( a dolphin with a prosthetic tail). There was a movie made about her. So, Emily turns 10 on the 6th of June and Nancy took her to Florida to see Winter and a few other places, like swimming with some dolphins.

This will be a trip Emily and Nancy remember ... forever.

Four decade trip

Every year, we always think of something special to do for our anniversary. Our daughter said we should go back to Vegas where we got married. We did not really want that so we thought and thought. We both want to see some of the old south, the plantations, the old cities in the original colonies. So-o-o-o, Charleston we we came. And while we are in Charleston, Savannah is only a couple hours drive.

Walking along the wind blown pier at sunset on our first night was fun. In the two days to follow, we visited Ft. Sumter (the beginning of the Civil War), a carriage ride along the old streets of Charleston,

walking along the moss draped treed streets looking at the old colonial homes,

and going to the American Lafrance Fire Museum. After a few days in Charleston, we drove a couple hours southwest to Savannah GA. where we were surprised to find out the hotel had upgraded us to a suite. WOW!Living room, dining area and bedroom with a bath, of course. The suite was sweet! Charleston and Savannah are port cities, but Savannah is a HUGE port city. Both are on the inter-coast waterways and very low country, as they say. Only inches above sea level. Again tree lined street with gorgeous colonial looking homes. Huge live oaks with branches that sweep over four lanes streets.

Every couple blocks, there is a park. Basements are at ground level due to the water table, and again more moss covered trees. A beautiful walk-able city. Of course I had to get my fill of seafood while we were there. I gained 5 lbs I think. We visited another Civil War fort (Ft. Pulaski), toured the childhood home of the lady who started the Girl Scouts, climbed a lighthouse, went to the beach and drove through a wildlife refuge.

Yep, alligators in the wild along with many, many species of birds, mountain lions and bobcats. I highly recommend, if you can, visiting Charleston and Savannah. The folks are friendly and helpful to tourists, the prices are reasonable but the mosquitoes are bad. It was a great trip and good way to celebrate our 40th anniversary. I can't believe she has put up with me that long. I guess it's love.

Let's get on with it.

Listen, the ugly election is finally over. No more annoying political phone calls at dinner time, and junk mail. No more hearing the candidates rip each other about their faults, or past events. IT'S OVER !!! You don't have to do your victory dance or cry about the election. Someone won and someone lost. Live with it. Make the best of the election and let's just go on with it. Whether your candidate won or lost, don't be a baby and push it into peoples' faces, or protest, or cry about it. If you voted, you are over 18 years old. and an adult. so act like one. You may be happy or sad about who was elected, or what proposition was passed or not, but voting is a privilege all citizens have. Not one group of people have the ultimate decision. JUST LIVE WITH IT. Now it the time we ALL have to pull together, shoulder to shoulder, and work to get our country back on top again. It was a rough 18 months and I hope we never see another election like this one again. After all, I believe we have the best country in the world, don't you?

Busy, busy, busy

Is it March already? WOW! Nancy and I have to schedule time together, it seems because of our commitments to other things, not to mention family functions. Nancy is hiking like crazy, about 200 miles a week, plus quilting, plus working for Tina's practice, plus watching the G-kids, plus helping her mother convert to non-driving and maybe moving to a care facility. Me? Well, since the Final Tribute Caisson has been finished, we have had five funerals and another today, looking for parts, working on cars and selling a couple, being more involved in the foundation business end, being sucked back into the fire department on committees and boards, and maybe watching some golf, after the Super Bowl.

Oh, then there are Guy's Night out and Girl's lunches and a basketball games here and there, G-kid's games, people visiting and showing them around Arizona. Did I mention occasionally I will sit down and watch some golf? We are suppose to be retired and relax in our GOLDEN YEARS. HA! HA! NO WAY! 70 is the new 50, at least that is what folks tell me. To all the folks we have not stayed in touch with, we're really sorry. Time has just gotten away from us. We do have a few trips planned. ARV trip to New Mexico to visit with some friends in the first part of April. We are flying to South Carolina at the end of April to celebrate our 40th anniversary. In June, Emily goes on her 10 year old trip with Nancy to Florida and in August a long RV trip into Canada and Baniff National Canadian park. There MAY BE a trip to Cincinnati somewhere in there. Who know. So that's why I have not posted anything for a while. Forgive me. Hope to see you all soon.

The year long Caisson Project is DONE!

As you may recall, while RVing through Washington State and Idaho last year, Nancy and I bought a 1978 American LaFrance fire truck. Who does that on their vacation? Some crazy firefighter no doubt. Well, we had it transported back to Phoenix, I sent a letter out to our retirees for volunteers to come help build it into a Caisson. Fast forward a year later, I got 10 to 12 amazing, enthusiastic retired firefighters to help, after a LOT of sanding, waiting on craftsmen to do work we could not do, pounding on doors (not really pounding) for donations, and donating the truck to a non-profit organization, we finally present the truck as finished. Last weekend we transported a New York FD retiree to his final resting place. Our first. The family was very thankful for our service, but it is OUR honor to pay a final tribute to any retired firefighter. I present to you, THE FINAL TRIBUTE CAISSON.