V4N5A

"Pot Pourri"

We've had a few items this year that were not lengthy enough for a whole story, so we'll cover them here in this column.

2 Weeks @ Catalina Spa

We decided to stay in Desert Hot Springs, CA at our homepark, for an extended stay this year giving us the opportunity to do some things we didn't have time for before. We went to the College of the Desert Street Fair in Palm Desert, and also the Palm Springs Street Fair in where else? Palm Springs. Although many of the vendors were the same, there were several which were unique and different. We did find an interesting item called Craisins. Dried Cranberries much in the same vein as Raisins/Grapes. We found them very good.

Brotherly Love

After having read the story about "The Beach Bums" 2 issues ago, my brother Ed from California thought we may have run out of money for our printer cartridges, and that was the reason the story was unfinished. He mailed us a dollar to put toward a new cartridge. While we appreciate the "buck," it was a computer glitch that caused the goof-up. I will, however, keep the dollar as a gesture of good will, so I won't insult him. Thanks Bro.

Pocketmail

Although Sharp has had some problems this year with the Pocketmail system, It has been an immense improvement checking e-mail. The "Laptop Shuffle" has pretty much been eliminated for this year, and generally speaking we have been able to check e-mail 3-4 times per day on some occasions. This has been very convenient depending on whether you need to send an immediate response.

Gas Prices

Needless to say the gas prices this year have been horrendous. The "OPEC roulette" we've been playing since last year is not winnable this year. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to the prices.

Compadres

Our traveling companions this year, Walt and Kathy Werden from Norway, MI have been a real joy and truly good sports. We have been everywhere together including a week in Mexico, without Visas. We worried for a week whether we would get caught or not. It would not have been a serious offense, but it would have cost us a 71 mile trip to the border to get them.

Champagne Anyone?

It became necessary for us to make a short (50 mile) trip to Marana from Casa Grande, AZ this month to toast Bob and Jayce's new motorhome. We arrived at 10am and had to get them out of bed. After kisses and hugs and some catch-up conversation, we went out to eat lunch at a fabulous Chinese Restaurant. After lunch we went back to their motorhome and sat through a hailstorm. Not surprising since the bad weather is something we've gotten used to this year. The Big surprise? Bob's old motorhome was nowhere in sight. We couldn't believe it, but I guess he really did trade it in.

Twenty-Nine Palms

29 Palms, CA is located north of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California. What sets 29 Palms apart from any of the other cities or towns that we've been in, are the murals which are painted on the sides of buildings. Artists from all over the country have been involved in the artwork depicted there. They range in size from 18' high to over 100' long. They are impressive, to say the least.

There are 16 completed murals that are viewable by driving around the town and locating them with the help of the Chamber of Commerce map. A couple of years ago when we were here the total was only 12, so they have been busy, with paint and brush, over the last couple of years.

My favorite of the 16, shows an artist, who has fallen asleep atop his scaffold, while painting a mural called "Valentine's Day." The mural is supposed to depict the cattle rustling days of a bygone era. Valentine the Bull stands below the scaffold amid the penciled drawing of the artist's incomplete mural. I had to look a couple of times before I realized the full impact of it's meaning.

While visiting this year, we spoke to the artist who was working on the 17th painting. Richard Wyatt from Los Angeles was up on his scaffold, in the shade of the building, thankful they hadn't chosen the other side on this 90+ degree day. The new mural was an awesome 20 X 101 feet of a sunrise coming up over the desert. This was the second mural done by Mister Wyatt.

Superstition Saloon

The saloon at Tortilla Flat, AZ is just 18 miles east of Apache Junction on the hilliest, curviest section of 25 MPH road you ever want to see. The scenery, however, is spectacular, especially with the desert blooming as it is, and the aerial views of Canyon Lake. Canyon Lake is some of the backwater from the Roosevelt Dam located just a few miles south of Tonto National Monument.

The saloon is aptly named as it nestles into a nook of the Superstition Mountains which tower over all the surrounding area. The Superstition Mountains are, of course, the location of "The Lost Dutchman" Gold Mine, which has never been found, even though there are people still looking, according to folklore. Upon arriving at the saloon, you find a ramshackle looking structure obviously on its last legs, with a matching gift shop, and a burned out Hotel. Inside the walls are covered in dollar bills. (estimated to be some 20,000+) The food is first rate. We had a variance of hamburgers, with yours truly's being "The Bull Rider." The service was excellent as the waitresses used a computerized ordering system.

As we exited the restaurant we came upon a giant of a man named Dave Murra. 7'2" and 300 Lbs, He was dressed in full western attire and yielding a 20' Bullwhip. When he cracked that baby, it sounded like a rifle shot.