Wintering in Summer

My first winter in Arizona was everything I expected it to be. Day after day of sunshine and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s was, for this Washington girl, a satisfying series of opportunities to play outside.


Hiking in December

Valley of the Sun offers some great hikes, both on established, well-marked trail systems and off into the wild desert hills. A group of neighbors has become The Hiking Buddies - two new neighbors visiting from Michigan and one fulltimer (that is what we call people who do not go home in the summer).


On the far side of South Mountain is this hike. It was a tough go in places, and finding a paved road at the summit seemed darned unfair. No one should get this view without earning it!

To get to South Mountain you drive through Ahwatukee, an upscale neighborhood. Proof is this modest home with what I figured to be at least $100,000 in landscaping.
Here is a look at the trail from the air.

The Estrella Sierras is a striking feature laying NE to SW along the southwestern side of the valley in Goodyear. This is a view from my hangar – very inspiring.

The park here offers several hikes. The hiking buddies decided to do the Rainbow trail. Marked as moderate and 4 miles. Moderate! In who’s world? Certainly not ours. Narrow, steep, lots of rocks, and drop offs that made for nervous going. At one point while pausing to catch breath at the top of a particularly tough climb, I asked “which way does the trail go?”.
“There.” Pointed Sharon.
There was one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen – nearly straight down.
“Oh no. No way. I’m NOT going down that.” But I did. It was the only way, and retracing our steps back would have been bad. I used this method most of the way down.

At least I could see that the trail leveled out at the bottom, so hell only lasted about 3 hours. Well, it did seem that long. After the fact, all three of us were justifiably pleased with our accomplishment but vowed “never again.”

Ajo is a place I have visited several times. No established trails, just dirt roads in varying conditions that often come to sudden ends. You can park, play and even camp as long as you like. No amenities at all – its wild desert and I love its serenity and plant life.

The White Tanks lay on the northwest side of the valley and run in the same direction as the Estrella’s. Lots of peaks, folds, and ridges offer plenty of opportunity to enjoy wild. With the Hiking Buddies I tried one of the few established trails. Easy and a reward of petro glyphs at the end.

A word about rocks.
Rocks are popular in landscaping here and are sold by the pound. I collect my own, and now have neighbors joining in the pursuit of what we term “Wild Rocks”. I’ve gathered large piles from hikes, drives and yes, even flights. If I can get it in the plane, Path can fly it home!
The reason I bring up rocks as a part of this hiking story, is that hikes pass trillions of wild rocks, and as we start the vow is “no more rocks.” But then one of us sees a really good one, and there we go. Our hikes become major workouts as we carry as much as we can hold.

Looking forward already to next winter and new hikes.

Walking on a History Book

Virginia. The beginning of The United States of America.

Colonial Williamsburg

This part is all modern construction, done to feel old. The shops are very upscale, full of lovely expensive things to admire.

The other part of Williamsburg is the original town with impeccably maintained or restored buildings that for a fee you can tour. I opted out as the buildings are difficult to enter with twins in a huge stroller who might at any moment need feeding or changing. Viewing the outsides was enough. These are typical home of the time, complete with residents.

Gossip over the Fence.

Here is the Governor’s Palace. (Not my term. The people of Williamsburg actually named it thus.)

In this shop I met Benjamin Franklin. This gentleman played the part perfectly in both looks and speech. He spoke thus. “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” I cannot disagree with this and find it interesting that it remains true.

Seeing these gardens, I wondered if they really looked this good in colonial times, but enjoyed their beauty regardless.

Pouring rain caused us to take refuge in this church.



Jamestown

This is a place that I had looked forward to visiting since reading of it as a child. Imagine trying to survive along the coast with wind, rain, swamp and cold. Working to clear land, build dwellings, find food. The Indians were not the smiling folks bearing food to the first Thanksgiving that we always see depicted. A lot of settlers met their end via arrows and hatchets as the Indians were not pleased to have these strange people invade their home.

A tour guide provided us with shocking and humorous insights into the life of a settler.

He told of how John Smith was actually put in irons on the voyage over, as he had angered so many. He also described how Pocahontas would actually have been dressed in a simple skirt of bark and furs and nothing else.

These are digs recently opened and interesting things are being found. A new museum opened and offers insights into colony life, with one of the finest displays I've seen.

This burial site is also a recent find, and the actual skeleton of one young man is on display in the museum. Forensic scientists determined he died of a musket ball to the leg. I didn’t take a picture as it seemed inappropriate for a reason I couldn’t quite name, since I firmly believe that our bodies are simply vessels we leave behind.


These are original discovered and dug out walls and/or foundations. I was surprised at the small size of these homes - most of which were about the size of modern day living rooms! These people understood the need to live simply.

As I departed Williamsburg airport, heading for Kentucky I took a last look at history.

Monumental

With my fellow-pilot friend Judy visiting from wet and gloomy Washington, it was imperative that I show her Arizona at its sunny February best.

We lifted off from Goodyear (GYR) at 8:00 am into sunshine and blue, blue skies. Perfect weather for flying. Payson (PAN) is located 45 minutes NE at the base of the Mogollon Rim, so we are climbing out of desert environment into Pine forests and – surprise – Snow!

We enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the Crosswinds Restaurant which included orange cranberry as a bread selection. Advertised as, “Home of the Million Dollar View”, both view and food were NOT overstated.

After a quick fuel stop at Show Low (SOW) for $4.95 per gallon AV Gas (yes, this is a very cheap price, these days). Tanks full to the brim, we turned direct north to Kayenta (047) in the Navaho Nation.

We talked to a pilot of a medical service King Air waiting for his passenger. I asked for a look inside.

Now it was time to reach our main goal for the day – Monument Valley.


From here all I can do is put up the photos and hope to give you just a hint of the feelings of elation we experienced flying among these icons of nature and Hollywood.

Approaching
Getting closer
Going Through

Elation!

Coming down from an adrenaline high, our route led us back south, this time to Winslow (INW). Lunchtime found us here enjoying blue corn enchiladas with green chili sauce. Hmmm. Then the long-awaited flight over the crater SW of Winslow. You might remember seeing it in the Film “Starman.” Another great photo op, not missed.

Total trip: 8:00 am to touchdown back home at 6:10 pm. Time in the air 7.3 hours
Goal achieved. Arizona (and a bit of southern Utah) showed at their best.
Downwind at Goodyear, lit by sunset.

Took a Vacation

Since retirement in early June I’ve been busy as a bee. Flitting here and there, intent on storing experiences; traveling, seeing, doing. Arrived at my AZ home just after Thanksgiving and since then have been doing, by my point of view, nothing. Okay. I’ve done that now and don’t have to do it anymore. Vacation over. Task one is to relate some tales of the places I’ve enjoyed.

Slab City – In Liberty.

I’d been hearing about this unique place, so placed it high on my list of places to go. You know you’ve arrived there when you see Salvation Mountain. Some of this is an adobe-like mixture of dirt and straw, but much of it is simply paint on compacted earth. I didn’t meet the artist, as people this dedicated to religion make me uncomfortable, but I understand that his work continues.

I’ve been trying to think how to describe Slab City. Freedom is the word that keeps coming to mind. Pull in and park where you like – its free. The year-round residents live as they wish, in whatever style of home they can manage. They are free to be what they will.

Winter visitors migrate here for fresh air, sunshine, inspiring sunrises and sunsets. Several traveling groups have established permanent presences here with club houses and meeting areas. I was invited to join one for their happy hour, a group called the Travel n Pals. Some in that group indicated they’ve been wintering here for 20 years!

Slab City offers some of the amenities of a city. On Saturday nights, at sunset The Range offers live music, welcoming anyone to sing or play. Sound system and lighting provided by Solar.

There is a library, internet café, and radio station. Art in many forms, is everywhere.

Before you visit, be aware that freedom has a price. Some of the people who choose to live here, may not fit your idea of ideal neighbors. There is a lot of trash around, which while considered property to some, would to many be unsightly garbage.

Go to Slab City with an open, non-judgmental mind. If you do, you will be welcomed openly and warmly, as I was.

Living here is free.

Real World Friends

While on I my recent trip, which I’ve dubbed “Goin East” I had an opportunity to meet a woman I’d gotten to know quite well, by following her blog. She told not of travels, but of her life. I cried with her, and celebrated, and learned from her comments on life. She started her blog as an outlet for her need to write, and write she does. Her posts are warm, funny, and powerful. How could I not stop and visit in person, especially when she extended an invite?

Not being the first person, I’d gotten to know online, I was comfortable with and looking forward to our visit. Not disappointed. She invited me into her home, introduced her husband and dog. A husband who trusts his wife’s instincts enough to welcome a stranger into his home, is quite a guy. He also makes a mean breakfast, and provided boots to take me exploring the Mississippi river behind their home.

My hostess (You’ll notice that I’m not mentioning any names, or places as this lady needs to keep her privacy.) took time out of her busy schedule to take me on a driving and walking tour of the big city near her home. I marveled at art in the public parks..



and grand homes in the historical district.

But as much as I enjoyed and appreciated all I saw, my fondest memory of the stopover is an unexpectedly warm, soft moonlit evening when we all sat on the front porch and talked.

We’ve all read the horror stories about people using the internet to do mischief. So I feel the need to mention that being careful is important, but don’t let fear stop you from reaching out to others. Maybe all you’ll do is become email buddies, but maybe you’ll be as lucky as I have, and make new friends that you can meet in the real world.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your life, my new friends.

Another 15 Minutes.

While visiting with Joyce in Indiana, a local reporter came out to interview us.

Lydia Beers was a delightful young woman just starting her career who showed a lot of interest in flying and asked good questions. Joyce and I enthusiastically introduced her to airplanes and flying and ourselves, sharing our flying stories with her.

It had been our intention to take her on a flight as well, but she was unable to meet us at the nearby airport, and we didn’t feel a take-off from a short grass strip with tall power lines at one end was an appropriate introduction to flying. Rule one is, of course, never scare the passengers.


I just learned that the article has appeared in The Pilot News. How could a newspaper with that name not cover our unique story?