#141 (72): Winter AZ: 4 CGs: Cave Creek, Usery, Superstitions, Catalina, Mesilla, Elephant Butte

 #141 (72): Winter AZ: 4 CGs: Cave Creek x3, Usery x2, Superstitions x4, Catalina x 3, Mesilla x1, Elephant Butte x1

February 22 - March 9, 2025

Cave Creek, Usery, Superstitions, Catalina, Mesilla, Elephant Butte

-- weather cold, then hot then hotter then warm, then cold --

#141 Arizona winter retreat

Saturday, Feb 22 - Perfect weather 59 near Holbrook

Saturday night fabulous killer veggie platter at La Fonda plus a pre-dinner Kibby game or four in the lounge.

 

Sunday, Feb 23 - Cave Creek SP. 22° in the morning in Winslow. Stopped at In-N-Out Burger for a protein style double-double plus an animal double-double. Did a short walk in the park, maybe 2 miles if that which I doubt.

 

Monday Feb 24 - we rode the bikes at the Sonoran desert preserve across from the park did about 10 miles. Then went to Arizona Biltmore and saw Frank's Saguaro stained glass. Then we went to old Scottsdale on the way home and had dinner at Cien Agave, well shall I say an early one happy hour. By the way it's very warm here, 87° now at 5 o'clock

 

Tuesday Feb 25 - Rode bikes on the neighborhood trail toward Cave Creek and then crossed the highway to get onto the preserve again, and then get lost coming back and was saved by a woman on her horse. Another 11 miles, pretty warm about 82, but not bad on bikes, came home and showered and bummed around Cave Creek but to where else but a thrift store. A fabulous one by the Kiwanis where I found a brand new $30 instant pot. Then we bumped around some more and I went to the Aveda store, which always smells so good. Then we went back to Walmart and got the items that we left behind last night they actually logged it in and we were able to recoup our losses heading home now with a Walmart pork shoulder to experiment in the instant pot. Very excited because I'm hungry right now, my lunch among other things was the beautiful pickling cakes I found there yesterday. We found the back way to a Walmart it's a beautiful thing.

 

Wednesday Feb 26 - today we moved to Usery Park, 2 nites. #8. Should be the last record heat day. Less than an hour drive to the park so we spent the morning detail cleaning the trailer why not, while listening to the first Trump cabinet meeting, not too exciting I was hoping for more but anyway. Scottsdale had impressive artwork on the highway walls I believe it was the 101.

 

Thurs Feb 27 - did a long ride on bike trails, Chain Fruit to lost Sheep to Moonrock (great) to crappy Meridian (full of rocks), some of the No/So which was so-so and back on Blevins to Chain Fruit which is the best trail. I think I went out again later for a short spin. It was plenty warm, too warm to walk for sure. Running the AC in the trailer. Since it's hot we went to a few antique stores looking for door knobs to no avail then went to Macy's because I have coupons, only to get there and find out the store is closing so everything is 60% off, throw away your coupons. Heard from Beck about dad so that cut that short but managed to at least buy something, like a big bowl, and a strainer.

 

Friday Feb 28 - time to move to Lost Dutchman, 4 nites, #58. Something happened to Bill's derailer so made a stop at the Velo Zoom bike repair. Turns out the chain was on wrong but the guy got it working. Got set-up at Dutch and off we went for the short drive to Tortilla Flats up the road. More old people with tattoos, had overpriced drinks and headed back in daylight on the curvy road.

 

Saturday March 1- still warm and windy and a dust storm is supposed to come around 3 o'clock so we took a drive to drop off some kitty blankets at the animal rescue which is actually animal control here in Apache Junction then we drove to Macy's because why not, I bought everything I could think of winter coats jeans pajama pants a shirt Bill got slippers and socks in a garbage can, and since we were out that way I found some ponds a riparian area to visit in Gilbert (pretty cool man-made ponds that the neighbors seem to love it's outside the library and a popular spot to walk around) after we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory where I darn near almost lost my roadrunner pin and went back and found it on the ground outside - talk about lucky. Had small lunches so we could share a GIGANTIC piece of red velvet cheesecake oh man was that good. Still warm today and as we drove back, the dust storm began to arrive so we stayed in for the night. But on the way back we stopped in town at Apache Junction to the Goodwill store and some other junk store looking for that elusive doorknob also to no avail. It was then I realized how old this neighborhood is, meaning the people in it. Dust started to settle about sunset. Stayed in and had my stuffed peppers

 

Sunday March 2 - finally cooled off half of what it eventually will, so took a walk on the park trail toward the entry gate and off we went on a mountain bike trail on foot, no water no map. Met a couple with the map and after we saw the path decided to turn back. Came back showered and headed for Val Vista to see what shaking over there. Went to an open mall area where TQLA used to be which is gone now of course and after walking around we ended up having lunch at the Pita Jungle. Finally had to grocery shop on the way home and stopped at the very busy and big Frys in Apache Junction, next time I'm going somewhere smaller, it was a zoo there. Had Goomba and Florida skirt steak for dinner.

 

Monday March 3 – Cool and windy day. Took a hike up and along side the mountain. Then over to Superstition Museum old movie set and checked out the trains. Then over to Goldfield tourist trap.

 

Tuesday March 4 – Catalina SP. Took a drive-through Florence south to Oro Valley. Beautiful day and sunny. Park the trailer in A loop a number 33, then ran up to In-N-Out and brought it back. Can't remember what we did but we did not take the bikes down so we took a walk and saw the cats in the stroller.

 

Wednesday March 5 - Wednesday was cooler, it's biking day so we drove north to the Methodist Church to catch the big wash trail ride for some reason it wasn't as fun as the first time being at a different section but we went up the Mesa and that was rougher just not so great fun so we were done in a couple hours came home and showered and finally picked a dinner spot Guadalajara which was actually quite good I must say. It's the old Macayo's and nothing is the same. Enjoyed that they even make salsa table side - it was fabulous.

 

Thursday March 6 -  got to get out and much cooler and windy today so we went to Tonoho Chul Botanic Garden which was very nice and then lunch was even nicer, the best skillet I ever had. Bill had a burger was it the best you ever had? It was good - $20 burger. Then we thought we would go to the East Saguaro National Park the Rincon Mountain division. We found the wrong entrance but the plants were a lot nicer at the north end maybe another time we can do a trail, but we then drove 2 miles south for the main entrance and the 9 mile loop. Nothing outrageous, but it was nice.

 

Stopped accident that's why let them in at target to shop during the idiots boycott so that was good too Slow down one lane nobody's getting over so I would stay here not sure what the deal is yeah there's a red light don't go over there right closed nobody's in it so you know New Mexico dictating this on Friday and I 10 as we see there's a dust storm ahead and they're slowing us way down or else it's construction I don't know which either way this last 70 miles is dragging. 

 

Friday March 7 - woke up to cold rain in Catalina on our last day, left about 11 to go to the Amerind Museum where it actually had snowed a little bit earlier so then we decided we needed more time there and decided to drive all the way to Las Cruces. The weather has been patchy but now it's beautiful and sunny but we're sitting in traffic on I 10 past Butterfield Station and I'm wondering if it's the dust storm I read about earlier the possibility of because it does look brown up there and miles of crawling trucks, oh wonderful. 77 miles to go to Las Cruces it'll be a late dinner! Yes it was the dust storm, cops closing off traffic intermittently to one lane to keep us slow. Finally made it to Siesta RV in Mesilla about 6:30, rush too quickly set up in the tight campground number 19 just before more wind and rain. OK just a few drops so we can turn and burn and go to La Posta. After circling several times for a parking spot, he parks the big truck in the dark in a parking spot.

 

Satuday March 8 - drive to Elephant Butte. First spent the morning walking around a Plaza never fails to thrill me. Taylor house now has a visitor center with history all around and a good host who filled us in on everything, he really knows his local history. Some places are still not open at 11 but I saw what I needed to before we moved on about noon. Storm is brewing all around I managed to stay mostly between them for the drive north to Elephant. So we are in Quail Run number 22 this is a pretty crappy looking area. Went to Walmart with some crappy looking people and took a short walk because it looks like it has been raining again. It's about 47° or so instant sausage and peppers. Last night on the road. Daylight savings time night.

 

Sunday, March 9 - 26° when Bill got up and the furnace has been running nonstop. But perfectly blue skies again finally time to drive home and visit that place called Santa Fe!

 

RIP: peewee's Miss Yvonne, Gene Hackman & family, Dad diagnosis