OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK, CAMP VERDE, AZ

Friday, Apr. 22 - When were were here in the Spring of 2006, they had just opened OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK just a few miles from TT Verde Valley. We did not go at that time, thinking it probably was not yet fully established.

[Note: $5.00 Off coupon available at the Cottonwood Visitor Center.]

But this Friday morning, Ken and I took Julie with us to visit the Wildlife Park.

When we first arrived, we rode a shuttle around the Non-Predator section of the park.

Everyone was given a carrot stick to feel the Giraffes. Julie snapped this amazing picture!

The guide said the Giraffe below is the same age as the other; however, it was born with extra skin. Observe the wrinkles which make it look like an OLD Giraffe! (If you click on the picture, it may enlarge so you get a better view of the wrinkles.)

The following animals look much the same, but they are obviously different species! Notice the horns curved to the back.

Fancy long curvy horns.

Absolute straight horns in front; spiraled horns in back.

There was a small herd of Zebras.

When the shuttle took us back to the starting point, we boarded a tram which carried us around the Predator section of the Park.

About that time we were getting hungry. We went to the Tiger Splash and ate while we watched the show. The workers indicated they do not train the Tigers. They work with the Tigers but let them behave naturally. They never know what will happen during the show.

They teased the Tigers with big balloons.

Sometimes they threw the balloons into the pool, trying to get the Tiger to jump in. Here the Tiger did not actually jump into the pool -- he stepped on the worker's head on his way in!

Then they threw a balloon shaped like a man into the pool. This time the Tiger actually jumped into the pool as it attacked the man!!

After the Tiger Splash we went to the Snake Show. They had two huge snakes with which they allowed the audience to get up close and personal!

I was just like one of the kids -- I had to touch, too!

We chose to go to the Wildlife Park on Friday because they only do the Predator Feed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We particularly wanted to be there!! The workers threw huge pieces of meat, or whole chickens, out to the animals to give them a chance to actually be Predators! It was quite exciting!

It's All Gone!!

It was a most enjoyable day at the OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK!!!

PLENTY OF PICKLEBALL AT TT VERDE VALLEY

Apr. 15 - Apr. 27 - When we went out to the Pickleball courts, there was already a group playing. They start playing about 8:30 AM; way too early for us. We are parked overlooking the courts, so Ken walks over about 9:30. I wander over about 10 AM because I've been resting my backsides.

Here is some of the action over several days.

Fred and Connie.

Don and Oland. A unique backhand!

Darrel and Ed.

This is what Pickleball is all about - Ed slams the ball at Don for a put-away!

Oland and Connie.

Sandy, Ed, Karen and Bob after their match.

Fred and Don.

Ken and Ed.

Connie and Ken.

Richard and Karen.

A competitive match! Dennis and Barb against Merralee and Oland.

Barb and Dennis. Notice Dennis using his left hand.

Oland and Merralee.

One morning Keith was at the courts!! He had come in for a couple of nights. Here Keith plays a match with Mike.

They played against Oland and Richard.

Everyone was having a great time!! There were a lot more players -- far too many to include here!!

BACK AT TT VERDE VALLEY, COTTONWOOD, AZ AFTER FIVE YEARS

Apr. 13 – Apr. 27 – After leaving our friends at Happy Trails on Wednesday morning, we checked into TT Verde Valley in Cottonwood, AZ. You can see why this is one of our favorite Thousand Trails Campgrounds.

This is the view as we drove into the Campground.

This is the Verde River that runs through the Verde Valley Campground.

Mountain range in the distance.

The next morning we visited with some friends who have made their homes in Cottonwood. They are both Widows now. We were glad to see them again but are sorry for their losses.

Many of you know Jean who ran the Pickleball program at TT Palm Springs with her husband, Richard, for a number of years. They had just bought their place Cottonwood when we were last out here at Verde Valley (Spring 2006). Jean is doing very well and plans to stay right where she is in Cottonwood.

I don’t think any of you know Mary whom we met at TT Pio Pico many years ago. We became friends when we discovered that her husband, Earl, went to the same Cardiologist. A few years later, when Ken discovered his heart doctor had retired, we called Earl to see who he was seeing at that time. Their recommendation turned out to be an excellent choice. Mary was always so helpful in advising us about things around Cottonwood – where to eat, places to go, which doctors they and their friends liked, etc.

We took Mary to Murphy’s Grill for their big Ruben Sandwich!!

After all, Mary is the one who told us about Murphy’s Grill years ago!!

Later that afternoon, we visited with Phil so we could meet his wife Rowena. Turns out we had met her back in 2005 during the TT LaConner Pickleball Rally. We had a good time visiting with them and still wonder how Phil could have ended up with such a lady as Rowena!! HA HA

It was a lot of fun sipping wine and trying to figure out how to make our cameras work with the timer!! Then Phil wanted to try the Video on his camera. I told him how my Sony Cyber Shot worked when I set it on Video. Turned out his works the same way.

Thanks Phil and Rowena for an enjoyable time!