LIFE AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, VERDE VALLEY

Another two weeks had passed at TT Verde Valley and we had to leave the park on September 20 for a week. We were ready to leave the area at last, but I still had a couple of follow-up appointments and could not leave. Just outside the Thousand Trails gate there is an area of BLM land where free dry camping is allowed. So, we decided to stay at the top of the hill for a few days.

It really is beautiful up there, and so quiet. This is where we chose to camp. In the picture it looks like we are in the middle of a dirt road but we're not. It's a cleared area for camping.


The view from the passenger side.

From the Driver's side.

And the view out of our front window!

The first day we took a drive from our campground down a dirt road to the Verde River. Some of the scenery!


This ranch belongs to Ken's first heart doctor out here, Dr. Futral. Ken had his first heart attack out here in Jerome in 1999. Dr. Futral was on call in the Emergency Room. He was a graduate of UVA and he was great. Ken saw him for years after that. He has now retired. Too bad.

This is the only glimps of the River that we saw during our drive.

A closer view!

Every morning, the hot-air balloons would pass over our site!!

This is a different balloon on a different day!

The same balloon on another day in the process of lifting off!


But in a few minutes, it was clear it was not going anywhere!!


And now, deflated!! Ken said he saw it lift off again a little later!

Our time at the top of the hill was very enjoyable. Tomorrow morning we will leave Verde Valley for awhile. It has been a great visit!


On Friday we decided to drive over Mingus Mountain to Prescott Valley

IT'S OKTOBERFEST AT TT VERDE VALLEY (FOR A WHILE)

Sept. 21 - While Ken and I were having Gyros with Anja and Ken (earlier posting), I happened to mention that I loved Oktoberfest and wanted to celebrate every year!! Wished we could celebrate with them (she a real German), but, unfortunately, we would not be at Verde Valley in October. It was then I learned that Oktoberfest actually begins in mid-September, sixteen days up to and including the first Sunday in October. OK!! Let's do it!! Let's have an Oktoberfest!

Plans were made! I contacted the other Pickleball players and set up Wednesday afternoon as the date for our Oktoberfest!!

Since we had moved to the BLM land outside the gate, and Ken and Anja had such a nice big, grassy site, we decided to have the party at their site. We brought the Johnsonville Brats and Kaiser Rolls, plates and utensils.

Ken took over and grilled the Brats! They were perfect!!

Here are Anja and Ken. Anja prepared Cheese Spaetzle and Apple Crumb Cake. Anja said she would have put raisins in with the apples, but she remembered my Ken had said he did not like raisins! After that, everyone teased Ken unmercifully that he had ruined the cake because it did not have raisins!! That was funny!! Thank you so much, Guys, for providing a place and your expertise for our Oktoberfest!!

Tom and Marge, brought the Bavarian Chocolate Cake! UMMM

Cheryl and Bruce came over from Camp Verde to join us. They brought German Cole Slaw that was delicious on the Brats or off!!

Oland gets Hi-Five from Ken's dog Crash before a reward of peanuts (for Crash, that is - HA HA)! Oland brought the Fried Cabbage. The plan was to mix it with Anja's Spaetzle in a casserole topped with cheese, but her Ken said he didn't like it that way! Both were delicious even though they were not mixed together!

Ken gets his Hi-Five from Crash, too! Papa Ken looks on.

Ken and I celebrating Oktoberfest 2011 with our German beer!!

My plate piled with the eats -- Brats on Kaiser roll, German Cole Slaw, Fried Cabbage, Cheese Spaetzle -- German Beer on the side. UUMMMMM!!

Then the gang crowded around the desserts!

Bavarian Chocolate Cake, Ken's thumb stuck in the Bavarian Chocolate, Whipped Cream, Apple Crumb Cake (without the raisins)!!

Thanks to all of you for helping us celebrate Oktoberfest!! Everything was Wunderbar!!

MORE PICKLEBALL (CONTINUED)

One afternoon after Pickleball, Ken and Anja (who had the site across from us), invited us over for an impromptu German dinner. She had prepared specially seasoned chopped chicken breast that we stuffed into wheat Pita Bread with sliced tomatoes, shredded cabbage and garnished with seasoned soar cream. Rice was served on the side. It was delicious. I asked Anja what the dish was called and she told me but I could not understand her German accent. I asked her to spell it. "GYRO". Oh, I pronounced it JI-Row!! (Which may be what she had said - HA HA)

Thank you so much Anja and Ken!! That was great!!

At last, Pickleball players have started arriving!! Just as we are about to finally leave the area!! One morning we were surprised to find our friend Tom at the courts. And the next day Oland arrived!! This is so much fun!!! We now have enough players to play again!!

Ken and Oland playing against -

Ken and Tom!! They had so much fun!!

An then, later on, three new players arrived!! Gary and Carl had met up in Washington.

And this little guy met us at the courts one morning!! Welcome, Mr. Tarantula!

Life is grand at Verde Valley!!

MORE PICKLEBALL AT TT VERDE VALLEY, AZ

Sept 12 - We are still having fun playing Pickleball in the mornings. Players come and players go, but there are a few of us here!

Here Ken has been playing with Ray, Lynda, and Bruce. After Pickleball, Lynda and Ray have been joining me at the pool for some water aerobics.

Keith and Ken.

Bruce and Ken.

On Sunday afternoon the Pickleball players got together for Happy Hour at our site.

Anja and Ken.

Roberta and Keith.

Bruce and Cheryl.

Ray and Lynda.

Ken and Faye.

Lots of goodies! Lots of conversation! Lots of fun!

BON VOYAGE MARY AND KEN

Friday - Sept. 02 - We have been playing Pickleball with Mary and Ken (from England) every morning for a couple of weeks. Sadly, they are leaving TT Verde Valley tomorrow to go to a campground in Mesa for a few nights. They will leave their motor home in storage and will fly out of Phoenix on Tuesday morning to go back home to England for a few months. We suggested that they could see Jim and Jane who live in the same area of England. But, alas, they will be out of town for an extended time.

Bruce and Cheryl came into the campground a few days ago and Bruce has been joining us for Pickleball in the mornings.

We all decided to fet together for a farewell dinner for Mary and Ken at George's Cafe in Cottonwood. Have a great trip, Mary and Ken!! See you at Palm Springs!

Couples from front to back across from each other: Ken, Mary, Bruce, Cheryl, Ken and Faye.

Most of us ordered the All You Can Eat Beer Battered Fish, but Ken had the Liver and Onions -- two thin cuts of liver about the size of two paper plates covered with loads of onions. It looked so good. And it must have been excellent because Ken and I noticed that Ken had cleaned every bite off his plate.

In fact, it looked so good that Ken and I went back to George's over the weekend and had their Liver and Onions!! UUmmmmmmmm!!

OUR SUMMER CONTINUES AT TT VERDE VALLEY

Well, as you know we have spent the entire summer (since mid-April) in and out of TT Verde Valley. We have been tied up with medical appointments and RV repairs of various kinds. Our friends, Roger and Linda, were here long term as well while they waited for repairs to their motor home. The four of us played Pickleball almost every morning, went out to dinner a few times, took the drive to Schnebly Hill to watch the sunset, etc. They helped make our summer here at Verde Valley a lot more fun!!

Another couple of friends from England, Mary and her husband Ken, arrived about a week ago and have joined our Pickleball foursome! It's been a lot of fun!! Mary and Ken will be here a while longer. We are really glad about that!!

Roger and Linda's motor home is now repaired and they left this morning, heading for Las Vegas and points West!! We will surely miss them!! Last night (Thursday) we all decided to go out to Murphy's Grill for a farewell dinner for them! Here's our group around the table. Mary, Ken, Roger, Ken, Faye, and Linda.

We all agreed the food was great. You may wonder what I have in front of me. Tonight's Appetizer Special was $1 Sliders, so I ordered four for dinner. Never had a Slider before. They were delicious however I only ate two!! Center front is Linda's plate of Fish Tacos and sweet potato fries. My Ken and Mary each had the Reuben Sandwich. Roger got the Fettucini Alfredo. But we all decided the best buy of the night was the other Ken's Top Sirloin with all the trimmings!!

Anyway. We wish Happy Travels to Roger and Linda! See you down the road!!

This morning, as Roger and Linda hit the road, Ken and Mary joined Ken and me for four vigorous games of Pickleball!!

In the mornings, after Pickleball, Ken, Mary and I go to the pool for water aerobics. The pool is really refreshing after such strenuous games!! Another couple, Mike and Donna, have been joining us for water aerobics each morning, too.

SUNSET AT SCHNEBLY HILL VISTA, SEDONA, AZ

Aug 06 - Saturday late afternoon during Happy Hour with Linda and Roger, Ken and I pointed out that it appeared to be one of the few evenings that the Monsoon rains were not coming in -- it looked like promise of a clear evening. Would they like to take a ride to Schnebly Hill to watch the sunset. So we all grabbed a bottle of wine, piled into Roger's Hummer and headed for the Hill. We directed them North on I-17 to Schnebly Road and took the winding dirt road over to the Vista.

There were a number of other people there to watch the sunset, too -- Yellow Jeep Tours, Pink Jeep Tours, etc. Here we are just before the sunset.

Beautiful! Breathtaking!!

The scenic Red Rocks on the drive down off the Hill.

A fun evening that ended at Denny's for Coffee and Pie!