A Grand Time Is Had By All

April 25-30, 2018
Williams, Arizona

This is our first time to caravan with other RVs. For a fun change, Anna rides with me while Bill goes with Donnie for our 150 mile drive from Laughlin to Williams. She agrees the views from the motorhome are superior (they have a truck and 5er), but is less thrilled with how we can feel the wind gusts. We stop in the little town of Seligman for lunch, and are set up at Grand Canyon Railway RV Park in Williams before 2:00. It's our fourth time here because we enjoy the clean, level spaces with close proximity to the little town. We also like being right next to the railroad tracks, which we're glad our friends also think is a plus! And because we're taking the train to the canyon this time, it's even more convenient. With the Passport America rate, it's a very reasonable option.

The skies put on a show for our first Williams' evening.

Turning to fire along the hills.

The grand finale.

Thursday the other two couples are off to Elephant Rocks Golf Course to play 18 holes. I pick up our tickets for the train and bus tour before we take a drive in the forest. On our way we catch our friends at the ninth hole. Coming back we time it perfectly again and meet them at the 18th! They suspect we're watching them via satellite :-)

The train depot is surrounded by Spring blooms.

Enjoying perfect weather.

Also enjoying perfect weather :-)

The surrounding Coconino and Kaibab Forests provide wonderful places to play.

This rough trail ends up at a dead end so we get to do it twice.

A really beautiful course, they all agree they'll come back to play again.

My favorite eatery in Williams is the Grand Canyon Cafe/Anna's Kitchen, and we all enjoy a late lunch at this little gem. It's so much food that none of us need dinner. The guys play a few games of Cribbage then we all call it a night.

I've always lived in California and never saw Yosemite until last year. So I'm not surprised that Anna has never been to the Grand Canyon although she's lived in Arizona her whole life. Thursday we all board the train to remedy that!

Not surprising, Donnie is "volunteered" to play cowboy poker at the pre-boarding wild west show.

Donnie, Bill and Anna - we're on our way!

Jimmy and Maggie

There are several seating options, and we're happy with the comfort and quality of our Pullman Car. 

Fluffy Dog agrees traveling by train is comfy!

The last time (my first time) we were here we came by car and didn't take the shuttles because the crowds were crazy. As a result, we didn't see many of the best viewpoints. So when Maggie suggests we take one of the tour buses with guaranteed seating I know it's a good idea for us. In 1.5 hours we see twice as much of the canyon as before, don't have to wait in line or look for parking, and avoid most of the crowds. I definitely recommend it when you are going for one day.

Anna's first view, she's overwhelmed. Remember your first time?

45 years ago we never imagined we'd be together here. (Tessa wonders why we're missing the view)

No place else is this.

So happy to share this special day with Anna.

Us.

Maggie and Bill

A glimpse of the river. See the rafts?

30 foot rafts look like another great way to see the beauty of this amazing place.

The vertical flow at the bottom is the oldest known formation on earth at over 1.2 billion years old.

After our tour we find lunch (the signage needs a lot of improvement) then re-board the train for home. On the way we manage to survive being robbed by masked bandits. 

The get-away vehicle.

They probably got a bigger haul from the first class and luxury cars.

We didn't make it to Bearizona during our last visits so we take two vehicles to see it with our friends. We ride with Jimmy and Maggie, and Lizzy and Tessa share the middle of the backseat like the good girls they are. They're also completely un-interested in all the critters we drive past in the first section.

Mule Deer

 American Burros express their joy at our presence.

Alaskan Tundra Wolf  (in Arizona?)

All the Black Bears are napping.

I had no idea there were this many White Bison in captivity.

Brown Bison sporting a Don King hairdo in the wind.

What big feet you have......

Even lying down these guys are enormous.

Unlike other zoos we've visited, no service animals are allowed in the walking area. Jimmy and Bill opt to stay with the dogs while Maggie and I join Donnie and Anna to see the rest of the park.

I continue to struggle with the oxymoron of "wild life parks". Saving injured and ill wildlife in a safe setting while educating humans on the importance of conserving them and their habitats is a noble cause. However, seeing two dozen seemingly healthy bears, and being told that more are being bred here, makes me question the need. The habitats are a decent size and all of the animals appear healthy and active. Still, I just don't know.

Porcupines prepare a tasty salad.

How do they stay so clean??

The playful North American River Otters keep the kids entertained.

Little bear

Sun belly bear

Kissing pigs (Javelinas).

Gorgeous Red Fox

Post-lunch zoomies.

Post-zoomies hydration.

Well groomed Badger.

The Jaguar is stunning, but all alone and agitated, he makes me sad.

Sweet little fox, I don't remember the breed.

Bobcat in the bathhouse.

The interior of the huge gift shop and Canyonlands Restaurant is beautiful and well thought-out. Current construction includes a small stage and more retail space.

Sunday is Donnie's birthday and we suggest that he show us where they Elk hunt nearby so we can enjoy a day out in nature with all our friends. The winds are high with gusts of 35 mph, a good day to see a beautiful place from inside our vehicles!

Anna makes a delicious chicken salad which we enjoy with chips among the juniper and pinon pines that cover the hills here. 

Donnie gets a birthday hug from Maggie.

Lizzy and Tessa graze on low grass - yummy doggie salad.

Much better to see these beauties in the wild.

Elk hunting camp site.

Beautiful views all around.

Donnie tells us about their last hunt while Anna glasses the nearby hills.

So fun to be out doing what we love with our friends.

What wind??

The Red Raven is a small restaurant with exceptional offerings. For our last night together we celebrate Donnie's birthday and the end of our first of many adventures together.

Thanks for a great time dear friends!

Together......Again

April 18-25, 2018
Laughlin, Nevada

This is our third year staying at Don Laughlin's Riverside Casino RV Park to attend our annual high school reunion. Unlike most reunions, all our classes get together every year with the 40th and 50th years "hosting". Our little town is no longer there so we've been coming to Laughlin for over a decade. What's really special this year is our best buddies have finally retired and are bringing their RVs!

I made our reservations last year so we could all be together and we're the second ones to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. The other two arrive in time for chili dinner at our place. It's going to be hot while we're here so we have lots of time sitting outside trying to find shade.

From the door - Jimmy, Maggie, Donnie, Bridgette, Anna, Pam, Kenny, Bill and Kevin.

Thursday we hang out with our neighbors all day and Bridgette makes a yummy dinner for all of us. We're already loving having the gang together :-))

The guys all leave for the golf tournament early Friday, and us gals get together for breakfast in Bullhead City. I promised to get pics of the five teams coming off the 18th hole so I head to the course.

Everyone clearly had a great time, and each of the teams stop for their photos. Bill officiated with a couple good friends and had just as much fun!

Our pals were the winning team - Harold, Kevin, Donnie and Jimmy

Officials Tommy, Bill and Mike

The all-women team came in last and had more fun than anyone! Tessa insisted on showing her support.

Friday night is the meet-and-greet at the Edgewater where we enjoy the company of 200+ of our lifetime friends. Several teachers join us each year as well. And there's always some parents, and some kids and grandkids. It's truly a community reunion!

It's a great turn-out!

Sweet Patti - our intrepid photographer!

Our youngest Eagle, and granddaughter of our good friends Anna and Donnie - Quinn.

Saturday night is the reunion dinner with all the class photos, live music from our own Maggie Stiles, and a silent auction for charities honoring two of our past organizers. It's a grand time getting to see friends we haven't seen from one year to over four decades. 

Always a treat to see our teachers - Coach Finton, Don Holder (US Government), Chet and Sharon Breneisse (choir and music), Mrs Sparkman (elementary school), and Mr Sparkman (math).

Bill's class of '74.

Jodee's class of '73

The proud winners of the 2nd Annual Golf Tournament - so much smack talking :-)

Choir members, led by our music teacher Mr. 'B', singing the alma mater. Always makes me teary-eyed.

Donnie and Anna's son Gary with his step-daughter Roz tearing up the dance floor. Definitely one of the highlights of the night!

After dancing with her 'Tata", Donnie, Roz put this sticker on his back.

He didn't know for hours, and everyone shared her delight of her successful prank. Too fun.

Jodee and Bill, Senior Prom 1973. We think we still look the same :-))))

Sunday morning we join the gang at Black Bear Diner then get a few errands done. In the evening we gather at Jim and Maggie's for their famous corn chowder. 

Enjoying good friends under the Eagle Mountain flag.

Happy Quinny!!

Most people are leaving Monday, while the RV gang hangs out at the park. Reunion organizers Pam and Kenny join us for camp breakfast, then we relax in the AC for most of the day. We consider leaving early for Williams to get out of the 102 degree temps, but the park has no openings. The kids and grandkids head for a day in Las Vegas before returning to Colorado. We miss them immediately. All our families are all our families :-) 

Pam/Kenny, Maggie/Lizzy/Jimmy, Jodee/Bill, Bridgette/Kevin, Anna/Donnie. Yes, Tessa took the photo.

Kevin and Bridgette pull out on Tuesday while the rest of us prepare to leave for Williams where we'll spend another five days of fun and friendship.

For a school that had about 350 students yearly in grades 7-12 over 19 years, we have all stayed connected more than anywhere else I know. In addition to the reunions, Bill and I have visited with 79 high school friends across the country in the last three years on the road. There was something magical about where we grew up that connected our hearts for a lifetime, and we all appreciate how special it is.

Life is good.