31 May 2016

AZ - Day 3 - CBD

Woken up at 0730 by a very loud radio alarm coming from the Bose  radio in the living room!  That got Paul up and my breakfast of bagels and coffee was prepared for me.

We decided to visit old Scottsdale today.  It was full of shops selling Indian and cowboy  memorabilia. I particularly liked the turquoise stone jewellery. I tried some bracelets on and almost succombed as the sales assistant reduced the price by half each time I hesitated and said I would think about it! 

There was also a farmers market taking place but there was little of interest to me apart from the stalls of honey which had I been at home I might have purchased!

After a visit to Pauls favourite supermarket  (Walmart) we went in search of lunch which turned out to be Mexican.  Not really understanding much of the menu we picked wisely and enjoyed our tacos and wraps.

Back to the apartment for some relaxation, Paul fell asleep for 4 hours.  I think the heat affected his condition and knocked him out.  I took the opportunity to catch up on some of the many books on my Kindle.

AZ - Day 2 (CBD)

After a little lay-in we checked out of our hotel and went in search of breakfast which turned out to be brunch at the Desert Botanical Garden.  After eating we did the tour of the different gardens. Some particularly attracted bees and butterflies. We saw some beautifully coloured butterflies and even a humming bird.  The flowers on the cacti were amazing  and amongst these cacti we spotted ground squirrels, strange 'ground' birds with their young ones and of course lizards.  After a couple of hours we decided to move on as the temperature was in the late 90's. 

We started to head towards the apartment, home for the week,  stopping off en route at a Walmart to buy some provisions.  The apartment was just ready when we arrived and after the checking in procedures we went and found our apartment.   We were really pleased...We could park the car outside and had a lovely patio/balcony looking over a quiet garden. We are not overlooked so it's perfect.  Far enough away from the pool area and the noise which goes with it!  There is a quiet pool area away from the children which we may try out later!  

After unpacking and checking out our surroundings we had a healthy salad  for our dinner followed by strawberries. ...We bought a massive 3lb box!  I tried out the huge shower and washed my hair before bed.  Another massive comfy king sized thing!

AZ - Day 5 (PD)

Is it that late already!! The fifth day just dawned?

We had our first swim in the "quiet pool" last evening and I expect that will be on the cards tonight too.

Firstly we have  another place to visit; the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior and out to the east on SR60.

It's owned by the state and is $10 a head entry with no allowance for being over 60! It was hot. In fact very hot. There were quite a few thrill seekers there who rather walk around a few miles of dusty desert looking at the garden a mining millionaire started in the the 1920's, that go to the lakes and pose or pig out. The latter is a guess, just  from seeing the massive coolers strapped to the back of trucks and filling cars.

Once again we saw hummingbirds. Too small and too quick for me and my camera. The cardinal wasn't quick enough to fly off.

Cardinal hiding in a tree

Although it did its level best to hide.

Boyce Thompson was a local mine owner and magnate and his house is across the park from the garden on a rocky hilltop. The park is in fact his garden.





The terrain rugged and even the 1.5 mile "main trail" with several offshoots was tiring in 100F temperatures!

Th highlight was the Cooper's Hawk best. The warden had set up a telescope so that visitors could see the action in the nest. The parents are locally nesting and this year have four chicks.

The pic I took with my iPhone isn't terribly good, but you can see the chick nearest the edge.


Then cropped to make is larger...


Such a marvellous sight.

Our return was pretty much in reverse. Another stop at Fry's for dinner, tonight it will be steak, and then back to the apartment.

Tonight? Quiet night in. TV movies.

30 May 2016

AZ - Day 4 (PD)

As yesterday, today was introduced to us at 0730. This time by a woman bellowing from the Bose system about her faith. Not in God as you might expect on a sunny Sunday, but in her incontinence pants. Only in America?

Today, our destination will be Goldfield Ghost Town. However I don't expect on a holiday weekend that it will be that much of a ghost town...

It wasn't. The drive wasn't too bad along the inevitable 101 and the the 60 and at Apache Junction swerve left. Once away from the built up area the freeway dropped from five lanes to two.

The ghost town comes into view. Decrepit old buildings and mine equipment. Parking and entry is free and if you want the train ride or the visit down the mine,  then you pay.







At High Noon, three Cowboys stepped out of the saloon, a little drunk and they challenged the Sheriff, who shot them down...


A little extra hokum but still fun all the same.

I did try to video it but it's not that good. More empty ground than action!


We dropped in the bakery and bought a cinnamon roll and a piece of prickly pear cake. Another first for me. Prickly pear that is. I have seen them, and have seen small boys lowered over cliffs in Morocco gathering them, but never tasted one. Very nice as it happens. 

As we left I took a pic of Claire and the Unknown Prospector.


From here we took a left to Canyon Lake. Hoping to at least touch the water. But with thousands of cars where there's parking for one thousand it was chock full.

At least from one of the viewpoints we could see the lake! 


Once home we had to decide what to have for dinner.

Looking on the net on Google showed a burger place called In-Out-Burger not far away on Frank Lloyd Wright Ave. We went there. 

The drive-thru was packed so we parked and went in. 

It's apparently a chain only in SW states and the Pacific coast. It was chock full of teens. Like something out of a modernised Happy Days. These kids don't wear much...

In the end that was probably the highlight. An average cheeseburger and terrible fries. Another one to add to the "never again" pile along with Wendy's.

And then to bed after Red 2 on the TV.

AZ - Day 3 (PD)

The day started off at a respectful 0730 as the Bose hi-fi system burst into life as a previous inhabitant had set the alarm function.

Being roused from slumberbia by someone shouting about golf had to be one of the worst experiences in life.

We set about breakfast. Bagels and Skippy "fuel the fun" peanut butter with a couple of cups of coffee seems about right. 

The wall of peanut butter in Walmart needed to be seen. In the end I went for the one I know.

Once ready to go out, we decided on Scottsdale Old Town. Not difficult really but TomTom seems to think all journeys need to take in at least 8 miles of the 101 freeway. Given that last year someone was taking potshots at cars on the 101 you have to wonder who wrote the TomTom application!!

Old Scottsdale is mostly single storey buildings given over to jewellery and other trinket stores, as well as fuel for the stomach places covering all wallets.

We had a mooch in some and also around the farmer's market where very trendy people were selling home made honey and a few vegetables. It looked more like large-garden market than a farm...


The sidewalks are marked with this (🖕🏽) picture so that you don't stray into new Scottsdale!!

The great thing is that parking is free. Free parking always attracts people and spaces were at a premium. Maybe all the penny pinching councils in UK should take note of that?

More Old Scottsadale:






From there we headed to another Walmart. It might be odd, but I like their Fruit of the Loom underwear. Maybe I have American butt?

Anyway, that itch scratched and a few things bought for evening meal we set off on search of lunch.

The search ended just up the road at Fry's or rather at the Fry's shopping centre, amongst a plethora of Escalades and Range Rovers at Juan Jaime's Mexican bar and eatery.

Not being all that au-fait with Mexican, unless you consider once visiting a Taco Bell over 25 years ago, we had no idea what anything was. Luckily, the menu gave some clues and we successfully navigated all the options on type of flour, wheat or corn, hard or soft shell, and also type of bean, black or pinto. Then filling! I opted for ground beef and Claire a burrito  with shrimp.



Then contrary to the known fact of the entire world, red means danger, I opted for some green pickle that was so mouth burning I had tears forming. 

Otherwise very enjoyable.

Once that was over we needed a siesta. The car was showing 98F as we were going along and everywhere was like opening an over door,

Maybe it was the food and the accumulated tiredness but once I went to sleep I was out like a light for about four hours.

The evening past quietly in the apartment.

Day three over.


27 May 2016

AZ - Day 1 (CBD)

Got to the airport earlier than planned as the hotel was much closer than we thought, still, we had time to get some breakfast and relax.

As the time to depart drew closer, 14.40 hrs we kept an eye out for the gate number to be announced.  Should have been 13.30hrs, nothing. ...then it was 1530, then on it went until 1930hrs.  By this time we had met up with some fellow passengers who all has different versions of why the flight had been delayed.  Apparently the plane  (BA289) had been here since lunchtime but there was a problem with the fuel lines and air conditioning. ...

After we visited the help desk we were fobbed off with some £20 worth of  food and drink vouchers and told to keep an eye out for news on the information board.   Gradually the departure lounge was becoming less crowded as the other flights departed.

Finally the gate was announced and we took off just after 8pm, some 9 hours after we arrived at the airport!  Feeling relieved we boarded the plane hoping they had really sorted out the problem but then realising we had a 10 hour flight ahead of us.  The flight was tedious, and it was impossible to sleep. 
Both Paul and I enjoyed the film Daddy's home with Will Ferrell. ..well worth a second viewing.
I was too tired to concentrate on another film so tried to doze...think I managed 15 mins or so!

Finally 5 hours late we touched down with a bang in Phoenix Sky Harbor the time being 22.28hrs.  

By the time we had got through immigration and grabbed the bags it was about 2320 hrs.  We then had to get the hire car...no signs or mention anywhere that we could see as to how we might find them  in the end I asked a security person on her break...the place was virtually deserted at this time. 

It seems we had to go down 2 levels to the street and pick up a shuttle bus which took us to the car rental about 10 mins drive away.  The driver was very jokey welcoming us all to Phoenix and went into great detail about the amount of baseball games being played over the forthcoming Memorial Day!  Finally we got the car which Paul has always wanted - a Dodge Charger Sxt 3.6 V6! Off to the hotel we had booked for one night.  Finally got to bed about 0130hrs or 0830 am our time!!

AZ - Day 2 (PD)

Day 2 started off in the wee small hours when we finally arrived at the Papago Inn.

For that reason we both had our eight hours and were up without the larks at 9am.

The room was pretty good and there were people around the pool. From the outside it was very unspecial. But inside it was four sides of the square around the pool. Claire took a photo. It looked good. The room also featured a fridge and coffee maker. We made use of the latter and the coffee bags before leaving.

With six hours before we could check-in at the Timeshare, we needed something to do. By 11am we were checking into the Desert Botanical Garden. And what a find. A reduced entry fee as we are old and we were in. With no breakfast we went into Gertrude's and ended up with brunch.



Then it was a walk around the large and varied gardens. If you like the desert and don't want to travel, this is perfect.

We were lucky as some of the cactii were flowering and many are only in flower one or two days a year.






They are brightly coloured to attract butterflies, insects and hummingbirds. We saw one of the latter but it flitted about too quickly to get a photo.










There was time for a terrible selfie before we set off again, eventually to arrive at the timeshare.


The idea was to get the reddish rock and saguaro in the background as well. My arms simply aren't long enough.

Here are some other wildlife we saw....






Where to next? On leaving the gardens I set the TomTom for the airport. The idea was to see where the car rental plaza was as we couldn't see much the night before. All seemed okay until TomTom decides to go into night mode where it is impossible to see the screen. Luckily we had voice instruction. 

Th next stop was a Walmart. TomTom had no idea and so Claire had to use my iPhone to find one. That was successful and we got stuff for dinner and also for breakfasts for adequate says. It is nice to eat out, but sometimes even better to stay in, eat "at home" and have a beer or two without worrying about driving.


Plus of course what we call the "man's doorstop"


NB: after drinking one it might have been better to leave it there!!!

Once TomTom was back in day mode we were off for a tedious westerly loop of Phoenix heading for Scottsdale and the Sheraton Desert Oasis. 

We were a little early checking in. But they handled that okay and even though we say we will never go, we signed up for  "the talk". They know we own and they won't get a buyer here, but the $100 prepaid VISA will be okay. We only got $50 in Weston FL two years ago. That paid for our petrol to the queues. 

So as evening draws in we are both sitting with Miller's chemical pee in a bottle beers on the balcony, the birds are creating a fuss outside. What I guess are American Blackbirds and their chicks. 


A short walk before dinner and we found the quiet pool, away from the noise and not frequented by kids.

So what about tomorrow? 

AZ - Day 1D (PD)

Finally here. Landed about 2229 MST and after a walk around the shopping centre that seems to form most of the airport we found a security guard who told us where the shuttle bus to car rentals was... Four floors below us and another long walk.

The National office was easy to find and we were there only customers. I prefer National as all taxes and insurances are included in the quote.

The guy pointed to a row of cars. "Take any one of those". My eyes flicked to the three Challengers... In the end we put our cases in an Impala then Claire saw the Charger SXT. We changed.

The Papago Inn was easy to find (crossed fingers TomTom worked) and we checked in about 1230...

Day 2 started with us going to bed shattered after 24 hours awake. 

26 May 2016

AZ - Day 1C (PD)

We have finally got a gate to run to... 34.

The plane will apparently depart at 1930. Given that's less than 20 minutes away and boarding hasn't started, and that the gate is jam packed... That won't happen.

Dial in the 10h 20m flight from 1940... Less 7 hours time difference and we have to hope that the car rental is still open or we are f*cked.

Customer Service has been terrible. Both Finnair and BA haven't even emailed to say there is a delay. They have all our details, as they have sent before.

The service desk at Terminal 3 gave out random details depending on when you went to ask.

At least they gave us £20 of vouchers to spend in Nero!!

 The worry is that we'll arrive after midnight and National will have buggered off and we don't get a car tonight.

AZ - Day 1B (PD)

Here we are. According to the departure boards the flight is delayed at least an hour. The BA/Finnair website shows the flight leaving at 1450 instead of 1440, but actual time looks like at least 1540 on the boards. 

Had a short chat with a lady on the same flight who has been here since 0600 on a connecting flight from Dubai.

Not much we can do about it other than to buy more coffee from the many coffee bars. 😡

After reading a few travel writers "how to" blogs I fully expect to arrive at National and find only some skanky Fusion waiting for us!

Apparently, there is more choice of car the earlier you arrive! Doh! Why didn't I think of that! 

An hour later means a landing time of 1830 now, followed by the third degree at Homeland or whatever the new name is, before luggage on then the bus to the car rental office..... 

Let's keep calm.... 🆒

AZ - Day 1 PD

Flight day.

Had a lie in as the hotel is only 1.7 miles from the parking. Didn't have their breakfast as £13.95 each seemed steep.

So we were on the road before 10am and after checking the car in and a long seeming bus trip to the airport we checked the bags in.

I had done it online yesterday but as I have a visa and not an ESTA we couldn't print our own boarding cards. Well, Claire could have.

Checking bags in revealed despite "travelling light" we still topped 30kg between us, of the 44kg allowance.

Security was next after a coffee and sandwich for brunch. This proved no small problem. Claire set off the alarm and had to go through the scanner. I went through okay, only to see my hand luggage rerouted for inspection.

They waved the wand over everything and even tested my GTN Spray in a machine. I've never had to use it but the  cardiac specialist said to carry it "as you never know"!

Then we stepped into perfume buyers heaven. Not for me! How people work here all day with hundreds of conflicting smells I have no idea. They must have no sense of smell!!!

So, here way are in the departure lounge with over an hour to wait until they reveal the gate we are departing from and another hour to flight time.

25 May 2016

AZ - T -1

I had the day off and had a few jobs to do. The worst, or so I expected, was taking Reggie to the kennels for his holiday.

In the end once we arrived and checked him in, the lady came round and he treated her like a long lost friend. He disappeared through the "staff only" door without a look back to see where "daddy" was! 

From there it was downhill. Paint spiller in the garage that needed cleaning up and final packing.

By 8pm we were on the road for the 95 mile drive to the hotel near the airport.

Luckily we gauged it right and the M25 wasn't too bad.

The hotel is okay. Pretty good value for £65. I'd recommend it to anyone flying out of Heathrow, remember to ask for a kettle though!!

We had plenty of coffee etc but no kettle and couldn't get one.

Until T-Day

23 May 2016

AZ - T minus 3 days

The three days to departure and although we have everything in hand and I have pulled the cases and the computer bag from the loft, not much packing or sorting too place yesterday.  

After the experience of having a bag go missing two years ago, last year I wrote our surname on the bottom of the cases in indelible pen, and this year we are going to half and half pack them.  

After years of taking stuff for a 10000 mile round trip and never using it, this year I plan to be minimalist.  It's not as though there won't be a Walmart about for those Fruit of the Loom underpants we can't get in UK that fit my physique really well...... 

Plus I need space in one bag should I invest in a sissy-bar bag for the bike.  In the US the one I have been looking at is the same in dollars as it is in pounds in the UK.   Those suppliers that do have them on eBay want almost as much again to post to the UK.

I actually have a bag but it is very cheap and I got it even cheaper but it looks nasty and the fit isn't all that good.  

Next is to get some cash. I do like to arrive in a new country with a few of the local coinage on me to buy that first coffee or whatever before hitting the old credit card for most purchases. The exchange rate dipped over the weekend by a cent or so, not much, but annoying for some reason as I will get around $7 less for my money!

Today, I have been looking at the weather in Scottsdale and a few places along R66 and despite the "Lonely Planet" and "Rough Guides" books suggesting that May was a good time as it wasn't too hot must have not understood what that means.  Today at 7.35am it was already 75F and the high expected to be 93F. The fifteen day forecast peaks at 108F on June 6th.  Luckily by then we'll be in the relative cool of the Grand Canyon, where it is expected to be more like 80F!

So that's it. A test tun to find the kennel where Reggie will be holidaying proved we can find it again and I set it in Claire's car satnav, so I can find it on Wednesday.

And the clock is ticking....

18 May 2016

AZ - Paperwork printed

Despite having it all on my phone I like to have a printed copy, so it was onto Yahoo and print in reverse order.

It's probably unnecessary but I emailed the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook again to confirm my Brother made reservation was not forgotten. Three days and not heard back.

There's not much more to do other than get the cases out of the loft, sort out the computer case I use as hand luggage and sort out some cash. 

Need a few $$'s to hand on arrival.

12 May 2016

Yes @ RAH

It was sometime last year that my brother, Neill, asked if I wanted to go and see Yes at the Royal Albert Hall.

I of course said YES!

As it was a Tuesday evening I knew Claire wouldn't want to accompany me, and Neill's significant other wasn't fussed, so it was just two middle aged prog-ists that joined the audience.

And we were far from the oldest rockers in the room. But not far from the youngest! There were a few young 'uns.

Neill and I are pre-Buggles Yes fans and spa concert playing two albums in full plus "hits" was going to be challenging. 

A couple of pints of 1730 Pale Ale and a pulled pork baguette in the Hoop and Toy pub (http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/hoop-and-toy-kensington/c3067/menu/) beforehand helped.

The support act was a Swedish prog rock band. Mere boys but excellent singers. In true prog style the twiddled seemingly without an end for a while...



They ended with an acapella version of a Chris Squire number. Very well sung.

Then followed a short tribute to Chris. A solo artist but the bass player for Yes for over 35 years, who died last year. 



Then Yes took to the stage.

The current line-up features Steve Howe on lead guitar and Alan White on drums ably supported by ex-Buggles keyboardist Geoff Downes, with Jon Davison picking up Jon Anderson's vocals and lastly, Billy Sherwood on bass.


Drama. A post Buggles album that I never bought and couldn't recognise anything from. Not bad but the audience liked it; some rather overly I thought.

The last track they were joined by Trevor Horn. Big ovation and still wearing "Video killed the Radio Star" specs.

For me the best was the second half "Real" Yes from the 70's. Fragile and "hits" from Topographic Oceans and earlier stuff from Time and a Word.

Excellent stuff.






Ending with Starship Trooper. Proper Yes.