Geo: 33.3029, -111.841We did a bird walk this morning at Veterans Oasis Park, a new reclamation project in Chandler. Reclamation meaning the end product of a waste water treatment facility.We have a fish able lake here with limits and everything, a large wetland and an environmental education center on site.Parks like this are an inspiration in the desert. Take a look at the pictures to see what I mean--would you guess it's genesis?When you grow up web-footed in the Pacific Northwest, you don't think about where your water comes from. And reclaimed water? Yucky.But here in the desert reclaimed water is what makes the golf possible. And in Arizona, golf is king.Water courses through Phoenix like an Oregon holiday--wet and extravagant. I cringe to see man made ponds, lakes, waterfalls and rivers in this desert decorate ... read more

Geo: 34.5636, -111.854Where do you go when the only safe place is UP? And there are 35 of you. If you're in prehistoric Arizona you build what we flatlanders call a cliff dwelling. Montezuma Castle (definitely not what they called it, as Montezuma died a century AFTER this had been abandoned) hugs the cliffs 100 feet above Beaver Creek.Bob's sister Nancy is visiting from Florida so we took her on a road trip here, then on to Sedona. It was a great day full of interesting discoveries.... read more

Geo: 33.494, -111.921Hiking in Phoenix twists your mind. Because you actually hike IN the city. But not in the city like down city streets--you're in nature preserves that wrap you in solitude, surround you with desolation, and thrill you with singular beauty. All this while being actually very close to the congestion and stress of the city you're escaping.We hiked up Lost Dog Wash Trail in the McDowell-Sonoran Preserve, a 36,400 acre preserve--that's 1/3 the total land area of Scottsdale and the largest urban preserve in the county. Lost Dog Wash trail is an entry point to the preserve, a gentle hike up to Taliesin Overlook with majestic views of the north valley, Camelback, Squaw Peak and Pinnacle Peak, and breakoff points to other trails.Check out the photos for the continuing discoveries of bobnkaren.... read more

Geo: 33.417, -111.831Food so good my taste buds wanted to get naked and roll in it. We happened on this great little Mexican butcher shop and bakery in Mesa so plastered with bold colors, large lettering and bright murals on the outside that Bob didn't even want to go in, but I was going in! It was an awesome little place. The bakery with cookies the size of your head extended through 2/3rds of the place with barely room to walk between 6' trays of pastries to the meat counter in back. Now we're at the good stuff. We had pork smothered in red chili sauce w/rice and beans and fresh corn tortillas.After a photo of the cute non-English speaking clerk, we raced to a park with the intent of getting as much of this into ... read more

Geo: 33.2111, -111.875We made it to our abode for the next 2 months and have been busy unpacking and setting up house. Our Toyota was crammed with boxes, 'cause with the long trip ahead we were hoping to spend the minimum on eating out while here.Hence, the cabinet full of stuff, plus 2 coolers from the fridge and freezer.We're staying in a friend's place and since Bob loves a project, he begged him for some odds and ends he could do while here. So he's installing his second bathroom faucet now, and yesterday we hosed out the Arizona room.We'd call it a sun porch and every house here has one, a screened in porch/deck/extension with afternoon shade. Imagine, with the dust storms Arizona gets--and we're on the edge of several miles of barren fields--imagine how the ... read more