The Great White North

Dec 13/2016. Weather  in Ontario - cold, snowy, freezing.   Oh oh.
Most of the time what Americans think of Us being in Canada is not true.  We don't have snowshoes,,,,,,,,,  
Here is our new view for the next month.  Love the wagons lined up in the field.
We are in a beautiful B&B which we will share in the future.
Home for the Holidays, cherishing family and friends.
Merry Christmas to all.

Rondeau Bay

Nightly Habits

Dec 12/16  Weather  really nice today 74, low 44
We have grown into a couple of nightly habits here in Val Vista RV Park.  When the sun goes down it will cool right off so we either have a fire or hot tub night.  The hot tub and heated pool are empty every night.....Where is every body?   Most nights we head up to partake in both.  A dip in the hot tub then a swim in the pool.  Then maybe back in the hot tub. 

Most nights we just dangle our legs and feet in the hot tub

Pool feels really good when the air is cold

And on the nights we don't go to the hot tub and pool we sit around the fire pit at the happy hour circle.  No stinky smoke smell as you just turn the propane off when you are finished with your fire :)

Hot Chocolate with Baileys and Whip Cream

Run to Chandler

Dec 9/16  Weather is sunny about mid 70's for the next week, night low of 50.  This is my perfect weather.  Not too hot, not too cold.  Could be this way everyday of the year.

Chandler Harley Davidson

We had to make a run to the Harley Davidson shop in Chandler for a new part on the motorcycle.  Right now the shifter rod is being held on by duct tape.  Made it to the shop and half hour later we had a new chrome shifter.

Cafe Zupas

Down the street we found a new lunch spot called Cafe Zupas, which was soup, sandwiches, salads.  It was excellent.  Never been to one before but will definitely come again.  They have very fresh local ingredients.

Gila River Indian Reservation

skeleton of cholla cactus

Our ride back to the RV park in Casa Grande was through the Gila River Indian Reservation.   Views of the mountain ranges in the distance and cactus amongst the land are so different from home.  One of the most unusual things are the skeletons of cacti, they are so strange looking.    The cemetery on the reservation is always full of flowers and memorabilia.... Bright white crosses adorn the dirt grave sites.   

cemetery in Gila River Reservation

Superior - Ghost Mining Town

Dec 5/16  Weather sunny 68, low 43
Arizona is filled with old ghost mining towns.  Today we drove over to Queen Valley to see our friend Ruth.  From her place we popped up to Superior which is in a beautiful setting to see the Apache Leap Cliffs.

driving into Superior

Smelter has been closed for 30 years

 After 71 years of mining due to high costs of mining and low copper prices the mines closed.  In those years they mined copper, zinc, silver and gold.   Thousands of jobs lost and once again the town falls into disrepair.  Empty buildings, falling down housing.  Rumors to start mining again surface if the corporation can swap lands that might be sacred and protected.  So far agreements have not been reached.  The protected land is so beautiful and the corporations want to do block mining which leaves huge wholes in the ground when finished. You can understand why it is opposed by local groups.

Porters Cafe

Every old mining town has an eatery where the locals gather.  Memorabilia adorn the ceiling and walls.  No doubt one of the best cheeseburgers you can find anywhere in Arizona is here. 

Canadian Wall

Post election news

Shortly after the new president

of the USA was elected, several

Americans have been seen sneaking

into Canada.

Canada's Prime Minister,

Justin Trudeau, has made

the decision to build a wall.

Canadians building a wall.

The Little Dirt Road

Dec 4/16  weather - sunny 68.

Dwarf Car Museum looks a bit dilapidated from the outside

One of his dwarf cars

Maricopa is a snowbird town about half an hour away from Casa Grande.  Mostly we know it from hearing about Canadians who have purchased snowbird properties when the housing crunch hit the USA.  We went cruising to Maricopa and found an obscure attraction the "Dwarf Car Museum".   The fellow builds retro cars on a small scale.  Sounds pretty cool and unique,,,, it is in the middle of nowhere..... and down a sandy dirt road.  We went by the place; turned around stopped out front and Billy did not take the motorcycle down the dirt road.  Ok.  If you know him you understand, he does not do dirt roads.

Raceway Bar and Grill

So our next stop was at another obscure looking place that lots of motorcycles were sitting at the "Raceway Bar & Grill".   Apparently even the American Pickers have stopped here.  It has a paved driveway so we are ok!!  Old signs and paraphernalia inside and outside with a sunny spot on the patio to have a Corona and Pizza.   Funny story.   Billy talks to a fellow biker while we are having our pizza - about the Dwarf Car Museum that we did not go into and this guy says "it's so cool" and he proceeds to show Billy pictures of the dwarf cars on his phone.   Smiling I tell him ..."Sometimes you just have to brave the little dirt road."

It's a Dry Heat

Dec 2/16  Weather  - sunny and getting warmer again, high of 68 and up to 70's
nights about 38 to 44.   Just beautiful weather for being around the RV park.   Doing our walk around the other day we spotted this little setup.  Just had to laugh!  Most people are setting up Christmas displays; this one shows the remains of living in the Desert!!!!    All the characters all have a name badge from the park.   Haha.  His says "Slim Pickins".  Hers says "Daisy McQueen".  The dog says "Buster McBones".