Chily Expeditions: Thanksgiving

My job at Sunhealth Grandview Terrace started 10/10/16 in Sun City West, AZ. This place was only 10 minutes from where we were staying in Surprise. SRS was the company I was working with. They had just obtained the therapy contract and had hired all traveling therapist until being able to hire full time employees. So, we all knew that our time there may not last the full 13 weeks. However, I was the only one of the travelers that had guaranteed hours on my contract. I sorta blame their recruiters for that mistake. Recruiters should always have their travelers backs. This was a beautiful facility. The rehab rooms were like hotel suites. They had refrigerators, microwaves, single rooms, flat screen TV's, etc. SRS also hired too many travelers, so i felt like I was working part time and getting paid full time hours. ( I probably will never work with them again though, as they do fight paying the guaranteed hours). This allowed me to go home early and enjoy the beautiful weather and amenities at our RV resort.

View from our site on Buttercup road at Sunflower RV resort

Enjoying the pool. It was heated to an average of 87 degrees

Did I mention we were close to Costco!! That's always a plus. Let's talk about the RV resort where we stayed. Sunflower is a Cal Am park. You can find these in a few cities across AZ. They have 2 pools, 2 hot tubs, a steam room, nice workout room, a billiards room, library, lapidary, and many other amenities. They also have the Tikki Bar. This is an outside bar with a dinner special Monday thru Friday, and a band playing from 4-8 every weekday evening. It was a fun place to visit once in awhile.

Nightlife at the Tikki Bar.

Tikki bar is pretty quiet during the day. You can see the pool in the background.

On 10/22, Kirk and I drove over to Cave Creek just north of where we were staying. We ate at a fun place called El Encanto with a pond in the middle of the restaurant. After eating, we drove over to Tempe to visit Kirk's ex-granddaughter Danielle, her husband Demetrie, and her mom Jeanne. Danielle was very pregnant. She was actually having contractions while we were there. Anyway, little Dominic was born the next day. We went back to see the baby a few weeks later, when grandpa Scott (Danielle's dad) was visiting.

We ate lunch while watching the turtles and fish. Cool restaurant!

Demetrie, Daniele, Scott, and baby Dominick

On Friday, October 28 I flew into Minneapolis from Phoenix to surprise Robyn for her 32nd birthday. We had a great time. The theme for her party was Spa Night. We participated in a free 15 minute massage, ear candling, face masks, and the opportunity to purchase LuLaRoe yoga pants. The next day we joined Laurie Lynch, the mother of one of Kristy's ex nanny families at the Guthrie to watch the play, Sense and Sensibility. Prior to the play we had brunch at the Sea Change in the Guthrie. I flew home on Sunday. My time with them is always too short.

Candle waxing was interesting. What a fun party.

My beautiful birthday girl. Where did 32 years go!!!!

Some of the other side trips Kirk and I have taken have been to Lake Pleasant, just north of Surprise. We just browsed the RV park there, but weren't overly impressed. They did have a nice view of the lake. On the way home, we stopped in Morristown on Hwy 60 at a fun place called The Western Trails Ranch for lunch. This is a cool place. They have bull riding, rodeo, roping, but only in the evenings. The food was good. As we were getting ready to leave and still sitting at our table, I got stung by something. The stinger was in my arm, but we never found the body that was attached to it. This was only the 2nd time I've been stung. I ended up having a "moderate reaction" to the sting. It was not pretty. On 11/5 we golfed at Tres Rios Golf course at Estrella Mountain. On 11/7 Kirk went for a motorcycle ride with our new friends from the resort, Calving and Deon, and Jerry and Marsha to Prescott, AZ. The next day was election day, and we all know how that ended. On 11/11 I had to have a YAG procedure on my right eye. Apparently after having cataract surgery, there's a 50/50 chance of having cloudy, and/or blurry vision. I wasn't aware of this and had gone to the eye doctor to have it checked out. He told me a simple 2 minute laser procedure would fix the problem, and it did. Amazing!

Some of the scenery at Western Trails Ranch

I golf for the scenery. Tres Rios Golf.

Deon and Marsha Friends from Sunflower.

On 11/12 we drove over to Scottsdale to watch the Charles Schwab Cup Golf Tournament. Angela was marshaling at the tournament. She gave us the tickets to get in. We had free parking, and a free meal (cause Kirk is a veteran). After the tournament, we drove to Angela's place in Mesa. She took us to the Angry Crab down the road from her place for dinner and drinks. Now this is an awesome place. We had a great time, and in the one week they had been opened, almost every employee in the place knew Angela. Go figure!

Thanks for the tickets Angela

One of the greens at The Charles Schwab Open.

This girl has always been good at telling others to be quiet. Perfect job!

Kirk liked this picture of us.

After a long day watching golf, Kirk is in his element!

The Angry Crab in Mesa was a perfect ending to a perfect day. Thanks Angela!

On 11/21 on their way to Tennessee and Florida for Thanksgiving, Janet and Wally (from Lake Havasu) stopped by our place for a couple of hours to visit and have supper. Kirk cooked burgers, and poppers on the Traeger. We had a great visit, and hated to see them go. Janet is one of our "adopted" daughters. She is awesome! I ended up working on Thanksgiving so I could have the weekend off. Kirk smoked a 17lb turkey on the Traeger. It's always a great day when we're together. The next day, we brought out the Christmas decorations (the very few we have) and put them up.

Wally, me, Janet, and Kirk. Come back Janet, we miss you.

Janet, you know us well!

One proud Kirk right here. He loves his Traeger!

On 12/10 Kirk and I drove around Happy Trails RV resort just to check it out, and then play golf at their golf course, The Great Eagle.

Christmas Day, Angela came over to spend the day and night. I also had a pleasant surprise. Kristy called a couple of days prior, and said she had found a decent rate, and was flying into Phoenix on Christmas Day, her birthday. Angela and I drove to pick her up. Kirk made most of the dinner. He smoked his first standing rib roast on the Traeger. I can't even begin to describe how scrumptious it was. He did good. Angela brought some awesome jalepeno popper dip, and potato casserole. Kristy spent time with Camille, her longtime girlfriend from grade school. Camille lives about 1/2 hour from our resort. Kristy and I took a hike at Thunderbird Conservation Park one afternoon to the flag and back. Then on 12/30 we drove to Tucson to hike at the East and West Saguaro National Parks. We stayed at the Double Tree hotel, and ate at The Hub the night before out hikes. We even saw petroglyphs. That evening, which was NYE, we headed back to Surprise. Kristy spent her last day here with Camille, and then headed back to MN. I love our visits.

I love the decorations at Christmas time.

Mr Traeger does it again. You can't get this at even the finest restaurants

One of our afternoon hikes near Glendale. My Kristy turned 37 on Christmas Day!

Our trip to Tucson to hike.

Beautiful saguaros

Legend says these are their people. It does sorta look like the bodies and hands.

Beautiful rainbow on our hike

That's my girl!

Saw these and other Petroglyphs on our hike.

My last day at Grandview Terrace was January 6, 2017. I was able to leave before noon, which was great, as I had a ticket to fly to MN that afternoon for Bella's 7th birthday party. Kristy picked me up at the airport, and we took off to the Marsh. Bella's party was held in Wisconsin Rapids at the YMCA where she has gymnastics. It was a very fun party with all her little friends and cousins. It was a great weekend at the Marsh. Did I mention that Nicki makes the most awesome wings. We stayed at the Marsh till Monday, then returned to MN as I was flying home on Tuesday. In the meantime, Robyn had taken Ady to the Children's hospital ER as she just wasn't getting over her illness. She tested positive for Strep. Poor baby. While I was in MN, Kirk drove the RV to Bullhead City, AZ where my next assignment would be. We stayed at Vista Del Sol RV Resort. I would start my job for Synertx at the River Gardens, and the Legacy on 1/16. Kirk picked me up in Vegas. We stayed at the Stratosphere for 2 nights before heading to Bullhead City. While in Vegas, we walked the Strip, went to a comedy club and saw Tanyalee Davis, then home to our new assignment.

Happy 7th birthday Miss Bella!

Bella's mommy knows how to make a birthday special!

Daddy enjoying Bella's birthday gift from grandma Reina. So, does this make him a manmaid!

Nicki getting ready for the Packers! It's quite an event in this household!

The Packer lights are on, and the appetizers ready. Let the game begin

Bella is a beautiful mermaid!

Love these three more than I can say!

Thanks kids. Perfect for all of Kirk's smoked meats

Leaving Minnesota is never easy.

Kirk at Caesars Palace

The High Roller Observation Wheel in Vegas. 550 feet tall, and 520 foot diameter. The worlds tallest!

Happy hour high atop the Stratosphere

Our first site at Vista Del Sol

Our 2nd and final site at Vista Del Sol. What a view!

After one relaxing day to recuperate from our 2500 mile trip, I started my job at Lake Hills Inn on 11/9. I had been contacted by email on our trip to Havasu by the company I would be working for, asking me to cover in Bullhead City (an hour from Lake Havasu) for 3 days my first week, and one day in Kingman (also an hour). I felt obligated to do so, but, oh boy was I sorry I did. This just aggravated my previous exhaustion to the limits. OH well, I soon recovered and chalked that one up to a lesson learned.

We were told by those staying in our park about a fun little place to eat that was fairly close, called Blondies. This is a small bar and restaurant. They have a nice little patio with grass-like umbrellas, or you can eat inside. A lot of the RV locals go there. Our first 2 weeks here, Kirk was able to take two bike rides. One with a group from the park to Quartzite, eating at Silly SAMs, and the other with a group from town (The Hangover group) to Parker and California where they ate at Dumas Walkers in California.

On 11/21 Kirk and I took the local ferry boat, which is located down by the London Bridge, over to the casino at Havasu Landing on the California side. The boat ride takes about 20 minutes. The casino is very small, has a small restaurant, and is very smokey. We probably won't return, mostly because of the smoke smell. Earlier in the day, we had attended the Mud, Sand, and RV event at the Havasu State Park. It was pretty small, yet interesting, and something to do. Not much for RV's though. They had a couple of 5th wheels, and class C's and that was it. Around here, people are more into the Razor's, boating, fishing, etc.

London Bridge

Picture from ferry boat of Havasu State Park

11/22 we went on a motorcycle ride with our neighbors, Paul and Bev (Canadian's), and their friends, Mark and Nola. We rode to Parker Dam where we saw Burro's along the roadside, down to Quartzite, ate at Silly Sam's for lunch and then rode back. On our way back we stopped at Sundance in Parker for drinks. This is a neat place on the River and the building itself has some history. A little side note here, while dismounting our bike upon arriving at Sundance, my foot was caught in the side bag, and I slowly fell to the ground. How embarrassing! i was fine, but later realized my elbow was a little "puffy" and determined it was an olecranon bursitis. Been wearing an elbow sleeve since. No infection though. Yay! (i guess).

Kirk and I celebrated Thanksgiving this year (11/26) by me working and him cooking :). I came home to an awesome meal of turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, corn (from our summer harvest), and pumpkin pie. I just may work every holiday if this is what I will be coming home to each time. Plenty of turkey left over to freeze for future meals.

I decided I needed boots for going on motorcycle rides, so Kirk and I drove to Bullhead City to Kohl's. I found some pretty nice looking boots, and even though they aren't riding boots, they look better than my tennis shoes on the bike. After shopping, we drove down 95 and ended up at the Desert Bar in Parker. This is a bar in the desert. You will want to have a fairly reliable vehicle to get there. Although, we saw regular cars driving to and from there, it made me wonder. This road is not paved. It is more of a bumpy, narrow, rocky path. By the time we arrived at the bar, I was exhausted from being jostled around so much. Believe me though, I would do it over and over again. It was a great, and beautiful experience. We went on Sunday, the last day of a 4-day Thanksgiving weekend for many people. Along the road there, you could see where people go out in the desert and target shoot. A lot of people drive their razors, quads, etc to this place. It is only open on Saturdays/Sundays from October to May. It is ran soley on solar power. I did see they have large propane tanks. They do have flush toilets. The food is great. Every year, the owner adds something new to the place, so it is advised that you visit whenever in the area to see the upgrades.

Road to the Desert Bar