Madera Canyon

After receiving an REI gift certificate, Eric & I decided on a roomy tent and nifty Coleman stove for more comfortable car camping.  Just a few days ago, when the temps were in the 90's in Tucson, we drove 30 miles south of Tucson to the cooler climes of Madera Canyon.  The Bog Springs Campground was nearly empty.  The camp hosts, a friendly couple from Leavenworth WA, said it was a relief after the very busy Easter weekend and Spring Break hordes.

Pusch Peak Easter Hike

Our Seattle friends Ron and Adrienne finally got us to hike with them up to Pusch Peak.
2 miles one-way.  Elevation gain:  2700'!  Most of the gain is in the last 1.5 miles.
My quads are still screaming.

Below:  About 1/3 of the way, Ron & Eric with NW Tucson in the background

Seven Falls at Sabino Canyon

Sabino Canyon has plenty of trails to choose from, but I usually opt for short, exercise intensive hikes.  It was great to finally put aside the time to wander up to Seven Falls with Ron & Adrienne, who will soon be heading back to the PNW after wintering here like us.

Ronstadt Generations

Back in the Southwest for Eric's birthday, how generous of the Ronstadt Generations to put on a live show for us at the Tucson Racquet Club!  The Ronstadts have lived in this area for many generations, and before that, down in Sonora Mexico, and before that, Germany (great-grandpa "Agosto").

When I approached the stage at intermission to request a Mexican ballad, La Llorona, I had an interesting chat with Michael (pictured at far right below), Linda's youngest brother.  He explained that besides playing a lot of gigs around town at intimate venues--- such as the TRC and The Chicago Bar---, the band often tours in Wales.

Makapuu & SE Oahu

There are many spots on Oahu that hold wonderful childhood memories.  Makapuu (for body surfing), Sealife Park (mini-Sea World), and Hanauma Bay (snorkeling).

1st we took a pleasant walk up to Makapuu Lighthouse & then visited the beach.

This photo doesn't really capture the height or strength of the waves!

Oahu Trip

Rex and Allegra and their two young sons stayed at our townhouse in Seattle last summer.  This March we enjoyed our half of the house swap, staying at their island home at the foot of Diamond Head.

For the first few days on Oahu, though, we stayed in Waikiki at the Ambassador Hotel, where Pan Am crews used to stay in the 70's.  I remember my dad running along the nearby Ala Wai Canal, and then all of us (Mama, Helen, & Suzy) would head over to the beach to play volleyball at Fort Derussy with Vietnam vets on R & R.

The actual hotel is to the left and not in this photo!

This lovely canal park is just a few blocks from bustling Waikiki.

Dakota

We met our friend Laurie for a nice lunch on the patio at Dakota' Bar & Grill here in Tucson.  It's located in a little Western theme park with lots of wild west store fronts... the undertaker, the saloon and such.

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

Canyon de Chelly

First day of our trip north to Canyon de Chelly, this was a stop with a nice overlook of Salt Canyon.

After a night at the Sacred Canyon Lodge, we were picked up by our local guide, Ben.  He grew up in Canyon de Chelly.

Eric took this photo when he and I hiked down from the Canyon de Chelly South Rim to visit White House ruins.

Our guide, Ben, drove us all around the canyon, over the river and through the cottonwood trees.

Seattle Visitors & "Spanish" Friends

What a great time we had when Sara and Roger came for a visit from Seattle!  It was also wonderful to catch up with Bonnie, whom I hadn't seen since our days of teaching at the Instituto Norteamericano in Barcelona in the late '80's. And fun to see Tom W., another of my colleagues in Spain.   He performed during "Open Mike" at The Hut for a large crowd of tie-dyed clad folks of many generations.

One morning, Roger, Sara, Eric, and I hiked Sabino Canyon...

Roger B., Sara B., & Eric L

One evening, we met up with Bonnie and Tom at The Hut on 4th Ave.

Roger B. & Bonnie P. catching up at The Hut, Tucson AZ

The Hut Tiki Dude

And another day we had lunch at B-Line Cafe with our friend Cynthia

Sara, Roger, & Cynthia at the B-Line Cafe

and the night before Roger & Sara headed north to Sedona, we had a fun Indian dinner with Tom W. & Tom V.

From Left to Right:  Eric (his hand), Tom V., Sara, Bonnie, tom W., & Roger B.

French Gathering

You may have read in an earlier posting that before coming to Tucson, I joined about a dozen MeetUp groups... to share in drumming, hiking, wine tastings, ukulele strumming, and French conversation.  Somehow, though, with my teaching and busy tennis schedule, I've only managed to attend this MeetUp, The French Connection.

For the February meeting, our leader, Ben, arranged a lunch at the sweet Cafe a la C'Art (Zut alors! I can't figure out the accents on this laptop.), located downtown in the Tucson Art Museum complex.  Our group was multi-national, and everyone spoke fluent or native-speaker French.  Turkey, Switzerland, Jordan, France, and the U.S. were represented.

If/When you visit Tucson, I highly recommend having a meal here or splurging on their many dessert choices of strawberry cake, apple pie, cheesecake etc.  I ordered the frittata francais, but with my new-found willpower, did not venture into the dessert menu--- maybe next time.

Simply Delicious Cafe, Flagstaff Lunch Spot

All directions

On our drive back towards Tucson, we thankfully found this simply delicious cafe on Trip Advisor.

Eric's lunch was a very tasty salmon salad. 

Mine was a flavorful lentil soup embellished like a fancy cappuccino.

Let me know if you are going to be driving through Flagstaff so that I can give you the necessary non-GPS directions to this charming cafe!

Ah, the Grand Canyon

The first overlook we came upon

Eric on the edge of a most amazing spot on earth.

After a hearty lunch at the lodge, we hiked down Bright Angel Trail for about an hour, crossing these mule drivers early on.

Sedona, Red Rock Country

Our Tucson friends Milly & Keith suggested we check out Soldier Pass Trail.  It was a winner!

Half-way up the trail

Made it to Soldier Pass... Turn-around spot!

Sunny January Hike in Ventana Canyon

Missed my saguaros over the Xmas break...

Happy to be back in Tucson, I hiked up this scenic Catalina Mountains canyon beyond a babbling brook...  (Next time I'd like to make it to the cottonwood grove)

I then headed back to the trail head round sunset.

SF Stopover

There was a Woodmansee cousin's gathering planned at Suzy & Tom's scheduled for January 4, so I stopped off in SF (on my way from Seattle to Tucson) for a few days.

My nieces Asha and Chantal on our bike ride across
the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.

It was a gorgeous day on the Bay!  A bit dicey weaving in and out of cyclists & pedestrians on the GG Bridge.

We had just enough time to indulge in some locally made ice cream before we rolled our bikes over to the Sausalito ferry dock.

Along with 30+ other cyclists, we took the ferry back to San Francisco. Impressively, on the other end, the girls rode to the nearest BART Station and expertly collapsed their nifty bikes to ride the train back to Pleasant Hill.

The San Francisco Ferry Building. 

North-Westward Bound

Roll on Columbia, Roll on

Homeward Bound

      After a delayed departure--- 8:30 AM  instead of 5:45 AM --- and 1 stop in Denver rather than stops in LA and Portland--- re-routing was a real plus, we flew into Seatac about 1:30 PM.  Views of the Columbia River, Mt. Baker, Elliot Bay, Seattle downtown, and the major sports arenas.  Hmmmm... we were flying in an Airbus, not a Boeing jet.   

Christmas Dinner

      Ann & Robert had the family over to their house in Sammamish.   Good to have everyone together from all parts of the U.S.... many are local but Beth (Hunter's gf) came out from New Jersey, Hunter & his cousin Daniel (Ann & Robert's son) flew in from L.A., and Eric and I came back from sunny Arizona.

Pete in spy glasses (You can see in back of you) & hot T-shirt

Mary Lee, Bob, Donna, & Pete

      The dinner was delicious:  baked ham, Ann's killer mash potatoes, Loren's orange salad, and then the yummy desserts... Pavlova (by Hilary & Pete), lemon chiffon pie (by Donna or  Robert?), and other irresistible sweets.

Acacia

      For my birthday, Eric treated me to dinner at Acacia.  I'd like to know how to prepare beets like this... just the right texture and thickness.  Hazel nut and baby greens go well with them, too.

Gingerbread Evening at WWL

Annie & Glenda in full-on creative mode.

My decorating partner, Adrienne.

      Our tennis captain, Annie, invited us to decorate gingerbread houses at Westward Look (our ladies' & mixed doubles' home base).  It had been nearly half a century since I'd last done this.  I forgot how much fun it can be!  My partner, Adrienne, did a swell job of squeezing out the icing in a scalloped fashion for the shingles on the roof.  I probably spent an equal amount of time taking photos (Annie called me "the paparazzi") as I did sticking candy on our little house.

New TUCSON Mural

I've been teaching an ESL computer class for the last few months at Pima Community College's Downtown Campus.  Generally, I drive through the intersection of Stone and Speedway fairly early in the morning.  Little by little, on the NE corner, this fantastical mural has been emerging before my eyes, and last week after class let out, I took some pictures of it to share with you.

The prettiest, least scary letter is C, don't you agree?  Well, maybe not for arachnophobes.