Karla's Kronicles #15

The Karla Kronicles #15, Washington to Florida Travels, Part 2
Greetings Kronicle Readers! (Note: Larger and More Detailed Photos are in the Photo Albums Located HERE.)
Dear Kronicle Readers...as I continue to catch up with my journalizing from more than a year ago, I bring you Part 2 of the Kronicles which I began writing from Peace River, Wachula FL, on Nov. 3, 2008...It is now December and several events have happened that will be in subsequent Kronicles...but now we return to Arizona in the Fall of 2007 to capture those memories in writing.
October 1, 2007...and we have arrived at the Verde Valley Arizona 1000 Trails Preserve This place always feels like home to us and it's where we first met Les and Carole in Oct. 2005. And it so happened that Les and Carole were on their way to meet up with us again! The plan had been to touch base for a few days in Verde Valley and then Larry and I would move on to Tucson, re-meeting up with Les an Carole one week later for the DataStorm User's Rally at Beaudry RV Resort in Tucson. Well, things did not quite go as planned. That week definitely had some highlights and low lights....
Les and Carole had been pushing it pretty hard to arrive at Verde Valley to see us and then head down to the Rally; but Les suddenly started not feeling well and was even hospitalized near Reno, having tests done with no definitive diagnosis. However, he began to feel better, so they headed to Verde Valley. We had one night to visit and breakfast the next morning and everything seemed to be on schedule to meet up the following week in Tucson. We left Verde Vally on Oct. 13, 2007. That night, Les had a relapse, requiring transport to the hospital in Cottonwood; and then, when the Cottonwood Doctors were baffled, they transferred him to Flagstaff! This was getting serious and frightening! Needless-to-say, Les and Carole did not make the Rally. There are situations, especially as a full-time RVer, that you do not want to happen, but you do your best and get the medical attention you need and have a good Internet service to look up anything weird the Drs. come up with. Les ended up having major surgery; had more than one diagnosis and prognosis from those "practicing physicians"; and Carole spent lots of time doing Internet research. I am most pleased to report that Les is doing just fine and we will be meeting up with them in March 2009 and spending some time traveling together and having them stay at Camp Dayhuff as they come and go through Florida during their East Coast Travels.
	Down in Tucson, we stayed at the "Leahy Resort"; the beautiful Southwest home of Matt and Pat Leahy, dear friends and motorcycle buddies. They invited us to stay at their place for a few days before checking into the Rally. So here we came, our own mini-caravan, maneuvering around the Leahy's beautiful landscaping and curbing accents! (sorry about those tire marks!) We arrived to the announcement that they had sold their home and were moving to Bend Oregon! We are so glad we made it down to Tucson before the move. Pat and I had pre-planned a 3-day/2-night motorcycle ride in central Arizona, and we are so glad we had that final Arizona ride with them! I wish it could have been the entire week!

Salt River Canyon Rest Area - a good place to stretch and get a photo to document our trip.
Our BMW K1200 LT and Matt & Pat's Honda VTX 1800
	We took Matt and Pat to Tonto Natural Bridge; we'd been there previously and knew they would love the 12% grade road down to the canyon!

Larry took Matt down the trail to walk under the Bridge; Pat and I stayed topside to take photos and rest a while.
Pat and I discovered this little guy on the steps leading down to a lookout at Tonto Natural Bridge. We were trying to get him off to the side so he would not get stepped on and he stuck his tongue out at us. He was so very interesting to watch, but he was getting quite irritated with us!
Of course, the Motorcycle trip with the Leahy's and the DataStorm User's Rally were only 2 of the reason's to be in Tucson.
After leaving the Leahy's, we checked in to Beaudry RV Resort. Many of you know that our ability to have Internet and TV while traveling is supported by DataStorm equipment. The DataStorm Website and User's Group provides a lot of information, allows us to track other DataStorm User's if they choose to be on the map, and allows our friends and family to pinpoint our location with the DataStorm Map. In 2007, the Rally just happened to be in Tucson, AZ, and Les and Carole had mentioned they were going so we signed up early to attend. Of course, Les and Carole didn't make it, and that was really disappointing, but we went anyway. Here is a night photo of what a bunch of RV/computer Geeks using DataStorm look like under the Arizona skies. The blue glow comes from our Satellite dishes....There were about 100 rigs "glowing" at Beaudry in late October 2007; our photo doesn't do it justice. You had to be here....
	So what else happened in Tucson Oct. 2007? Well, Larry got to take a hike with his Grand Canyon Gang (minus Phil who was unavailable, but makes us all the more grateful he drove all the way to Blaine WA to see us!) Here's a photo of Larry with Danielle and Lori (from the Grand Canyon Adventure) and Lori's beau, Tony, at the beginning of their hike to Pontatoc Ridge. (Dan G. and Jeff S. Do you remember this hike?? - You've both done it!!!) As for me, let them Hike! I went to lunch with my dear friend, Dottie!!!!

We timed our Tucson visit just right. Missy Anderson is getting quite well-known as a great Halloween Party Planner - and this year was no different EXCEPT cleverly disguised as the normal Halloween Party, Missy let us all know in secret that it was a milestone Surprise Birthday Party for John! (Note: John and Missy Anderson are ex-Honeywell patriots/Raytheon transplants like we were). John did not know we were in the area, so that added to the surprise. AND another great surprise for us...not only were we there from "out of town", but many of their family and friends flew or drove down from the Seattle area! We got to see lots of folks at this great occasion! It was John's Birthday, Halloween, and a Super Reunion!!!
	The costumes were so wonderful. Of course, Missy made sure John's costume would include a crown, so he was definitely "King for a Day"!
Our costume was unique; no one else had this idea...Using a Anderson family photo from Christmas 2006, I singled out John's picture and enlarged it using Photoshop; printed out "Masks" for Larry and I to wear with pumpkin aprons we found while on the motorcycle ride and we were John O'Lanterns! The fun part was, since John didn't know we were in Tucson and our faces were covered (with his), he couldn't guess our identities until we revealed.
Our costume was fun to put together, but in no way compared to some of the other imaginative costumes we saw that evening. What a blast... And now in 2008, Missy is having another Halloween party and this time we can't be there. Boo! Boo Hoo!
	Leaving Arizona behind...Next stop...Texas. We're going to see my Niece, Tamara and see her NEW HOUSE! Tam and I have sort of a special connection. It's like...in age...I'm half-way between her and her Mom! So a visit to Tamara was definitely on the "list of things to do enroute to Florida".
If you've ever driven through Texas, you know it's not a one-day event. Now, in New England, you can drive in 5 states in 1 hour; in Texas, you drive 5 days in 1 state...just kidding (sort of). Hey, "they don't call it the Big State for nothin'". Okay, we are on our way to Louisiana now where Larry's parents plan to meet us at "Aunt Helen's". Larry has not seen his Aunt Helen's son, Cousin Acey, for many years. Acey is a retired High School History Teacher who still referee's High School Basketball games (he's in demand for his fairness & talents); but his sideline and hobby is Ardoin's Tackle Repair, supplying the locals and doing custom wrapped Fishing Rods that he mails all over the country. And cookin' Cajun food! Larry's folks make 2 trips annually (Spring and Fall) to Louisiana to visit Hazel's sister Helen (89 yrs. old now). We had not seen Larry's folks for over 2 years, so they were part of the welcoming committee. We stayed at a local campground called "Crooked Creek"; full hook up sites for $12. For you RVers, you know what a good deal that rate is. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice the campground was; we had been a little skeptical, but it was so close to the family homes, that we decided to take the chance.
	It was a memorable visit ending with Larry ordering one of Acey's custom wrapped fly fishing rods. The "shop" was quite the place; and includes "Acey's Kitchen", where the family gathered each night for dinner time. Acey and his Wife, Diane, make a great team, working together and creating some good ol' Cajun eats! Yum!


Acey has a whole shop loaded with artificial lures, rods, and a custom rod wrapping work station. He also does repair of rods and reels in his "Spare" time. For retirement, it looks like Acey works awfully hard!

Acey does custom rod wrapping for his clients. He even will put your name in the wrappings if your want it. The photo above left shows Acey wrapping in his signature "Triple Diamond" pattern. The photo on the right is where Acey is wrapping in the name "Rusty".
	Larry ordered a custom wrapped fly rod while we were there visiting. You can see the finished product in this photo where the signature"Triple Diamond" and his name are in the wrappings. It was really a fascinating process. I think that Acey should be on the TV program "How It's Made".
That's a wrap for Part 2 - the weeks have been so busy with family and friends and have been so enjoyable, but now it's time to get into Florida for the winter and fight for RV spaces like all the other "snowbirds" - Part 3 coming up - and it includes a major purchase and contact information from our new home!
So Dear Readers.... We're just journalizing our travels to help our memory in the coming years...but what have you been up to? Many of you have newsworthy news to share too and We want to hear from you!!! What's new in your lives? Travel...family...just what you've been up to? As always...Karla and Larry

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