Moving Michael

So I helped him by towing his trailer to Page.

Snow on Mt Humphreys from I40 E towards Flagstaff, AZ

Michael worked for Forever Resorts the last two summer seasons at the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park first in recycling and then as the Environmental Risk Manager. He had 1 1/2 months off and joined me on the southern Utah truck-fixing vacation the end of October plus enjoyed Thanksgiving with his other four brothers all in town at once. What a great family.

Painted Desert & Echo Cliffs from SR89 N AZ

He was called back to work at Bryce Canyon National Park in the same job starting the end of November.

Thor’s Hammer Bryce Canyon NP

He’s living in a dorm because there’s too much snow there to live in a trailer.

Echo Cliffs to Page (& bugs on windshield)

When he’s done there in a few months he’ll go to Page, Arizona, where there are corporate offices, until the road to the North Rim is reopened, about mid April. We stayed overnight in a Page hotel and in the morning said sad farewells as he headed north and I headed south.

But first I stopped into the Carl Hayden Visitor Center at Glen Canyon Dam to say hello to a fellow Ranger friend.

I had planned to hike out to the Horseshoe Bend overlook but the trail was too crowded with three tour buses of people so I changed my mind part way and instead looked back at Page.

I love the eroded sandstone formations of Echo Cliffs.

There’s a great overlook part way down as you drive across the face of the cliffs where you can see forever. In the far distance the Kaibab Plateau beckoned me to the North Rim which I knew closed the next day. All I’d have to do is turn right, instead of left, at the bottom of the cliffs, follow the winding Marble Canyon north crossing the Colorado River on Navajo Bridge and then veer west to parallel the Vermilion Cliffs and climb onto the Kaibab.

Dental vacation at Quechan Casino Resort

Last week I went to visit a dentist in Algodones, Mexico. The office and facilities are large and clean. The staff very friendly with some English spoken and the rest translated answered my questions. Yet I didn’t opt for their offer. I had specifically asked if they did the “All on 4 fixed” denture implants when making the appointment. But they do something different which would require bone grafting and a sinus lift. No thanks, I already suffer from sinusitis. Plus still extremely expensive and would take until next October to complete. The all on 4 implants are done in a day with my current dentures attached and in three months I’d get permanent porcelain teeth.

So even though I haven’t decided what to do about my teeth it wasn’t hard to decide to stay a second night at the Quechan Casino Resort. The Buffet and Food Court were both good. Room service for breakfast was cold.

The highlight of the stay was soaking in the hot tub, several times. We passed on the cooler river/pool water that has a light current. Looked like fun if it had been warmer outside.

I only gambled the $10 given to me on my “free” club card. Oh yea, and $1 to get the card thing started. I’m not much of a gambler.

My purchases in Mexico included drugs and alcohol.

Unfortunately I started getting sick on our drive back home. Nose running, coughing and lost my voice for two days. I’m feeling a little better today, just not 100%.

Our World-Watching out the window

Since returning from Mexico (more in another post) last Friday I’ve been sick, runny nose and coughing. So I’ve just stayed inside wasting a lot of time playing solitaire on the computer and watching out the window. Wildlife entertainment sure beats watching TV, which I don’t own anyway.

The javelina love bird seed and usually show up in the afternoon between the bird’s feeding time.

Sometimes a little scuffle occurs over who gets what seed.

But all is quickly forgiven.

Seems like the Mom’s are showing their youngsters where to get good eats.

The male cardinal looks like a Christmas ornament so brightly contrasting with the green oak background. I would love to have a tree filled with them.

The Gambel quail typically feed on the ground and usually arrive by the dozens.

But I guess there wasn’t enough seed on the ground so this plump fellow made it up near the feeders.

Then hung on rather precariously leaning out for tasty seed morsels while a rufous-sided towhee looked on.

The thrasher also seems to have some difficulty hanging on for a snack.

And the dove appears almost clumsy in the attempt to hold on.

But the sparrows have no trouble. Maybe I need bigger feeders.

It snowed two nights in a row. Now I’m not big for cold or snow but it is beautiful to look at glistening in the sun, from the window inside where it’s warm.

That’s part of my world. If you want to tour more of the world, or share your own, join us and link in at Our World Tuesday by clicking here.