Temperatures are rising.

Temperatures are rising here in Apache Junction. They should top out around 111 this week. The time for my escape has arrived. I'll be leaving the park next Monday. The plan is to spend 4 or 5 days on the road, drive along the Oregon coast, sleep in the back of the truck. If I learn that my body is too old for these sleeping arrangements, there are motels and I can shorten the trip.
I am looking forward to seeing my kids. They are grown up and have their own lives and don't need me like they did when they were younger, but they are stuck with me. Thom has graciously offered a room in his house for part of my stay. I will bunk with my brother Ross in Ballard for a couple weeks, too. Should be fun. Looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family that I can.
Another reason to head north is so I can head back south. The annual motorcycle ride at the end of July will cover northern California. It is disappointing that our little group of five is already down to three, but I am looking forward to the ride and the camaraderie.  I didn't get to go to Canada last year with the group.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

On last weekend's motorcycle ride, one stop along the way to Winslow, AZ, was Tonto Natural Bridge State Park.
Believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world, it stands 183 feet high over a 400 foot long tunnel that is 150 feet at its widest point.
A prospector named David Gowan stumbled upon the site as he was chased by Apaches. He hid for two nights in a cave within the tunnel. He later claimed squatter's rights.

Copper Chopper

As part of the centennial celebration, Paul Yaffee built this motorcycle which is being raffled off. Called the copper Chopper, it is fully plated in Arizona copper and includes several references to the state.
You can read more here: http://www.arizona100.org/events-projects/copper-chopper

Shed expansion project.

Believe it or not, there are rules in the park regarding the size of the sheds. 10' x 12' is allowed. Mine was 9' x 10' when I bought the place. It is part of the carport, using the carport awning for the roof. I decided to add the three feet toward the east edge of my lot. First I had the cement poured, then the awning extended. With that done, I was able (with the help of friends) to cut the east wall loose, move it, and build filler sections.
As my park model sits on a corner lot, part of the purpose of the shed expansion was to accommodate the Harley. Dave, Mark and I had already installed a roll up door on the north side of the shed. The siding removed for the door installation was saved for the expansion. I was given some other pieces of siding saved from another shed job to use on the other side.
The whole thing turned out pretty good. No - I won't work on your shed. One is enough.

Dirt bike fanatic

In conjunction with attending my Mom's 90th birthday party, I delivered an old rusty piece o' crap CZ to Forrest. He and Kenny have gone overboard regarding their fascination with early 70s dirt bikes. I took a few pictures on my visit.

It's been a while.

The new year has come and I have failed to update followers of events in my life. I'm retired - I don't have to. Besides, I spend more time on facebook now.

Some changes large enough to note have occurred and I thought I should at least mention them here. I no longer live in a motorhome. After the first year, I no longer used it the way I thought I would. I haven't traveled outside the corridor required to travel from Thorp to Apache Junction. The incident with the trailer scared me. The cost to repair the motorcycle and trailer, the time spent waiting for the Harley dealer in Durango to do something, took the fun out of it.

I enjoy life here in AJ. The people that call this home during the "season" have become good friends. The number of months I reside here has extended each year. I may even try to endure a summer here soon.

To that end, I purchased what is referred to as a "park model" - a small, one bedroom, single wide manufactured home that is anchored to the desert. They are limited to 400 square feet, so you can imagine how small it is, but it feels huge in comparison to the motorhome. I now have a full queen sized mattress and a recliner. Wow.

You can see that it has a carport and a shed. The shed affords the luxury of a washer and dryer, ending trips to the community laundromat. For now, the trailer sits in the carport and the bike stays locked up inside. A future expansion of the shed will include the installation of a garage door to allow storage of the Harley in the shed and let me park the truck under the shade of the awning. Speaking of trucks, the 98 Ranger was not an adequate tow vehicle for the trailer, so I found a 97 Chevy Silverado for that purpose. It was one of those finds that make me smile. It has been in the same family since new - father and daughter. Every piece of paper generated during maintenance on the truck was included in the purchase - even the original window stickers. It cost just over $24,000 when it was new. The canopy has never been off the truck. Like all cars that have never left Arizona, there is absolutely no rust.

I miss the spot I had in the park along the back fence. I don't get to watch the birds and bunnies, squirrels and coyotes anymore. There is more road noise here at the front of the park, but I think it will work out fine. Besides, my old neighbor Lois says I can buy her park model when she decides to stop coming down here for the season.

I guess I'll never change - I enjoy horse trading too much. I've never kept vehicles for very long, or lived in one place for more than seven years at a time.

Put up my lights