We were up about 6:15 AM and the temperature was about 31 degrees. The surface of the docks was very slippery and we needed to be very careful as we schlepped the bags to the car, Getting to Anthem from the IOP is an all day affair even with a good connection in Dallas.
When we arrived in Phoenix the temp was about 85 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. I had been trying for several weeks to make a decent rental car deal in Phoenix, but because of all the events (The Phoenix golf open ended on Sunday) the rates were crazy. I had reluctantly settled on an "off the airport" company that we had used before, but had been not too impressed.
We caught a cab to their location, but to make a long story short we did not get off to a good start with the proprietor and beat a hasty retreat back to the airport. Lo and behold, the rates had cracked and we were able to get a great car at the airport for less than the "off airport" place. Amazingly, I had checked rates from Dallas during our layover to no great effect. Anyway, we were now set.
The Anthem house was just as we had left it. The water had been turned on the day before so Deidre was able to tinkle in all three toilets to her hearts content. We were in bed before 9 PM local time.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
The gas man arrived about 10 AM so we were enjoying a shower an hour or so later. Went shopping and filled the larder.
The house paint needs some attention so I called the builder and tracked down the exact paint and picked it up that afternoon.
Another perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky, high in the mid 80s. I used the car to measure three alternative walks.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Did the "big" walk of 5.1 miles this morning. Dinner at Dick's. Purchased a new TV antenna on the way over.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Dinner at Miklers'
Friday, February 12, 2016
Lunch and a tour of AmazingMail's new digs with Danielle. She has done a great job and AmazingMail is once again strongly profitable. We ate at home!
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Another perfect morning. Met dick for coffee followed by a hike/walk in the desert. Deidre and I spend most of the afternoon at the pool. I finished the painting of the exposed edge of the slab in the cool of the late afternoon.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Very pleasant breakfast at Aussie friends house (Kerry and Julian).
Monday, February 15, 2016
Lunch with Ray Thurston, AmazingMail Chairman. We had a good old chat and concluded we had been smart to promote Danielle to President & CEO.
Back home I repaired the man hole in the ceiling.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Breakfast with Tonni and Bill at the "General Store" in North Scottsdale. Another one of my favorite places. Just feels like an old Spanish Mission. Beautiful sunny morning.
Drove to cave Creek and visited the library. They have an amazing "used book" section and we purchased a couple of dozen books and audio books.
Then off to the gym and the pool. Another sunny day in the high 80s.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
After a bit of a lazy start we headed north up the I-17 for a drive thru some of our favorite spots in the mountains and high desert. We exited the freeway at the Verde Valley and headed west for Jerome (after stopping for a coffee). The "big sky" desert and the mountains aspects in AZ are just amazing. From the heights around Verde we could see the red cliffs of Sedona and the snow capped San Francisco Peaks in the distance.
Jerome is an old mining town located at 5,000' above sea level on the face of Mingus Mountain. Its a favorite destination for bikers and has a fun personality. We bought a couple of sandwiches for lunch in the sun, then headed south on 89A over the famous Mingus Mountain pass - 158 curves in 12 miles and reaching an altitude of 7,000'.
Deidre dropped me out of the car about 5 miles from the general store in Peoples Valley. PV is a high, wide and productive mountain valley (about 5,000') devoted to cattle ranching. Very much a "Ponderosa" sort of location. I needed some "steps" so I walked alone the highway and caught up with her at the general store. My pace was good - 16 minute miles for 4 1/2 miles.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Today I grouted in the sun.
Friday February 19, 2016
The gas man arrived about 10 AM so we were enjoying a shower an hour or so later. Went shopping and filled the larder.
The house paint needs some attention so I called the builder and tracked down the exact paint and picked it up that afternoon.
Another perfect day. Not a cloud in the sky, high in the mid 80s. I used the car to measure three alternative walks.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Did the "big" walk of 5.1 miles this morning. Dinner at Dick's. Purchased a new TV antenna on the way over.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Dinner at Miklers'
Friday, February 12, 2016
Lunch and a tour of AmazingMail's new digs with Danielle. She has done a great job and AmazingMail is once again strongly profitable. We ate at home!
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Another perfect morning. Met dick for coffee followed by a hike/walk in the desert. Deidre and I spend most of the afternoon at the pool. I finished the painting of the exposed edge of the slab in the cool of the late afternoon.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Very pleasant breakfast at Aussie friends house (Kerry and Julian).
Monday, February 15, 2016
Lunch with Ray Thurston, AmazingMail Chairman. We had a good old chat and concluded we had been smart to promote Danielle to President & CEO.
Back home I repaired the man hole in the ceiling.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Breakfast with Tonni and Bill at the "General Store" in North Scottsdale. Another one of my favorite places. Just feels like an old Spanish Mission. Beautiful sunny morning.
Drove to cave Creek and visited the library. They have an amazing "used book" section and we purchased a couple of dozen books and audio books.
Then off to the gym and the pool. Another sunny day in the high 80s.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
After a bit of a lazy start we headed north up the I-17 for a drive thru some of our favorite spots in the mountains and high desert. We exited the freeway at the Verde Valley and headed west for Jerome (after stopping for a coffee). The "big sky" desert and the mountains aspects in AZ are just amazing. From the heights around Verde we could see the red cliffs of Sedona and the snow capped San Francisco Peaks in the distance.
Jerome is an old mining town located at 5,000' above sea level on the face of Mingus Mountain. Its a favorite destination for bikers and has a fun personality. We bought a couple of sandwiches for lunch in the sun, then headed south on 89A over the famous Mingus Mountain pass - 158 curves in 12 miles and reaching an altitude of 7,000'.
Deidre dropped me out of the car about 5 miles from the general store in Peoples Valley. PV is a high, wide and productive mountain valley (about 5,000') devoted to cattle ranching. Very much a "Ponderosa" sort of location. I needed some "steps" so I walked alone the highway and caught up with her at the general store. My pace was good - 16 minute miles for 4 1/2 miles.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Today I grouted in the sun.
Friday February 19, 2016
Good exercise day. Deidre and I drove south (again!) and met Aussie friend Kerry at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, a desert recreation area. Kerry and I walked the "Gateway Circle" about 5 miles and then we all met for coffee. On the way back to Anthem Deidre dropped me at the freeway exit and I walked the 1.5 miles to the house. Gotta build up those miles. Today was a 23K step day.
Bill and Tonni came for dinner.
Saturday February 20, 2016
For me today was a "pay the bills day". One of the bills was a $A171 fine for driving at 68 kph in a 60 kph zone on the Esplanade in Melbourne in December. Talk about a police state. (On a similar note, when we looked at our Visa statement for December we noticed about $A80 in charges for driving on the toll roads around Melbourne. We were not there that long, did not use the toll roads that much, but there goes $A80. What a rort. The whole West Virginia tollway is only about $10 end to end!)
Bill and Tonni came for dinner.
Saturday February 20, 2016
For me today was a "pay the bills day". One of the bills was a $A171 fine for driving at 68 kph in a 60 kph zone on the Esplanade in Melbourne in December. Talk about a police state. (On a similar note, when we looked at our Visa statement for December we noticed about $A80 in charges for driving on the toll roads around Melbourne. We were not there that long, did not use the toll roads that much, but there goes $A80. What a rort. The whole West Virginia tollway is only about $10 end to end!)
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