Apricity West 3

October 7, 2022 - Friday

Got on Interstate 10 for a 3-hour trip to Tucson for a 2-night stay. Grateful to spend a day or two with sister, Terri and bro-in-law, Jim on our way through. 

 

Steins, NM - small ghost town

Dust storms prevail here…

Signs are spaced as you drive:

• Pull off the road
• Turn off your vehicle
• Feet off Brakes
• Keep Buckled Up

Thankfully, a hard lightning/thunderstorm came through last night and there are literally small ponds of water covering the dusty areas. 

 

Crossed over into Mountain Time Zone - now 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

 

Texas Canyon Rest Stop 

Once we set up at Crazy Horse RV Park, Jim picked us up in Pearl, the new pearl white hybrid Kia Sportage to meet up with Terri after work for dinner at Brother Johns BBQ - 500 flavors or bourbon and 50 various beers. 

Small taco appetizer for the table!

October 8, 2022 - Saturday 

Went to Le Buzz for breakfast with T&J. Decided to take a guided tour in Pearl with our concierge, Jim. He can always come up with someplace we haven’t been to before. This time it was a former workplace of his, Ventana Canyon Resort - he worked here about 35 years ago so we went there to check out the changes.

Loading the smoker…








THE STORY OF VENTANA CANYON:

IN 1982, JONATHAN TISCH MADE A FORMAL COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOEWS VENTANA CANYON RESORT. CREATING A SUCCESSFUL HOTEL CHAIN MEANT MORE TO HIM THAN TURNING A PROFIT. CONSEQUENTLY, JONATHAN TISCH'S GOAL WAS TO BUILD A WORLD-CLASS RESORT WHICH INCORPORATED THE EXTREMELY FRAGILE PLANT AND ANIMAL HABITAT, RATHER THAN DESTROYING OR OVERPOWERING THE DELICATE BALANCE.

FROM THE PROJECT'S INCEPTION, EVERY ASPECT OF THE RESORT WAS CONCEIVED, DESIGNED AND BUILT WITH THE IDEA OF APPEARING TO BELONG IN THE DESERT. TRUE TO THE PLAN, NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE 3,500 SAGUARO CACTI WAS DESTROYED AND ALL RIPARIAN HABITATS WERE KEPT INTACT DURING CONSTRUCTION.

ONE DAY, TISCH WAS FLYING OVER THE SITE TO FINALIZE THE FINAL PLANS, SHORTLY AFTER A MONSOON HAD WASHED THROUGH THE DESERT CREATING AN 80-FOOT NATURAL WATERFALL IN THE LOWER CANYON. IMMEDIATELY BILL ESTES & KIM RICHARDS SHIFTED THE SITE OF CONSTRUCTION FROM ITS ORIGINAL LOCATION TO INCLUDE THE WATERFALL AND SAVE A 300-YEAR-OLD SAGUARO CACTUS. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A SPECTACULAR BACKDROP TO THE RESORT, THE WATERFALL PROVIDED A STABLE WATER SUPPLY FOR OVER 130 SPECIES OF BIRDS.

TO ALLOW GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE THEIR SURROUNDINGS, UTILITY NETWORKS & ELECTRICAL LINES, WERE BURIED UNDERGROUND, HIDDEN FROM VIEW. ROOMS AND PUBLIC AREAS WERE DESIGNED WITH SUCH FEATURES AS FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS, LARGE BALCONIES IN ALL GUEST ROOMS, AND SOOTHING, RELAXING COLORS THROUGHOUT.

TISCH RESPECTED THE LOCAL RESIDENTS COVENANT WITH NATURE, AND COMMISSIONED PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND CERAMICS FROM ARIZONA ARTISTS TO ADORN THE PROPERTY.

WHEN LOEWS VENTANA CANYON RESORT OPENED IN DECEMBER 1984, LOCAL CITIZENS, ARCHITECTS AND TRAVEL WRITERS AGREED THAT LOEWS HAD COMPLETED ITS MISSION. ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST NAMED IT, "THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTALLY CONCEIVED RESORT IN NORTH AMERICA." POLITICIANS EVEN TOOK NOTE. "THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HAPPEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS," RAVED THEN GOVERNOR AND CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBIT TO USA TODAY.

FROM THE TIME THE RESORT OPENED ITS DOORS IN DECEMBER 1984, IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE FINEST FACILITIES OF ITS KIND IN AMERICA.

 

October 9, 2022 - Sunday

7am Mountain Time and we are headed for our final stop of the trip west in North Ranch RV Park, Congress, AZ. As we get into the Phoenix area, it is amazing to see how much of the farm land has been overtaken by construction of huge warehouses and lots of new houses.

October 10, 2022 - Monday

Happy Indigenous People Day! Today was my first day back to line dancing and all went well. I was happy to remember the Beginner dances and learn a couple of new ones. Also, did Intermediate dance to Runaway which was my goal from last year. 

 

October 11, 2022 - Tuesday

Happy Anniversary to son, Randy and Kristie!

 

I went for a very brief walk today with hopes of starting a regimen of daily exercise. Wound up walking through the Cactus Garden here at North Ranch.

Went to Nichols West for dinner. Rich was disappointed as they do not have Stella on draft or anything on draft for that matter. And Cindy, his waitress for 10 years, has retired. 

October 12, 2022 - Wednesday

Line dancing again and I did ALL beginner dances and 2 Intermediate. By the time we get past beginner, my legs are feeling like 100 pound weights. 

There is a display case in the clubhouse of North Ranch artists and I thought Dick Driver’s was a great way to illustrate the beginning and end product.

The Elks for lunch and to renew membership. Then to Ruth’s Bunkhouse, where Rich left cards on consignment last year when we left. He got a decent check for those he sold. This is a new location for Ruth’s which offers more display room, but less parking. These are a few of my favorite pieces:

Stopped at Safeway for a few groceries and 2 flu shots. We each get a 10% discount on our order for getting shots - used mine today.

 

October 13, 2022 - Thursday

Pretty busy day with a midmorning meet up with Joanne to "catch up” and pick up the ukuleles and play! It ended up being a lot of conversation and a little playing - one song (Summertime). We’ll get better…

 

1-3pm jam session at the clubhouse with some new faces, familiar faces, and a few empty spaces in this early season. 

We are in a site that allows us to sit outside in the shade and see all the people (and dogs) come and go - walking or in their golf carts, Razors, bikes and trikes. 

Can’t wait to see what next week brings. Until then, tata…