Dan and Rebecca Early are on the road! After 36 years in Central Oregon we've sold our home and started a great adventure.
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Spent the weekend with Lindsey and Philip. Watched Mia and Daisy practice cheer-leading. Watched Gunner play flag football. Had dinner at Abby & Mike's, Took all (5) the kids to see "Kung Fu Panda III" (except for 2.5 year old Brody). Brenda went with us also.
After the movie. Mia, Daisy, Gunner, Walker & Michael
Phillip, Lindsey, Dan & Abby: Watching the kids run amok
Dan was fitted with his new hearing aids this afternoon. The technology has really changed over the last few years. He controls the sound through his iphone. Pretty cool.
Dan gets a lesson in operating his hearing aid program
Flew back to Phoenix and spent a couple of nights at the Clarendon Hotel in downtown Phoenix. The hotel was sort of urban-retro meets southwest cowboy.
Waiting for the sun
Dan found a Vacation Pod!
Roof top bar at the Clarendon during sunset
We all met in Miami for the Art show.
Coconut Grove art show
Dan, Beck, Jeannie, Ann & Bill at art show
Coconut Grove art show
Sun is out, temperature is warmer (75). Time to hit the beach. We snorkeled!
Dan's going in.....
Fins are on!
Taking in the view. hmmm!
Back in Boca. We had breakfast in Fort Lauderdale before Britton's flight back to Santa Rosa. Vinny and Sue took us to a new "louge chair" movie theater. Saw the Revenant (can never complain about pain again).
Ft. Lauderdale boutique carries same clothes line as Punch Clothing in Santa Rosa.
Sue, Beck and Britton in Ft. Lausderdale.
Vinny, Sue and Dan waiting for th.e movie to start
We spent a couple of days with Bill, Jeannie and Ann in Plantation. Walked around Hollywood Beach, Ft. Lauderdale and took an air boat ride through the everglades. Still cloudy and cool, we think the gators found the water warmer since we only saw one, Still, it was quite beautiful.
Bill and Dan in Margaritaville
Dan, Britton and Bill - Hollywood Beach
Britton in the Everglades
Stunning, even on a cloudy day
We parked the Solera in Phoenix and flew to Florida to visit family and friends for a couple of weeks. Britton flew in from Santa Rosa for a week. The cool weather followed us. Bob & Trish Simons arrived in Boca for the weekend. We met with Dan's brother, sister-in-law and stepmother for lunch. We also spent an evening with Carol Jones who was down here visiting her friend, Hanna. A real trip down memory lane.
Bob and Susanna
Bob telling Ann some theater stories
Dan and Carol Jones
We met Abby, Lindsey and Brody at the railroad park this morning. We road the choo-choo train and the merry-go-round. We visited the miniature train exhibit and train museum. Afterwards, we had lunch at the Wildflower Bread Company. Then, Brody hit the wall and we all went home. Thanks Brody for taking us out for a "kid" day.
On the Choo-Choo - Brody, not too sure.
miniature train exhibit - loved the lego adobe village!
Dan takes selfies to another level
Four presidents used this car for campagning
Minutes later-----he had enough!
Ultimate car show! Not that we are experts but, WHOA. Rock concert! Thanks Marc & Colleen!
It's weird but It's cute! Wait...me or the car?
Driving Miss Colleen?
in the moment
its all about the Old Red Truck!
Dan had not seen his cousin Maureen for over 50 years. He met his second cousin, Jeff, for the first time at a family reunion a couple of years ago. Jeff and Sue hosted the gathering at their home located at the very edge of Scottsdale. Lovely, setting; lovely lunch; lovely people.
Maureen & John Foley, Dan & Jeff McGuire
Dan, Jeff, & Sue on our walk
Encountered some Arizona cowboys on our walk. Jeff and Sue also have horses.
Jeff and Sue and their big Arizona backyard view!
Phoenix gave us another cultural surprise. Not only does the Asiana Market carry ingredients and prepackaged foods (who knew there were so many varieties of ramen soup?) from all over the world, but also offered some great photo opportunities.
Our bounty!
Got Chopsticks?
Got Quail Eggs?
Got one of these?
We watched 3 of our great-nephews play flag football this morning. We were amazed at how well 7-9 year-old's can pass and catch the ball. After the games we ate lunch at Joe's Farm Grill, a cool diner in a great setting. We spent the night at Lindsey & Phil's. Abby, Michael and Brenda joined us. We haven't been around 6 children under the age of 10 in a long time. What incredible energy. You're doing a great job Abby & Lindsey! And, so are you...Dads.
Dan, Michael, Abby & Brenda on the sidelines!
Coach Phil, Gunner and teammates
Daisy and her great-uncle Dan
Brody- he locked himself up-I swear!
Phil & Gunner, end of a big day!
We intended to spend a full day sightseeing Frank Lloyd Wright landmarks. We started by having lunch at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Frank Lloyd Wright was the supervising architect of "This Jewel of the Desert" in 1928. Everything from furniture to facades reflect this designers artistic genius. We ended up spending the entire afternoon here, leaving more FLW landmarks for another day.
Arizona Biltmore Lobby
Classic Frank Lloyd Wright art
lunch was fabulous
Just a sitting area
Dining
We went to George and Kate's house early afternoon. George has custody of Uncle George's racing scrap book which he shared with us. It brought back so many memories.
We Uber traveled to the reception with Amanda and Greg (our first Uber experience!). The reception was delightful. Kate's Philippine culture was well represented and wonderfully supportive.
George, Rebecca and Uncle Georges scrap book
At the Wedding Reception
Tyler (George's son, Greg and Amanda)
Kate's girlfriends!
Rebecca's cousin, George Eggleston got married this week to Kate Santos. The wedding reception will be held tomorrow. We checked into the Residence Inn for two nights. Ahh space! Cousin Amanda (George's sister), and her friend Greg flew in from California.
Our room at the Residence Inn.
Dinner with the cousins.
Marc & Colleen own a lovely little cabin in Pine, AZ. It was quite something to be able to visit just after a major snowfall. Reminded us of the high lakes in Oregon. On the way back to Phoenix, we stopped at Saguaro Lake for lunch. We note this will be a good place to kayak when the warm temps return.
On the road to Pine-actually taken on 01/09/2016
the Creek
The Cabin
Saguaro Lake
About an hour north of Scottsdale sits a few sleepy little mining towns. The elevation is higher and it snowed heavy over the last couple of days. We drove to the old copper mine town of Jerome. Jerome's stories are filled with hard rock, hard work, hard liquor and hard play. Now its known as an old haunted hippy/artist town. We had a lot of fun looking around.
Marc & Colleen and the famed Asylum Hotel.
View from gift shop looking towards Sedona and Flagstaff
After a few rainy days settling into Desert Shadows RV resort, we were invited to hang out with Marc and Colleen for the weekend. Rebecca hadn't seen Colleen for a few years and only met Marc once before. We spent the night at their home in Scottsdale. A pink cloud sunset presented itself. Assuring us that rain (and snow) is over for a awhile.
From Colleen's front yard. Arizona pink sunset.
Colleen's Magnets
Left Lake Havasu fairly early this morning. The forecast was for rain and that it did all day long. We stopped in Quartzsite, Arizona. This town is a swap meet on steroids. We were overwhelmed by the amazing rock and fossils. Good thing most of the art is not RV friendly (meaning its heavy, bulky and does not have a dual function). It rained hard and the tents leaked: a pretty cool experience.
Quartzste. Someone found the right umbrella
High End Bug-Fossil Art
RV Friendly tea-light.....rock