Go West

Did I mention how happy I am that Robin retired? With that act this past summer the time had come to see what being a snowbird is like. Scottsdale AZ won when Robin got bit by the "No See Ems" last winter in Florida. So on February 13th we drove west to Arizona picking up the Historic Route 66 in central Illinois for most of the way.

I hope you all know about Mother Jones. Labor advocate for minors back in the day. Helped organize the United Mine Workers or something like that. I consider myself a pro-labor conservative of which I'm told there is no such thing. Anyway, here in Mount Olive Illinois is her resting place in the Union Miners Cemetery.

Mother Jones Grave

First night was downtown in St Louis, MO. Great dinner and a nice walk around the Old Courthouse enjoying the first feel of warm weather. Here's Dred Scott and his wife...Mrs. Scott I guess. Several years before the Civil War, Mr Scott's owner took him to free state MO for lunch where he then sued for his freedom. Went to all the way to The Supreme Court and the famous decision that bears his name. They ruled in 1857 that he can't sue because he isn't a human being. Kind of the Roe V Wade of their day. Hard to image isn't it?

Dred Scott and the Mrs.

The next night we stopped in Tulsa OK and visited with cuz Dede and family. Her son's JP store is the only Orvis authorized outlet in the state. Sells other gear too and lots of throwing hatchets. I guess that's a thing still in OK. Very nice stuff. Stayed at the Ambassador Hotel. Historic hotel from the oil boom days. Very nice. Great evening at some club on top of downtown tower. I have to say that Tulsa made a big impression on we both. Very nice town.

The Gadget Company

From then on we pretty much raced to Scottsdale AZ to get there in time to meet daughter Laura. Missed the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial, which we will have to do next year. Somewhere in eastern OK you start to see casinos every 20 miles and it hasn't let up yet. Crazy. I did learn in passing through the Texas panhandle that its the largest flat place on earth. Also barbed-wire was invented for the ranchers there. ("Lighter than air, stronger than wiskey, and cheaper than dirt." They had to cover a lot of land with fence when the ranchers started homesteading and this was just what was needed. Stopped that day to have lunch in Amarillo TX at The Big Texan, as seen on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. Home of the free 72 oz steak challenge. I had great a low calorie chicken fried steak. See the stage and countdown clock where you sit for the challenge.

Couple more days on the road and arrived in Scottsdale to the great "Patio-Home" of Lillian's. Very comfortable. With Laura in town she took us to Top Golf for the first time. It's great. Check it out when they open in Milwaukee. Kind of like going to a bowling party. Look at that Ozaukee CC Jr Golf form.

Laura at Top Golf

For the next month the days were filled with either baseball, golf, horse racing, happy hours or sight seeing.  Here I'm at Brewers game with friend Tommy Mirasola,

On the way back to Lillian's place I drove Tommy past the Westward Ho Hotel in downtown Phoenix. He's a horror moving fan and a Psycho movie fan in particular. The hotel is where they shot the opening scene in the movie. Remember Janet Leigh in the white bra? When I was a little boy I could never understand what she and that man were doing changing their clothes in the middle of the day.

The horse track is called Turf Paradise. Its a dump. Not one urinal is the same model. I had to wait 5 minutes to get this shot. Didn't want guys seeing me taking pictures in a bathroom. Not good.

Turf Paradise

Golf was frequent. Friend Matt and I drove up to Payson and played The Rim with friend Jim. One of the best looking places to golf I've ever seen. Over the top views in every direction.

One day we went with guest Lisa and Steve to Sedona. Here's the bar at their Elks Lodge. Best one I've ever seen.

Elks Lodge

We "joined" Talking Stick Golf Club for the month with a great deal. $79/round plus a lunch.

Matt was kind to ask me to join a foursome from ABUS, a local company he's working with. Johannes is my host from ABUS on the right. It was also at Talking Stick. It was a hard day. Went to a Suns game just one week later and wouldn't you know but these Sun Dancer didn't remember me.

PHX Suns Golf Outing

The Museum of the West in Scottsdale is something to see. A great display of Hollywood's version of the west. The real story, accurate history we didn't learn in grade school. Real cowboys and cowgals representations.

The Duke

Real Cowgal

On a map of the west from years ago, (west is considered anything west of Ohio) I found Economy WI. Can't say I've ever heard of it. Another trip and blog maybe.

Have you ever seen?

On one of the last days I went with Tommy to the Apache Leap Mining Festival in Superior. The largest copper dome in north america is 7000 feet below the town. Lots of great history, music and real minors. The guy hammering a nail is in the "Pinning" competition. They had several competitions of skills that are needed in the mine. Like driving a nail to keep the earth from coming upon you.

Love the local hotel sign. The sun is murder on everything I'm sure. This was a great day and it was nice to see a small town with real hard working "Mericans".

Hotel Magma

So now we begin a slow return to the east. Florida here we come. Will be lots of stops on the way. Tuscon, Tubec, Bisbee, El Paso, San Antonio, NOLO, Destin, St Pete, Naples, Key West, Jacksonville. Did I mention how happy I am Robin retired?