Papago Park: Beautiful in the Middle of Town

We were so surpised to see how beautiful this park was and right in the middle of town. Suddenly we were transported to another world....



Planes  go over the park every two minutes or so,
 heading for the airport

Landing in the sunset

Another Kind of Sunset

from Dobbins Point, South Mountain, Phoenix

It’s Still Summer in Phoenix!

Phoenix, here we come!

A cute painting on a pick-up

 

We had originally planned to go to Seattle for the month of September, between our four weeks at Telemark (our two owned red weeks and two owners’ bonus weeks) and our two white weeks.  However both Seattle condos are rented, so we looked at where we could use some expiring bonus weeks: one from Platinum Interchange and one from Trading Places.  Joan’s niece lives in Phoenix and we had not been there for a while, and we waited for the bonus week time and booked a week at the Legacy Golf Resort and a week at the Villas of Cave Creek.

2-storied buildings, in clusters around
 a central courtyard.  Very attractive.

     We exchanged into the Legacy Golf Resort with a bonus week from Platinum Interchange.  It was a studio but the reviews said that they were large.  They were large in that there was plenty of room for a sitting area (couch and chair) but the table was so small that we could not put our computers there so we had to be a little more creative than usual.  The other thing that was difficult for us was the small refrigerator and almost no cabinet space, in fact, none for food, and one drawer for all utensils and one drawer for pots and pans.  Two burner stove top, no oven, but a full sized dishwasher, so no space under the sink, even for the dish drainer.  We know this may be standard in a studio, but as we do not go out to each much, it was difficult to prepare the meals.  There was no frying pan, either, but they brought one right away when we called. 

A studio room at the Legacy Golf Resort

       One of the most disappointing things was that due to the extreme warm weather (after all, it was still summer here– September) the pool was so hot and the water was so warm, that we could not use it everyday as Joan had thought – and  indeed, few people did use it.  Usually it was empty.  And we did not do as much walking either as we would like to.

     However, it was so convenient to places we wanted to go:  downtown to meet Joan’s niece for lunch; over to Gilbert to see her grandniece iceskate  (Yes! Ice skating in 100+ degree heat is offered!), South Mountain at Dobbins Point for a beautiful sunset; and Papago Park for another sunset.  It wasn’t even too far to go to the MIM (Music Instrument Museum), maybe the best museum ever!

The MIM

       The Music Instrument Museum is new (2008) and huge:  exhibits from every country and specialized rooms as well.  This museum offers earphones to tour the exhibits (as many do) , but with a distinguishing difference:  these turn on automatically as you walk past the exhibits and match the videos there.  Amazing!   What a creative use of technology…and doesn’t it make sense, in a “music” museum?  Watch their Intro Video and get excited about going!  http://www.themim.org/mim-videos/mim-orientation-video.

  We spent 4 hours here and still had more hours left to see, but it was closing.   



 A thumb piano

TSA Pre-Check at MSP

YAY! We got to use the TSA Pre-Check security line today in MSP!  We signed  up over a year ago, but it has only been at certain airports and now we see only at certain check points as well.  It was very nice:  we did not have to take out computers, or take off shoes, etc. 

Fall Colors in Northen Wisconsin

Seems every year I post a few of these photos - this weekend is the PEAK of color!  We were afraid it would not have been so ideal due to the dry summer, but it has come a week or so early and BLAZING.

We climbed Mt Telemark today (1699 ft)

A small yellow plane practices Touch and Go's

Our Last Sunset at Telemark

Sitting here, lakeside, watching the sunset this last evening at Telemark, thinking about how much Marsha would enjoy watching it….. Then, thinking of all the people we know who are struggling even now with cancer:  JT, Marv, Rubye, Lori,  Sam….Praying for their recovery.

Our last sunset at Telemark (for a month)

More Lake Views

Before the sunset

We went out on the boat again that night.



The clouds are in the wrong position!




Clouds top and bottom

Parallel lines

Climbing Mt Telemark

View from the top of Mt Telemark: ski hill, lodge and airport

     Mt Telemark is the highest peak in Wisconsin  (thus, a skiing resort.  And it is internationally known for cross-country skiing) but there is a nice hike up the mountain and with good views from the top.  We did this several years ago but have not gone for a while.  We enjoyed the walk and were not too tired: a great exercise to repeat more often!

 First thing, we saw a fawn and mother who perked up but the wind was away from us, so they stood there for a long time even as we got closer.

    

Where Is Lake Owen? -- we got lost in the Wisconsin woods!

Today we got lost looking for the Lake Owen Resort, as the church (Living Hope Community Church) was having baptism there at 1 p.m. (and in the lake!)  We were interested in going, and Ron thought he knew where it was, but instead, we drove around the entire lake and arrived an hour late.  However, people were still there enjoying refreshments and sitting by the lake.  One of the church members owns the resort (we had not known that before) so it was good to hear their history of the ownership (grandparents had purchased it in 1963.) http://www.lakeowenresort.com/
One-half the lake is in the Chequamegon National Forest so no wonder it was so isolated at the northern part of the lake as we drove around.

       Ron talked with a man who has a gluten/dairy allergy and learned even more about eating well.

Too Many Mosquitos Tonight

We went out on the boat this evening, but were surrounded by a cloud of mosquitos.  We had sprayed, but every now and then one would slip threw to our faces.  The little windshield  on the boat was covered.  We had thought they would not be out in the middle of the lake.
    So we gave up fishing and came to shore.  There were not so many mosquitos there, surprisingly.  Joan thought she saw swallows diving, and Ron said they were probably bats.  They were!  Go bats!!

Sawyer County Fair

We like county fairs, so saw this fair this weekend and decided to go.  One word describes this fair well: SMALL!   However, very nice, with many interesting one-man shows (magician, comedy cowboy, clown who could make balloons in ALL shapes, etc.) and something new to us:  One of the biggest family attractions was the Veggie Race!  We really wanted to see what that was!
      All Kids Like to Play with Food – said Ron.  I guess so.  What fun!  The child gets to choose which vegetable to race and wheels are added.  Then they go down the track.  There were several races each day and the one we saw had several heats.  Everyone was very excited.  Everyone got a ribbon too.

         In the one flower, foods, crafts building, many of the displays were class projects submitted by teachers.  Very interesting.    



Some of the llamas looked funny

 We watched some of the animal judging (one girl had trouble controlling her cow – so she won – there were only two contestants in that category – actually in most of the categories we saw.)  Ron wanted to see every animal – at least it was easy:  there were 4 bunnies, etc. 

     We were surprised to see quite a few llamas.   We learned that they are sold for “guard” animals.  Guarding what?  Flocks of sheep, since the llamas are very alert – and sheep aren’t (of course!)

The Lake is Aflame!

The sunsets on Lake Namakagon (and Garden Lake where the condos are) are fabulous.  And every night is different.  And even differnet views of the same night, as we can walk down the property.

Boat Fun:Scenes from the boat

We finally got it together and are able to get out onto the lake.

Are the trees upside down? (No)

Waterfalls?  (No)

Coming into Pla-Mor Restaurant where we are meeting our friends for lunch; their pontoon boat is already there.  It only took us about 10 minutes to dock! 

      When we left, there were quite a few people there – but no cars in the parking lot. But lots of boats!

Almost home:  Telemark Pointe condo from the lake





Yes! Boating Fun!

The Light Problem

Ron bought a new plug adapter for the trailer and new fuses (in case) at the local store here in Cable, and the lights worked! 

The Starting Problem

     Meanwhile we had researched the starting problem.  In this case it was “Operator Error.”   We came back and got on the Internet and read the steps to start as there are no instructions given in the boat’s repair manual (100’s of pages) on how to start it.  Looks like a car’s key to start but there are four steps to do before you turn the key..... Or it won't start!!!!! 

Public launch on Garden lake

     Saturday, we went to the public dock on the lake since we can't launch here at Telemark and Ron launched and started successfully, tied the boat to the dock, moved the van and trailer. Then we took a little boat ride, then returned to the dock, tied up the boat and he got the van and trailer to where Joan could drive it without backing up.  She drove to Telemark Pointe – where the lake condos are – and then went to the dock to meet him.  It is so nice out here:  the dock is just below the unit.  Just go down and hop into your boat!

Bringing the boat into the Telemark dock

                                    Tonight we went out again and saw the beautiful sunset.

Boat Fun?

We brought the boat up to Wisconsin (Telemark in Cable.)   We went to launch it but couldn't get it started.  Then, as we pulled the trailer out of the water, the trailer lights did not work any more.

Searching for wiring problems

 More Boating Fun!

Then, even the lights on the van would go out as fuse after fuse blew!


Van fuses blow

This is boating fun?