UPDATE FOR THE GIRLS

Tee says---------------------------------------

While the boys were out in the desert on their "continuing education program", the girls were shopping, dining, laughing, and playing "catch-up" on the last 25 years or so with Judy Pirtle. Talk about a good ole' chin wag! We felt as if our tongues were blistered and our jaws needed to be in traction. Duncan said it was like flipping channels on the TV to different stories. What fun we had!

The boys returned on Sun with smiles and sunburns and scraggly beards. It was a bittersweet and meaningful time for them. Thomas had a flight out on Mon and two hours after we left him at the airport, he called and requested a reservation with us for another night. Seems the plane had mechanical problems as did the one they were going to use to replace it. So--hooray for us! We had him with us for another day!

We had our traditional "kiss off" dinner on Thursday, the 15th, at Red Lobster with the Kochs and this time Duncan's birthday & our anniversary followed the next day. The following day the Kochs headed to Mexico for Thanksgiving with their family & we left for Tucson where we had dinner with the Vigals and Hansons.

Saturday, the 17th, found us in Las Cruces and another absolutely fantastic Sunday Brunch at the Double Eagle in old Mesilla! On Monday we drove to White Sands National Monument which is definitely another wonder of the world. The sands are pure white and powdery--you can't discern grains like beach sand--and the dunes go on for miles. The sky was so blue it almost looked lavender on the horizon and there was not a cloud to be seen--not even a wisp. We saw several Stealth bombers out of Holloman Air Force Base and given our surroundings we almost felt as if we were on a Star Wars set.

Because of weather at this time of year we opted to take the southern route home. Duncan picked up her truck which she had stored in Las Cruces & off we went thru El Paso to Ft Stockton, TX for the night and into Fredericksburg, TX for 5 nights. The RV park had a potluck for Thanksgiving & they provided the turkeys so it was a nice day. We arrived on Wed afternoon in 70 degree temp & 42 degrees is the highest we've had since! They were calling for snow this AM but it was a non-event.

We head for Houston tomorrow where it's supposed to be warmer & hopefully, the holiday travelers will all be back at home.

2007 Memorial Hunt-Thursday Nov 8

Thursday morning found us eager to go back to the desert for the annual "hunt". This year was a memorial to Bill Kerekes, the fearless leader for all these many years. Bill finally lost his battle with cancer in June and many of us feared that the hunt would not occur. Thanks to Billy and Mike Kerekes, 2 of Bill's sons, we carried on in fine form with 9 of the group--Jim Wible, Gordy Pirtle, Jay Bibler, Steve Bibler, Gary Bibler, Bucky Walters, Neil Koch, Thom Krimminger, and myself. Much missed were 2 of our regulars, Bush Hedges and Phil Brenan, who were waging their own battle with health problems.

Although we know that Bill was watching from above, we really could have used his guidance down below where the scene was reminiscent of a Chinese Fire Drill. I thought of a better description but then this is supposed to be PG rated. With all of this high priced leadership, one would have expected better results! We finally made it, however, back to Camp Saguaro for the 3rd straight year. You can understand the name when you look at the pictures.

Thursday afternoon was spent setting up camp, acquiring wood for the campfire, and preparing our C rations for the evening meal. We also had a sip of sherry prior to C rats.



Since Mike had a permit for deer, he and Billy spent Friday and Saturday hunting the elusive little devils, much to no avail. The rest of the group spent Friday in various "Seminars". We also allotted time for the youngsters in the group--led by our resident pyromaniac, Gordy--to gather more firewood. Saturday was spent in more "Seminars", gathering more firewood, and preparing for the Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony in the evening. Although everyone participates in the ceremony, most of the thanks go to Gordy, Jay and Steve for the elaborate decorations and ceremony complete with the Commandant's Message on the widescreen and the same music played at thousands of locations around the world.



The dinner was complete with multiple toasts using grape juice poured from "Jarhead Red" bottles designed to resemble wine bottles.



After chorizo tortillas on Sunday morning we broke camp in a couple of hours-- returning Camp Saguaro to its original state--hopefully awaiting our return in 2008.

We returned to Yuma and waiting members of the opposite sex who maintained a safe distance which was probably a wise move considering the fact that there are no shower facilities in the desert. Participating in the whole affair were Patty Wible, Sandy Koch, Tee Krimminger, our friend Duncan Wall, Judy Pirtle, Ginny Bibler and of course our Yuma hosts, Linda Kerekes (Billy's wife) and Cheryl Kerekes (Mike's wife).

We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Kerekes family without whom we could not possibly hold this wonderful event and whose father had a great impact on all of our lives. Bill welcomed us as members of the family and the children have continued.

Wednesday Nov 7

Spent the last 2 days eating at some of our favorite restaurants with Kochs, Richmans, and Duncan. Richmans are leaving so we had to introduce them to Yuma in a hurry. Tomorrow we leave for the desert so we hit yet another restaurant tonight with the "desert rats" that have arrived along with wives, etc. The above is actually from our 2005 trip at Lutes Casino (not actually a casino but a restaurant that is an institution in old downtown Yuma). The "Especial" is a cheeseburger/hot dog combination. Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Update

Sunday Nov 4

Spent two full days in Tucson in a park WAY out of town in the desert. Although we didn't see them, the owner said the coyotes and javelina (wild pigs) wander into the campground. I was satisfied watching the quail scoot by and the cactus wrens flitting from their nests in the saguaros--thank you very much!

The Hansons made it back from Texas with all of their possessions from their trailer in a U-haul. They managed to salvage about 95% but nothing from the kitchen area which had been ripped away as they skidded down the highway along a median barrier. You can always buy new pots and pans but you can't buy a new life. From the story and the pictures one can only conclude that their guardian angels were along for the ride and the slide!

We made it to Yuma on Friday Nov 1 and will be here until the 16th. Barbara and John (Sisters, OR) will be leaving this week so we're trying to cram in all the places to see & our favorite spots to eat since this is their first visit here. We'll all be waddling by the time we leave!

The lettuce fields are all green, the skies are blue, temperatures 90 + or -, lovely breezes----Life is still good!

Mesilla, NM (Las Cruces)

Oct 23

Spent a 2nd night at Cowtown RV Park in Ft Worth and then on to Monahans, TX on Oct 24th for a night--a place to lay our heads. On to Mesilla and Las Cruces, NM (Oct 24-28) to have Sunday brunch at the Double Eagle Inn in old Mesilla with our friends from Oregon & Arizona--a major reason for this jaunt to the Southwest.

Duncan met us shortly after we arrived on Thursday and the Kochs, Richmans, and Vigals joined us on Friday and the fun began. Saturday we went to a huge Farmer's Market & Craft Show in Las Cruces, then down to the little village of La Mesa to have lunch at Chopes which is a true locals' place. We were not disappointed.



Our other friends, Louie & Nicole Hanson, who were hoping to join us, called to let us know they had been in an accident on Friday and their truck and trailer had been totaled. By the grace of God they walked away with bumps and bruises. High winds were the major factor in the accident and it makes one shudder because we all have to contend with that occasionally and it can be scary.

The brunch was AMAZING--the food, the staff, the service and the setting--all five star. Everyone agreed it was the finest brunch they had ever attended--MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Unfortunately, John wasn't feeling well and didn't go. Drove all the way from Oregon for this and missed it!



Tomorrow on to Tucson. Life is good!

Fort Worth (Aledo), TX

Cowtown RV Park

Drove west thru MS & stopped on the banks of Big Muddy to watch some barges pass by. I don't know how many times we've crossed the Mighty Mississippi--a dozen plus--and we STILL haven't spotted Tom & Huck! I think these boys must be fictitious!

We crossed the river into Louisiana and drove to Shreveport for the night. It was in the 80's. Today as we crossed into TX, we could see the cold front moving in and we drove in rain and high wind all the way to Fort Worth. After getting out to help set up camp I immediately changed into a sweat suit. 56 degrees and the wind nearly blew me down--but the rain has stopped.

Meridian, MS

After wonderful visits with family in Raleigh & Mt. Pleasant we rolled southwest to Atlanta for one night. Campgrounds are scarce near the city so we stayed in one on the east side. Leaving at 8:00 am found us in wretched traffic heading west. One hour to go 28 miles! You couldn't pay me to live there!

Meridian, MS--one day to rest & see the sights. Journeyed out to NAS Meridian where Navy and Marine aviators are trained. In this day of increased security, we couldn't even get close to the flight line. Did see an aerial view in the PX. Whoopee! We really, really tried but I have to tell you--there's nothing to see in Meridian! Kind of reminded us of Fort Stockton, TX!

Westward Ho--Again

Here we are on the road again. Left Little River yesterday about noon for 3 nights at Erika, Larry & Sydney's home in Raleigh. It was a short night for us since both Tee and I were exhausted from preparing for the trip--it was long enough to get some of the great barbecue from this part of the country, however. We're here until Tuesday morning when we will journey on to Mt. Pleasant for a visit with my sister and other members of our family. Thursday we leave for Yuma and will meet up with Duncan, Sandy, Neil, Barbara, John, Pat, Bob, and hopefully, Nicole and Louie in Mesilla, NM (Las Cruces) for Sunday Brunch. Then on to Tucson for a couple of days, arriving in Yuma on Nov 1st for the "hunt"

Home Again

Home again after having departed on May 18. Some 9,400 miles in the motorhome plus a trip from Oregon to Arizona in Neil's Corvette, Oregon to Vancouver, BC in Sandy's Explorer, and a cruise to Alaska. An absolutely marvelous summer was had by all!

Home for a few months to catch up on those necessary evils in life and then if all goes well, we'll be headed to Yuma, AZ for our annual rendezvous with our Marine friends.