Cave Creek Hike and Just Chillin’…

One great thing about Mesa Regal RV Resort is there is live music happening somewhere inside the park every single day. While all the bands aren’t great they are for the most part pretty good and play a wide assortment of music. The music line up does not include Zydeco music but that is okay as we have already booked a month in late spring at Betty’s RV Park in Louisiana to get our Zydeco “fix.”

Just about every evening we head over to one of the two pools to enjoy happy hour and listen to whomever is playing. There are times when there is one band playing at each pool and we can decide on which one is best to listen to. Sharon loves to get up and dance then before we know it it is dinner time. While here we have also been trying new recipes periodically and one night I made some fabulous Mexican Shrimp Cocktail… YUM!

Another reason we like to stay here in the winter is to have some appointments with the Mayo Clinic. I had one appointment there recently to get a second opinion on my ailing right knee. I learned after the imaging and consultation that knee surgery will definitely be in my future. How soon only my knee knows. I have had a few cortisone injections which offer two to three months of pain relief allowing me to hike more than a mile or two and play some pickleball. I had my last one in December when we were in San Diego.

Since the Mayo is in far north Phoenix near Scottsdale we took the opportunity to hike in Cave Creek, AZ at the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. We parked and donned our hiking boots to hit the trail.  A short way up the trail is a booth where $3.00 per person is collected to hike there. Man, it bothers me to have to pay to hike on lands bought by tax dollars but what is a person to do…

This 3 plus mile hike was through the typical vegetation found in the Sonoran desert with a varied assortment of cacti with few trees and sparse underbrush. However, for those of you that haven’t visited the Sonoran Desert it has a unique beauty all to its own. With the towering Saguaro Cactus and other indicator species the vistas in all directions are delightful.

Our hike took us up down a small canyon and we even crossed  small wooden slat bridge across Cave Creek. While we didn’t see an wildlife on our hike we were treated to various desert birds during our stroll. I love the sounds made by both the Cactus Wren and the Curve Billed Thrasher as it tells me I am in the Sonoran Desert just as the Saguaros do.

NOTE: We are currently in Mesa Arizona until March 11th 2020, then over to Tucson for a few days.

Back In Mesa AZ for the Winter…

We left Tacna AZ earlier than usual at about 9:30 am for the 168 mile drive to the east. About 3.5 hours later we pulled into Mesa Regal RV Resort, a Cal-Am park. We were last here three years ago and the price went up a lot since then. It is getting a bit on the pricier side for monthly stays but what we love about the park is that it is friendly and there is always a lot if things to do.

 

We pulled into the park knowing our site would be a tight fit as it is always a bit challenging to maneuver a larger RV in one of the Mesa Regal sites. We were escorted to our spot and knew it would be tough not only because each site has citrus trees to watch for but in our case the park model we would be beside had a large added on porch structure.  With our slides out we almost feel we are on their porch! Thankfully our friendly neighbors volunteered extra sets of eyes we made it in fairly easily. We now have Abbey nestled in and set up for our two month stay.

It didn’t take long for us to begin our winter routine. Sharon goes to the fitness center in the morning while I catch up on all the world’s events. Next is lunch and then I head over to the fitness center to workout. We usually take a long walk in around the park in the afternoon or over to the nearby grocery store or vegetable stand. I usually meander over to the hot tub around 2 in the afternoon for a long soak then afterward Sharon and I meet for the live music on the patio.

One change since we were last here is they have shortened happy hour to a single hour from 3 to 4 pm and the prices have gone up considerably. It is after all a Cal-Am park but it sad to see it starting to pinch the residents for more money. Anyhow another change for the better is that there is now free music everyday somewhere in the park.  At least we are getting something we enjoy for the extra money we will be spending inside the park. There may be even more offerings to discover as we received a large packet upon arrival with an informational magazine we haven’t read yet. 

So, we have been here over a week and have already made a few new friends. During one of the special monthly events called the Manager’s Happy Hour (held once a month) we joined our new Canadian friends and met more of their friends. It was a lot of fun and laughs buying 25 cent beers featured as the special. Many 25 cent beers were consumed and with the lively band, it was indeed a memorable evening of entertainment!

I will write more later but for now it is time for us to go play some pickleball…

NOTE: We are currently in Mesa Arizona until March 11th 2020, then over to Tucson for a few days.