Cant Believe That The Merc got Hurt

So here is a time when after a 3 week period & some 3000 miles later I get rear ended by a guy who said he saw me reversing, but decided that he would keep reversing as well rather than stop. I di d resist the urge to ask him - "Why the fricking hell didn't you stop then" -- well I am a guest here I suppose.

 

Oh well , we will try to tidy it up and try to forget but of course need to learn from this that just because you don't see someone else in the camera picture-- don't take it for granted.

 

Getting ahead again -- so yesterday was our last ride up to the breakfast ride picnic area.

Wonder if we will ever have breakfast here again--

 

So that is the last of our visit to Tanque Verde Ranch as we have discussed that this is quite possible the last trip there -- ok you have heard that before but there is a change there this time that made us feel less than satisfied . They need to be real careful that they do not lose that personal touch that we have always felt to be something special. Ah well , so for us it is a trip yesterday up the I-10 to Scottsdale to the wonderful Walter & Barbara McNulty and their son John.

 

 Amazing rock formations and at the same time examples of some not so very good climate control measure-- well with this train engine anyway.

This structure dates back to the 13th century from the Hohokum People.

So the picture below shows Barbara, Walter , their son John, Northern |Brits Richard and Shirley, Lynda and me at the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucsan when we all met for the first time some 5 years ago.
The picture below is all of us again -- Just missing Young John-

The picture below is all of us again -- Just missing Young John- when we were all able to meet up with friends mike and janet on the island of aegina last year when they all stayed at our house there

 

And so to see the new structure built in the last 2 years by Walter for the entertaining side of life in his garden. We wonder if it will still be there as long as the structure up above

Breakfast in Cave Creek

Houses in Carefree are literally built into the mountain

 

 Some strange objects on our stroll around the Sundial Square in Carefree

 We also found this English Tea Room where everything is quintessential English including the cut out of Her Majesty

So the Americans are in full preparation mode for next weekend and are very much looking forward to having an American Princess - Lynda even got us an invite on the 19th to a huge party they are having with the big screen showing all of the wedding --- Are they sure--- don't they know that it is the Cup Final at that time with the mighty Blues and that we will be in a sports bar in Palm Springs.

 They keep as much of the old frontier as possible along the highway and have a thriving business in metal artwork from scrap

 So after some touring around the area it was back to the house and a stretch by the pool and a swim

 Had to be a special visit as this cactus flowers for one day only and that is it , so pretty pleased that we were her to capture this.

 

Another piece of Metal sculpture in their garden

 

We were treated to a wonderful dinner at a restaurant that unfortunately the owner is selling for real estate but treated to some fine dinning from the kitchen of this talented executive chef - Christopher Nicosia -- who we are sure wont have to wait long to taste his menu.

 

 

 

 

 

So this was a sad farewell yesterday morning and unfortunately Walter who has been in a fair bit of pain was not able to be part of the parting shots but we had a wonderful couple of days with these guys and cant wait till we meet next time.

 

 

So that's it for today and heading off to San Diego -- about 5+ hours drive -- wont be as warm but will be good to see this place.