Memorable Day on a Memorable Day

Ok so anyone reading this blog --sad people, get a life, -- will know that yesterday was our wedding anniversary, but all in all i cant think that there would be too many people that could cram in what we managed during what was to become a very long day.

As I think I may have mentioned yesterday that Lynda and I had a quiet Sunday evening dinner and although the day was busy , I was awake and on line at 5 am.

So when we were breakfasted and on our way yesterday , we stopped on the way out of town to grab a photo of me at the second M+W office this time in Phoenix---

This is me with my mate John Dunn who took the giant step of selling up everything in 2005 in Scotland and moved him his wife and 3 children to Phoenix and are still living the dream---great people, an avid Rangers supporter who was converted yesterday to being a Chelsea fan for the day.

 

Ok , so Lynda and I hit the road from there with the target of being in Flagstaff , AZ, by 1200 noon at the latest for the Manc v's Chelsea match live -- well we actually got to Flagstaff just after 11am and of course where is Flagstaff--right on Route 66 ---

 

 

Now clearly , we needed to see the game so we were in the Collins Irish Bar for lunch and the Match and sure enough there was the game on about 10 big TV's. All was good until a storm brought a halt to every TV screen for around 20 minutes so was relieved to see the score still goalless when it came back on.

Not unhappy at the result, 0-0 is good at their ground, but thought we could have nicked it.

 

Still , just to prove a point, when we left Flagstaff at 2pm here, this was the driving conditions---

 

 

So this storm was not just for a few miles, it was on and off right up until we fell into the hotel room at 10pm last night---oh yeah, we went forward on a time zone--forgot about that one.

Any way we went a slightly different way than the plan because there had been a road slide and a road was washed away to get to Page so we decided to go to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But you see all sorts and we saw these images on the way at a place called "Cave Dwellers"---

These rocks were balanced with enough overhang to build the walls--amazing.

Ok so when we got to the North Rim --apart from getting ripped of for $25 for a quick photographic visit--especially at 5.30pm when the cloud and rain was coming down-- we made it there---

These pictures d not do it justice but on the top of the Grand Canyon North Rim , when it is misty and raining is always going to be a problem.

Now the even bigger problem was to find a Hotel that had a room---Deja Vue and sleeping in car was starting to raise its head as a possibility--we went to one place where the storm had washed down mud onto the main road and there were diggers clearing the mud away.

We stopped for fuel and got a coffee and essential food--well I thing this burger was food --but we need the carbs so what the hell.

It was also driving on single carriageway roads that gets you stuck behind lorries and slow-coaches, so hence the 2  1/2 hours drive to a place in Utah called Hurricane-- we hope that is not an omen---and we have just booked a Best Western for tonight.

So that's it ---monumental day on our anniversary--- and hopefully we can get a couple of days good walking and sight seeing again. I will put yesterdays photos in a bundle onto the profile in the next day or so.

Gotta get cracking, the Boss is raring to go, so later people-----

monumental day for a ride

Yes I am well aware that it is Manu v's Chelsea and yes I know how monumental that could be with a win at old Trafford, and of course Lynda and I will try to find a sports bar to watch it--could be the Irish Bar , in Flagstaff. if I can get thereby around 12 noon.

So we are leaving phoenix today, we might swing by the M+W office on the way past on the way to get on to the I-17 heading north. After Flagstaff we will drive to Page an stop for the night and then tomorrow morning drive to Bryce Canyon in Utah.

These images are what is driving us to get up there-- like something from another world and quite extraordinary.

Also we are intending to get to see some of Zion Nat Park  where amazing places where water formed in the sandstone incredible shapes , tunnels and formations.

Hopefully the next images will be ours. Lynda is convinced that we are gonna suffer the same fate as that climber who had to cut his arm off to escape after he got wedged in there. I keep telling her that the knife is only for peeling apples but I don't think she is convinced.

So this is a short and sweet blog today but just to say that there is another reason it is a monumental day and that is because it is the day 25 years ago that Lynda and I decided to get married and it certainly is up there as the best decision I ever made--- Lynda, well you will have to ask her that but she is still here, putting up with me and all my foible's--and they are many.

I love you Lynda more now than ever and I am looking forward to the same level of excitement over the next 25.
Happy Anniversary my Darling.
Philip xxx 

Post Tanque Verde

A Very Big Happy Birthday to ANN PENNINGTON today---we hope you have had a great day and were spoilt rotten.

So we left Tanque Verde yesterday morning to drive to Phoenix but there was one last ride, although I think Richard and I agree that it was pretty ordinary, in the most part to the size of the group and the amount of non riders with continual stop starts , dropped water bottles, riders letting horses eat.

I did manage to get a couple of shots of a couple of jack rabbits that were right in our path---

Always sad leaving the ranches--we have such a great time there and always meet such nice people.

Still , the journey has to continue.

We had to go to phoenix via the air[port as we had to change the car yet again --this time with a cracked windscreen - we are now on our 4th car.

Lynda decided she was going to capture anything that was of interest to her on the trip to Phoenix and here is a selection---

Here is an example of the tiny twisters that continually whip up all the way from Tucson to Phoenix--must be a big factor with facilities such as Intels which is in this valley as well.

I think she took this just to link to the fact that we had been talking about Paul McCartney this week, with him having a ranch next door the TV Ranch we were on.

This one has to be just because we went to Florence the last time we were here in Arizona--its up in the east side mountains and houses 2 of the largest Prisons I have seen in my life -- we did not know that when we booked to stay at a motel there.

Absolutely no way can I come to Phoenix and not have a picture of the Intel Ocotillo facility, even if it is at distance

And finally, as we were watching "McClintock " 3 days ago on Netflix with John Wayne I think Lynda thought it was some kind of a sign--- well , yes of course it is a sign, a road sign but you know what I mean ---a "Sign" from the Duke.

Now the on thing people should realise is that Lynda is a bit of a witch, or at least a magician ---well look at the facts--
When we came to the USA a few weeks ago and loaded up the car, we had 2 suitcases.
So here we were exchanging the car yesterday and what do you know, there are now 4 cases----

I am telling everyone here that I don't know how she does this but it happens every time, right in front of my eyes and I see nothing.

This next picture is a really nice one of Lynda and me --- we don't get too many usually one or the other of us, so this was good and thanks Richard.

So here we are on Sunday morning , having had a great night out last night at a restaurant called the Keg on Chandler Blvd with John and Margaret Ann Dunn,--- John is an old friend and colleague from M+W who relocated with his family to Phoenix, and it is always good to catch up with them on any of our visits here---next meal is on me John.

So while we wait to see if we can Skype with any of the children we are thinking about the next leg of the journey---Bryce Canyon and Zion Nat park-- shopping in an hour or so in Nordstrom's and for me thinking of the match tomorrow against the Mancs---you have got to play better Chels if we are to get some kind of a result at their ground--Win or Lose, Up The Blues.

Have a great day one and all.

I am Definately the Worst Pool Player in the World --It's Official

Well, I used to be pretty good at Snooker but Pool---i'm hopeless as I proved against Richard in the Dog House Bar last night.

Actually very apt name for this particular bar on the Tanque Verde Ranch, cause that's what I was in this morning due to getting home rather drunk and then trying to send the world an email---if you got something from me then just delete it cause it will be gobbledy gook.

That fact may also be part of the reason why I was so crap at Pool---couldn't even hit the white ball properly.

Never mind, nothing quite like a ride on a great bit 17 hands horse at 07.15,  to remove any hangover.

Great breakfast ride in the morning up to the old homestead yesterday---

If Rod and Ann see this they will see it as Deja Vue we were in the same seats with them several years ago for the breakfast ride. These great folk are Richard and Shirley from Chester le Street.

 
Shame about the Van -- takes away the authenticity a bit.

Horses stored---

This is Barbara from Scotsdale, the other side of Phoenix who did the nature walk up to Breakfast. Below is her husband , Walter who due to leg issues has to rely on something a lot less energetic but still doing a great impression of Burl Ives-- Walter would have been a big boss, even if he had been in the Big Country.

 Below is Lynda's horse, Chester or Billy No-mates as we now call him.

Here is Lynda on Chester and me on Zepha--only the bluddy van spoiling the photo.

 Lynda found a hair dresser to get her hair done--not sure about that place--Lynda was the youngest by about 20 years and that included the hairdressers.

It hammered with rain for about an hour and the road to TV was flooded--the car got covered in muddy water so doesn't look too great plus we have a cracked windscreen so gonna have to change the car in the next day or so.

This picture is of the 7 of us-- Walter, Barbara and their son John  + Richard and Shirley on the night of the cook out --food was better than the cook out at RTR--great ribs and chicken.

 This was our entertainment-- a bit smarter than Mr Dust at the Dixie Dude-- but definitely  dyes his hair

We had a great afternoon around Walter and Barbara's with Richard and Shirley for late afternoon drinks and canapés which didn't help with the amount of alcohol consumed .

Just for the record on todays ride we saw 2 rattlers, 2 jack rabbits, a road runner, a Chipmunk and some ducks, so keeping up with seeing lots of critters on this trip.

Ok so last day today at TV--tomorrow we push off to go to Phoenix--not far and meeting up with John Dunn and his wife for dinner.

Have really enjoyed being back at TV and it has been a really good week.

Happy trails

Mad dogs and English Folk--

The idea that it is just us brits that are daft enough to go out in the midday sun when its over a hundred degrees was never truer than yesterday when there was a group of 5 of us brits together,

That would have melted the inside of  a red hot chilli.

Here is Lynda on her horse yesterday--

 Also had a guy and his wife on the ride who live in Perth , come from Sheffield and he is a big England cricket fan--not going too well in the 5th test today.

Didn't see any rattlers around but did see a deer and plenty of little critters. Oh and also had a road runner outside our veranda yesterday morning -- they really exist now that I have seen one first hand--and boy do they run.

So first ride yesterday-- it was on a giant called King. It seems that Hercules is fit and well but they are only keeping him for the kids so no having big fat lads like me on him-- so I will go pay him a visit tomorrow morning.

The day went well except that when around the pool in the afternoon the dark clouds came over and there was a real thunder and lighting show with no real rain.

Lots of magnificence in the Saguaro Park--

 

This silver roofed house is next to the Ranch and is owned by Paul McCartney and bought when Linda was still alive--I think they bred horses--maybe Arabians.

 

Lots of colour bursting through in temps of 105 degrees

Here above is also a magnificent specimen of mine---

 
Here is the ranch and out place is the low section at the front

 And this sunset is to die for.

We have made friends with a couple from Scottsdale Walter and Barbara and their 40 year old son John and another couple--Richard and Shirley from North East England so we had a very pleasant evening dinner even though the meal was not up to scratch.

Not too late last night as we were on the 7.15 am pre-breakfast ride this morning which was great and I had another giant called Merlin.

After breakfast Lynda and I went fishing at their lake and I caught a few little blue fin but the catches of the day were first Lynda with the amazing catfish below---

But I managed to just top that off with this little beauty--

And I my top ready for the match which I was able to get on NBC Sport on the big screen at lunch today--- you made flipping hard work of it again lads---still good 3 point.

Swimming this afternoon and not to a Bar B Q so later everyone.

Come on the Chels