Family in Phoenix

I really enjoyed spending time with my Aunt & Uncle and Cousins in Phoenix. Hope it isn't another 30 years until we can all get together again.  I don't think I can make another trip to the desert.  I don't know how they do it. It's just so hot!

I love hearing Uncle Joe's stories of our family.  The best one from this trip was hearing him talk about my great-grandfather and how he was the mediator for the community encouraging debate and discussions rather arguments and fighting.  He said it was common to see the mayor of Rome and police chief at the house discussing issues. We need to get him to write this stuff down. 

AZ Petrified Forest

Picture a lush forest with pools of water lined with vegetation. 225 million yeas ago this is what Arizona looked like.  Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified log still lies where it fell over 200 million years ago.

Petrified log rests upon a petrified sand dune

Very hot. We explored the miles of park helmet-less & protective gear-less. Hey, if your not living on the edge you're taking up too much space!

Ancient graffiti (petroglyphs) from the hood. I'd love to know what these say.

Route 66

Route 66 cuts through Arizona.  This is a remnant of a car left off Route 66 just outside the petrified forest.

Sahuaro in the heart of Phoenix.  Hard to imagine all the produce, cattle, and crops harvested in the desert.  We had a hard time walking in the sweltering 105 degree Phoenix heat.  Can't imagine doing any kind of work in it.

Sahuaro Ranch

Met some new friends (treatment went well in AZ)

Met some great people last week.  For the first time in fifty years I was treated outside my home area and all went well.  There are a lot of great caregivers out there and these are three I am pleased to have met.

Turns out Dr. Gomez (left) served his residency at Oakland Thalassemia Center. I so appreciate the time he spent with me and letting me pick his brain. Very interesting talking with him and discussing some different treatment options which may help long term.

No worries finding a vein and the stab as my nurse was quick and precise (both eyes open).  They were all so professional yet human.  Can tell they do what they love daily and do it well!  I have one more stop in St. Louis for a refill.  I'm much less stressed about it now that my Arizona stop for a top off went so well.

I hope other patients read this and are encouraged to get out there and see their world.  If I can help, just add a comment to this post or message me, I'd be happy to help in any way I can.  Do what you need to do for a good quality of life but don't let Thal hold you back. No matter how much time that encompasses, enjoy and just do!

Day 8, Arches Moab, UT

Utah is an amazing state to ride through.  Around every turn is something new. Never seen by many Easterners before.  For at least these two from the Northeast, these valleys filled with amazing rock formations is very exciting. 

Hard to imagine how the formations evolved over the past millions of years.  

Unreal riding in hot (HOT!!!) dry conditions yet seeing the snow capped mountains.  They don't seem to be that far away.

Day 10, Bryce Canyon, UT

Incredible Arches

 Not sure what a "Hippy Form Hell" is but may have been fun meeting these guys.

Day 9, UT

Driving into Boulder, UT was a little cooler than Moab.  Altitude was the change.  Evidence of the climate change was evident in the more green landscape.  With green also comes the risk of deer crossings, which we did see a few grazing not far from the road along with open range cattle.

We saw at least three of these to date in our travel across the country.  I thought it was some sort of beacon for aircraft.  Come to find out they are indeed VHF omnidirectional radio range stations or VORs.
What are VORs??

This was a cool little motel.  Although, to get to the office you had to walk through a minefield of beautiful flowers guarded by killer honey bees!  I had one attached to my jugular by the time I entered the front office.  And he wasn't happy when I tried to detach the vehement creature from my neck. To be fair, I do look like a giant sunflower in my hi-vis riding jacket.

Rode through many areas which had burned recently. Could still smell it in the air.