Valley of the Sun 2014: Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.........

Another great Valley of the Sun adventure has come to an end. I think I will break into an all-time favorite Jimmy Buffett song to kick-off my last post. Sing along everyone.......

Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
By: jimmy buffett 1977

I took off for a weekend last month
Just to try and recall the whole year
All of the faces and all of the places
Wonderin’ where they all disappeared
I didn’t ponder the question too long
I was hungry and went out for a bite
Ran into a chum with a bottle of rum
And we wound up drinkin all night

Chorus:
It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes
Nothing remains quite the same
With all of our running and all of our cunning
If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane

Last I wrote we were in Twin Falls, Idaho heading west. From TF we headed west on I-84. After a "short" 500 miles we arrived at Lake Lenore, Washington. I should add that before we got to Lake Lenore we drove through the farmland around Othello, Washington in hopes of seeing Sandhill Cranes. Although they should have been plentiful we saw exactly "zero" cranes. Strike three on crane hunting for us. We spent a fabulous 2 nights with Uncle B and Aunt L, and Midnight. We had time to visit and share experiences, eat good food, drink good wine, sleep and get in some needed exercise by walking Midnight.

From Lake Lenore we continued west over the Snoqualmie Pass and into Seattle. While in Seattle Barry did a bit of power shopping at the Patagonia store on 1st Ave. We departed Seattle ahead of rush hour and proceeded up the I-5 to the border.

We were finally back in Canada.....for about 35 minutes as we crossed back into the USA to spend 2 nights with Dana's parents at Point Roberts. While at the Point, Dana's birthday month continued with 2 more birthday dinners. The first dinner came complete with a chocolate cake complete with 6 candles. Of course the fam sang her all the birthday songs which put a great big smile on her face. The second dinner came with fresh baked apple pie and ice cream. Yummy! Thanks to all the bakers!

While at the Point we had a window of sunshine and I was able to go to Boundary Bay Regional Park where I chased the female Harrier in hopes of getting a few good photos. i am sure this is the same hawk I chased in December prior to our departure for Arizona.

We arrived home yesterday. We were warmly greeted by friends on the street. When we got inside our house we found a couple of surprises. Bruce and Sue had done a bit of grocery shopping for us, plus a 6-pack of beer and fresh cut flowers on the mantle. In the fridge we found pork chops, milk, eggs, apples, oranges and lettuce. There was coffee, bananas and bread on the counter. What a welcome home!!!

Our Valley of the Sun 2014 adventure is over but the memories will last a very long time. I'm writing this with one eye on the television where the Vancouver Canucks are losing yet another game. It reminds me of one of my memories this winter which was the visit to Jobing.com arena for the Coyotes vs Canucks game. I wrote some very negative things about the Canucks after their poor effort that night. Since that game, or shortly before, the Canucks have posted a dreadful 7-13-4 record. I believe I predicted that after seeing them in the desert.

We have so many great memories of our stay in Mesa. Street get-togethers, impromptu happy hours and coffee sessions, Bocce Ball with Tony and Gail, cycling with Steve and Joanne, golf with bro Mike and gang on Thursday at Superstition Springs, where I owned the 15th hole, and Sunday mornings with the "Royal Canadians". I enjoyed my weekly tennis fix with the 1.5 group, actually wishing I could have done an extra day each week but finding no time in our calendar. Dana and I birded the most ever this winter. We counted 164 species during our time in Arizona shattering our record of 124 last year. This year we had visitors from home on 2 occasions. Robin and Robert for a week and Bruce and Sue for a week. We had a great time and hope they did too.

Finally, I couldn't re-cap without mentioning my bird photography. I am still learning about digital SLR photography. I was blessed in Arizona with a bounty of willing and not so willing subjects. I was able to capture some good images of the beautiful birds that inhabit the desert in the winter. I have shared many in my blog. I want to thank everyone who commented favorably on my photos. (cheap and gratuitous plug for products to follow....) I will be making several calendars for 2015 depicting Arizona birds. Let me know if you want one (or two...). Greeting cards will also be available.

This is it. Time to put a wrap on this gift we call an adventure. We hope that we will be able to return in 2015 for more adventures in the Valley of the Sun. Between now and then we have a lot of life to live and adventures to be had. I can tell you one thing that I will not be doing and that is wasting time following the Vancouver Canucks! So until next year.....

It’s these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Nothing remains quite the same

With all of our running and all of our cunning

If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane

I leave you with a couple of photos from our last days on the road. Enjoy!!