Thursday, Nov 15 - Last day of work before Turkey in the Desert. I can't get out of a 3 hour meeting to finish some things started this week. I get frustrated and make us late leaving work. Great Googley Moogley, it was good to get out of there! Got half the Jeep loaded for the Arizona trip before going to bed.
Friday, Nov 16 - Finish packing and get away from the house by 9AM. After some errands in Cortez, it is 10AM when we head south. I was a little concerned after my last trip, feeling paranoid something will break on the way out of Colorado. We made it to New Mexico in no time in spite of the crappy highway and I started to feel better once we got south of my axle blow out 22 miles beyond Shiprock. US491 south of Ship Rock is in real good shape so we easily cruised 70 on 4 lane divided highway. P2 was getting about 11.5 mpg on the first tank of gas. I40 flowed well to the west and we ran 70-80 most of the way to Holbrook, AZ. Topped off in Holbrook with 10.8 mpg. We turned south there and made better gas mileage again on the next tank running 60-70. The Salt River Canyon was just as beautiful as usual and we made good time. May get to the Roger's place before dark. We had low sun staring at us as we came down from Globe on 60. The valley was in a haze that helped to produce a colorful sunset. Rolled in to Queen Creek just as the light was fading to black. Nothing but a win on the drive down!
Saturday, Nov 17 - We get packed for Turkey in the Desert and meet up with folks at the McDonald's in Florence. Real good to see old friends again and meet some new folk as well. By then, Tad & Bob were already on site in the desert wash where we were headed. We all rolled at 10 and headed down to the wash. Tad and Em was just getting back from loading firewood for the evening. There was plenty of time to catch up with almost everyone to some level and then the food prep started. Bob fried the turkey perfect as well as the turket breast. Tables were set up and food started getting laid out while some other cook prep was going on. By 4:30, food was getting out on plates and consumed. The head count was 31 or 32, I could not get the same number each time I counted. It was a multi-family FSJ gathering that went off very well with plenty of food and story to go around. Unlike last year, no liquor was brought out so we all slowly sunk into our chairs around the fire after some children and adults went home. I think we were all checked into bed rolls by 10:30. Again, another win for Turkey in the desert.
Bob gave Krista the tailgate panel from Phoebe which he had everyone sign that he could who were involved in the resurrection of Phoebe Too. It was emotional. We came to the desert 2 years before and destroyed Phoebe but got back in the saddle and came back in the new and improved P2. We feel humbled still from all the help we got to get her back on the road. THANK YOU Arizona Friends and Family!!!
Sunday, Nov 18 - Krista's Birthday! Most woke at or before daylight. I had the fire stoked back up and story started going around again over coffee and other morning drinks. We brought 17 chicken and 7 duck eggs to toss in for breakfast. Bob cooked up potatoes and chorrizo to roll in tortillas with the scrambled eggs. Then some pumpkin pie to top it off. There was no shortage of food! Gradually, folks from Tucson got packed up first along with Jerry and Sandy from Globe and headed back home. We enjoyed a couple more hours of chat and story under shady trees before we packed up and headed out with AZ Frank, Ralph and Em.
We are now in Anthem with Krista's mom and step dad for Thanksgivings. Here we are in AZ again with a fine Jeep Wagoneer. We have waaay much to be thankful for. Pictures will be added as we have time and resources to make that happen.
We Love our AZ FSJ Friends and Family!
Happy Thanksgiving All!