My Texas Home Followed by Driving, Driving,Driving!!!

I stopped in Dallas at my Texas home. This is actually my cousins' home, but I treat it like my own. At one point, one of my cousins came home unexpected at lunchtime, and there I was lying on the sofa reading my book. I told him this is what retired people do. God, I love being retired! As always, it was great seeing this family, extended family and friends. I hope I'll be stopping in for many years to come, and hope they'll continue putting up with me for many years to come.

After I left Dallas, I drove. I'm headed to Quartzite, AZ, which is over 1000 miles from Dallas. I stayed in truck stops for 2 nights, and am now in Maricopa, AZ, on the east side of Phoenix. Quartzite is on the west side of Phoenix. I'm at the John Wayne RV Ranch. I guess the Duke had a ranch in this part of town. Hence, the name, and the ghost seen occasionally riding his horse around the property. I feel very safe knowing that John Wayne is watching out for us.

I was here 1 1/2 hours before I met others in the park, and invited them in for conversation. You know how they say a guy wanting to meet females should have a dog with him, if he can't have a baby. Well, a cat works pretty much the same. Skittles was on her leash, while I was checking emails, and soon I have company - a couple who just sold their house, and bought an RV. They are from AZ, and have so many places for me to explore.

This is my 3rd day in Maricopa. The second night my hoses froze - the very day I de-winterized and repaired holes in my hoses. The temp was under 15 degrees. Today I brought my cat to the vet. It seems all I've been doing is maintenance, or, better said, trying to do maintenance, and cat care.. Tomorrow I should get out to see something.

Today I did some touring. The area has much history. Some great farming and architectural accomplishments were made in the 1100-1400s by the Native American tribes in the area. The Ancestral People of the Senoran Desert with wooden sticks diverted water from the Gila River, establishing a canal system to irrigate the desert lands.

                       

They grew corn, beans, cotton, squash, tobacco, et. al. There were villages with family dwellings in the area. They also built a Great House (named so by a Spanish missionary in 1694). It was 4 floors and had openings that aligned with the sun and moon at different times. The people supported themselves in this desert for thousands of years. Although there are descendants in the area, a great number of this Ancient People moved on, probably in the 1400s. Why? Some say tribal wars; others flooding followed by drought made it hard to regulate the crops and way of life.

The Native Americans in Maricopa are the Ak-Chin. The name is an O'odham word meaning mouth of the arroyo, which is a flat-floored gulley, dry except after rains; or where the water goes into the ground. They have been recognized as a Native American tribe for over 100 years.  In Maricopa there is a reservation, a casino, the Ak-Chin government, land cultivation, and beautiful examples of artistic crafts.

Tomorrow, I head to Quartzite. Have you ever wondered how they can fit thousands of RVs in one place. After tomorrow, I can tell you how.