WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

December 18, 2021

Our last blog ended with our having been in our winter home in Benson for about a month and our getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for and truly realize it and thank God every day for all of our blessings

 

We celebrated in our parks clubhouse and had a wonderful day and delicious food.  Each table of 18 decides ahead of time what each will have at our table so lots of hands make for light work and really yummy food

Decorations in the clubhouse

Our table 

About 120 people enjoying Thanksgiving together

My son Stephen called a few months back and asked how I would like him and our grandson Vincent to come out and help us celebrate my 75th birthday in January.  Well, needless to say this mom and nana couldn't be any more excited - about them coming - not turning 75!

So in preparation of their arrival we blew up the air mattress to make sure it still held air and as you can see Teddy thought it was a great idea.

Not long after hearing that Steve & Vincent were coming our our dear friends from home,  

Laura & Eric Main, called and said they would like to come visit!!  So two days after Vincent & Steve leave the Main's arrive - we are so thrilled to have them coming too!  They will stay in our little casita.  We can only handle two at a time but if you would like to come let us know

Last week we had a live and silent auction.  Members of the park donate items and we have a man who does a great job of auctioneering for us - all of the proceeds go to pay for all of the entertainment that we have here - at least once a week - tonight is a band that plays 50's & 60's music - yes most of us here were alive them.  The auction was a huge success and brought in over $9,000

Last night was our Christmas Concert put on by the parks coral group

It is always a fun night with beautiful music but last night was particularly wonderful

(maybe because we missed it so much last year)  

We have some very talented musicians and vocalists 

They handed out the words to the audience for The Twelve Days of Christmas (Arizona Style)

1. A Roadrunner Near a Prickly Pear        2. Two Gambel's Quail

3. Three Cowboy Hats                               4. Four Brand New Boots

5. Five Cactus Wrens                                 6. Six Cowboys Strumming

7. Seven Coyotes Howling                        8. Eight Cowgirls Roping

9. Nine Donkeys Braying                        10. Ten Snakes a Rattling

11. 'Leven Lizards Sunning                     12. Twelve RV's Circling

And of course Santa & Mrs Claus were there to dance to Santa Baby

We are anxiously awaiting tomorrow as our full-time friends from our home church in Gurnee, IL arrive to spend Christmas here at the park - Gary and Steph Vogel.  Even though we are full-time we rarely are in the same place at the same time so this will be great.  Not only to see them but to also spend Christmas with them.

So as I wrap up this blog and also this year we want to wish you all a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas from both of us but also from Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus

Fun Fact: We have traveled 6,497 miles in our motorhome this year and 

8,449 miles in our jeep.  More than usual but needed to make up for 2020

Will also take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy and Heathy New Year.

May God's Blessings be with you and yours throughout 2022

Love, Jerry, Carol and Teddy

 WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS    

November 21, 2021

We like to say that we make plans and then we wait and see what God has in mind (frequently different than ours).  We actually love living this way.  We feel we need plans to have something in mind for down the road but we love God stepping in and adjusting those plans - guess whose plans are always right for us - Yep God's.

So I ended the last blog with the following "I hope we haven't bored you to death with all the pictures - and as I said things are going to slow down some.  We are slowly heading to Palmdale, CA to do a SOWERS mission project and Jerry will be able to visit with his family that he hasn't seen in three years before returning to Benson, AZ our winter home right before Thanksgiving."

Well God turned us a different direction and everything worked out beautifully.  We did miss seeing a few people - Betsy & Britta in California but other than that His plans worked out beautifully.

We had just finished up almost two weeks at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta so decided to stay on Old Route 66 for awhile and found ourselves in Winslow, AZ

A really nice small town and of course had to have our picture taken Stand-on' on The Corner

Built in tribute to the Eagle's song "Take it Easy" 

Jerry and Teddy by Flatbed Ford

Glen Frey, founder of the Eagles

Walking back to the coach we saw an alleyway with the 

It is dedicated to all Veterans 

During this time frame we had a couple of personal blessings

My cousin and our neighbor for over 21 years, Lauri & Shaun became grandparents for the first time.

Kayla and Jerrad had a beautiful baby girl named Huntley - so happy for all of them

And our oldest grandson, Calvin, turned 18 - he has been accepted to Northern IL University and will be starting in the spring - could not be prouder of him!!

Another picture of Calvin all dressed up for a wedding with his Father Chris and his Grandma Becky  Love the bow ties 

We then spent a little over a week in Camp Verde, AZ  

From there it was an easy drive up to beautiful Sedona, AZ

A very modern home 

Jerry giving our home a bath

We were able to have lunch with our good friends Stu and Julie who live in Payson

The delightful couple we stayed with in Camp Verde.  They used to have a motorhome and traveled about six months out of the year but due to health reason's have had to come off the road - so they generously offer a place to park to others in the area.  We so enjoyed visiting with them and getting to know them.

Our motorhome parked next to their home

We were able to take a scenic train ride into the Sedona area also

We were way back by the caboose - this is the engine way ahead of us

They served a delicious box lunch onboard

We had seats inside but spent most of our time outside enjoying the beautiful scenery 

Our last sightseeing while in Camp Verde was at the Montezuma Castle

Southern Sinagua farmers built this five-story, 20 room dwelling sometime between 1100 and 1300.

It occupies a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley.  It is now, unfortunately badly deteriorated, it once was an imposing five-story apartment like building with 45 rooms.

This picture is a diorama of what it was like

We then traveled over to Tempe, AZ to visit some very important people to us - 

unfortunately I didn't always to remember to take pictures!!

We visited with a friend from many years ago - Dave VanHook and Susan

My 2nd cousin and her boyfriend and son - Heather, Jason and Jimmy

Next Time We Must Take Pictures!!

This is a picture of a dear friend that I hadn't seen since sometime in the 80's.  She went through some rough times with me and was always such a loyal friend and great support.  We had lost touch until her son found my son on Facebook and we all reconnected.  While we were in Tempe we visited Sandy at her beautiful home in Mesa and had a wonderful lunch - but more importantly reconnected and shared many old memories.  

And then after almost 3 years since his birth we got to meet Connor, Jerry's great nephew.  

This guy is incredible - he was 1.2oz at birth, was in the NICU for many months but thanks to his amazing parents, incredible doctors and nurses and lots of prayers he is thriving.  

Now we are prejudice but we think he is darling and he is as smart as a whip.

He obviously has good taste as he really likes his Uncle Jerry

And then the highlight was having a wonderful afternoon with Jerry's sister, Deena and brother-in-law Tim (Connor's grandparents).  Their daughter Ali and of Connor's parents Scott and Sara (Sara is the photrapher).  Tim and Deena came in from California!

We arrived back to our winter home in Benson, AZ on November 1st, 3 weeks ago today.  It was so great to see our friends here and to get back to sitting still for awhile after all of our traveling since leaving IL the middle of August.  We are back serving on a variety of volunteer committees that we love and enjoying all the park has to offer.  They had a wonderful tribute to all of the veterans here on Veterans Day.

We have a lot of talented people here in the park and the knitters and quilters made 12 beautiful throws for the veterans.  Names were pulled out of a hat to see who would receive one.

If you still send us Christmas cards, this is not a solicitation, but if you do you can mail them to us here in Benson if you like:  600 E Saguaro Drive  Lot 9  Benson, AZ 85602

We started this blog telling you how things change - another change is that we might have told you we planned on going to Alaska this coming summer and would not be back in IL - however, plans change and we are putting that trip off for a year so we will be back in Park City from approximately mid-June til mid-September.

And last but certainly not least we wish each and everyone one of you a Happy, Healthy and Wonderful Thanksgiving, 

 Wandering With The Wrights

October 10, 2021

I promise we are going to be slowing down our travels which means you won't have to get so many blogs and look at so many pictures - but that time is not just yet!!

After leaving Yellowstone we headed for Salt Lake City.  

Enjoyed touring Temple Square -Beautiful & Interesting.  

Gorgeous Art Work

The interior of all of the buildings were breathtakingly beautiful

Organ inside the Tabernacle 

(that weekend they were filming a Christmas Special so they had decorated the stage.)

The organist is so small compared to the huge organ.  

The 11,623-pipe organ is one of the world's most famous organs

(because of Covid the choir had just held its first rehearsal in 15 months but was not performing yet)

Here the organist dropped an everyday straight pin onto a piece of wood so we could hear how wonderful the acoustics are.  We could easily hear it with no amplification!   

We were able to listen to him play a beautiful recital.

This is another organ in a different building - it was just gorgeous

The Temple is under massive updating - no one allowed in at this point.

The following day we visited the Utah State Capitol

Another beautiful building - we had a wonderful tour guide and learned a lot!

We then spent several days traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico

We stopped at The Four Corners Monument - where Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico all meet 

The only point in the United States shared by four states.

The roads we traveled for several days were in terrible shape but the scenery was 

beautiful and interesting

We spent a few nights at Old West RV Park in Monticello, Utah and the previous owner came over and put on a gun show for us

At another campground right outside of Albuquerque we loved how they built little adobe huts to give shade over the picnic tables 

Then we arrived at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, what a fantastic experience!!

I could load more pictures than you can imagine but won't post them all but it will be hard to decide what not to post.  We actually crewed on three different balloons.  We came here with a group we belong to, Escapee Boomers, and they have come to the Fiesta for years and crewed.  What a unique and educational (and tiring) experience.  We had to get up at 4:30 every morning for 9 days to get to the field.  It was more than worth it.  Once arriving at the field it was so exciting and beautiful.  We also went back in the evening to help crew for what they call glows.

Two of the pilots we crewed with - they go to a briefing every morning at 6:00am and get all the latest weather information.  The first set of balloons to leave every morning are called the Dawn Patrol and the other pilots pay close attention to their assent and where the wind takes them.  

Airabella - the largest balloon at the fiesta.  

Every morning at 7:00am the entire field fell silent (with over 500 balloons and their crew that is no easy task) when someone sang the Star Spangled Banner and one balloon lifted off with the flag.  Several morning also included a fly over from Kirkland AFB.  This morning the balloon chosen to carry the flag was Airabella.

Another mornings lift off with the flag

The balloons only fly in the morning, weather permitting, but every night they do a night glow - balloons are set up and the pilots light them up for the crowds.  

We thought this one resembled our Teddy.

This is called a candle stick and was done one night as it was to windy to but the balloons up but they try hard to offer the crowds something to see.  It was very pretty and really warmed the field up

A balloon of balloons

This is the dawn patrol taking off in the morning - the other pilots pay close attention to where these first half dozen or so balloons go

Getting the balloons ready to fly is really something 

Getting ready to remove the envelope (balloon) from the blue bag - to spread out so it can be attached to the basket and filled with air after hauling it out of the trailer - they are heavy

Laying the envelope - balloon out on the grass so it can be inflated

The envelope must be attached to the basket very carefully - no twisted ropes and attached securely.  The large red item is a heavy duty fan that blows cold air into the balloon to inflate it - called cold inflation 

Takes two people to hold the throat open so that cool air can be blown in from the fan

After the balloon is filled with cool air from the large fan the pilot then heats the air up.  There is a sensor near the top of the balloon and the pilot can see the temp down in the basket.  They have to be careful not to get it to warm or it will leave before he wants - and believe me no amount of people are going to keep that balloon from raising once it reaches a certain temperature.

\\

Once the balloon is inflated, depending on the wind, it takes at least 3 or 4 people with hands on the basket to keep it from ascending before the Zebra (more on Zebras later) gives you a thumbs up to ascend.  If there is even a slight wind it can take up to 6 people to keep her in place.

After the balloon lands it helps if someone lies on it and rolls to help get the air out - Jerry liked that job

So did the kids - the crew chief encourage all the children to come up and help or to get their pictures taken in the balloon

The spectators also enjoy helping

This is a Zebra!!

There are men and women called Zebra's that once the pilot decides if he is going to fly that day is responsible for seeing that he leaves the field safely - that there are no other balloons above or below him at takeoff.  There is no way the pilot can see above him when the balloon is inflated.

The pilots have a lot of respect for the Zebra's

Another Zebra talking to a few pilots - they are all so friendly and extremely knowledgeable

One of our pilots and his favorite Zebra

I was fortunate to get to go up in a balloon - the pilots try to get crew up as a thank you for their help - unfortunately the two days they had hoped to take Jerry the weather was such that they couldn't fly.

Getting instructions before lift off from the Crew Chief - she or he is in charge on the ground the pilot is in charge in the air plus the pilot is responsible for checking everything the crew does before take off

Up Up and Away with Pilot Tim

It is amazing to be among all the balloons as they ascend.

Looking down - I am afraid of heights but this didn't bother me at all

Finding a place to land can be a challenge but most people are thrilled when a balloon lands near their house, rv or place of work and come rushing out to help

This was taken when I was up in the balloon looking down at a balloon that was on the ground and deflated and waiting to get packed back into the blue bag

People and balloons everywhere!

Who said pigs don't fly?

Flew over a cemetery but decided not to land as we figured we wouldn't get much help packing up

We actually flew over the top of this guy to our landing spot

What the balloon looked like after we landed

Tim walking back to the basket - I was very grateful there were no pictures taken of me getting into the basket while it was upright and none taken crawling out when it was on its side as shown!!

There is a custom that after someone flies for the first time (actually I had been up in a balloon many years ago) but not sure they knew that so - the pilot tells you the story of how ballooning got started - he then says the balloonist prayer:  

May the winds welcome you with softness,

May the sun bless you with its warm hands, 

May you fly so high and so well that God

joins you in laughter and sets you gently back

into the loving arms of Mother Earth.

He then picks a little grass up and sprinkles it on your head and then pours some champagne on your head (my pilot knew we were going out to lunch so he just pretended but I have seen people get the better part of an entire bottle poured on their heads).  Thank you Tim for taking mercy on me :-)

And of course we then all toast and consume the champagne

The entire point of the fiesta is to have fun and help people learn about ballooning and to help the Albuquerque economy - all of which it seems to do very well.  This is a pilot who dressed up before his flight saying hi to our crew chief.  

Most of pilots and crew chiefs know each other - it is like one big family.

Jerry and I with Tim and Renee one of our pilots and his wife who is the crew chief

More Balloons

This is actually taken right infront of our motorhome on the right of the screen

Our dear friend Kayla Zenner Michiel and her husband Jerrad were waiting for their first baby - I sent her this shot yesterday and said the stork was on his way and today she delivered a beautiful little girl!!

The pig chasing the cow

We had several beautiful sunrises which we normally aren't up to see and sunsets but this one was the best

Each ballon basket has an ID banner that must be on it during the Fiesta - we all signed ours and the pilot keeps them

This was our crew for just one regular size balloon - the special shape balloons require much larger crews.

As I mentioned we were with a group we belong to called Escapees - they have a care center for rvers that have to come off the road either short or long term in Livingston, Texas.  Almost always when Escappes are together they hold an auction to raise money for the CARE Center.  That was how we spent this afternoon, our last in Albuquerque.  There was also entertainment the Status Crowes - it was a lot of fun - you just call out what you would like them to play and the do.  Haven't heard yet what the auction brought in but the Escapees are always very generous.

Teddy turned 13 while we were here - he had a nice birthday

Here is Vincent - getting so big

Here he is at his first swimming lesson

I hope we haven't bored you to death with all the pictures - and as I said things are going to slow down some.  We are slowly heading to Palmdale, CA to do a SOWERS mission project and Jerry will be able to visit with his family that he hasn't seen in three years before returning to Benson, AZ our winter home right before Thanksgiving.