WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

May 29, 2022

Arrived back in IL last Sunday.  We took 3 weeks to travel from AZ.  

Our first stop was in Silver City, NM.  There were two reason's for going - one to visit friends and the other to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings,

Our friends Kathy and Dave have a dog Cooper and he and Teddy were enjoying treats from Kathy 

There are several places in the US where you can visit cliff dwellings that used to be inhabited but at this one you can actually climb up to the dwellings and enter the rooms.  It was really a unique experience (although the climb up to them took everything I had to get up there).  There was no good way to get a picture of the path that led us up to the dwellings but it was rough and all up hill.

Once up it was fascinating to be allowed into the rooms and to get a little feel for how they lived

This delightful young woman was visiting from the Philippines and was with her aunt & uncle.  Once they got a look at the path up they decided not to go and to wait in the car so we "adopted" her and she went with us.  She was delightful and was full of questions about the US and us - how we met, etc. 

 She added to our enjoyment of the trip and was very patient when we stopped to rest.

While in Texas we got to share a meal with two very special friends - Dick & Sharon Critz.  

Sharon is a dear friend from  high school and I introduced her to Dick!!

Our view for several nights in Canyon Lake, Texas

Our visitors every evening

Our view while in Queen City, TX - we love being by the water

Our oldest grandson, Calvin, with his friend at prom

Our goddaughter, Anna, graduated from college and now onto Missouri for her Masters 

 Jerry's godson received his masters degree

Grandson Calvin graduated magna cum laude from Warren High School and off to Northern IL  

Our granddaughter Jeana is proud of her big brother!

We are so proud of all of these young people in our lives.  They are all wonderful men and women and can't wait to see what their future holds. 

I have mentioned before that we belong to Harvest Hosts that make it possible for RVers to stay at some very unique properties for the night.  Well we stayed at a wonderful creamery in Park Hills, MO

Where the ice cream is created

They have many unique flavors and they are all made with local ingredients from farmers in their area or grown at the creamery.

The grounds were beautiful and they encouraged us to enjoy - 

and Teddy did just that - he jumped in and didn't want to come out

They have a dog and he and Teddy had a lot of fun running around 

Next we spent a few nights in East Peoria, IL to visit family 

Nephew Keenan, friend Kathy, sister-in-law Anita, and Duncan the dog

Anita lives on a small lake that is so peaceful and beautiful - we had a wonderful evening

My brother Brian and Kathy who took us out for a great lunch

 

The trip home went very smoothly as behind us and ahead of us there was some weather but we were blessed and never had any issues at all.  Diesel prices were about half again what they were last year.

Our current plan is that we will be here in northern IL until early September.  

This is where we lived and retired from so looking forward to a summer full of family and friends.  

We are so blessed.

Praying you all have a safe and healthy summer.  Jerry, Carol and Teddy