RV'ing Women National Convention

Oct 23-30; Mesa, Arizona

450 RV's of varying description at a deluxe RV Resort for a week!

The venue offered a full 18 hole golf course, at least 2 pools that I saw, hot tubs, an orange tree at every site, and was so big that I needed my bicycle to get around.  There were lots of seminars, fun events in the evening and a few day tours offered for sights in the area. 

I was all excited when I thought they were limes (for gin/tonics!); sadly - unripe oranges

Opening Address

Trip to an olive farm - tour, an olive oil tasting, and a great lunch.

Who knew that olive oils could taste so different!  I was surprised - some are very 'grassy' and fresh tasting.

While this Olive press is still used; most of the olives are processed in giant machines inside.

Authentic olive press - brought from Italy.  

Best of all, a chance to meet new friends and connect with friends I haven't seen in years!

Classic Lazy-Daze

Free Sunscreen in the desert

Oct. 18, 2016; Tucson, AZ   Saguaro National Park

I hadn't noticed this in restrooms before, but here in Tucson, free sunscreen!

As much as I like the sun, I can do without the increased risk of skin cancer - so, yes, I apply sunscreen liberally and often!

Sunscreen was welcome for the very hot day I spent at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum and the Saguaro National Park.

One can easily spend a day at the Museum.  Acres of native plants, a reptile room, a hummingbird aviary, the native black bear was away at the vet - but I saw a bit of the resident mountain lion (she was up in the shade with just the tip of her flicking out in the light).  

I think, a black-chinned hummer.

Petroglyphs in the Saguaro NP.  Easily accessible and great detail!

It was only a short walk to an extensive display of petroglyphs; I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them.

The saguaro is dense enough to really qualify as a forest!  

Some of the prickly pear still had ripe fruit (called 'tunas') and the bees were going crazy.  Natives still harvest the tunas to make jam and jellies.  

Most plants have 40-50 tunas on them!

Bees, braving the spines for sweet goodness.

Natives are allowed to harvest the fruit from the saguaros too.  Here is a pole made from the ribs of a dead saguaro, used by Natives to reach the saguaro fruit which is located at the very top of the very tall saguaro's.