Here’s a map, and a cursory look at the numbers on the lots gives me over 1400 lots. many of the lots are empty and can hold RV’s for those people who still are living in their rigs. Close to 2/3 of the lots have manufactured homes on them. Right now the place is not full, but more people are filtering in daily. There are actually people who live here year round but most of the people who have homes here live in the northern climes and about 1/2 live in Canada. Come January when all the lots are full, the place is hoppin’ I hear. We’re here on a special deal of $700 for 4 months: September 1 - December 31. Yep, that’s right, only $700 and you get 4 months. Pretty good deal and not one that this cheap old lady is going to pass up.
What we have noticed the most is the number of parties and entertainments provided. There is the scheduled entertainment and this week we had 3 separate days with entertainment in the courtyard area where drinks and food are served, plus we had free tickets to another resort in the same family where they were having ‘Octoberfest.’ Next week it is the same with 3 days where entertainment is provided and you can go if you wish or not.
There is also the special entertainments where any excuse is a bona fide reason for a party. Food is provided, everyone is invited, there is entertainment and lots come. Next week, they are having a party because the new elevator in the main building is finished. Last week they had a party for the renovations in the ballroom. I can’t wait for the party for the completion of the new tennis courts. That should be a biggie. Do we think they’ll have a party for the first ride in the new elevator? Wouldn’t put it past them.
On Thursday mornings we have the weekly coffee and donuts where the Social Director gives her spiel and we learn all about the next week’s entertainment, parties, activities, trips, etc. This week we heard that a group called the Thunderbirds played at one of the weekly dos last week. Unfortunately they played mostly music from the 60’s and 70’s and they played it a bit too loudly for a few who left with their hands over their ears. Next time the Thunderbirds come, they will be asked to play songs form the 40’s and 50’s also. It can’t be easy to play to all tastes here since there are people in their late 80’s who like mellower music but there are also a lot in their 50’s and 60’s like Gary and I and our next door neighbors who like the 60’s and 70’s music.
Which reminds me. Today I was in the UPS store and I asked the young man about the Classic Rock he was playing in the store. ‘That’s what the boss wants here’, he told me. ‘Well, I sure like it’, I said’, ‘but then I’m old. ‘There are lots of older people who like that here in Mesa’, he told me. And, here’s an amazing picture from Google. Here is the center of Mesa and look at all the Snowbird villages in white. And, that’s not the half of it. The white roofs are just the obvious ones, but there are lots of darker roofs that don’t show up on Google quite so obviously. There are also loads of villages that I have not shown in this picture.
We have some friends who are traveling out to this area this week in their 5th wheel along almost the same route we traveled to get out here. Today, they are in Grants, NM and driving into the Phoenix area tomorrow. We called them to talk about the shorter and extremely scenic route we took several weeks ago. I also wanted to ensure that they might not take another route that I thought would be pretty stressful in an RV. Guess what route their GPS told them to take? You got it - the one I thought might be a bit stressful in an RV. It is the most direct route to where they are staying here in the Phoenix area, but that does not mean that it is the best.
This route is the Globe, AZ to Show Low, AZ route. Now it is all paved and some of it is quite straight. Much of it is scenic and there are loads ot turn-offs for you to get magnificent shots of it. But, anytime, there are turnoffs to see the scenic view, you know you’re not in Kansas anymore (or not in Iowa any more as the case may be). There’s a reason why it’s scenic and it’s not because there are lots of cornfields blowing in the wind.
I’ve never traveled this route before but I’ve looked at it on Google and in an app I have on my I Pad. I’ve also done some reading about it - and just about every description uses the word ‘plummets’ somewhere in it followed by the words ‘hairpin curves’. ‘Plummets’ as in ‘it plummets 3000’ down to the Salt River and then climbs back out.’ ‘Hairpin curves’ as in ‘there are hairpin curves along the cliffs of the canyon.’ Now, what is there about those innocent little words that makes me think that an RV is not the vehicle to take to get those scenic views?
Above is a view of the Salt River in blue and the road in yellow.
On the other hand, I’m excited about traveling the Globe to Show Low route and can’t wait to stop at each and every one of those turnouts for the scenic views sometime this winter. But, in a car, not in an RV. Locally the Salt River Canyon is nicknamed the Little Grand Canyon and I’ve read it’s quite spectacular.
Meanwhile our friends have decided to ignore the advice given by their GPS and are taking the less stressful route to their destination tomorrow. WHEW.
Evening in the resort and the sunset was gorgeous.
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