Scottsdale to Kansas City, Via Southwest

The Petkovsek sisters and their husbands

With Dad and Dot

Crazy Hostess Claire

Henry and Claire's daughter Becky with her Friend Denise

Hiking in Sonoran Desert

View From Dad and Dot's yard

Claire and Evie

I am up at 5:00 because we are leaving for the airport at 6:00 and Laura has kindly volunteered to take us there.  It is pitch black, just a lightness above the mountain top as the sun does not rise for another hour.  We have had a great few days here and every time I come I think we should have stayed longer.  But, I think it's just about the right amount of time for staying with Dad and Dot because having lots of people around takes it toll on them, especially Dot who likes her routine and quiet, like us all.

Henry and I hiked the Mc Dowell mountain trails again yesterday morning; Evie decided to stay home and relax with her Dad, Dot and Laura.  We ended up walking on a couple of different trails, a little over an hour total, one being the Nature Preserve, where they had signs and information marking  all the habitat in the desert, both animal and plant.  It was a .3 miles loop, with stops along the way with lots of information, perfect for grade and middle school kids to enjoy.  We took another short loop that took us up the side of the mountain, just right for someone who does not or cannot walk too far at one go.  Then, we headed off on another trail, through scrub mostly, enjoying the landscape, especially the rocky runs for the water when it rains.  We saw lots of people on the trails, even mountain bikes, though it would be a tough ride as the trails are filled with rocks, making it quite bumpy.  When we left about 9:30, people were still streaming in even though it was already in the 90's.

We relaxed at home with the family, had lunch, until about 3:00 when we went over to Claire and Henry's to enjoy the afternoon, swim, and have a cookout on our last night here in Scottsdale. We had pineapple strawberry daiquiris to start the afternoon off, then appetizers, a few beers, lots of swimming and sun.  For dinner, Henry cooked burgers and dogs and Claire made potato salad , beans, and sides for the burgers, all delicious.  We finished off the evening with some rousing games of bean bag, Evie being the two time winner, of course.  It was a great day, fun for all of us because of the wonderful hospitality of the Kartagener's. Before we left, we packed things up, so we were ready to go in the morning, as we will have to leave by around 6:00 or 6:30 in the morning to catch an 8:00 flight.