Winter In Arizona – 2021-2022

Posted on April 16, 2022 by campbellkat

November – Arizona — April – Campbell River

Was it really 5 months ago that travel to the USA opened and we packed up and made a midnight run for the border? Well yes it was.. We showed up at midnight and after 20 minutes or so we were on our way and free to move about the country.

Not much changed since we last travelled the Interstate highways. Trucks of all sorts and colors filled with supplies. Cars, trucks, buses, RV’s busily navigating the lanes and lines. Sun. Rain. Clouds. Gas prices were a tad higher, but beer and wine were not and are still available at gas stations and drug stores. Makes us laugh everytime we see a drugstore advertising prescriptions, alcohol and cigarettes. They got you covered either way!

Arizona was still there. They survived without us. A lot of the cotton fields have a new crop. What is it? Well its not edible, and you don’t have to water it or weed it, although you do have to clean the dust off them occasionally. Solar Panels. Rows and rows of them.

What was our winter like there people ask? It was sunny and dry. It was windier than usual but didn’t rain as much as last time. It seemed cooler at nights even into April when we left. Were they excited to have us back? It seemed like it. We were happy to be there for sure!

What do I like about the States?

You can buy alcohol at the grocery store (and it’s cheap).

They sell bacon in packages that reseal ( I don’t know why that excites me so much).

What do I miss about Canada?

Yogurt, Butter, Eggs and Bread that taste like they should.

My friends.

We’ve been home for a week. The ground is green and the ocean is blue. The air smells so fresh.

Our two countries are different from each other, but come fall we sure hope to be back there under a warm sun!

Arizona Feelings 2020

Posted on February 22, 2020 by campbellkat

We are hiding out in AZ.. escaping the wet winter weather from the coast of BC. Here’s a few photo’s from the winter. I find that I’ve been drawn to create more black and white desaturated photo’s on this trip. Is it because I miss the blue and greens of home? Is it because there’s so many shades of brown down here? Whatever the reason.. here they are!

Rain on an Arizona sidewalk

Yes it does rain in Arizona

Column Cactus

Cactus Abstract

Palm trees reflected on the road

Mesquite Tree

Mesquite Tree and plowed Cotton Field

Desert Tree

Lots of interesting cloud shapes

Playing with shadows

1956 Thunderbird – Lots of car shows here in the winter

1970’s inspired hood paint job

Playing with Feathers

What are you looking at?

Joshua Tree

Bull-Riding, Beer and a Bar!

Posted on December 24, 2018 by campbellkat

We were looking for some local activity. Something different to do. Something fun!

We found just what we were looking for: Bull-Riding, Beer, Bar!

There’s a bar in Coolidge, Arizona called The Galloping Goose. Attached to the bar is a bull riding ring, and on the first and third Friday nights they have a local bull riding competition. We drove over there, parked, paid the admission fee, grabbed a bleacher seat and waited for the show to begin.

It was Ugly Christmas Sweater night. Spectators, Employees, Bull Riders – all wearing sweaters with loud colors, bows, baubles, flashing lights, garland, you name it, they were wearing it. Young ladies making goo goo eyes at the young men and little boys making goo goo eyes at the young men who were riding the bulls.

No gathering would be complete without a 50/50 draw. We purchased a strip of tickets and we and the others who gathered waited in anticipation for the draw.

Earlier in the day there was a horrible freeway accident near Marana, Arizona. Traffic was backed up and delayed for most of the afternoon. The trailer hauling the bulls was caught in the backlog as were some of the bull riders that were trying to make it there for the event. This resulted in a shortened program and general confusion for the organizers. You could tell that they were doing their best to put on a show for the crowd. It was announced that the 50/50 draw would be delayed and drawn in the bar after the bands first intermission. In to the bar we went. It was fun watching the people dance, sing, playing pool, laughing with their friends. Lots of flashy belt buckles, cowboy hats and well worn jeans. We were definitely part of the local crowd.

Then IT happened!

THE 50/50 DRAW!

and WE WON!

Here we are, the happy winners! It’s noisy in there, it’s dark in there, and it’s getting late. We have to drive back to the RV Park, so we delightedly accept a Christmas Sock of $$ and head out. We leave the bar, start the vehicle and head out. As we are driving away we pull the $$ out of the sock…

THERE’S $12 IN THERE!

YES – TWELVE DOLLARS!

12!

We can’t go back now! We’ve walked away! We’ve driven away! No one will believe us!

We dejectedly drive home. The glow from the sweaters is just a memory for us now.

The smell of the bulls is fresh in our minds… we feel like they smell!

What can be done?

A ha – I know – I will contact the organizer and explain our situation.

It’s close to midnight now, it’s been a long day for the organizers, they’ve obviously been under a lot of stress all day. I found them on Facebook and sent them a message:

We were at the Bull Riding tonight. We won the 50/50. When we got home we opened the envelope. There was $12 in there. There is no way that this is 50% of the amount raised.Can you help?We don’t mind supporting local events but this seems kind of crazy 🙂

NOW THIS IS WHERE THE STORY GETS SO AWESOME!

Within 18 minutes they replied that there had been a mix-up with the envelopes and that they would make it right for us!

After a day that I imagine they just want to forget. The stress. The waiting. The stress of waiting. They dealt with it. They fixed it. They made it right!

DirtWidow Bull Company – Casa Grande – Making it right!

YOUR BULLS ARE MEAN BUT YOU ARE SO FREAKIN AWESOME!

KathyPaynter

Photography. Humour. Stories. Travel.

Tag Archives: Casa Grande Arizona