St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery Visit and More Wind Therapy 2017

Since we got to go to Christmas, Arizona last week, what better people to ask to go to the Monastery with us was our new friends from Oklahoma, Steve and Glenda.


Not only did they agree to go, they had a couple of their friends, and now our newest friends Butch and Marsha. 
It is a beautiful day for a motorcycle ride, and we are going to do just that.

The Monastery is only about 7 miles from our place, so it wasn't much of a ride there.

There are two monks standing by the main entrance, and we smile and wave as we drive by them.
The grounds are beautiful as we make our way to the parking lot.




As we enter the area, we are greeted by two ladies, and they explain to our group that the ladies have to wear certain clothing while visiting the grounds.
We had read about this, and weren't surprised by this at all.
What made us laugh, was the lady that got the skirts and babushkas for us was very serious about trying to match what we had on.




I think she did quite a nice job, but I think I would have picked a different skirt for me...LOL...you be the judge. 

The guys were wearing long shirts and jeans, so their attire was already appropriate. 

During  the time that we girls are getting all fixed up, the guys are in charge of looking at the map of the grounds, and making sure they didn't go in an area that was off limits.

Chuck told us later that he looked up when the lady said we could proceed to the grounds, and he didn't even know who we were..  :) 

Glenda, Marsha and I could hardly control our laughter as we gazed at each other in total amazement. 
Every time we would see a reflection of ourselves, we would giggle!

OK, so now the shock is over, and we are ready to be totally amazed at this place.
It is really amazing to see what has been built in a mere 22 years. 
I have added a link for those of your that would like to check this beautifully serene spot of the world out. 

Each one of the four churches, the grounds that include beautiful gardens, orchards, and even olive trees (of which they press their own olive oil.) were totally amazing.

Some 47 monks inhabit the monastery and have a thorough day and night praying, work and rest. 
Our self guided tour was great, as we could make our way through the grounds at our own pace.

I can not say enough about this beautiful place of heaven.
A fine example of dedication and faith working in a harmonious community. 

We couldn't leave the area before going through the bookstore.
They not only sell books but they sold some of the wonderful olive oil they press from the orchard.


Glenda purchased some bread and pastries that the ladies were selling. 
We returned our clothing that they were so sweet to outfit us in and we started to leave.
The ladies reminded us to pick us some of the blessed lemons that they have by the entry.
They had been picked earlier this morning form the orchards.

St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery has truly made a piece of heaven in the middle of the Sonoran Desert.




It is time to do some wind therapy, and Steve has found a road that he thinks we need to check out.
Park Link Road was spectacular! 
The saguaro and the desert are beautiful and look so untouched by the world.








There is a turn out and what a perfect picture opportunity of Picacho Peak.
After pictures, we make our way to I-10 and head towards Tucson.





It is time to think about eating, and I had noticed a billboard for Cracker Barrel, and I guess my mental telepathy was working because Steve took the exit and pulled right into it.

After a wonderful lunch (and a whole lot of laughter, as we reviewed our photo op at the Monastery) we go just about another mile and visit the Harley Davidson shop so I could pick up a gift for our grandson's birthday.

Back on I-10 but heading back towards Eloy, we make a stop at Picacho Peak State Park. 
We basically do a drive by, as we really didn't have enough time to check it out, so we will save this for another day.

It is getting close to 4pm, so we take the Eloy exit on I-10 and point the bikes towards Florence.
Oh but wait...Butch has mention that we should stop for refreshments at the Gallopin Goose in the town of Coolidge, Arizona.





Steve leads us right to it. 
We go to the outside seating and hear the story of this ill-fated bar.
Seems that this bar was on its last leg, and the Bar Rescue group from Spike TV rescued it.
Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out.

Time to get the bikes back before the sun sets.
We make our way down Cactus Forest Rd. to Highway 79.
The circle has been completed and the day was epic. 
Had a wonderful time with our new biker friends.  :) 
Thanks to all who participated....lets do it again....real soon! 

Yes Virginia, there is a Christmas Arizona.

I had commented that I would like to ride over to Christmas, AZ during our visit with our neighbors, Steve & Glenda.
We had heard of a road closing in the area and weren't sure if it was even possible to do this.
Steve found out from his brother that we should be able to get there, so a plan is born!

Upon further googling we read that there is no longer a town since the mine closed many years ago.
It is still someplace to ride so why not check it out!
If you want to read about it, check this link out: Christmas, AZ
We will only have two bikes today since Bev and Ken are on their way to Mexico.

Steve has it mapped out so we are ready to ride about 10 am.
The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day to be on a bike.
We fill the bikes up with gas and we are off to find Christmas.








We make our way to Superior and Steve turns off at the visitors center.
Our first executive decision of the day was made at that time.
We are heading back to grab some food at The Buckboard City Cafe.
Not only was it a place to eat but the location of the Worlds Smallest Museum.
You just never know what you will find on these bike trips.

What a great place to eat.
They serve breakfast and lunch and we all chose breakfast.
The food was very tasty.
A place I wouldn't mind coming back to for sure!





Of course we had to check out the museum before we pulled out.
Since it was the smallest museum it didn't take too long to see everything.






One thing I found interesting was the pieces of old barb wire that they had on display.
It was from World War 2  and came from Chandler, Az.
Apparently they had an internment camp for the Japanese that they held during the war.




I found some information on it here: Arizona Internment Camp

















Back on the bikes we head towards Christmas.
The road was absolutely flawless.
The saguaro are everywhere.
We hit a few areas with 10% grade.
















The area was and still is active with copper mines
I for one hate the way the mines destroy the beautiful mountains and the area around them, but I understand.













Steve pulls over at the little town of Winkelman, AZ, and I go inside to get something to drink.
I asked the clerk which way to Christmas.






She didn't blink an eye and pointed to the Highway Patrol car that was across the street, and to go that direction.

The clerk also told me to tell the patrolman that we wanted to go to Christmas, and they would let us go.
You see the detour of the road was in that direction.
Of course when I walked out I had to announce to our group that Christmas was already over!!!
Couldn't resist it.

Back on the bikes, we make our way across the road.
The highway patrol lady gets out of her car to see what the heck we are up to.
Steve talks to her and she had no idea where Christmas was even at...LOL

She says the road is closed for blasting, but since we only wanted to go about 8 miles up, there was no problem with that.
What a wonderful stretch of road.....All brand new, and no traffic.
We felt like we owned it.

All of a sudden we see Steve's brake lights.
I look to the right, there was the sign we had been looking for.....not on the highway, but on a turnout....with a nice toilet facility.  CHRISTMAS

Not what I thought we would see, but hey we are here, so it was a photo op for sure.
Have to prove to everyone we were here.
Notice we didn't take a pic of the toilet..LOL

Pictures taken and we are on our way back to Winkelman.
Steve stops and tells the police officer that our mission was accomplished.

As we set sails towards Florence, we see a lot of small little towns along the way.
We pass the sign for the Biosphere 2. 
So many places to check out....but that will happen another day!

The whole ride was great. 
The scenery is awesome.
I don't think you could ask for a better ride to Christmas!!!
Thanks to our new friends Steve and Glenda for leading the way.
Our little trip logged about 170 miles today and so many memories.

 


 

Wind therapy in January

Life in the desert is going very well.
It is fun to learn about new things and places to check out. 

We have eaten at the local bar/restaurant called the River Bottom, and can truly say they have some great food. 
We always notice there are a lot of bikes around the place, and also packs in the vehicles as well, so it has to be good, right! 

We are enjoying the warmer weather and have gotten out to ride the bike a couple of times this week.
Our neighbors on both sides of us have motorcycles so it makes it nice to get out and enjoy some wind therapy.














It was time for us to check our PO Box in Casa Grande so what better excuse to ride.
Chuck leads and we took the scenic route.
The little stretch of 387 is quite appealing to the eyes.
We made our way to the UPS store and had lunch at the Firehouse Sub Shop.
Bev & Ken ran into the phone store and upgraded their phones.
One stop shop for everything.

Steve leads us back to Florence Gardens.
Enjoyed spending time with this little group of neighbors and look forward to many more trips.

Friday Night Dinner Ride 7-22-16

I haven't written much on the blog lately, but really haven't had a lot going on.
Today, we at least rode to dinner.

We ate at Johnnie'sCharcoal Broiler Hamburger on the south side of Oklahoma City.

As we left the house, I took a picture on my iPhone and used the Insta-weather app to see what the temperature was.
The news had been saying we would reach 100 today, and it did exactly that!
The picture tells the result I got....officially 100.

We got on the highway and the breeze was nice....now I wouldn't want to be sitting in traffic, but while moving it was fine.

We were the last ones to show up, and the others had gotten our table situated in an area that wasn't our usual spot.
I say this because there was a large group of people in the area we normally sit.
They were about as noisy as we were.
As we sat there the group got even louder.
It seems that a guy asked his girlfriend to marry him....well, that was a first for us. LOL
After the marriage proposal was done, they brought out Uno cards and got into groups and proceeded to play Uno....another first for us...LOL

Next time we come, I think I will bring a board game for us to play....NOT!!!!! Just teasing

We sat and talked and noticed that the restaurant was pretty bare of patrons....had we stayed too long?
The wait staff was kinda hanging around our tables.....so it was time for us to head out.

As we exited Johnnies, I looked at the time and we actually were fine, as they stayed open until 10 and it was only 9:20.

We start saying our goodbyes, and Lynn said something about trying to go by the new Wheeler Ferris Wheel area because this food truck that sells biscuits, (I think), was going to be there.
The trucks were supposed to be there until 10, so Chuck and I decide to ride with them and check it out.
We made it to the Ferris wheel a little before 10, and meet up with Lynn & Keith's son, Andrew.
Andrew is training for a triathlon and had been running fairly close, so he dropped by to see his parents.
I think Lynn bribed him with the thought of biscuits...
We make our way to the two food trucks, and would you believe the biscuit truck was still there, but they were closing up.
We missed it by just a few minutes. ;(
No biscuits for us tonight....but there is always next time.
The other food truck had mini donuts....and we had to try them....and they were good....very good.

We finish our donuts and walk towards the Ferris wheel.
There are a lot of people gathering around the large OKC letters to have pictures made.
All of a sudden, we are right in the middle of a crowd that was gathering around a couple of people.
The crowd had signs, and before we knew it, the guy that was with the girl is on one knee....you guessed it....another marriage proposal.
The signs said " Will you marry me" and then they switched them around and they read "She said YES!"
Golly this has been an evening for proposals...and we all thought the one at the Ferris wheel trumped the one at Johnnie's ten fold!
Before we left we asked Andrew to take our picture in front of OKC and the Ferris wheel.

And that concluded our Friday evening...pretty eventful for sure.
Lynn and Keith pointed their bike towards Duncan, and we headed to Yukon.

Fun evening but no biscuits....but there is always tomorrow. :)

Blue Skies, Nothing but Blue Skies January (1-25-16)

I hope everyone that has experienced the recent snow storm is beginning to shovel out.
Here in Oklahoma, we are finally getting some half way good weather.
Our Annual New Years Day ride is just now happening.
We always try to ride the bike on the first day of January, but have to admit the past few years, it just hasn't happened.
If you wait long enough, it finally happens.
That is exactly what happened this Sunday.



I am always so amazed at the pictures as the skies are always so vibrant blue.
Today was no exception.
I have gotten lazy in the past few years, and I use my IPhone to take the pics.
When I look at them on my camera roll it isn't hard to find the newly taken pictures.
Just look for the proverbial "Blue Sky".
I just can't get enough of it!








Hope everyone is able to start their New Year off just the way they want.
Lets get this year started.
We have places to go and people to see!

Bikes Blues & BBQ 2015 homeward bound

Time for this group to go back to the real world and make our way back to our homes.
We had plans on leaving fairly early, but the fog is so thick, we hang around for a while for it to lift.
The ride home was just that....point the bikes to the west and head home.












I wish I could speak about some fun something we did or saw, but really it was just a nice typical ride home.
Sundays are always that way it seems.
You can even see it on the faces of the people in the cars that pass or you pass.
Everyone has an agenda and it usually has something to do with getting home so we can all get home and get ready for the work week.
I am glad to be able to say that everyone made it home without any incident.










Only thing I thought was really kind of funny was when we stopped at the midway on the turnpike, notice the sign and where we had the bikes parked.
Guess we can't read!!!!!
Rebels, just rebels  :)








Seems like we all had a great time, and can't wait until our next trip together.
The next trip we have planned is the Lone Star Rally in Galveston, TX.
We will be heading south the first week of November.
Thanks to all who participated in the Bikes, Blues and BBQ 2015 trip.

Bikes Blues & BBQ Saturday

This morning we are going to do a little riding.

Lynn and I are adorning our new braids we got.
It was a picture moment with Doreen...although hers is real and not sticking on a helmet!  (Picture in tomorrows post)

We have decided to go to Eureka Springs and plans are to eat at our crazy and wonderful
Grandma's Beans & Cornbread.

Diana and I had been there a few weeks ago, and got this really cute purse with a skull on it, and Lynn had talked about wanting one.
That is is the only excuse we need to make it a destination.



We ride to War Eagle Mill first.
This was the first time for Bonnie & Curtis.
Always fun to have someone along for the ride that hasn't ridden the wonderful roads that
curve all around the hills in Arkansas.

War Eagle is such a nice place to visit.
As we pull into the area, there were quite a few bikes, but by the time we left, it really had swelled with people.
Glad we made it there early and got out before the bikes were really trapped!


On to Eureka Springs, and straight to the Beans & Cornbread....as usual the desert was really the best part of  the whole meal.
Blackberry cobbler al a mode...can't get much better than that.

The little leather store is next door, and after we finish lunch, we girls make our way over there.
Lynn finds a purse, and purchases it.
The guys move the bikes on up the hill towards the Harley shop and we do a little more retail therapy.
Since I had been here only a couple of weeks earlier, I didn't find anything I couldn't live without....
I know that is hard to believe, but it is the truth!!!!!



We make our way back towards Bentonville, and Doug pulls up by us and says he and Twana are going back to the hotel and watch a little football.

Chuck had wanted to see the football game as well, as Oklahoma State was playing Texas.
Doug was for OSU and Chuck was for Texas, so we got a good seat in the hotel and took over the TV.

The other part of our group had gone back down to see the Bike show and see the parade.
I really did enjoy just chilling this afternoon in a nice cool building.






Around 5 everyone united once again at the hotel and we got the pizzas ordered.
Bonnie & Curtis ended up coming back over and eating dinner with us as well.
Curtis was the life of the party, and had all of us laughing so hard the whole evening.
He even got another group to join in and it was just a laugh a minute.

I always say this, but we never lack for laughter with this group.
We do have a good time.

BIkes Blues and BBQ 2015 continues

This day was spent visiting the vendors at the Rally.
Seems like the vendors are a little more sparse this year.
The area at Baum Stadium was hustling with a lot of bikes, but there were a lot of spots open for more vendors.
Seems the luster of the rally may have diminished a bit.










We have lunch and then we make our way to the downtown area to see what is going on.
The parking at the church was great, and we got nice shady spots.
The weather is pretty warm for the end of September....and not a cloud in the sky.

We check out all the vendors and make our way to an area to get something to drink.
The area is nice and shady, and we sit for  probably a couple of hours just people watching and sipping on drinks.
Didn't hurt that we had a large fan directed right at our table, which really made the area nice and relaxing.

Lynn gets the urge to buy some Leather Legs, and comes back to the group with the prettiest set with a whole lot of  bling on them.



We decide to head back towards the bikes, but Lynn and I pop into a booth and buy a couple of braided pony tails to attach to our helmets.

Lynn gets a blue one and I get a bleached blonde...can't wait to put them on the helmets.

We had gotten a flyer from someone at the rally with an interesting place to eat.
We are always game for something new, and a place like "Juicy Tails" sounds interesting.

Keith is leading us to the location, and as usual does such a good job getting us all there.
Juicy Tails has a mixed menu of crab boils, catfish, and other fish....and some very messy food!










Doug and Curtis decide to go the messy route.
Asked later if Doug would do it again, he replies, NO!  Too messy!

Our food was good, and by the time we walk out to get on the bikes, we are again in darkness.







Standing around talking and saying our goodbyes to Curtis and Bonnie, Doreen shouts that she has left her phone up at the restaurant.
It has only been a few minutes, and as she makes a mad dash back upstairs to see if the phone is still there, I call it.
First time I get no answer, and then the second call, I get a lady on the phone asking if we are looking for a phone.
Yes we are, and Doreen is on her way up there to get it.
Wow, that was a scare, but all is well!
She said she was in the restroom and placed it on a ledge, and then proceeded to walk out without it.
Thank goodness for honest people!!!!

Back at the room we make ourselves at home around a table that is very reminiscent of last year.
I think Allen could tell the story about last year, but wait, he might not remember it!!!!
I know for a fact he has gotten teased about quite a bit.
We all sat and chatted and enjoyed winding down after a fun filled day.
Time to say goodnight once again.

Bikes Blues & BBQ 2015

It's that time to head to Arkansas for Bikes Blues & BBQ.

We meet Lynn and Keith and Doug and Twana at 10 am and make our way east

Our day started off pretty rough as we had to put our Blue Heeler Belle down this morning. 

I am actually happy we are leaving town so I don't spend the whole weekend crying.

So nice to see that Doug and Twana were able to make the trip.

We get on the road by around 10:30 and make our way towards Arkansas.

We stop in Tulsa and eat at a very good Mexican restaurant (Las Cabos) we had tried a few weeks ago. 

The food and quantity was just like our last visit. 

Back on the rode we stop for gas outside of Tulsa. 

Chuck ask everyone if they want to go the turnpike or the scenic ride. 

Scenic it was. 

Highway 412 was nice and curvy and yes, it's a slower route but we are just out for the ride. ;)

We will be meeting up with Doreen and Allen at the hotel.

She has text me and asked our ETA.

We should be there around 4pm.

Our hotel of choice is by the Northwest Regional Airport. 

We have stayed at this location for 4 yrs now.

It's off the beaten path and away from all the noise of the rally.

As we pull up to the hotel we see a lot of bikes. 

Looks like others have found our little spot. 

The hotel has roped an area off for bike parking. 

Seems like they planned for us this year. 

We are all settled in our rooms so Keith leads us through the back way to get to Pig Trails Harley.

As we leave from visiting the vendors we stopped for a group shot in front of Little Flock sign.

Yes the jokes were rampant. 

I don't know if I could live in Little Flock without laughing every time I told someone where I was from.  LOL

Lynn had seen a restaurant called Smoking Joe's BBQ earlier so Keith was once again in charge of  leading us there.

The food was really great but have to say the fellowship of these people we ride with was even better. 

Missing a couple that wasn't able to make it

Hopefully Diana and Chris can make next years trip. 

By the time we exit the restaurant I was surprised to see that it was dark!

Just another sign that summer is over.
My the ride back to the hotel was cool but not too bad for October.

We had to make one detour and stop at a liquor store I had spotted.

The name was so catchy and we just had to go and check it out. 

I think the picture tells it all.
I just love that you can't tell who the picture is actually of...;)

And yes, as usual we are like kids in a candy shop

Fully stocked we make our way to the hotel and sit and have a drink and discuss just about any and everything. 

Nice day and now it is time to say goodnight.