The End.

Our trip officially came to an end yesterday.  We unloaded the car into Lonnies storage unit, unloaded all our luggage and paraphanalia that we have been dragging in and out of each hotel for a week now, into the hotel in Crystal City.  To reach our destination google maps said we should drive about 2600 miles and the odometer on the rental car read 3100plus....looks like those detours added up :)  However, all were so worth it.  After leaving Memphis, one of our detours took us through Centerville TN., where Marcie and I believe we would like to buy some acreages and retire.  Oh it is so beautiful and the people so very friendly.
Erika who was our technology queen even found some houses with acreage for sale...and Bill...it has a pond, a creek and quite some distance till you see your neighbor, what do you think?????  LOL!
So that's all folks.!

Amarillo, Fort Smith, OKC, Memphis and Nashville

Well it has been a few days since we stayed up to blog....lots of traveling and lots of fun...hence no time!  Amarillo was just ok nothing really note worthy to share; even their cupcakes we kind of bland!  Onward to Fort Smith which turned out to be surprisingly fun, beautiful and historic.  We walked through a historic part of town dealing with the civil war and continued to a park which looked out over the river.  I really enjoyed the park and the walk along the river, stunned because on this warm, pleasant evening:; we only saw four people.  Such an enormous contrast to any park in So. Cal!! Next stop for just a visit was Oklahoma City.  We stopped at the memorial and was very impressed with the stunning memorial.  In the place of the road next to the federal building was a reflecting pond with two walls flanking it . Enscribed on one wall is 9:01 and on the other wall at the other end of the "block" was 9:03, the space in between  represented the time when the bomb went off. On the site where the building was are these chairs, if you will, with the name of each person who lost their life that day.  Many other details which came together to create a moving memorial to all who lost their life that day.  We then continued on to Memphis.  We stayed downtown, at the Westin next to Beale street.  I guess this is a place where many noteworthy jazz musicians got their start. Today, it is two blocks of bars and restaurants.  Still fun, but the number of people out partying during a week night, was amazing(by 8 the streets were wall to wall people.  We did stop in to have a beverage, it was very hot and humid, and to listen to a "just past her prime" Jazz singer...not to slam her really, she was good and we enjoyed it.  We took time that day to go see Graceland, and enjoyed seeing all the Elvis memorabilia!  Wow, forgot how many hit records he had.  Tonight we are in Nashville, and the weather is warm but very nice.  I really like this area!!!  It is so lush and green, with gently rolling hills!  On the way here, we took a slight detour to a town called Centerville.  I had once found, on line, a beautiful Forest Gump type home in Centerville for sale, so we thought we would try and find it.  We couldn't, but found many other "possibilities" and had a very enjoyable ride.  Tomorrow, onto Roanoke, with a stop in Johnson City to see Becky and Philip!   Then onward,  as Erika said tonight, "one more night till I get to see my jeep...oh and my husband too:)"  LOL!

Monday 6/20

Woke up to beautiful sun=shiney day and headed out to Santa Fe New Mexico.  Hotel was ok (bit of a stench in the hallway but hey better than sleeping in a flooded ditch in Tonto Forest!)  Short drive to NM about 4.5 hrs.  Our first stop was Santa Fe Nat'l cemetery to visit my parents and brother.  Pete or Eddie must have been to visit Ross and they left him a little something (couple of flags, some flowers and a can of Coors Lite!  That made me smile! 
From there we checked in to our fabulous hotel in Santa Fe--La Posada (no stench!).  It's actually a little casita.  Adobe with log beam ceiling...very nice!  We walked to the Plaza and found a resturant from DDD(Guy Fieri) called Zia and it was great.  They even had a margarita called The Marcy.  Did I order it?  What do you think?!  Of course to end the night we googled "best cupcakes in Santa Fe and found a place on .....Marcy Street.....WHAT?!?!  We went there and found it had moved and so did we.  Ok, so we may have found a cupcake better than Sprinkles!!  It was de-lish!  Back to the casita to turn in as we are off to Amarillo TX tomorrow...  Adios!  Love, Marcie

Sunday 6/19

Checked out of our hotel in Sedona and drove to a few more interesting sites before heading to the Phoenix Airport to pick up Erika.  She was in San Francisco for a wedding.  She arrived on time and the 3 of us left for next hotel which was in Holbrook, AZ (apprx 3.5 hrs away).  Ok, so decided to take the scenic route through the Tonto Nat;l Forest.  It was going to be dark before we got out of it.  About 30 miles from hotel we could see we were heading into a very ominous black wall of clouds.  The wind picked up fast and I thought..."does Arizona get tornados?!?!?  Thank God made it through without incident and got to hotel about 9 pm and called it a night!   Love, Marcie.

Santa Fe

Today was an easy drive, a bit boring, but easy (there was only blue skies.....no blowing wind, rain and the threat of flooding!  yay!).  Arrived in Santa Fe in early afternoon and went first to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery to visit the gravesites of Marv, Marylou, and Ross.  A sad time, boy how I miss my second family! .... And can't believe it has been almost 3 years since Ross died. :(      We spent the rest of the afternoon strolling through town; searching out the Guy Fiere recommended diner and Santa Fe's best cupcake.  The diner, Zia's,  was an eclectic mix of food, but absolutely delicious.  We then found Dream Cakes, right in the heart of the city, and their red velvet cake just might even beat Sprinkles!!!  Back to the hotel, which we think is fabulous, to relax and prepare for tomorrows drive!  Happy Trails.

Sedona (Sat) and Phx to Holbrook (Sun)

From the spectacular south rim of the Grand Canyon we traveled south to Sedona.  Sedona  is a resort town sitting between an amazing display of beautiful red rock formations.  What a gorgeousl place to visit.  I am already planning trips back to visit both the Canyon and Sedona....lots of wonderful hiking opportunities.  So, today Sun we added a passenger to our trip, picking up Erika at the airport in Phx. and began our journey to the exciting town of Holbrook!! Sarcasm intended!  However, as we drove from Phx, we decided to travel thru the Tonto National Forest, traversing up and down over the mountains.  A beautiful drive until about 2/3 of the way.  Picture this, the sun is setting on our left, with enough light in the sky to drive comfortably. However, directly in front of us I could see rain and an increasing dark sky.  Not worry though surely we would reach our destination just prior to hitting the rain.  However, as we drove up and down over a two lane road, the street signs began to warn us of the increasing dangers of flash flooding, saying do not continue if flooded...well duh!  White knuckling it, I continued the drive, ever so determined to reach "Holbrook".  Well,  we arrived without washing away....LOL and are sitting comfotably in our beds!  A good day!   Looking forward to tomorrow as we head towards Santa Fe.

Sedona-Saturday 6/18

Hi..it's Marcie...
Sedona was as expexted...beautiful.  Not even too hot which was great.  Stopped by the creek on the way down the mountain...my favorite place.  I want to live near a place like that.  Our hotel was another great one.
 Bought some nice jewelry but best part was being with the BFF who makes me laugh!