2013-03 Phoenix Arizona

Ray, LeAnn and Hailey went down to Phoenix to visit LeAnn's mom and take in some warm weather.  It has  been a long winter and slow spring in Minnesota this year with a lot of snow still on the ground and highs still barely reaching 50.  Hailey's friend Rosie joined us for the week after going down early and spending some time with her aunt who lives in the Phoenix area.

 On Monday we met LeAnn's niece Jenny for brunch and then took in a Giants vs. Cubs baseball game at Hohokam Field in Mesa.  It was a nice sunny day and we sat out on the lawn in the outfield, my favorite way to watch a spring training game.  This is the last year for Cubs baseball in Hohokam as they are getting a new stadium next year.  Hohokam will be remodeled, and then the A's will make it their home field.

Tuesday we spent some time at the pool and then went to Organ Stop Pizza for dinner and show.  We go here most times we visit.  The organist gives a different 30 minute show about every 40 minutes, and controls everything with the organ from the lighting to the percussion instruments.  The organ has been expanded multiple times since it was first installed and takes a very large blower system to supply enough air for all the pipes.

On Wednesday we went up to Sedona, which is about 2-1/2 hours away.  This is known as red rock country ans is made up of limestone and sandstone.  Erosion over the years makes for beautiful cliffs and scenery.  We stopped at the national park visitor center and got some information on hiking in the area.  They recommended the Brins Mesa trail.  We ended up doing about a 6.5 mile loop along Brins Mesa and Soldier's Pass.  Along the way we saw the 7 sacred pools and Hell's Kitchen (a giant sinkhole).  The vistas were very pretty as they overlooked green valleys   

Ray and LeAnn went to Papago Park on Thursday and explored the hole in the rock and Grant's tomb.  Grant's tomb overlooked the Phoenix zoo, and we saw quite a few animals from above.

On Friday, LeAnn's sister Yvonne came down to visit and relax.  The kids spent a lot of time at the pool working on their tans.  We checked out the owl that lives up in the palm tree near the clubhouse.

Saturday we booked a trip on the Desert Belle on Lake Saguaro.  This is one of 4 dammed lakes northeast of Phoenix that are heavily used for recreation.  Mainly fishing in the winter and water sports and camping in the summer.   There is lots of wildlife around the lakes, although on our trip we didn't get to see any of the bald eagles or big horn sheep that are known to be in the area.

After Saguaro Lake, we went out to Tortilla Flats, and old stagecoach stop that has become a tourist stop.  it has an old general store, ice cream parlor, bar and restaurant, along with a population of 6 people.  People have lined the walls with money from all over the world.

On Easter Sunday, we met LeAnn's sister and her kids Jenny and Chris for Easter dinner.  It was great to see them all and good way to wrap up the week.  We took the red eye flight back home leaving Phoenix at 1:00 AM on Monday morning and getting back to Minneapolis at 6:00 AM ready to start a new week

1060 Finds track

2013-02 Hudson Hot Air Affair

Ray and LeAnn went over to Hudson Wisconsin to attend the 24th annual Hudson Hot Air Affair hot air balloon festival.  We went over for the 3:00 launch, which was an optional launch for the participants since they had done an earlier morning launch.  There were over 20 balloons that launched during the afternoon.  Although the weather was cold (about 10°F), it was calm and sunny, and beautiful day for watching the balloons.

The balloon fest is at an elementary school and you can walk right up to the balloons and many will allow you to help them set up the balloons and prepare them for launch. You can feel the heat from the burners even if you are 50' away.  When the balloons launched, they would go directly overhead and you could easily see up into the center of the balloon.

Besides the balloon launch, there was an artist doing an ice sculpture of palm trees and food stands outside (for such things as kettle corn and  deep fried cheese curds--just like the state fair, only colder).  Inside the school were some more food booths (cupcakes, snacks and drinks), along with a craft fair.  This was a nice area to warm up in, even if you weren't buying anything.

We were talking to a couple of ladies from Memphis Tennessee, and one of them asked why we do this in the middle of winter--wouldn't it be better to it in the summer.  The only answer we had at the time was that it gets us out of the house and allows us to embrace winter and the weather.  LeAnn thought that the balloon owners were probably busier in the short summer season giving balloon rides and wouldn't have as much free time.



After an early dinner, we came back for the evening moon glow and field of fire.  There were 9 balloons that inflated and set up, and another 20 to 30 that set their burners up on their baskets to ignite.  There was a short ceremony for the POW/MIA's, then ongoing firing of the burners on the balloons (moon glow) or just the burners on the baskets surrounding the balloons (field of fire).  One of the baskets had added wings and a dragon head on top of the burner, which created a fire breathing dragon.

We had gone to the balloon fest one time before, back in 1998.  At that one, we even got to take a tethered ride on one of the balloons, and there were more non-standard shaped balloons.  Maybe we won't wait as long to get back next time.

We would also like to make it down the big balloon festival in Albuquerque some year, which has more balloons and warmer temperatures.

2013-01 Red Town Sculpture Garden and Creative Zone

Red Town is a sculpture garden and "creative zone" built among the remains of the No. 10 Steel Factory in southwest Shanghai.  Many of the buildings are made from red brick, so I a guessing that is where the name comes from.  I stumbled across this place during one of my weekend quests for geocaches.  I think that is the only way I would have ended up there as even some of the locals I spoke with after I visited there were not aware of the area.

On the way to Red Town, I walked through a nearby park and found an area where elderly gentlemen would bring birds in cages and hang them from the trees and put them on the ground.  I think they may have been for sale, but I can't say for sure.





Walking between the parks, I ran across the first sculptures, in the form of a band jamming on the grass.  A little soundtrack in the background would have been fantastic although behind me the street was pretty busy.
The park itself has a large open area filled with many statues.  This is surrounded by buildings which house cafes, art studios, galleries, shops and training centers.

The first item I noticed as I walked into the area was full size car made of bricks and mortar.  It was very detailed--check out the detail on the tire treads.






 Up against one of the buildings was a sculpture of two ladies sitting on a bench.  From a distance they looked somewhat lifelike, although oversized, there was a lot of detail work done on the statues







 In the large open area was about a dozen 10' tall legs painted in various colors.  Some seemed to be modeled after flags of various countries.  When I first got there, a large group of young ladies were all getting their photo taken while peeking out from behind the legs.  They were giggling and laughing and having a real good time






 The next item was an abacus for the digital age with a modern keyboard and beads for the display.  Kids loved playing on this, and it took a couple of times around the park before I could get a photo without people climbing all over it.





On the perimeter of the park in front of some of the shops was the statue of the clowns on a bicycle built for 5.   On my way out, I saw the large rose (it was about 3 ft across) up against one of the buildings.  The natural patina was very colorful and beautiful.  It was also difficult to photograph and make it look as vivid in a photos as it did in real life.  I took about half a dozen shots to get one that I was satisfied with.