Thursday, December 14, 2017 (Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction, AZ)

Steve confirmed with We Ride Powersports in Mesa late yesterday afternoon that the parts for my quad had arrived...so we were good to go this morning. You may recall that when we took the quads out for a ride at Lone Rock, the front drive shaft to differential seal was leaking.
After a beautiful sunrise and our usual coffee start to the day....we were ready shortly after 9:00 to drop it off.
After dropping it off, we found our way to Camping World to return the items we had picked up in Tucson...this Camping World didn't have the parts we needed either. We ended up finding a screen door latch that fit our door at Paul Everett RV, just down the street from Camping World. As a matter of fact it used to be RV Traders where we had had some work done on our Montana a few years ago. Paul Everett had taken over a year or so ago.

We were home shortly after noon. After some lunch, Steve got to work on editing pictures while I did a little baking. There was a something going on in the park today...the helicopters were out looking for someone. Apparently there were Sheriff vehicles with a dog here as well. Hope whoever is lost is found safe and sound.

 After idling on the ground for some time he's powering up. This must be why they call it dust off!
Flying past the praying hands..
We later found out that there was a threatened suicide but nobody was found.

Just before 4:00 Ray and Deb picked us up. Then we were off into Phoenix for an early dinner at McFate Brewery. It was another great spot for good beer and food...and close to Phoenix Zoolights. Yes...that's me drinking stout..."Coffee Milk Stout"...
We arrived at Zoolights just after dark...and here is what we saw!

 




 Praying Mantis...
Scorpion...

Sasquatch...(This one's for brother Dave!)








 Manta Ray pool...







 Wascally Wabbits...
 Ginger Bread Man...
 Deb bought a Christmas Light necklace...
Thanks for the picture, Ray...
Roadrunners...



 Kangaroos...

 Hummingbirds...



 Camel rides...
 The Monkey swings across...
Tiger...
 Monkeys...
About every 10 minutes the lights flash and change colour to music...


 Rhinos...
 Lions...
 Zebra...
 Ant Eaters...










Both Ray and Steve took tons of pictures as we wandered through the displays...and a couple of hours later, we were on our way back to the car. Zoolights was amazing...well worth seeing! Thanks so much for including us in your evening, Deb and Ray!

9 comments:

  1. Seems like the footers are our every few days recusing someone off Flat Iron Trail. Loved the Zoo Lights! Had not heard of that brewery. We’ll have to check it out next time.

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    1. The staff here say rescues are almost a weekly event. We have the same problem in the Vancouver area mountains. People heading out unprepared for the weather and the challenges ahead. Can't believe how many times we've seen people hiking in flip flops! Come winter time there's the constant out of bound idiot skiers that put rescuers lives at risk.
      Later this week we're going to 4 Peaks Brewery, a favourite!

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  2. That mountain sure looks familiar, but from a side angle. We camp every year at Usury Mtn Park, which is just a few miles from Lost Dutch. We are booked for Usury again in early March, while there we will watch baseball and go out to dinners with our son as we did last year. He knows the good spots.

    We enjoyed the Desert Botanical Garden, which I bet is near the zoo.

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    1. We love Usery and also McDowell Mountain Regional Park which is just past another neat area, Fountain Hills with the worlds tallest water fountain.

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  3. Great lights!! That was a huge display. I love Milk Stout! One of my favorite.

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    1. Back home Butchart Gardens have a similar huge light display that is all Christmas themed.
      Surprisingly Dianne really enjoyed that stout.

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  4. Great pictures! I see the show ends January 14, so I guess we'll miss them. But I hear the Zoo is pretty good.....even without the light show.
    Hope you get that pesky leak fixed!

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    1. The lights were excellent...perhaps put on a "see next year" list??

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    2. Thanks! We may have to check it out in the daylight next time too.

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