Monday 31 st May 2021.....home again!!

I was on the road this morning by first light at 7 am and really an uneventful drive of just under nine hours......no military check point stops, no accidents on the road and I encountered heavy rain about five minutes outside of SMA but none in town.

It was such a nice feeling to pull Blaze into the garage at my casita..she will meet Litlle Yella mañana....

I was a little tired but felt good to be home...

You know I like to keep busy so already I have plans to play tennis in the morning and then at noon see Frida and take her for a long walk!!!

Looking forward to a long hot shower and a cuppa...

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Sunday 30 th May 2021.... a long day

Sorry this is going to be a short post with no photos but I am a tad tired.

I had a long but good driving day and safely settled in a nice Airbnb in Terreon and that new car is so great I really enjoy the cruise control and Ac features.

So an eight hour drive home to SMA tomorrow..it has been an amazing journey getting Blaze and re connecting with so many friends after Covid restrictions mainly lifted.

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Saturday 29 th May 2021.....Mexico!!

It was a five hour drive first to the Arizona border then into

Then all the way across that State to the border of 

Everything was going well till the final turn off the highway onto the border crossing lanes and the exit was closed for construction......My GPS has been amazing the whole trip but I could not get it to get me to the border route and I knew I needed help......

I saw a small UPS van parked on a side street and I drove up to him.....I put on my sad pathetic look and asked the driver if he could help me with directions to get to the border crossing...he was really very nice and told me with the road works it was such a mess and very difficult to explain how to get there...then he said to me I have a few minutes just follow me.........

So it happened again random acts of kindness from total strangers.......I followed him for about five minutes to the highway  and then down some side street until the right turn off that I needed...we were on a busy road and he pointed out of his window where I was to go and he carried on......I would like to have stopped and thank him but it was impossible...but he led me right onto the correct ramp and I was right at the border.

Juárez has a very bad reputation but I have to say the crossing was about five minutes total...I received the green light and was not even stopped...there you have it I was back in Mexico......now I do have to obtain the permit for my car but I get that mañana 21 km out of town at an office that is open 24 hours.

So next I had to find my Airbnb and with the GPS within five minutes of crossing the border I arrived at the apartment...I called the owners and their son arrived within a few minutes and let me in and showed me around...it is a completely private casita very lovely and with a garage...

I had a relaxing rest of the day and evening watching a final European soccer game...

Bit of a long drive mañana but Blaze is good for it....

Feels good to be back in

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Friday 28 th May 2021...last day in Tucson!!

For my last full day in Tucson I took Linda on a wonderful road trip to..

Mount Lemmon is approximately 30 degrees cooler than nearby Tucson, which is only about one hour away. Located in the Santa Catalina Range, Mount Lemmon is surrounded by the Coronado National Forest and home to a town befitting of the name, Summerhaven. Explore various trails, eat homemade fudge, and even rent a cabin for a weekend away in the pines. On your way to the Mount Lemmon's Peak, you'll drive along the 27-mile sky islands scenic byway, which is more than just a way to get to the top.

History & Nature

In 1881, a dark-haired, white woman by the name of Sara Allen Plummer dared to climb the mountain during a time when tensions were high in the West between gunslingers, the US Calvary and local American Indian tribes. Her husband, John Gill Lemmon, was a self-educated botanist, and the two came to Tucson with the ambitious task of cataloging the plants of Southern Arizona. When they made it to Mt. Lemmon’s summit, they christened it after Mrs. Lemmon to commemorate her being the first white woman to have climbed it.

From Cactus to Conifers

Along your journey, you’ll pass by magnificent views of Tucson, ephemeral waterfalls, and canyons flanked by hoodoo rock formations. View the unique wildlife including migratory birds, the prolific ladybug hatch, and animals specific to the Southwest and Central America. You will also travel through 4 different life zones that range from the deserts of Sonora Mexico, to the alpine forests of Southern Canada over a span of less than 25 miles.

Enjoy the photos..

Someone joined us for lunch!!

Amazing how as you climb the scenery goes from cactus to trees...

Now on the way down..

Afterwards I worked out in the gym...

Swam in the pool and relaxed in the hot tub......

To end the day Linda treated myself and her special neighbor JuJu to a lovely dinner, I forgot to take  a photo..

I have had a lovely time as always in Tucson.......

Tomorrow is a travel day and doing things differently this time...I should be across the Mexican border tomorrow afternoon ...

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Thursday 27 th May 2021...hot sunny day!!

When I got up it was hot and sunny and had my morning cup of tea outside.....

I treat the family to breakfast this morning.....the food was really good and we enjoyed all being together...

Left to right...Muri, Teri, Randy, Linda’s son and Linda!!

I do not know where the day went but it was done before I knew it...did some shopping, relaxing by the pool and Linda made a lovely crock pot dinner tonight!!

Supposed to be 100 degrees mañana...Linda and I are going on a little road trip into the cooler mountain air....

Stay safe and healthy!

Yashi Kochi!!

Wednesday 26th May 2021...my final US State

I said goodbye to the kids and the house owners this morning and was on the road by 7 am.....I knew it was going to be a six hour journey all on the Interstate, hence no photos except when I crossed here..

The car handles really well and is a joy to drive.....I went straight to Linda’s place and it was so good to see her again...we have been friends along with her husband Guy, who sadly passed a few years ago, for nearly twenty five years and we feel like family...

It did not take me long to get out here..

Followed by a soak here..

Please no comments about my flat head!!!!

Later in the afternoon Linda’s Granddaughter Muri joined us for pizza and she is so sweet she fresh baked cup cakes for my birthday, they were delicious!

A perfect end to a lovely day and I am in a small casita ten minutes from Linda......

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Tuesday 25 th May 2021...last day in San Diego!

My stay with the kids comes to an end as the lovely owners came back tonight......

It has been a lovely week and Sophie and Frankie were great company especially Frankie who followed me everywhere in the house.....they loved their morning and afternoon canyons walks and were no trouble at all.

Sophie..

Frankie

I have also enjoyed the beaches and the ocean and the two games of tennis and meeting new friends.

Had a great time this morning taking my tennis buddy and good friend from SMA, Jen, out for breakfast......

She flew in last night to visit family and attend a graduation and it was nice of her to make time to meet...afterwards we went to a funky tennis store where I made a few purchases.

So tomorrow is the final leg of my journey before I return home.....I have an almost six hour drive on the Interstate, no other option, to Tucson.

This is where my adorable and long friend friend, Linda lives...I have a small casita booked for three nights and we always have fun together!

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!

Monday 24 th May 2021...beach day!!

The owners of the kids come back late tomorrow afternoon....so I will spend the night here tomorrow night.

So today was my last beach day until I don’t know when so I had a big hike planned.

This beach is only 5 km from the house and there were two ways to do the hike.

Option 1 was to pay twenty dollars and park in the State parking lot and calmly walk down to the beach.

2 Nd option was to park free on the street in a different neighbourhood and take the canyon cliff walk down to the beach that is described as hazardous.

being a Pearson boy I chose number two!!

It was fun getting down to the beach...

Worth it for the amazing views..the beach stretched for a very long way both ways...so I first walked to the right and to the end...

On the way back I decided it was my last chance for a swim so in I went...

Yes only to my knees it was so cold..I know I am a chicken!!!

Then walked all the way to the other end of the beach..

Saw the Para gliders the whole time....

Also this amazing mansion....

Then it was time for lunch and a lay down.....

Calm down ladies!!!!

It was a great day and not so bad on the step meter...

The dogs were happy to see me and I took them into the canyon down the street......a quiet night at home is planned!!

My good friend Mort starts my day every day with a joke and this one is a San Diego joke I am sharing!!

Blonde man story

A blonde man motorist was about two hours from San Diego when he was flagged down by a man whose truck had broken down……

The man walked up to the car and asked, "Are you going to San Diego?”

"Sure," answered the blonde guy, "do you need a lift?”

"Not for me. I'll be spending the next three hours fixing my truck. My problem is I've got two chimpanzees in the back that have to be taken to the San Diego Zoo. They're a bit stressed already so I don't want to keep them on the road all day. Could you possibly take them to the zoo for me? I'll give you $100 for your trouble.”

"I'd be happy to," said the man.

So the two chimpanzees were ushered into the back seat of the blonde's car and carefully strapped into their seat belts, and off they went.

Five hours later, the truck driver was driving through the heart of San Diego when suddenly he was horrified!  There was the guy walking down the street, holding hands with the two chimps, much to the amusement of a big crowd.

With a screech of brakes he pulled off the road and ran over to the guy.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, "I gave you $100 to take these chimpanzees to the zoo!”

"Yes, I know you did," said the man "But we had money left over so now we're going to Sea World.

Stay safe and healthy!!

Yashi Kochi!!