Friends & Family in Arizona

Wed - Feb 8
Drove over to Towerpointe RV Park for Happy Hour with "the Canadians."  We met John & Lynda and Bev & Gerald a few years ago in Hemet, California, when they were parked behind Diane & Tim.  They are from Calgary, Alberta, and are such friendly, fun people that we always try to meet up with them somewhere.  We saw John & Lynda in 2010 and played Pegs and Jokers.  These folks have probably seen more of Arizona and California than most Americans.

Thurs - Feb 9

We took a day trip to Picacho Peak State Park.  We've driven by Picacho Peak many times on I-10 and always wanted to stop.  It rises 1,500 feet from the desert floor to an altitude of 3,374 feet.  Its unique shape has been used as a landmark by travelers since prehistoric times.  One of the first written records was in the 1700's by the Anza Expedition as it passed through the area.  It was also used as a landmark by settlers traveling between New Mexico and California.

Picacho Peak State Park

Trails meander through the park and to the top of the peak.  We took the Calloway Trail, a moderate one which lead to an overlook at 2,274 feet just to the right of this smaller peak.



View to the south from the overlook



Big saguaro

 




















There's a bird nest in this cholla cactus.  Great protection, don't you think?  Some people call this the "jumping cactus" because the stems detach so easily when brushed they seem to jump onto clothing or the ground.

Picacho Peak was the site of Arizona's westernmost Civil War Battle.  In 1862 a dozen Union soldiers defeated 10 Confederate cavalrymen.  A Civil War re-enactment is held each year at the park in March.

Sat - Feb 11
Went to the Valentine Dinner Dance with Bill and Mary Ann at their RV Park.  Excellent food, great band, lots of fun.

Bill, Mary Ann, Joyce, Jim

 

Sun - Feb 12
Joyce is always looking for family history information and recently discovered that there is a Wersch cousin here in Arizona.  Ken Wersch lives in Calgary, Alberta, but is snowbirding in Casa Grande.  We invited him and his wife, Karen, to a mini Wersch Reunion at Bill and Mary Ann's site.  This was a cousin that none of us had met before.



Back row: (spouses) Jim, Mary Ann, Karen, Karen
Front row:  (cousins) Joyce, Bill, Ken, Randy

 We are all descendants of Michael Wersch who emigrated to Canada from Russia in 1905.  Joyce, Bill and RAndy are first cousins.  Ken is our second cousin.  Joyce printed out an abbreviated family tree so we could figure it all out.
We had a great potluck dinner.  Bill barbecued some salmon that was very yummy.  Mary Ann set a lovely talbe complete with tablecloth, candles, wine and music.  Martha Stewart, eat your heart out!