Exploring The Phoenix Area

We had a good week off work to explore some of Phoenix after we landed. We did a couple hikes and check out some restaurants. I did a bit of a loop drive through the Tonto National Forest on highway 88 which is a 30 mile (very narrow/steep) dirt road shortcut to Roosevelt Lake via the Salt River (Rio Salado).

The weather feels like June in Portland, though the sun is noticeably lower in the sky. We haven't yet seen a cloud since we've been here but the weather man is predicting one sometime this week.

Bridge over Roosevelt Lake

Roosevelt Damn

Apache Lake

The Chevy HHR Blazing through the Arizona Back Roads

Superstition Mountains (East of Phoenix)

Hiking Around Pinnacle Peak (North of Phoenix)

Pinnacle Peak and the enormous houses below

One of many Saguaro Cacti all around town

The Light Rail Train Bridge in Downtown Tempe

Downtown Tempe on the top of Hayden Butte (next to ASU)

Snowbirds

We landed in Phoenix last Tuesday after a 2 hour flight with our cat Porter. Porter definitely expressed his feelings about the whole ordeal while on the flight, in a bag under our seat, with a coat on top to muffle his complaints. Fortunately there was an infant two seats behind us who was louder than Porter. (I think they were trying to harmonize at one point.)

Our new Apartment in Chandler AZ. (We live on the second floor with a few to the west over the man-made lake here)

The neighborhood around us has lots of man-made lakes to help reclaim and store water, so most of our neighbors have "waterfront" property (little ironic for Arizona). Lots of little human powered boats/canoes around, not so great for swimming.

Our new place is pretty simple and quite empty right now.

Porter spent the first 5 days hidden in his own little cabnet under the bathroom sink but he's starting to relax and explore his new home too.

Send-off

Thank you everyone for sending us off at our going away party. We had a great time. Good luck Burninators, Kick some A.

I also had a great day of skiing with Rob and Jay...little icy but good weather.