February 2010

Rex is continuing physical therapy on his finger and almost has full movement back. The Dolly Steamboat is getting busier now that the weather is warmer so Rex is working more days which helps with the finances but cuts into our having fun!

We returned to the Willow Springs trail with the Golden Sun hiking group this month and had a great hike. We took a little different route as Rex had read about some archeological sites in the area where there are some petro glyphs and also caves that were used as temporary residences by early people in the area.




On Valentine’s Day we took Nancy’s parents on an evening dinner cruise on the Dolly. The weather was nice and warm and we got to see big horn sheep on top of a cliff. There was a big ram and some ewes with a number of lambs. We enjoyed watching the lambs jumping around on the rocks. The big ram showed off by standing in profile at the edge of the cliff with the sun going down behind him – beautiful! We also had a bald eagle fly around the boat. It was a very enjoyable evening.



Rex’s boss “Capitan Jeff”



On February 19th we took a bus trip with our park to the Queen Creek Olive Mill where we took a tour and learned how they grow and press olives for olive oil. After sampling some great olives and buying some olive oil we drove down the road to the Schnipff Farms for the Peach Blossom Festival. We ate lunch, including some delicious peach pie and then took a hayride around the farm. The owner (3rd generation) gave us a history of the family farm and we stopped at the peach orchard so we could get out and view the blossoms up close. In the early years of the farm all the peaches were shipped back East as stores here only wanted California peaches. Now stores here would love to get some of their peaches but they only sell to the public at the farm. We had a good time and came home with a delicious peach pie and some great peach cinnamon rolls.



Nancy’s sister, Carol, from Colorado visited us and her parents for 10 days. The weather was cool and it rained while she was here but we were able to do a few outdoor activities. She went on a hike with the hiking group from Golden Sun.



We also went on an afternoon cruise on the Dolly Steamboat.


We had a great visit and Nancy learned how easy it is to drive to Sky Harbor Airport.

February has been cool and rainy – it seems like it rains every weekend. We already have more rain in two months than they had all of 2009. We are hoping for dry, hot weather in March.

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