Tuesday, December 4th, 2012.

We've had a pretty slow week, I think we've discovered relax mode, finally! On Sunday the 25th we went out to pick up some lights to string up under the awning so we could sit outside longer and see each other. It gets dark here around 5:30 and we wanted to be able to sit outside and play cards or visit. On Monday around 9:30 I joined my neighbours Fern and Liza for a girls day of shopping for "stuff" to make Christmas decorations. After hitting up several stores we were home around 1:30, had a quick brunch and started hot gluing, twisting, and creating. By 5:00 Fern and I had created her 3 wreaths and Liza had finished 2 necklaces that she had started in the lapidary. Tuesday was lazy day and Wednesday Larry and I spent a few hours finishing our Christmas shopping, just have to pack it up and load it into the car for the trip home.

We decided Thursday morning to drive the Old Apache Trail from Apache Junction, through Tortilla Flat, to the Roosevelt Damn, Superior, and home. Our first stop, around 1:00 was the Superstition Saloon Bar in Tortilla Flat, population 6, for lunch. Dollar bills from all over the world cover the walls of this old stagecoach stop like wallpaper. The barstools are real saddles and some are hand carved with wooden horse backsides. There's only 3 buildings left here, the Saloon, Ice cream Shop and the Mercantile that also houses Arizona's smallest post office.

After our lunch break the real fun began, a 22 mile drive on a one lane grid road, many one lane bridges, and STUNNING views!

We finally ended the twisting grid and joined up with the highway again at the Roosevelt Damn, about 3&1/2 hours later. On the way home we drove through Miami and "the Top Of the World", really it's even on the map! What a great day, we left around 10:00 and were home around 7:00.

On Friday morning I started the laundry, then went to have a shower, where I twisted the wrong way and there went my back. I made it back to the laundry room, finished the laundry and headed back to the motor-home, by this time I could barely get up the steps. I rested for the afternoon and felt OK, so we went to the happy hour and BBQ by the pool, but after, I was a hurting unit. I started on my back pain drugs, Larry went out and bought me a heating pad and I've been nursing my back ever since. I did go for a walk last night and again this afternoon, so I'm on the mend, finally.