Friday, November 29, 2019

Grocery Shopping @ Bashas' in Chandler, Arizona






We need a few things &
drive to Bashas'.







While Eric shops, I walk
around the store & take
pictures.






I developed an interest in Supermarkets and Grocery Stores after I visited Piggly Wiggly in 2014.  Hy-Vee, Kroger, and Publix are my favorites.





The store has a large
assortment of wines 
& liquors.












Flowers welcome shoppers.





Fresh Fruits & Vegetables






The Pharmacy & Health
Care Products 








Freshly cut Meats &
Seafood at the
Butcher Shop





This aisle has Grilling
Supplies, Cleaners...





Packaged Meats are set
out for shoppers.





Paper Towels & Lawn Chairs
are stored above the
Freezer Cases.





Fresh Eggs & Egg Substitutes
are displayed at the end of
an aisle...





... next to Frying Pans, at
the end of the Soda Aisle.












The Snack Food Aisle

Eric found the Pretzels
he's been looking for.







Spaghetti Sauce & Pastas
are in this aisle.





The Dairy Cases have
Yogurt, Cheeses &
Specialty Milk.






Soy, Almond, Oat Milk and others are in demand.






The Soup Aisle





Condiments, anyone?




Easy to prepare foods include
  Hormel & SPAM Canned Meats,










This is a very nice display
area for impulse buys.

















Spices & Baking Supplies










The Breakfast Food Aisle






Packaged Pastries, Honey,
 Peanut Butter & Jelly,
 Nutella...






Lunch Meats







The Bake Shop





The Deli Market slices
Lunch Meats to order &
has premade Sandwiches.





Greeting Cards





Pet Food





Stationery Supplies













Magazines & Books












Eric & I head to Checkouts where
we get a Bashas' Loyalty Card
to get some in-store savings.







Bashas' is a neighborhood store.  While Eric found the Pretzels he was looking for he didn't find other items on his list including Lundberg Rice.  For a larger selection across food choices, we need to shop at Albertsons or Fry's.

Boondocking in the Phoenix Area

Phoenix is the largest city in the Valley of the Sun.  Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Chandler are part of "Greater Phoenix," population 4,192,887 (2010 US Census)

Previously, we have found that larger cities restrict overnight RV parking.  Eric searched our overnight parking resources, including OvernightRVParking.com and Escapees Day's End Directory and found...






Eric found a place for us to
boondock near Gold Canyon.







Peralta Road ends & a
dirt road takes us to...




...the State Trust Land.

Eric bought a permit 
for us to stay here for
a week.





The road has washboarding and some ruts.  This sandy area is hard-packed and will support the weight of our motorhome.





I look forward to camping here,
with the Superstition
Mountains in our "backyard."







"The best-laid 'plans' of mice and men often go awry....."   With forecasted rain and threats of flooding in the Gold Canyon area, Eric and I looked for another place to boondock.

There are few welcoming options available in the Phoenix area on OvernightRVParking.com.





Wild Horse Pass Casino in
Chandler allows overnight
parking & has oversize parking
spots for trucks & RVs.






I prefer parking on pavement during heavy rain and possible flooding events.






After the rain Eric & I
see a vivid rainbow.





Believing that parking at a
Casino isn't free, we get
"Gambling Cards," lose
some money & eat at
the restaurants.





Eric and I were surprised to find a note on our windshield asking us to move to another Casino.  We spoke to staff and the parking policy limits stays to 24 hours.  Being a customer has no bearing on their policy.











It's closeby so I follow
Eric in our car.











Visitors can win a truck.

I didn't look into the rules
for this prize.










Eric took this picture during
one of our walks around
Lone Butte Casino.






If we are in need of overnight camping again in the Phoenix area, we will go to the State Land Trust near Gold Canyon, weather permitting.   It's pretty and quieter because the dispersed camping sites pretty far apart.

Friday, November 22, 2019

South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona




one of the largest
municipal parks in the
country (16,000 acres).




The Administration Buildings
are made of stone.

Wood is a precious commodity
in southern Arizona.





We start the five and a half-mile drive to Dobbin's Lookout.






Horse Trail Crossing
Ahead









Saguaro Cacti rise from
their Nurse Trees.





A shaded picnic area,
made of stone.




Share the road with bicyclists.

Everyone needs to be cautious
on this narrow road.






The road twists & turns
up the mountain.







                                                                                       The view from a mountainside pull-off.





I think the stone structure
was build for hikers.

There are lots of trails in
this park.










We will follow the road in
the distance to the peak.










Visitors & bicyclists
enjoy the view.

Vendors sell jewelry,
pottery in the 
parking lot.










Dobbin's Lookout.





This is the second-highest point in Phoenix. Camelback Mountain's peak is about 370 feet taller.  


                                          Looking north at the City of Phoenix.  It covers 517.7 square miles.  




Looking to my right I see
a Cairn.

Hikers pile up rocks to 
mark trails.








Eric takes photos with
his phone....












... including a selfie.











Looking down, I see a hiker
on a mountainside trail.






Our drive down the
mountain....







The car, on the right, is
following us.





We stop at a pull-off &
find a couple enjoying
the view.





The winding road is
carefully marked.




A Helicopter flying over
the park.

I hope no one's lost.





My last shot of Saguaro &







South Mountain Park is beautiful!  Thank you Eric, for choosing today's drive.