TODD McFARLANE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING

TODD McFARLANE AUTOGRAPH SIGNING

For those who may not know who Todd McFarlane is, he is a Canadian cartoonist, artist, writer, toy designer and entrepreneur. Best know for his work in Marvel Comics' Spider-Man who drew the first appearance of supervillain Venom and the creator of Spawn.

He was holding a free autograph signing at his store in Westgate City Center in Glendale, AZ from noon til 3:00 pm. We arrived around 11:00 am and Tod McFarlane showed up around noon and started signing autographs. It took us about an hour and half to get in, but after meeting him it was worth it. I took two 5x7 to get signed and got a picture with him. He is one of the most friendly famous people I have met. He greeted and shook everyone's hand, he answered all questions that was asked.  We even received the new NFL small pros just for coming to the signing. 

After an hour and half, there was still a line people waiting to get in

When I was there I picked up some MLB figures that I have been looking for. Since they are being sold in his store the prices are the best you'll fine, so it was a no-brainer to pick them up. I also received a 10% military discount.

Check out the full life size statues of Halo and Assassin Creed that is standing in front of the store windows.

CASE GRANDE RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT

CASE GRANDE RUINS NATIONAL MONUMENT

1100 Ruins Dr

Coolidge, AZ

(520)723-3172

http://www.nps.gov/cagr/index.htm

Today's road trip we decided to go to Case Grande Ruins National Monument. We packed our lunch in our cooler and hit the road. About a hour and a half later we arrived at the NM. the parking lot is small, but there was plenty of spaces open, there are also RV spaces so any rig will fit. Fee is $5 a person, but our National Park Pass came in handy one more time and we got in for free. There is a small museum and theater that plays a movie every half hour. 

After the movie we started to get hungry, so we took our cooler and went to the picnic tables near the parking lot. If you don't pack your lunch, there is a KFC, Sonic and Walmart in front of the park entrance.

After our lunch we went back inside and exited the back door to make our way to Case Grande Ruins. You can see it from the door and are only a few feet away. As you walk through of what is left of the outer wall you enter the ruins. There are several square blocks that would have been homes and in the middle is the remains of the "Great House". One time it stood four stories high with several rooms, seven feet high. Ancient Sonoran Desert people who built the Casa Grande also developed wide-scale irrigation farming in one of the world harshest climates that lasted over a thousand years until about 1450 when the Casa Grande was abandoned.

The ruins was never seen again until 1694 when  Padre Eusebio Francisco Kino visited and called it the "Great House". With travelers and treasure seekers the Case Grande was being destroyed and defaced with graffiti. In 1892 President Benjamin Harrison set aside one square mile of Arizona Territory surrounding the Case Grande Ruins as the first prehistoric and culture reserve established in the United States. In 1903 the first shelter roof was placed over Case Grande and in 1932 a new steel shelter roof was installed that still stands today.

LEAF VERDE RV RESORT BUCKEYE, AZ

LEAF VERDE RV RESORT BUCKEYE, AZ

1500 S Apache RD

Buckeye, AZ 85326

(623)386-3132

http://www.leafverde.com/

With every RV Resort and campground having a website it is hard to find "THE ONE" you want to call home. This winter we wanted to head west and see everything Arizona has to offer. A few key points play a roll in where we want to stay for long periods of time. As always the number one thing is military base. Luke AFB is about 10 miles away, it has a nice size commissary and exchange, gym, library, VA is about 30 minutes and we even found an American Legions. Two, what can we do and see close to the RV Resort. There are numerous National Parks, State Parks, shopping, downtown Phoenix, not to mention sports NBA, NFL and NHL team all play their season in the winter and MLB Spring Training. Third, we like family owned parks as they have always took care of us and made us feel welcome. Being an Ohio native and the RV Resort located in the town of Buckeye it just felt right. This winter we call Leaf Verde home.

The very first thing I noticed when we arrived was the designated lots for active duty military. Leaf Verde has two sites for active duty military that are traveling though Arizona complimentary up to two nights. Also, they offer a 20% discount on daily rate for active and retired military. This is the first time I have seen any RV park offer free nights to the troops. If you know any active duty military that is traveling though Arizona pass this information on to them and support your troops in anyway you can. Everyday I walk by the sign it just puts a good feeling in my heart, class act Leaf Verde.

Leaf Verde sits on 27 acres accommodates 377 spaces which 272 are 70' or longer with 30 and 50 amp services. Every site has a picnic table some have a palm tree and a picturesque view of White Tanks Mountains. A newly renovated laundry facility, nice and clean shower house, lounge with TV and two pool tables, heated pool year round, basketball and pickle ball court, gas fire pit courtyard with charcoal grills, dog walk park and two community rooms for activate events.

 

Services provide are small shoppette, RV supplies and you can fill your propane tank on site. To put the icing on the cake, Leaf Verde was honored twice in 2013 for "Arizona Park of the Year", "Business of the Year" and 2014 "Top Rated Good Sam Park". Everyone from the staff that checks you in at the front desk to the ground and pool crew who keeps the resort clean and beautiful to the night security patrol everyone is devoted in making your stay as comfortable as possible. For everything Leaf Verde has to offer their rates will fit any RV'ers budget. 

Most of the time we are the youngest couple at any RV park, however we still want to be active in the events held. There is a full calendar of events all week long from sunrise to sunset to keep you busy. Just to name a few are walks into town, water aerobics, water volleyball, yoga, crafts, dominos & cards, pot lucks and movie night a little something for everyone. There are also trips scheduled to Mexico and Vegas this year. Being active in the community events allows you to bond relationship that will forge friendship for a lifetime.

Friendly game of water volleyball

 Thanksgiving pot luck

 Walk into town, meeting up at Wendy's (free senior coffee)

DESERT FLOWER HAIR SALON
(623)386-5802

For all those ladies (men too) out there who don't want to travel far to get a hair cut or manicure, no worries Desert Flower Hair Salon is located in the Resort. Privately owned the last 14 years under current management with no affiliation with Leaf Verde. Hours of operation Tuesday - Friday by appoints and walk-ins on Wednesday.  Locals and campers alike have many places to go, but they choice Desert Flower for the personal and friendly one-on-one experience. Any type of hair cut, perm or style you'll come out felling great about your choice.

If you are driving through Arizona and looking for a place to park for the night, weekend or longer Leaf Verde is the perfect place to park your rig and call home.

  

MONTEZUMA WELL & MONTEZUMA CASTLE NATIONAL MONUMENT

MONTEZUMA WELL & MONTEZUMA CASTLE  NATIONAL MONUMENT 

http://www.nps.gov/moca/index.htm  

For those people like me who need a navigator to get where they want to go, Montezuma Castle has no physical address. I used  latitude and longitude (N 34*36'46' W 111*50'24') I got there with no problems.

Entrance fee $5 a person, but we used our National Park Pass and got in free. This pass has came in handy and we'll be sure to renew it for next season. Inside there is a small museum and shop. Parking is very limited. As you walk out the back door to make your way around the park it will not take long before you see Montezuma Castle cliff dwelling. The walk is easy for anyone at any age with flat paved trail and 1/3 mile long. For dog lovers, they allow dog as we saw many owners walking their dogs.

The castle was carved into the side of the limestone cliff. It took three set of ladders to climb Montezuma Castle which made it incredibly difficult for enemy tribes to penetrate the natural defense of the vertical barrier. There are three dwelling to see, but only one still stands fully built. When the area became a National Monument in 1906 it was one of the four original sites designated by President Theodore Roosevelt. From 1906 until 1951 (completion of I-17 being built) brave and welling visitors could climb the ladders to see inside the cliff dwelling. Now, visitors can only see models and historical photos of the inside. 

http://www.nps.gov/moca/montezuma-well.htm

One exit North on I-17 and 11 miles later you can arrive at Montezuma Well. I did not need my navigator for this trip. As you enter the NM there is a Pit House Ruin just off the main road. Fee is free and parking is limited here too. The walk is 1/3 mile from the parking lot to the top of the well. There are paths, but climbing up and down hill sides and if you want you can climb to the bottom of the well with narrow rock path.

Montezuma Well is a detachment of Montezuma Castle NM. Over one million gallons (five million L) of water flows through two underground springs. The well measures 368 feet (112 m) across and 55 feet (17 m) deep. Montezuma Well has proven to stand the test of time as it has been used for irrigation since the 8th century. The well holds no fish, however the well has most endemic species in any springs in the Southwestern United States where diatom, springtail, water scorpion, amphipod, fresh water leech and the Montezuma Well springsnail all call home. You can also see cliff dwellings along the ridge of the well. 

On the way back to the RV park we stopped at Sunset Point rest stop to admire the nice view of the sun setting over the mountains.

There are a lot of National Parks in Arizona and California that are within a three hour drive of us. We will try and see more parks to check off our list and share the adventure with you in this blog.