Phoenix Again - Sept 27-Oct 5

Leaving Malibu behind, we began the trip to Phoenix where we planned to spend some additional time with Jerry & Cynthia before we started the trip home. Our drive to Phoenix would take us from the Pacific Coast and LA through mountains and into the desert.  While driving through LA we experienced record breaking temperatures - 113 degrees!

View of Catalina Island from the campground

Malibu Beach Lifeguard Stand 

Painted by children, seniors and physically challenged individuals in the area

Dome Rock of I-10 in Arizona

Gorgeouse Mountains in Arizona

Phoenix gave us time to catch up with Jerry & Cynthia and relax for a few days. We also decided to take a trip to Prescott, AZ with Jerry, Cynthia & Dee so they could see what our trip has been like.

Tim relaxes with Dee & Jerry in Phoenix

Since Jerry & Dee had to work, we took Cynthia up to Prescott with us early on Friday so that we could set up and relax at Point of Rocks RV Campground.

Cynthia enjoys a few quiet minutes.  

The location was unbelievably beautiful - situated in the middle of the Granite Dells in Prescott.  The Dells consist of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual lumpy, rippled appearance.  Truly hard to describe!  You just have to see them.

This blooming cactus was just behind our trailer

Jerry & Barb enjoy the cool morning

The crew on Saturday morning

It was such a beautiful day, we decided to take a short hike on the Dells behind our campsite.

Looking back at our campsite from the Dells

View of Watson Lake from the Dells

Jerry, Barb & Tim

One of the dramatic views of the Dells

Jerry & Cynthia

More dramatic scenery

Barb, Cynthia, Jerry & Dee toasting the sunset

Dee at Butt Rock

Dinner in the Dells

Cynthia, Jerry, Dee & Barb

Our last day, we checked out the local sights and then Cynthia and I took a hike from the campsite to Watson Lake.

Thumb Butte

Dells on the way to Watson Lake

Watson Lake

Cynthia at Watson Lake

Barb - Lake Watson

Unusual formations at Watson Lake

One last lake view.

Barb & Cynthia

Watching the sunset - the perfect end to a wonderful day!

Unfortunately, our time in the Dells came to an end all too soon...time to pack up.

All hooked up and ready to roll

Our last day in Phoenix brought rain...yes I said rain!  Hard to believe!

Look closely and you'll see the rain hitting the surface of the water in the pool

Cannonball Run - Santa Monica Pier

The final day of the Cannonball Run had arrived and we were excited about seeing the riders hit the Pier.  We made sure to get there early so we didn't miss anyone coming in.

Since we had plenty of time, we decided to take a ride on the Ferris Wheel

to get a birds eye view of the area

Santa Monica Beach

Santa Monica Pier

The moment we had waited for was finally here.  Below are the videos of the the big event!

Brad Wilmarth - # 61 comes in first on a 1914 Excelsior

The second group comes in

The final group

Seeing all of the racers come in was fantastic.  The final results were:     

          1 - Brad Wilmarth (#61) - 1913 Excelsior

          2 - Alan Travis (#14) - 1914 Excelsior

          3 - Rick McMaken (#40) - 1915 Harley Davidson

          4 - Fred Lange (#46) - 1915 Harley Davidson

          5 - Wayne Stanfield (#3) - 1915 Harley Davidson

Here are a few of our favorite photos of the event:

Katrin Boehner - 1907 J.A.P.

Joe Gardella is in the background on a 1914 Harley Davidson

Tim was part of the support and brought in Matt Olson's 1913 Sears

The scene at the Pier after everyone has arrived

Our day didn't end at the pier.  We next got to visit with Mike Parti and had a chance to see his collection   thanks to Chris Haines.

Chris Haines, Mike Parti (seated) & Barb in Mike's Workshop

sharing stories with us

The day was long and amazing - we were going to be sorry to leave Malibu but there was still much more for us to see & do.

Sightseeing in LA - Sept. 25

We're back in Malibu again - just as beautiful as the first time!

Back in Malibu and all set up

The views are just as outstanding as when we were here last!

Since we had a day before the Cannonball riders arrived, we decided to do some additional sightseeing around LA.  First stop - La Brea Tar Pits.

Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pit

Columbian Mammouth in the Tar Pit - you could see the gases bubbling up around her

Gases bubbling up - amazing that it's still doing it!

Pit 91 at La Brea Tar Pits

They're still finding fossils here - the colored flags in the pit indicate finds - I love it!

Asphalt bubble up out of the ground - amazing!

Zed's Tusk in  the Fishbowl. 

Zed is a Columbian Mammouth and is one of he biggest finds in Project 23. 

His skeleton is 80% complete which is a rarity.  

A portion of the over 400 Dire Wolf heads (a relative of the timber wolf) found at the Tar Pits

A female American Mastodon and her baby were trapped together in the asphalt of Pit 9

Harlan Ground Sloth

What the Harlan Ground Sloth looked like

After our visit to the Tar Pits, the Petersen Automotive Museum was our next stop.  The museum contained an amazing collection of cars, trucks and motorcycles.

1932 Harley Davidson Police Bike

1931 Twin Coach Delivery Truck for Helms Bakery of LA

Model of a roadside diner

1945 Bell Special Midget Racer

1929 Ruxton Model C Roadster

1953 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe by Ghia

Prince Ali Kahn gave this car to Rita Hayworth as a gift and was 

one of only 2 built by Ghia

1959 Corvette driven by Bob Bondurant

1912 Harley Davidson

1947 Jordon Twin Crank Four

1961 Covington Tiburon

The only car designed, built and sold in Tampa & St. Petersburg, FL

1912 Indian Single owned by Steve McQueen

1938 Reo & 1938 Curtiss Aerocar

This 1938 Reo was specially made to tow the Curtiss Aerocar one of the earliest 

production 5th wheel trailers.

What trip to LA would be complete without seeing a red carpet?