Thu - Jan 19/12

Our first mission today, after putting the garbage can to the road for collection. was to locate someone to take Charlotte's donation for Cancer Fund auction that will be part of the several fundraising activities being held next week in the park. We had 2 lot numbers of organizers and found someone at home on the first stop.

Charlotte donated one of her handmade (by her) Mohair Teddy Bears, appropriately outfitted with pink accessories, to the auction.

Next stop was dropping off a box of paper to the recycling bin. Proceeds from the recycling bins are also used for charitable work.

With those chores done we were on our way to The Country Market at Valle del Oro, a sister Cal-Am park, just off US-60 at the Ellsworth Rd exit a little more than 10 miles west of Canyon Vistas. We had a bit of a hard time turning the corner due to the ambulance and fire truck that were attending an accident at the corner.

"Country Market" like "Swap Meet" is the Arizona version of what we call "Flea Markets" back home. Here  there is virtually no "junk" or used items. Most of the offerings are craft items or commercial products. The market is a combination of outdoor and indoor vendors. I was disappointed that the lady from whom Charlotte purchased several embroidered shirts in past years was few years was not there today. Perhaps she will appear at a later session.

I made a stop at Guest Services to purchase tickets for tonight's show featuring Jim Curry. Since this market only runs in the early part of the day we returned to the RV for the afternoon. We were back in time to pick up the great Taco Salad ($5.50) that is featured on the lunch menu at the park on Thursday. It is there most popular offering. We returned to the RV to share.

We returned to Valle del Oro for the Jim Curry show. Jim is a tribute artist who looks and sounds like John Denver. It was an excellent show that featured an replication of an actual John Denver show. It also featured a great simultaneous picture/video show on a large stage screen. An original Denver band member and previous New Kingston Trio member joined them for several songs including the Kingston Trio hit "MTA". This was a bonus as "MTA" is one of Charlotte's "oldie" favourites. It was an excellent show that started at
7 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m.

Our last stop for the evening was Old Chicago, a restaurant that features Chicago style pizza, just off Power Rd a few exits west on US-60. We ordered the 16 inch thin crust "Original Seven" (topping) pizza with added Anchovies. We really enjoyed the pizza (eaten here before). \

It was a 15 minute ride back to the park on US-60. It was a busy and fun day!