Dale and Lisa's Travels: Back in the USA

Our flights back from Down Under went just fine, actually arriving a few minutes ahead of schedule. Although we tried, neither of us really slept on either flight. We got our luggage and made it back to the Jeep in a timely manner. All was going splendidly until we hit the roads in LA. We were on the road shortly after noon and expected to be back to Casa Grande, AZ by 7:00 assuming we might lose an hour or so getting clear of LA. One hour….really? It took us four hours to leave LA behind. Due to an unplanned additional food stop, we arrived back in Casa Grande about 11:30 Wednesday night, November 26th, 34 hours after waking up in Sydney, the morning of November 26th. I don’t care who you are, that’s a long day!!!

Thanksgiving Day we spent at our niece Kristin’s house. She and her fiancee Dan had several of their friends over and were kind enough to invite us to join the festivities. We spent the night and took advantage of a couple Black Friday deals in the Phoenix area before heading back to Casa Grande.

We spent the next few weeks relaxing and enjoying Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort. This is the nicest resort we've spent extended time at. (Hearthside Grove in Petoskey was definitely more luxurious, but we only spent five nights there.) We got into Palm Creek on a first time special which knocked the monthly rate approximately in half. We would highly recommend anyone looking to spend a month near Phoenix consider Palm Creek under the first timer’s special. They have a very nicely kept 18 hole par 3 golf course that winds through the resort. They also have what is arguably the nicest campground pickle ball facility in the country with 24 courts less than two years old. Their hot tub is huge, seating at least 20 comfortably. Their gym is the best and largest I’ve seen at a campground. They also have an extensive tennis facility. The only shortcoming was that they do not provide WI-FI. While there we golfed a couple times, took a beginner pickle ball class, laid by the pool several days, went to the hot tub several evenings, and I got back into a consistent workout routine. We even got to watch a professional disc golf tournament held on the Palm Creek golf course one Saturday. We were amazed at the sophistication of the game with some players carrying more than 20 discs. They have various max distance drivers, control drivers, fairway discs, and putters to cover all the conditions presented to them on any given course. It was pretty interesting as it brought back my college days spent tossing a Frisbee in front of Wadsworth Hall at Michigan Tech. I think I could get into disc golf. On Friday, December 19th, the last day Lisa was at Palm Creek before flying back to Michigan for the holidays, we went to Skydive Arizona in Eloy, AZ. It was well worth the 15 mile drive. We’ve never been so close to skydivers coming in for their landing. We understand it is a world renown venue for skydiving. And being close to the holidays it was very busy with groups of as many as 12 divers falling out of the sky every 15-20 minutes. They also have on site an indoor skydiving simulator where participants ride on a column of air. There weren’t any paying customers when we went into the simulator so the workers put on a tremendous demonstration for about a dozen of us visitors. The whole venue was VERY COOL! They even had a saloon on site called the Bent Prop where we got pretty decent food and beverages while watching the divers.

Entrance to Palm Creek

Garden area with golf course in the background

Our site at Palm Creek

Merry Christmas Arizona style

Ready for our pickle ball lesson

The beginner pickle ball class

Getting ready to bring Palm Creek's golf course to its knees.. well anyone can dream

Typical view on the golf course

Skydive Arizona

Sliding in for a seated tandem landing

Running landing

Workers putting on an excellent demo

I brought Lisa and Kristin to the airport late Friday night, so they could fly a ‘red eye’ to Detroit. Kristin’s wedding shower was held at Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville, MI on Saturday, December 20th. Kelly had already arrived from Australia on December 17th. Kristy, Bree and Kelly drove in for the shower from East Lansing. The shower was also the first opportunity Lisa had to meet our new great nephew, Ryder. After the shower Kristy took Lisa back to East Lansing, so Lisa could get started on her Bree time.

Aunt Kim providing guidance

Kristin & Dan

Al, Nancy, Kristin & Dan

Ryder & Aunt Kristin

Gramma Nancy & Ryder

GG Mickey & Ryder

Picture of Bree just because

Bree with her friends

On December 23rd I moved the coach from Palm Creek over to another campground called Casa Grande RV Resort & Cottages. It was only 6 miles, but it was the first time I moved the rig by myself. Thankfully it went without a hitch.

On December 24th I flew back to Michigan and arrived in time for dinner at Lisa’s sister’s house (Nancy & Al). After dinner we attended the Christmas Eve service at Nancy & Al’s church, Antioch Lutheran in Farmington Hills. We spent the night at Nancy & Al’s and headed to East Lansing Christmas morning. Although Lisa and Kelly had been with our sweet granddaughter, Bree, for several days it was my first chance to see her. And, yes indeed, she was even more precious than when we left her in September. She’s already got grampa wrapped around her finger. It melts my heart when she smiles and coos. Matt did a repeat of his marinated turkey based Christmas feast. Same as last year, it was scrumptious and we all ate more than we should have.

Christmas Eve with Kelly at Nancy & Al's

Sammy giving Jeremy a Christmas kiss

Grandma Michelle with Ryder

FaceTiming with Chris down in Australia

Chris & Bear

Bradley & Jeremy with Gramma Nancy waiting for Santa

Matt, Kristy, & Kelly on Christmas Day

Guess who

Gramma Lisa getting some Christmas Bree time

On the 26th Lisa, Kristy, Matt, Bree, Kelly and I went for 'Christmas' dinner at my sister’s house (Pam & Mark).

My mom, Helen (89), with her grandkids and great granddaughter

Mom with Pam, Mark, Lisa & I

We had a nice time at the annual Peterson Christmas party held Saturday, the 27th, at cousin Jan & Scotty’s home in Livonia. The whirlwind of activity culminated Sunday morning December 28th with the public affirmation of Bree’s baptism, which had taken place in the hospital just days after her birth as she went through her early health difficulties. Everyone involved in the service returned to Kristy & Matt’s home afterward for a casual lunch.

Sponsors Ed and Katrina, and Pastor Dave with Bree, Matt, & Kristy

Bree & Aunt Kelly

On Monday we were treated to a tasty lunch at the home of fellow Newmar Hoots, John and Diann Tymensky. (See our June, 2014 post for a prior mention of John and Diann.) Diann’s sister and her husband were staying with them for the holidays, and joined us for lunch. John and Diann are considering the possibility of full-timing, so they were very interested in our experience thus far.

Lisa’s birthday which happens to coincide with New Year’s Eve was spent at Kristy & Matt’s along with some of their neighbors and Matt’s family. New Year’s Day found us at cousin Dianne and John’s home in Clinton Township for the traditional Aunt Virginia spaghetti dinner. This tradition has been in place for 60 years. I still look forward to it every year and it didn’t disappoint.

On Sunday January 4th we said our goodbyes to Kristy, Matt & Bree. After reluctantly handing Bree back to Kristy we headed back toward our old house to attend church at our home congregation, St. Matthew Lutheran in Walled Lake. In all of our time on the road we have yet to find a Prayer & Praise service we enjoy as much as St. Matthew. We sure are spoiled, so it was nice to get back ‘home’ and get our fix. After the service we drove down to Detroit Metro airport to drop Kelly off for her return flight to Australia. The parting wasn’t too bad as we know we’ll see her again in July. We spent that night at the home of Dale & Terri Rivett, friends from St. Matthew. Monday morning we went for our annual physical checkups. That afternoon we met with our Pastor Paul Moldenhauer to discuss a renewal of vows service for Kelly and Chris at the end of July 2015. We spent Monday night at Nancy & Al’s. Tuesday morning we headed to Detroit Metro for our flights back to warm, sunny Arizona.