The South Riding RV Travels

493

7th-14th April 2009 - Scottsdale AZ

By now we had settled in and recovered from jetlag and from our exertions of the previous weeks. We had also recovered from staying with small children. We were getting withdrawal symptoms - it was time to do something.

The roof needed painting  - so we volunteered to help. The roof consists of a layer of foam which is painted with a special paint to protect and waterproof it. Over time the sun and wind abrade the particles in the paint and it begins to leak. This process takes about seven years.

So 30 gallons of paint were duly purchased and the roof swept and washed (above). Then we started painting with long handled rollers trying to put the requisite thickness of coat on.
We didn't use the recommended quantity of paint so most of the roof got two coats and it is a BIG roof. It took two days because you bake in the afternoon sun in Arizona!. It looks good though - if you can stand the glare!
On Easter Sunday we went to visit their grandchildren who went on an Easter egg hunt. This involved hunting the garden for plastic eggs filled with candy or toys. There must have been 30 eggs for each kid to find and much amusement was had by all, not least the grown ups who hid them. The problem was then to stop the kids trying to eat it all before the excellent dinner.

It was odd really because they ate so healthily normally, even by our standards. But I guess kids the world over love candy.

Our hosts' garden was in full bloom and so different to gardens we are used to. This is a desert garden with cacti and succulents, citrus trees and other plants adapted to this harsh environment. The cacti look very attractive and healthy just as they come towards flowering.
This is a prickly pear cactus although the flowering varieties you find in gardens flower much more profusely than the wild ones.
This prolific bush with very small leaves and yellow flowers is mesquite and smells of tar oil. It is very common in this area.
No desert garden here is complete without at least one saguaro and often several. They don't start growing arms until they are at least 50 years old..
This is a member of the agave family. They are another very common type of plant to find particularly in cultivated areas. They grow huge flower spikes but not every year.
The brilliant flowers are bougainvillea and you find them everywhere. They really brighten things up. There are different shades but this seems the most common.
We can't remember what this is called but it has a lovely scent. The flowers are about 3-4in across with really long stamens.
I can't remember what this is either. However most Americans with enough land to have a yard usually have at least one 'project' in it. The house has a four car garage with four collector's cars in it. This is just a future work in progress.

Car insurance for collector cars is interesting in the US, and cheap because they argue that you can only drive one at once and with the time and money you have invested in rebuilding them, you are going to be a 'real careful' driver. Absolutely!!