Atlanta Trip

We had a great time visiting family again.

Our brick in Centennial Park

Bengt's New House

I made my first trip to Augusta to see Bengt and check out his new house.  It is a big place with lots of projects to keep him busy!  We also spent some time in downtown Augusta which was really fun.  With a bit of street and sidewalk maintenence it could really be great.

Bengt's new house

Augusta river walk

Pedal Pub

2025 Arizona Self Storage Conference

We attended our first storage conference at the AZSA show in Phoenix.  We met alot of great folks, learned alot and had a great time.

AZSA 2025

Weekend Activities

• Our priest came back from sabbatical
• Put in some drainage pipe
• Lily got groomed
• Granite Mt Hike - we ran out of time and didn't summit but will be back

The way up Grante Mt

Granite Mt view

Another view

Winter 2025 Books

• Tactical Wisdom series by Joe Dolio

• Be Your Future Self by Dr. Benjamin Hardy

• Neighborhood Watch and 1000 Miles of Bad Road series by E. E. Isherwood

• Dragon Days by H. John Poole

• Awesome Arizona by Roger Naylor

• Trackers series by Nicholas Sansbury Smith

• various Matthew Bracken books

• My Wars by Richard Bushong

• Helno-Gal by Walter Ram

• Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth

Weekend Activities

• Couple of short hikes close to the house
• Starting clearing some brush and trees along the driveway, up the ridge and next to the meadow
• Caught Sir Harrison at Back Alley Wine Bar
• Played a few scenarios of Carrier Battle Group Solitaire

Looking towards Highlands Pines

Deer in the meadow

Hiking Clown Town trail

Prescott Snow

We are getting a small snow here at Juniper Ridge!

Snow

Moved In!

We finally moved in a couple weeks ago.  After unpacking constantly we are just now getting unburied from the boxes.  We also don't have much furniture yet but will work on that next.

Live edge standing desk

Lily investigating the area

Boxes, boxes, boxes

Almost Ready

Getting close!

Snow Camp 2025

The Sierras got a big storm the day before we got up there.  This made for lots of powder that was very difficult to snowshoe through.  So we took a shortcut along the road a bit and followed some ski tracks to one of the camp host sites.  We were able to make a one person snow cave and hit the lodge for drinks and hockey.

Our camp

Rock Creek

View up Rock Creek valley

Lots of postholes

Snow kitchen

Snow cave

Winter Hike

It has been pretty balmy here but there was still some snow on the ground from a recent dusting.

Old mining camp

Dry Jerry tank

Car wreck in the middle of nowhere

Belize Vacation

Jyoti and I took a week to visit Belize and attend a small but very effective storage mastermind group.

Some highlights of the trip:

• Belize Zoo - saw many native animals
• Wild Orchid hotel - rustic rooms but great beach
• Mariposa Beach Resort - great boutique hotel; good food but service a bit slow; our mastermind host is a partner
• Flying Pig bar - great food and very nice folks
• Maya Beach Bistro - 
• Barefoot Beach Bar - typicall tropical beach restaurant
• The Shak - awesome smoothies
• Belize Mexican taco shack - good but slow
• Captain Jak's snorkeling at Silk Caye and Moho Caye
• Chillpoint coffee and smoothies - some of the best coffee anywhere

Belize is kind of like a Central American version of Hawaii.  Everyone speak English, or some variation of it.  People are friendly than Hawaiians and very much appreciate tourists.  Travel is a bit easier than Hawaii since it is on central time.  Weather and bugs are better in Hawaii though.

Heading out for snorkeling

Map of Placencia

Belize beach

Lunch at the Shak

Treehouse at Mariposa Beach Resort

Muddy streets due to construction

Mariposa beach

Mariposa Beach pool

Downtown Placencia

Placencia Beach

Welcome to Belize!

First Prescott Boot Drop

It was pretty crowded on the square (but not as crowded as the lighting) and the band was good.  The bars all had lines to get in.

The boot has dropped

Boot drop crownd

Jeep Ducks

Someone left me my first Jeep ducks.

Jeep ducks

First Prescott Christmas

• Lots of restaurants
• Walking tour
• Lots of stuff on the square
• Hassayampa Inn bar and lobby
• Point of Rocks model railroad
• Thrifting

Interior Work

Most of the work on the house has now moved inside.  The plumbers, electricians, HVAC, cabinet makers, counter top fabricators and tilers are all busy at work.

Prescott Courthouse Lighting

We joined hundreds of people for our first Courthouse lighting.  We missed the parade but listened to the band, heard the Christmas story and the childrens' songs.  We also walked the square and got some gifts at some local vendors.

Courthouse lights

Big crowds

Thanksgiving in Tucson

• Met our daughter's boyfried at a wonderful dinner at Charro Steak
• Spent the day at Pima Air Museum
• Played lots of games
• Range time
• Did some small hikes

White Dog Overland Bloody Basin Overnighter

White Dog Overland had an informal trail run along Bloody Basin Road.  Due to other plans, we could only make it for Friday night and a few hours on Saturday.  We rolled into camp a mile or so inland from I17 in the late afternoon.  Plenty of time to set up our tent and start meeting the large crowd of ~30 people.  There was a great campfire as the temperature dropped.  In the morning, Lily was shivering and we had to bundle her up.  We then headed out a couple of hours before the lineup left.  

We headed east a few miles and hit an old homestead.  Then we headed back out Blood Basin and took a side trip to a nice hike to a Indian cultural site.  Then back home.  It was a great time meeting Cody and all his supporters.

Silver Creek Canyon with fall colors

Exploring Indian ruins

Puebla la Plata trailhead

Copper Creek homestead

Lily and White Dog

Lily is cold

Campfire

Our camp