Well, March " came in like a lion"....not so much for the weather, but it's been a flurry of activity for us!  We had a visit from our Michigan Bounder friends, Nancy and Dick Maxwell.  They now have an "Alpha Gold" and were passing through Casa Grande on a circle tour of the west.  We enjoyed 'catching up' and sharing a dinner out together.  The next day it was a reunion of our old Springfield Schools friends from 'back home.'  We had a visit from Nancy Wilsen, who winters in Sun Lakes, AZ and Rosemary and David Baggett who had spent several months in California and were heading east again.  Rosemary and David having been communicating with us since we retired and they are hoping to start their own RV adventure within the next few months.  They had stayed in a rented rig in California and we think it has fueled their desire to get on the road.  We gave them the 50-cent tour of Palm Creek and shared a few tips about the full-timing lifestyle.  (We were so busy talking, I forgot to take a photo...sorry, guys!)  It was another great visit!
 
 

Our friends Nancy and Dick Maxwell joined us for a 'dinner out' and a great visit while they were in Casa Grande.

On Sunday, March 4 we flew out of Sky Harbor for a great adventure....after an overnight stop in Atlanta, we headed to San Jose, Costa Rica.  Our son, Reid, was spending his second winter season as a white-water-rafting guide on the Sarapiqui River about two hours north of San Jose.  Reid and a friend drove down to pick us up and give us a scenic tour back to the village of Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui where we settled in at a very pleasant bed and breakfast, the Posada Andrea Cristina.  The hospitality of the owner, Alex Martinez and his family, especially his son, Kevin, was absolutely fantastic.  They arranged tours for us, called for taxis whenever we needed transportation and served us delicious breakfasts each day.   We were not in a highly traveled tourist area, so found ourselves at somewhat of a disadvantage because of our lack of Spanish language skills.  Fortunately, Reid speaks Spanish like a native, so when he was along we were in luck!
 
 

The entrance to our bed and breakfast...	Our patio...	The breakfast "room"...an oasis in the garden
One of our hosts, Kevin Martinez, with a bird his family has rescued and cares for in their garden.	This Passerini's Tanager was among the many colorful birds that visited the feeder next to our breakfast table each day.	The garden view from our patio...

Most of our meals were at small local restaurants and we enjoyed the native food.  Reid was able to take some tours with us.  Seems he's been so busy working that he hasn't explored all that his area has to offer.  So, we went to the LaSelva Biological Station for a walk through the rainforest preserve, and for a boat ride along a quiet section of the Sarapiqui River where we saw many species of birds and animals.  One of the highlights of our trip, of course, was a rafting trip.  We were in a raft with another couple from Spain on a trip from Reid's company, Aventuras de Sarapiqui.  We got to see Reid in action as he guided the raft while giving us directions on when to paddle as well as pointing out sights and wildlife while switching back and forth from English to Spanish.  It was a great afternoon and our guide made sure that our boat made the trip without flipping its occupants into the river!   We enjoyed an evening barbeque at the unique home of Reid's boss and celebrated Mary's birthday with a fabulous dinner at a restaurant that features a soccer field on the side.  Most of our time was spent outdoors...the temperature was quite pleasant (although the humidity was higher than we prefer) and all of the restaurants we went to offered only outdoor dining.  But, it does rain in the rainforest!!!!  The first several days of our stay were bright and sunny, with a little rain at night.  But, on the last several days, the skies opened and the rains came...and came...and came...and came!  However, there isn't much wind and many of the homes don't even have glass in the windows.  They tell us that there isn't a problem on storm days!  It was a fantastic adventure, and we would love to make a return trip sometime.
 
 

This is one of several peccaries we saw wandering around the La Selva Biological Station.	This creature was peeking out at us during our boat ride along the Sarapiqui River.	We looked at this poison dart frog from a distance.
Reid was very good at giving us orders on when and how to paddle...	and on occasion, we got a little wet.	After dinner at the home of Reid's bosses, we gathered around to watch a competitive game of Parcheesi among the rafting guides...Reid won!

On our return to Casa Grande we got back into the whirlwind of March activity.   First was the Palm Creek Chorus Concert, with one of our neighborhood "gang," Connie Shafer, having a major part in the program.  Then, Reid had surprised us with the news that he was following us to Arizona just three days after we arrived home.  We quickly got all our laundry done and things put away so that we could get out the extra bedding, etc. for his visit.  (Space is a premium in RVs, remember!)  We even washed Reid's car which had been collecting dust here in our site since November.  Reid and Tom headed to the driving range and the golf course first thing the next morning after his arrival.  Then after their round, Reid did some laundry and a little reorganizing of all his "stuff" and drove three hours to the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation about half-way between Globe and Show Low, AZ.  It seems that the Salt River does not offer rafting opportunities every year...but this year the water is expected to be good for rafting for several months and Reid decided to take advantage of an opportunity to add another river to his resume.  He quickly got acquainted with the river and the beautiful Salt River Canyon and was able to come back to some more golf and laundry for a few days off the next week.   The rafting operations are headquartered on the Indian reservation in temporary facilities and its a long drive to the nearest town and any facilities of any kind.  We're hoping the mountain water run-off continues and look forward to a few more visits from Reid before he heads to Colorado for the summer.

On Thursdays Tom goes to the nearby Robson Ranch golf course to play with the Palm Creek group.  They were having a "demo day" one of those Thursdays and Tom came home telling everyone about the wonderful new driver he had tried.  He kept telling everyone about it for several days.  So, after he came home the big winner at one of the Texas Hold'Em poker nights, he went to the local golf shop and got his new club.  It's working great!  And, now he's working on a plan to get some new irons, and making a little progress!  :-)  The neighborhood ladies drove up to Apache Junction to attend the final day of the Safeway International LPGA Tournament.  It was a perfect weather day so, after visiting the sponsors tents and walking part of the beautiful course, they parked themselves on the 17th green and watched the golfers play through.  It was an exciting finish as the Lorena Ochoa birdied the 17th to break a tie for first place and then got another on the 18th to win by two strokes.  No cameras are allowed, so the view will have to live in Mary's memories.

Our neighborhood here at Palm Creek is a lively bunch and it seems there's always something going on.  I guess none of us are Irish, because on St. Patrick's Day we had an "Indian Taco Night."  One couple made lots of "fry bread" and beer margaritas and the neighbors contributed various taco fillings, salads, and deserts.  We played some games and after dinner enjoyed sitting out under the stars without the need of the portable campfires.  Our almost daily "happy hours" are turning into good-by parties as people are beginning to move on after their winter at Palm Creek.   And wouldn't you know....the park scheduled the annual "good-bye party"...a catered dinner for 1700 people with entertainment to follow..which, because of the number of people involved, was to be outside...and we had the first rainstorm in several months.  We had to crowd into every room available at the activity complex and only about 300 people were lucky enough to be seated in the ballroom where the entertainment was presented.  We were among those asked to eat and move on to give seats to those farther back in the line in one of the satellite rooms.  But, the organizers did the best they could.
 
 

The Palm Creek Chorus filled the stage and presented an evening of Broadway and movie musical songs.	Pat and Jim McGrath, Cathy and Peter Nichita and Tom at McGraths place at Sundance enjoyed a great visit.	Every spring we are visited by many doves who do their best to make nests in odd places.  One pair chose our slide-out topper, only to be blown away by a "dirt devil windstorm."	Walt and Maxine Schnoor's new "winter place" at Sundance.  They stay at Hart Ranch, South Dakota in the summer.

Eight ladies were among the "big winners" at the Tournament of Champions."	Our buddy, Bev McGovern, tried to keep her best poker face, but the lucky cards weren't in her hand that night.	Cathy Nichita was very patient and lasted a little longer, but came home just shy of collecting money for her efforts that night.

Among our end-of-the-season activities, we had a last visit at their "coffee and desert hour" with Ohio friends Ed and Judy Lichtenberg before they left Palm Creek; traveled to the Sundance RV park for a get-together with former Palm Creek neighbors Pat and Jim McGrath; entertained Bo and Linda Bodine for golf and a pizza dinner on their last weekend in Casa Grande before heading back to Michigan and Ohio; shared a delicious salmon bake hosted by our across-the-street neighbors Dick and Alice Wells; went to dinner with the McGoverns and the Nichitas who supplied our airport transportation this winter; and gathered with some of our Palm Creek neighbors at Sundance to check out former Palm Creekers, Walt and Maxine Schnoor's new park model.  The "neighborhood guys" were trying to use up the punches left on their pre-paid golf cards and the free rounds they'd earned as volunteers through the season....so they headed to the course daily.  One of the last "big events" was the "Texas Hold'em Tournament of Champions."  This was for the weekly winners of the Wednesday night games throughout the season.  Tom doesn't play in the Wednesday night games as that is also duplicate bridge night, but neighbors Cathy Nichita and Bev McGovern both were eligible.  Neither came away the big winner...but they had fun participating and we had fun watching the tense competition.

About 600 rigs pulled out of Palm Creek on the final weekend of March.  A dwindling crowd gathered as each rig pulled up stakes and hooked up their vehicles and hugs were passed around.  We wished everyone safe travels and a fun summer and we look forward to seeing our Palm Creek friends again next fall.   Boy, will it be different around here after April 1st.