Catalina, Arizona – Tucson areaJan 26, 2011
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Santa Catalina Mountains from our home at 9:45 a.m. - Catalina State...
Our home with a Santa Catalina backdrop - Catalina State Park
The home of Jon's stepmother Janet in SaddleBrooke
We traveled some 200 miles east and, through a strange coincidence, moved from one “Catalina” to another: Catalina Spa in Desert Hot Springs, California, to Catalina State Park in Arizona, north of Tucson. We had several reasons for being at Catalina State Park. (1) SaddleBrooke, where Jon’s brother Roger, sister-in-law Jude, and stepmother Janet live, is only about eight miles north. (2) Ranger Steve, for whom we volunteered at Sonoita Creek State Natural Area (SCSNA) in 2006 and 2008, is now the head ranger at Catalina State Park. (3) It’s a really beautiful place at the base of the rugged and imposing Santa Catalina Mountains.
Janet has recently moved into a lovely home in SaddleBrooke, so we spent time visiting her there, seeing her new house, walking around the development, having wonderful meals at a couple of the clubhouse restaurants there, spending a little time with Roger, and hanging the cross-stitch picture Sharon had made for Janet as a housewarming gift.
Back at Catalina State Park, we caught up with Ranger Steve for a short visit. We found out that a delightful couple with whom we had volunteered at SCSNA, Jim and Donna, were also in the campground, so we spent a nice morning catching up with them.
After a few days at Catalina, we moved about 35 miles south into Tucson, to Far Horizons Tucson Village near where our son Jon Jr. lives. While there, we did “big-city stuff” (like using up gift cards received for Christmas and getting the motorhome’s transmission serviced) and visited with Jonnie (and made use of his washer and drier!).
