In Phoenix, AZ heading to Tampa, FL

It's been a relaxing week visiting with friends in their comfortable home in Phoenix. The girls have been in "kid heaven" since our friends have two children - a boy and girl - about the same age as Rose and Ruth. There has been dancing in the living room, swimming in the pool, playing Wii (Nintendo gaming console), watching TV, doing a fun birthday celebration and, of course, loving the egg hunt and sugar/chocolate indulgence that is Easter. Doug and Denise have mostly just "hung out". There has been plenty of time for conversation and catching up with our hosts, Terri and Fred. We've had time to get the van serviced as well as order some cabin lights that needed replacing (after eventually tracking down a supplier). Phoenix turned on some wonderfully warm weather. And just when we were starting to get a little overheated a storm rolled in. We got to watch the wind and rain pelt down on the surrounding mountains then make its away across the nearby golf course and toward the house. It was great to watch it from the comfort of a large living room and we were glad to not have been camping at the time. We're heading to Florida for one week and leaving the van here in Phoenix. When we return next week, we'll pick up the van then start heading for Grand Canyon and the start of our curve through northern Arizona, New Mexico (again), the corner of Colorado and into southern Utah before hitting Las Vegas. From Las Vegas we head into California. Reaching the west coast marks the beginning of the end of our journey as we'll spend 4-6 weeks in the West before heading home to Seattle.