Southwest Wrap-Up

I'm staying at some cheesey hotel and the g.d. wireless system interrupts me every 10 minutes with a come-on for some g.d. thing...so bare with me here if this entry is garbled.

My Avis guy told me I put about 1500 miles on the rental car. And they were damn good miles.

Here's the trip as I see it. Elmo's evaluation system

Categories:
Accomodations
Activities
Other

Rating:
* Wouldn't go back/do it again for money or on a dare
***Perfectly acceptable
*****You get in my way of doing it again - I'll kill you

CASA GRANDE (Francisco Grande Golf Resort)

Accomodations *** The resort and golf course are not world class. But the staff are really great and the golf course is certainly adequate for my game. The occasional whiff of offal from the feedlots is not real condusive to either good golf or good digestion.

Activities ****1/2 The Juneau Golf Club folks are great - and that's why you're there. The bullshit is about 4 feet deep for the tournament; but it's all in great fun. I can't wait to do it again.

Other** The country around the resort is nothing to get excited about (see note above re: feedlots).

PALM DESERT (Laura's Condo)

Accomodations**** About the nicest resort I can imagine. There are a LOT of similar gated communities with golf courses...so I would suggest checking-out rentals in the area as opposed to staying at a resort or hotel. As for me...I plan on staying on Laura's good side...

Activities:*** I begged Laura to let me take her out for a nice supper; but she was having none of it (although she is a great cook). I know from a few years ago that there are great restaurants in the area; but I cannot speak to any on this trip. The Palm Desert Sunday market was very fun.

Other**** The communities in the valley are all oases (is this the plural of oasis). The water that is lavished on golf and other amenities is really pretty amazing - but boy is it nice.

LAUGHLIN (Harrah's)

Accomodations**1/2 The cheap room was why I went to the place - $24 a night. And the cheap room is the best reason to go there. I thought maybe I would warm to a casino atmosphere more than in the past - but the opposite was true. I found the floor of the casino even more annoying than before. The staff are unfriendly and the patrons catatonic. You can't even have a conversation with yourself in peace with the bloody LCD screens on the bar. On the other hand, Harrah's has a great gym and pool area. And a Baskin Robins.

Activities* Unless, of course, you're a gambler. The golf sucked - there are nice courses but they're all private and/or really expensive.

Other* A river runs through it (the Colorado)...otherwise it's a wasteland.

SEDONA (Radison Resort)

Accomodations*** The billing of a 9 hole Executive Course is bogus. It's a crappy pitch-and-putt gig. But the rooms are OK (mine was kinda dark) and the restaurant and bar are a cut above average. The next time I go back I will look for a rental on a golf property - I think there are a lot of them. Still, for a night or two this place gave good value at $131 a night on Priceline.

Activities**** The red rocks are magnificent and the Forrest Service has a network of excellent trails. There is lots of shopping to be had particularly for artwork (both in town and in outlying areas) ranging from the affordable to the outrageous. And I believe there is good golf although I did not partake on this trip.

Other**** The old mining town of Jerome is DEFINITELY worth a few hours. And I did not check-out the petroglyphs and other attractions that are reputed to be cool. Plus you are within a couple of hours of the Grand Canyon.

A DAMN FINE three weeks. In summary, if I had known what I now know, I would probably have trimmed a few days off of my time in Casa Grande, added as many days as Laura would allow in Palm Desert, skipped Laughlin, and added a few days to Sedona and vacinity.

So there you have it!

Next report: Dateline Portland, Oregon.

Hasta Luego.