Any Excuse to Travel

Stories from travels in

February 2019

Saguora cactus near Inside of a falled Saguora cactus near Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Coolidge, AZ

Casa Grande Ruins, Coolidge, AZ

The desert never fails to conjure up images of Western movies. I expect to see Indians in full battle regalia on horseback on each ridge,

Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright, Electric Desert, Electric desert Desert Botanical Gardens

Electric desert and desert unplugged

I like flowers. I like plants. I like shrubs. But spending a few hours in a botanical garden isn’t quite my sliver of bark. It’s

Striking a musical chord in Phoenix AZ

I have a vague memory of visiting Phoenix AZ many moons ago. That it’s a vague memory says a lot about my impression of the

Route 66 to Williams AZ

Driving the Mother Road to Williams AZ

Driving along the iconic Route 66 is an experience I’ll never tire of. The longest remaining stretch of the road that once stretched 2488 miles

Made in America

Wandering around Williams AZ shortly after 8 am on a Friday morning, I spotted a rare sight. A man smoking. It was such a novelty

General George S Patton Memorial Museum Chiriaco Summit CA

General Patton Memorial Museum

I’m not one for guns. I’ve no great interest in tanks. But I will admit to a certain fascination with war. Travelling east on the

Alternative shopping in Palm Springs

It’s been five years since I was last in the Colorado Desert. [Confession: I had been referring to it as the California Desert (as it’s

Palm Desert, CA to Williams, AZ

Sad really. Neither of us could remember what we’d done for the last three years on Valentine’s Day. Nothing memorable obviously. Himself would rate himself

Watching live crab at Redondo Pier CA

Going back in time – revisiting Torrance, CA

Way back when I moved to California, I remember feeling cheated. In my head, I was moving to Los Angeles, but my address said Torrance.

Salt pans at Delimara Point

Delimara Point: Undiscovered Malta

I come to Malta every year around February and thanks to the perseverance of some lovely friends whose mission it seems is to take me