We left La Quinta November 25 after 2 1/2 sunny weeks. Because it was the US Thanksgiving we decided to avoid the interstate and take the secondary highway to Las Vegas. We turned north from Blythe and followed the Colorado River. It was beautiful and lush near the river surrounded by desert and mountains. We spent 5 days at Treasure Island and saw Mystere and The Jersey Boys. Both shows were great but The Jersey Boys was really special. We hope you get a chance to see it. Frank Valli had more hits than we remembered. On December 1 we left Las Vegas tired and lighter in the wallet but with lots of memories. It took us about 6 hours to drive to the rental house in Queen Creek, AZ (about 45 minutes south east of downtown Phoenix). The drive here included a quick trip over the Hoover Dam. We will spend more time there on our next trip. We stayed off the interstate again and took the Joshua Tree Parkway through Wickenburg. It was more mountainous and a combination of barren and brush covered terrain with many different kinds of cacti. We are settled in the house and have already seen the Flames play the Coyotes (where every second fan was wearing the flaming "C") and have gone for a 2 1/2 hour hike in the San Tan Mountains. It is raining today and only about 60 but nicer than our northern neighbours.