In my previous blog post, I did not mention…
…that after enjoying some ice cream on Key West, we drove 17 miles back to the north for our lodging.
It was dark as we checked in and then found our room. A quick jump in bed after a long day.
Pulling the curtain back after the early alarm sounded, a view of paradise appeared.
Nothing in the description of the lodging,
nor noted by the young man who checked us in,
offered a clue as to what dawn would reveal.
Sabbath morn on Sugarloaf Key.
Yesterday we headed south.
First stop, Panther Coffee.
The drive from Miami to Key West, along the scenic Overseas Highway, is widely considered absolutely worth it for its stunning ocean views.
Miami to Key West. 160 miles; 42 bridges; 4 hours to drive, depending upon day of the week and/or events along the way.
Finally we arrived in Key West.
It took us 8 hours!
Stunning end to the drive.
Flying above the Florida gulf coast, I landed in Ft. Lauderdale this morning. Upon waking at 4am, I received a text that my flight had been cancelled and I was re- booked on an evening flight. Yikes!
In the midst of a number of standby flights, there was a flight leaving earlier than my canceled flight. I grabbed it. Thirty minutes later I was packed, dressed, and on my way to Atlanta – chauffeured by my private chauffeur.
A new record in drive time.
My best friend landed in Ft. Lauderdale just ahead of me. We picked up a rental car and drove off to….
…Calusa Coffee Roasters. Known for its in-house roasted, high-quality, small-batch specialty coffee, the cappuccinos I enjoyed were just what I needed.
We are in Miami for basketball. Unrivaled is a 3v3 league, built in collaboration with the biggest stars in women’s professional basketball,
It’s great fun to be at the games. The play is fast! The venue is small and the players are literally a few feet away much of the game.
Two games are played back-to-back.
We’ll have two additional games to attend in a couple of days. In the meantime, tomorrow we’ll drive down the Florida keys all the way to the end.
Come along.
Traveling mercies.
there was one more Arizona Harvey family gathering.
A brief rest after the drive home from Tucson, and my sister and I were on the road again. This time we drove to my nephew, Chris and his wife, Helen’s home for dinner.
Sadly, I failed to take any photos this night. I can, however, tell what we had for dinner.
Pig Boy Willy “is a specialized brand based in Chimayó, New Mexico. Known for producing authentic southwestern spices and seasoning mixes, the company is famous for its Carne Adovada spice mix, which highlights traditional New Mexico red chile.”
Helen had asked me to bring some Pig Boy Willy packets for her from my January Taos trip. In return, she slow-cooked up a batch of Carne Adovada. We dined on carne adovada tacos with all the fixins and sides. It was delicious!
The next morning, Helen gave me a ride to the airport for my flight home. All told, I dined with thirteen Harvey family members. Counting me, makes fourteen. Abundance.
Traveling mercies.
My sister-in-law made arrangements for the four us to grab a ride on The Sabino Canyon Crawler.
For an hour we rode up and back, gaining about 1,000 feet of elevation. Birds and critters made their appearances as we navigated the road.
Private vehicles have not been allowed in the main recreation area of Sabino Canyon since 1978. Before this closure, the road was open to public car traffic, but it was restricted to protect the area’s natural resources. The shuttle service was introduced to manage visitor access.
It was a beautiful ride up and back down. Just stunning! The dessert climate feels so good in the winter.
Then it was time to dress up a bit, for dinner and a movie premier. Dinner choices were fabulous.
Following dinner we attended a…
Proscenium Theatre, Pima Community Campus
A neighborhood friend of my brother wrote the screenplay, was the star actor, and the producer.
What a hoot! It was a treat to attend.
A couple of days ago my sister and I drove south to Tucson. My brother and his family live there.
We began with a sunrise viewing, and soon enough we had packed up and headed south.
In an hour plus we arrived at my brother and sister-in-law’s home.
Kris provided an awesome lunch. She had my favorite sparking water, local chicken salad, and slaw. There are some who know me well, that wouldn’t expect me to add slaw to this list.
Before long it was time to gather for Family Dinner. Ten members of the Harvey family gathered around a table at Casa Molina restaurant for dinner. Ages 10 through 84!
For years this AZ group of ten has been gathering for a meal when I come to visit. It’s a very special reunion.
After dinner, we always gather in the parking lot for more conversation. It’s hard to say goodbye.
A lovely evening, with MY lovely people.
Having departed home with chains on the tires, I was met with delightful desert weather. Warm/coolish.
A stop at the Flagship – second Starbucks in the country to carry the description, Flagship. The first is in Seattle, of course. Sadly, it may have closed.
Dining outside felt so cool. Literally.
How could I be in the Southwest without having my first meal be cheese enchiladas and guacamole?
The next morning…
A nice drive north to gather at my cousin Marty’s home for lunch. It was quite a wonderful feast – both in colors and tastes. Bon Appétit!
Her granddaughter, Brooke, joined us. I had not met her, and was so delighted to begin a relationship with her.
Driving home…
In the evening we went to a women’s basketball game! Arizona State University vs Oklahoma State University. It was a close game until the very end when the Sun Devils took over. We had a happy final!
It was so much fun!
My grandmother, Exah Graham Harvey, was on my mother’s side. I’m currently the oldest member of the Harvey Family by direct lineage. My cousin, Marty, is the oldest through marriage. We’re just a few years apart.
Quite a few members of the Harvey Family make their home in Arizona. Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert, Prescott, Tucson. Just a bit of scatter.
Today I’m flying to Phoenix. My sister lives in the Phoenix are and will gather me up. We’ve made a number of plans, and I can’t wait to be in the midst of Harveys as I navigate the next five days.
Tomorrow Kathy and I will journey north to Scottsdale to have lunch with Marty. Usually, a daughter and one or two granddaughters joins us.
It will be a Harvey family feast.
In the evening, Kathy and I will be at the ASU vs Oklahoma State WBB game.
Hired in March 2025, “Coach Molly Miller has rapidly transformed the ASU women’s basketball program with a high-energy, defense-first style, defying low preseason expectations. Known for her relentless, full-court pressure and a “row” mentality, she has rebuilt the culture to create a competitive, nationally relevant team.” Miller’s approach has been described as a “revival” of the ASU program”.
When I read about Miller and ASU, I called my sister to suggest my annual visit to AZ should include a game.
Soon to land. Stay tuned for Harvey Family goings on.
Traveling mercies.
Before I left home a few days ago, I had a number of concerns. It may surprise you to know that I’m pretty good at angst.
— the cancellation of my flight due to severe weather around the country didn’t happen.
— my two-hour delayed flight was actually on time.
— snow and ice on all the roads was at home, not in Texas where I was going.
— by changing our appointment by a day, my granddaughter and I did get tattoos!
— the Rice WBB game wasn’t cancelled, it was just played an hour earlier. They won! An aside: Valerie and I have been to a game each of the four years she’s been at Rice!
— Beth and I did get to church, however due to icy roads, Holy Family Episcopal church, was on Zoom.
— due to icy roads, the Houston Symphony was canceled on Sunday afternoon. However, we were provided a recording of the concert from the previous night. It was like a personal concert in her home!
— due to icing at home, there was no power, the possibility of no water, and 55° in the bedroom. So I stayed another day in Houston with my best friend. This gave us time to plan another trip in the summer.
Today is a new day. Traveling mercies.
…Winter Storm to Bring Heavy Snow and Ice”.
Why not travel today? After all, I made plans for this trip a good while ago.
My flight was delayed a couple of hours, but while I enjoyed the Delta club, the incoming flight made up almost enough time for my flight to be only slightly delayed.
My granddaughter and I are going to the Rice University women’s basketball game. The time of the game has been moved up an hour. We are really looking forward to this game. Four years at Rice; a game each year.
A planned activity with my granddaughter is scheduled very close to the storm onset tomorrow night.
My best friend and I have tickets Sunday afternoon for the Houston Symphony with Marin Alsop as conductor!
Stay tuned for how this all turns out.
Traveling mercies.
Cometsgirl 