Wickenburg--Where Cowboys Go to Die

Today the parents took me out to the charming little town of Wickenburg Arizona. The highlight include the jail tree (back in the day they didn't have a jail, so they chained the detained to a tree), the museum (I find western art uninspiring and unchallenging, but the guns and history were really cool), and the Hassayampa River Preserve (beautiful, tranquil and well maintained Nature Conservancy site).

The rest of the day was spent arguing politics with my Pops (I don't know how two small government conservatives can be so far apart) and playing Scrabble with my Mom (I won, taking my life time record against her to 3-2931)

Tomorrow I am going to shop for some gear for my weekend camping trip. I am going to do a solo hike through the Bartlett and Horseshoe Lakes region of the Tonto National Forest. It's about 20 miles round trip along the western edge of the lakes. I can't think of a better way to start the year then watching the sun rise over the unspoiled desert.

More from Phoenix

I realize that most of the people who read this blog will be doing so from the Seattle area where it remains cold and rainy. While my heart breaks for my friends who must endure the indignity that is winter in Washington, I still have to rub it in. It has been in the 70's since I arrived in Arizona. I have been jogging everyday since I arrived and I have also been helping my parents in their yard. I have actually found myself complaining about the heat more than once. Not that I mind, but it does get stuffy when you aren't used to it. The sunsets, on the otherhand, rule!

First Stop: Phoenix

After a great Christmas Eve seafood dinner with my friends Justin and Kristin, Monica and I headed to Sea/Tac Airport as the rain sheeted down across the interstate in the early morning gloom. I was wearing a tanktop and, shorts and sports sandals and received more than one strange look from other weary Seattlites. We kissed our goodbyes and three hours later I stepped into the glorious Arizona sunshine. Of course, it was only glorious because it is December. If it were August I am sure the adjectives would more likely be oppressive, unrelenting and torturous, but be that as it may, I was happy to be out of the rain. I met Mom and Pops and we drove to their home in Sun City West where we spent the rest of Christmas day visiting, laughing and giving each other a good-natured hard time. Tomorrow I start my diet and work-out regiment and I will also start posting more info about my trip, the program and the country. Until then, Merry Christmas!

Party Time

Monica with Brenn and Arjun from The Detoxicants

As I prepared to embark, a couple dozen of my nearest and dearest got together to party in my suburban Seattle town home. The highlights included the chance to see my best friend, Monica, for the first time in almost a year (She lives in Indiana) and an acoustic set by Seattle supergroup The Detoxicants. It was amazing to see all my friends, an eclectic bunch to say the least, I just wish I could remember more of it!

Welcome to Don's Costa Rica Adventure Blog

O.K. I'm getting a bit of an early start. I am actually arriving in country on January 8th. I will be hanging out in Phoenix in the meantime. I figured I would use this time to post some of my observations and information about Costa Rican culture, politics, history and environment.

I have found that when I want to learn about a new country, the first stop is on the CIA's World Factbook. They always give a great overview. If you would like to check out the CIA's Costa Rica page, click here.