The Ruins at Casa Grande

Got off to an early start, attending coffee and donuts in the park this AM.  If that doesn't impress, then I have to tell you Marg went as well.  Now that is something that almost never happens. I thought we would need paramedics on hand for the shock it would cause.  This is also a time when they talk about all the things that are to happen within the next week as well as an opportunity for anyone to bring up any topic for discussion.
 

After we went with Kenny, Doris, Jerry & Pat for a drive down through Florence to visit the ruins at Casa Grande.  These are adobe structures built by the area natives around 1300 or 1400AD.  The one large building is what gave Casa Grande it's name, great house.  The Hohokam settlement was built at a time when the native society were in a pretty advanced stage of their development.  The oldest evidence of their existence dates back about 7,000 years.  Then at some point the settlement was abandoned and the tribe disappeared, although there are about 5 tribes [including the Hopi] that claim to be descendants of the group that built this.

 

 It was a great chance to get a look at the area around there as we went on to Casa Grande for an early dinner as it was just west on McCartney road.  One of Kenny's favorites is Cracker Barrel and we always enjoy the food there as well.  It about as close to home cooking as it gets.


  After it was about an hour back to Phoenix and on the 202 back to AJ.  Traffic was pretty busy in a few spots, but not too bad considering it was about 5.  After getting  back to the park we went for a nice long walk, as we had been in the vehicle for quite a while today.