Ray Henson's (rayhenson) Blog

PebbleCreek is an adult living (55+) community in Goodyear, AZ.  It is a wonderful community with two large club houses, two fitness centers, community pools, 36 pickleball courts, 3 golf courses, tennis courts, bocce ball courts, restaurants, a craft building and over 100 clubs.  In short, it is...

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it’s lethal” – Paulo CoelhoI was born and raised in Stockton, CA., went to college at UCD, settled in South Sacramento, then moved to Elk Grove.  All were within 45 miles from Stockton.  Last year, that all changed.  Mary Margaret and I moved to ...

Pickleball has made the big time!  It was featured in one of the best Super Bowl Commercials, The e-Trade Babies.The babies frame the game as our good friend, Brian England, would do, "Pickleball is tennis for babies!"  It is exactly what I thought of the game when my father tried to introduce it...

As a lifelong Raider's fan, I must always side with whoever plays against the villainous Kansas City Chiefs.  It is in my blood!  I also grew up as a Bay Area fan, since my hometown, Stockton, was so close to it.  My wife and I had high hopes as we braved the brutal Arizona winter weather to watc...

We moved to Arizona just about a year ago and we are really enjoying our new community, PebbleCreek.  It is different to live in the desert, but it has been fun to learn about our new environment.  We see quail and rabbits all of the time.  Those bunnies do love to eat our new plants! The quail a...

The Genesis of Our TripMany of you may remember my post about Our Israel Trip in 2022.  It was a trip that I really did not enthusiastically endorse when my wife, Mary Margaret, proposed it.  About four days into that trip, our guide, Monte Cox, told us about his upcoming trip to Turkey.  Without...

Cappadocia and the Kaya HotelThis area is one of the most unique areas that I have ever visited.  Our tour arrived via bus very late at night to the Kaya Hotel, so we really did not have any idea what we were about to witness. Our first real surprise was the hotel itself.  It is a hotel carved ou...

When I saw that Sheri Sperry - MCNE® had been to Ephesus I just had to share her post.  Of the Seven Churches of Revelation that we visited, Ephesus is the one that has been rebuilt most extensively.  The theater above used to be at the water's edge.  Could you imagine watching a show when it was...

PamukkuleWe had never heard of Pamukkule prior to our trip, so it was quite a surprise to drive into the valley and see what looked like a huge, out of place, ice formation covering the side of a mountain.  Pamukkule means the Cotton Castle.  The formation was created by mineral rich thermal spri...

Montgomery County will be discussing the how to best meet the demand for more pickleball courts.  It is a debate that many communities are having all across the country.  I have played on many courts that function as a tennis court and two pickleball courts.  It does work well when the tennis cou...