Tucson, Phase 1

Sunday, Feb 10

This morning we had tentatively planned to take the back roads toward Tuscon from Sedona.  However, once we got on the road, we saw that we could get to Tucson in about 5 hours on the Interstate and decided to go.

We arrived around 4:30, cleared in the Davis Monthan AFB and checked in at the RV Park and moved to the overflow parking.  There are 279 spaces here at Agave Gulch Campground, and they stay full all winter.

Monday, Feb 11

I finally can start swimming again.  The Base has a nice pool and I really enjoy it.

We get a start on the B's looking for a motorhome.  We managed to get through a couple of the many dealerships here today.  We find a real nice 35' Tropi-Cal much like ours and that seems to be the best thing we've seen so far.

Unbelievably, it rained a good portion of the day.  Rather unusual, but a perfect day for looking for a motorhome.

Tuesday, Feb 12

Another day of RV shopping for Bill and Jan.  They have identified a nice one a Le Mesa.

Wednesday, Feb 13

We take the day off from RV shopping and go to one of our favorite spots around Tucson, Sabino Canyon National Recreation Area.  We had been here twice last year, once with Betty and Kent and once by ourselves.  It is one of the more impressive sites in the country.

We hike the same trail in the wilderness on the side of the mountain we did last year, about 1.8 miles.  It's a moderately difficult trail, and for a bunch of senior adults (one (Jan) to have double knee surgery soon), we did very well.

Our third visit

On top of the world (or at least a little mountain)

The beauty and the cactus

The intrepid hikers

Bill and Jan

They're pointing at Dave on the hill

Quite a series of switchbacks to get up the trail

Thursday, Feb 14

To celebrate Valentines Day, we drive down to Tubac, one of our destinations last year.  We go to Wisdom's, one of the two best restaurants we've visited our West.  Wisdom's has great Mexican food, but most importantly, they have the most delicious dessert IN THE WORLD - a fried apple burrito.  Last year we drove the 70 mile round trip just for the burrito.  This year was no disappointment.  I would not be surprised if there isn't another trip to Wisdom's in the near future.

Lunch at Wisdom's, the best in the West

Fried apple burrito

Clara savors the fried apple burrito

After lunch, the we drove to 2 miles to Tubac, a great area of arts and crafts.  Once again, Bill and I were able to find a bar, and the ladies could shop to their pleasure.

On the way back "home", we stopped at another RV sales center, and Bill and Jan have found another very promising motorhome.

Friday, Feb 15

Yesterday on our return trip from Tubac, we stopped at another RV Dealer here in Tucson, Pedata RV Sales (there are 4 or 5 RV dealers within a mile of each other) to look at a motorhome Bill had found on the internet.  It seemed to hold a lot of promise.

This morning, we went back for a more thorough inspection.  It didn't take long, and Bill and Jan made an offer. and it was accepted.  The coach is very similar to ours, but a little larger and one year newer.  It's a Monaco Caymen XL 34.5 feet.  It's perfect for their needs.

We later learned that there was another higher offer on it within an hour or so, but they had locked it in.

The happy new motorhome owners

The happy new owners with their happy salesman, Bob Sutherland

Now, what does this switch do?

Montezuma Castle National Monument/Sedona

Fri, Feb 8

First order of the day is to empty the holding tanks because we don't have sewer at the site, but there is a dump station in the park.  So we disconnect ourselves and go down the hill.  Now we're ready for a few more days.  We thought we had an electrical connection problem with our 50 amp cord, so we had that checked out at a repair center.  Nothing wrong.

Cliff Dwellings in Montezuma Castle National Monument

We had planned to go to Sedona today, but with the slow start, we decided we'd just take in a local attractions and go to Sedona tomorrow.  Montezuma Castle National Monument is only about 30 minutes away, and I've always found that National Parks and National Monuments are among the most interesting places to visit, no matter where we are.

For Anna and Evan:  Southern Sinagua farmers began building this five-story, 20-room dwelling early in the 1100s.  It stands in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley.

Early settlers marveled at the structure and assumed that it was Aztec in origin, hence the name Monezuma Castel.  A short distance from from the Castle, a once an imposing six-story apartment-like building with about 45 rooms existed.  It is now badly deteriorated.

A creek below these dwellings was a reliable source of water, and there was fertile land on a terrace nearby.

Tonight, we went to the Blazin' M Western Dinner and Show.  It is just outside the gate of the RV Park.  We met a couple (Doug and Cheryl Matthews) from Washington State when we got here  who have camped near us and we invite them to go with us to the show.

We have a great dinner of chicken and ribs with the trimmings and then an hour of so of music and entertainment.

Saturday, Feb 9

Today proves to be an unusual day in our RV travels.  It snows all day.  They don't get much rain (or snow) in this part of the country and today it seems that they got a good portion of their annual average.

When we woke this morning, the ground was covered.

We had planned to stay another day at Dead Horse Campground and drive the CRV to Sedona and come back.  But after a very brief discussion, we decide to cancel the reservation for tonight at Dead Horse and move the motorhome to Sedona (about a 23 mile trip).

Bill and Dave struggle with the utilities getting ready to leave Dead Horse RV Park

A little surprise in the desert

We've settled in the only RV Park in town, Rancho Sedona.  It's nice, overpriced, and convenient.  It's about the most we've ever spent to spend a night in an RV park ($75).  Commercial campgrounds are generally overpriced, but this one is a little too far out of line.  A one night stand  for us for sure.

We settle in at Rancho Sedona RV Park

It snows all day!  Although we would have loved to have seen the beautiful red mountains around Sedona in clear weather, I guess seeing them in the snow is even more unusual.

To take maximum benefit from not being able to see the beauty of the land, Bill and I park ourselves at a bar in downtown Sedona and send the ladies on a shopping mission for as long as they want to shop.  We enjoy ourselves and they enjoy themselves.

Glasswork art where we ate lunch in Sedona

We stopped by a Safeway grocery this afternoon to pick up some provisions.

First, realize that Sedona is a rather exclusive, overpriced resort.

But, what Bill and I saw as we sat outside the grocery surprised us, even for this eclectic community.  There was a homeless man snuggled into a corner by a bench off to the side of the entrance to the store, listening to music on some type of player and working away at his computer, covered by a sleeping bag.

Tonight we continue on the Downton Abbey series.  We finished one disc (3 parts) and start to load the 2nd disc (out of 3) and realize it's missing.  Clara remembers that she had loaned it to a friend, so tomorrow we'll get it sent out to us.  We're hooked on it now.

We leave Sedona Sunday morning under a cold overcast.  We're going South where it's warm!!!

Leaving Sedona