February 28, 2011

Gilbert Ray Park – Saguaro Natl Park

Feb 22, 2011

Feb 21 – Monday  We’ve moved to SW Tucson and are in Gilbert Ray Park.  We hiked 3 miles today over the mountains and thru the saguaro to the Desert Museum and  had a gourmet lunch on the patio of the Ocotillo Café within the museum.  Think “Blue Corn Pumpkin Chicken” -- breaded chicken breast with chipotle sauce and pumpkin seeds, green chile polenta, and orange jicama salad!  We have splurged the few times we have eaten out and have had some fantastically good food in Tucson.

Most meals we cook in the motor home or on the grill, a $15 wonder (wonder why we paid $15) that Jerry splurged on at Walmart.  He now has his eye on one called the Big Green Egg.  Besides being a beautiful green hammered enameled  metal on the exterior, it has a 1 ½ inch thick stone/ceramic liner for the interior.  Uses charcoal and retails for $1,000!  We saw it in a Patio Store when we were looking for a couple of fold up lounge chairs.  Didn’t take us long to realize we might have to go back to work!

Feb 24 - We hiked for three hours thru Saguaro Natl Park.  What beauty!  Our friends took us up to an area where we found flint and pottery pieces.

Feb 26 – Saturday.  Parted with our friends that we have been traveling with for the last two weeks – they are headed towards home in Humboldt and we continue on towards Bisbee.  It was our intention to stay there tonight BUT we hit the JACKPOT!  While in the Walmart parking lot someone put a flyer under our windshield wiper..  4 days and 3 nights FREE at the St. David RV Resort.  We just have to listen to their 90 minute sales talk on Monday afternoon.  We also got free dinner tonight!  Whoo Hoo!  Laundromat on site, pancake breakfast in the morning, swimming pool and two small lakes!  What more could you ask for??  We’ll take the 90 minute sales pitch. 

Jerry's Comments 2/20/11

Lessons Learned

Have you ever heard of gray water?  For those of you who may not know, gray water is the waste water from the RV sinks and shower. RV’s today have monitors that track (gray, black and fresh) water levels allowing the RV’er to know when to empty the tank.  We have learned there are two methods to monitor the gray water. 1). Watch the idiot lights (idiot because they are not accurate)  2).  Wait until it backs up in the shower.  You guessed it.   Gray water backing up in the shower is not the best and it sloshes around while you drive the RV to a dump site.

Never fill the hydraulic reservoir when the slides are out and the jacks are down.  The hydraulic fluid moves from the reservoir into the lines resulting in a low reading.  Filling the reservoir causes quite a mess when the slides and jacks are retracted.

When a BB-Q is used to cook a pizza, the coals must be at least 6-8 inches from the pizza.  When the coals are closer, it is a quick and easy way to send smoke signals to the locals.

Check tire air pressure routinely being especially aware of the inner tire on the rear axel.  Occasionally a valve will freeze up and not allow air in or out.  Big O tires is the best and they did the replacement valve for free.

Never ever give your wife the keys to the truck when helping friends prepare for an art show.  Unless of course, one of your friends is an expert in unlocking a Ford Ranger.  We did not know Steve was a lock smith during the darker days of his life.

If you friends are vendors at an art show and you’re going to help them, check the weather the day of the show and especially check for wind gust.  After holding on to the tent during gust of (40+ mph) we can now safely say we are “Anchor Man/Women”.

Laundromats have not changed much over the years other than they are few and far between.  Storing your dirty laundry in the shower is not a good idea if you do not have a handle on the gray water.  Yup, it was off to the laundry!

Never ever go to an upscale Mexican restaurant on the same block as a B of A during a bomb threat especially if you are not sure of the address.  Fate has a way of always taking one to the center of the action.  The food was the best ever and the chef truly did a bang up job!

Photos Monday 2/20/11

Photos 2/20/11

Tucson Day 15

We met a couple from Humboldt County/Northern Cal at Catalina State Park and have been hanging out with them.  I've included some photos of the motley looking crew when we dressed up to go to lunch at Pocas Cosas in Tucson.  They were scheduled to participate in an art fair last Saturday to sell their jewelry and art.  The wind was so bad we were literally hanging on the tent poles with our full weight to hold them in place (this in addition to the cement blocks we had attached the ropes to).  We lasted until about 1 p.m., called it quits and went out for lunch at just one more of the many Mexican restaurants.

We've used up our allotted 14 days at Catalina Park and are moving on to Gilbert Ray Park next to Suguaro Natl. and the Desert Museum.  We want to do more hiking in that area and then move on to Tubac.  We haven't put on a lot of miles and are realizing we only have about 5 more weeks.....still hoping to get to southern new Mexico.

There is a huge learning curve when it comes to using laundromats!  Consult us first if you ever have the opportunity to use one.

We had a few drops of rain last night (first rainfall in Tucson this year and they are concerned about the spring blooms).  A dusting of snow in the mountains that we could see first thing this morning.  Cleared out the smog and today is a beautiful crystal clear day.  Lots to do in Tucson but we are so glad we live in Kayenta rather than here.

Tucson Photos

Catalina State Park

Tucson is a fun town that seems like it has doubled in size since our last visit seven years ago. Folks are friendly but watch out for the big city drivers.  Zoom! Zoom!

 We will have been in Catalina State park about 14 miles north of Tucson for two weeks this Sunday (2/20).  Saguaro State Park is worth a visit with over 5K Saguaro’s with camping next door in Gilbert State Park.  We discovered a local city park, Tohono Chul Park, with excellent gardens and a great place for breakfast. 

Breakfast not your thing?  Try Poca Cosa Restaurant in downtown Tucson.  It is by far the best authentic Mexican restaurant we have ever experienced. (thank you Sharon and Dean for the recommend!).  The restaurant is upscale with only a few items on the menu.  The chef changes the menu daily which features fish, chicken and beef all for $15 a plate.  Ya got to go!  Took us a bit of effort to get there (two restaurants by the same name within 2 blocks of one another AND a bomb threat at the B of A nearby - major traffic jam.

Monday we head south.  We just realized we are running out of time and cannot believe the trip is half over.  By the early part of March, we hope to be at Carlsbad Caverns on the eastern border of New Mexico and then we have to start thinking about our route back…

tucson

I forgot to add that "projects guy" is waxing and polishing the entire motor home!

Phoenix

Tucson

Tucson

Tucson

We are currently staying in Catalina State Park in Tucson.  Saw our friends from Kayenta, Sharon and Dean, yesterday as they were here for the Gem Show.  Had a great lunch only to realize we were actually in the same parking lot as the Safeway where the shootings occurred.  Kind of earie.
The park is very nice, nestled into the moutains and surrounded by hills covered with suaguaro.  It's actually just a couple miles from where my brother Tim and his wife Becky lived when we considered moving to Tucson 7 years ago.  They would not believe the changes.  We ate at an In 'n Out directly across from the entrance to the park!  It used to be totally unpopulated out here.  Strip malls everywhere now.  It was a good decision for them to move to Texas and us to Utah.

First opportunity we have had to use wifi.  I'll post photos from Phoenix and Tucson.  We'll take a day trip to Tubac Thursday to check out the Tubac Art Festival.  Eating well, reading lots, and having fun.  Saw Mick and Terri in Phoenix....Mick was on his 6th consecutive Mexican meal.

Phoenix

Feb 2
We are currently in Phoenix and it is very, very cold (in the 20's overnight).  Currently at the Starbucks as we don't have internet connection in the campground.  As I said earlier, we continue to grow closer and closer as a couple.  Let me reiterate:  first night in Barstow 30 degrees (we snuggled)
Borrego Springs - only one shower (first time we have taken a shower together in a very long time!) and now Phoenix and cold again!  What can we say.

The campground we are in is a regional park and quite beautiful with lots of saguaro, ocotillo, etc.  Hoping the cold doesn't damage them.  We move on to Tucson on Sunday to join our friends Sharon and Dean for the gem show.

Will check back then.  Lynne