February 24 to March 2, 2013 ; Nogales to Yuma, Arizona

Sunday ; Nogales to Patagonia State Park

After boondocking overnight in the Wal-Mart parking lot I was up at 6:30 AM so that I could be in the store buying new trailer tires as early as possible. Why is the Wal-Mart in Nogales, Arizona so busy at 7:45 AM on a Sunday morning ? Are all Wal-Marts that busy at 7:45 AM ?

Wal-Mart had stock of two Goodyear Marathon trailer tires in the size I needed. I wanted to examine the tires to see the manufacturing date code before I would commit to buying them. One tire was manufactured in the 35th week of 2012. One tire was manufactured in the 36th week of 2011. If both tires had been manufactured in late August / early September of 2012 I would have bought them ... with extreme reluctance. With one tire being manufactured about a year and a half ago ... I refused to buy either one. Why buy only one when I really need two ? Tires have a life expectation of about six years, notwithstanding the mileage put on them. I am not going to buy expensive trailer tires that are a year and a half old by the time they're bought. I am hopeful that I can buy two tires elsewhere and both will be "fresher" than six months old.

We drove northeast on Arizona SR 82 for only about half an hour to reach Patagonia State Park. We got set up in a site and I took a nap with Sully. It was sunny today, but cold and windy at the high elevation of Patagonia State Park. My priority for the afternoon was to set up the satellite dish so that we could watch Amazing Race tonight. I was so physically tired from getting up at 6:30 AM and mentally stressed by travelling in Mexico ... I spent about an hour trying to aim the satellite dish ... 180 degrees from where it needed to be ! ! ! What an idiot ! I'm ashamed ! And very "off my game" !

I got a few small maintenance jobs done this afternoon. Twice we went for a walk around the campground, but it was so cold and windy that we kept the walks fairly short. We spent the evening watching TV. Maybe I should have spent that time studying how to read a compass, something I learned to do quite competently when I was about eight years old ! ! ! BUT NOT TODAY !

Monday ; Today was a lovely day, sunny and warm, a pleasant change from yesterday's cold and wind.

We rested a lot today. I was suffering from some manner of sinus infection. Joanne was suffering from some manner of gastro-intestinal problem. We've both decided to take oral antibiotics for a few days. I did some minor maintenance work, whatever I could accomplish with the supplies I had on hand. After a couple of months in Mexico with almost zero water pressure everywhere we went, it was nice to have adequate water pressure. Actually, this state park has more than adequate water pressure, it's quite high. I was able to clean a few items outside with a garden hose and nozzle.
We borrowed a Tucson and area phone book from the Park Ranger station. Joanne found and phoned a glass shop in Green Valley ( between Nogales and Tucson ) and arranged to have the truck's windshield repaired tomorrow. We sustained three rock chips in Mexico, and one will have to be repaired to stop it from spreading into a long crack. I phoned some tire shops and found a Goodyear Auto Centre on the south side of Tucson, near the Interstate, with stock of the trailer tires I need. And the tires are fresh, manufactured about three months ago. First stop tomorrow, windshield repair in Green Valley, second stop at Goodyear for two trailer tires, then on to Camping World ... for lots of repair supplies.

Late in the afternoon we went for a walk around the campground and a short distance on a park hiking trail. Bo was very eager to go on a long hike ... but we weren't. Sorry, Bo. The weather was very pleasant, but neither of us was feeling well, Joanne with a "tummy ache", me with a sinus headache.

We barbecued thick, juicy steaks for supper and spent the evening watching mindless TV.

Tuesday ; Patagonia State Park to Tucson

Today was sunny and mild. We got a lot done today !

This morning we prepared for departure and left Patagonia State Park, backtracking southwest on Arizona SR 82 to Nogales, then heading north on Interstate 19. About halfway to Tucson, at Green Valley, we found our way to National Auto Glass where we had an appointment to have the windshield chip repaired. They were efficient and quick. We're very glad to have that problem solved. The last couple of cold nights at Patagonia State Park had already begun the process of cracks emanating outwards from the stone chip.

At Suaharito we pulled off the Interstate and into a shopping mall parking lot to have lunch. While eating lunch in the trailer we watched an obvious drug deal take place, involving two vehicles, two duffel bags, and three men. Just like in the movies ! There were even a couple of stereotypes ; one of the men was a greasy haired New Jersey Italian with a cell phone pasted to his ear the whole time, and another was a steroid filled, shaved head Arab.

After lunch we continued north on I-19 into Tucson and found the Goodyear Auto Service Center where we had an appointment for the purchase, mounting and balancing of two new trailer tires. Like the earlier glass shop, they too were efficient and quick. It's a great relief to us to have the two new trailer tires. No more travelling with a damaged tire on the trailer, and no spare ! And as they promised me yesterday by phone, the tires were "fresh", having been manufactured in the 47th week of 2012.

We headed for Camping World. On the way, we refilled an empty propane tank at U-Haul, and refilled Lanoire with diesel at QuikTrip. We spent a long time at Camping World, and bought a lot of RV parts that we needed, including more than half of the parts required to repair the Guasave accident damage. Unfortunately, I was not able to get the plumbing repair parts I desperately need. We got a recommendation for a plumbing supply store and headed over there, struggling through rush hour traffic and arriving there just before closing time. The plumbing supply store did not have the parts I need. Oh, well ... today we got a lot of what we needed, the rest will have to wait until we're back in Yuma.

It was 6 PM, half an hour until dark. I suggested to Joanne that we boondock overnight at the Desert Diamond Casino where we spent a night in December on the way down to Mexico. More rush hour traffic, backtrack about 15 miles south on Interstate 19, we arrived at Desert Diamond Casino just as it got dark.

Wednesday ; Tucson to Picacho Peak State Park

Today was sunny and mild. We left the parking lot of Desert Diamond Casino and drove back into Tucson, to Home Depot. We returned a defective electric heater we bought in Yuma before we left for Mexico. We shopped for groceries at Fry's. We drove north a short distance on Interstate 19, then headed west on Interstate 10 to Picacho Peak State Park.

We've been here twice before. It's a lovely desert park, filled with Saguaro Cacti. We checked in, got set up in our site, had lunch, and I napped briefly with Sully. We spent the afternoon puttering around with maintenance chores and we went for a walk around the large campground. I set up the satellite dish so that we could watch Survivor tonight. I must be getting better at aiming the satellite dish ... when I read the compass correctly ! It used to take me anywhere from half an hour to an hour to get the dish aimed accurately. Today it took me just a few minutes.

Thursday ; Today was sunny and warm, but windy. I spent the day working on trailer repairs. A bunch of small jobs, accomplished with parts and supplies bought in Tucson. We went for a long afternoon walk. We separately worked on planning our contribution to the upcoming Escapees Roadrunners Chapter 7 Spring Rally. We're conducting a cooking class that results in the production of a couple of Sun Oven baked banana nut loaves ( mostly my project ), and another cooking class that results in a Haystack Dinner for about sixty ( mostly Joanne's project ).

Friday ; Picacho Peak State Park to Yuma

Well ... I sort of saved a cat's life today ! And sometimes that's all I need to feel pretty damn good !

Today was sunny and warm at Picacho Peak State Park, hot by the time we got to Yuma. This morning we prepared for departure and left Picacho Peak State Park. We headed west on Interstate 10 until the beginning of Interstate 8, then west on Interstate 8. We stopped for a late lunch at Dateland, Arizona. Lunch included date shakes. WOO-HOO ! ! ! And this time ... Bo got some. WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO, WOO-HOO ... Bo loooooves date shakes. When we drove through Dateland eastbound on December 27, we weren't able to allow Bo to have any date shake due to him having an upset tummy already. We all enjoyed our date shakes today !

We were approaching Yuma from the east by mid-afternoon. So we were going to make it to Al's RV Parts & Supplies in the Foothills before they closed for the day. Every first Friday of each month everything is 15% off at Al's. WOO-HOO ! I got almost all the RV parts and supplies I still needed. And all at 15% off ! WOO-HOO ! AND ... a chocolate covered doughnut. WOO-HOO !

We refilled with diesel at Barney's. The truck computer's "distance to empty" was less than 20 miles ! We arrived home at Kofa Ko-op around 4 PM. AHHHHH ... good to be home ! We were home for only a few minutes when our Escapees BC Okanagan Chapter 33 friends Barry and Jackie came by to say hello. They had arrived at Kofa Ko-op a few days ago and knew that we would be returning today. We visited with them briefly. Then ... Hans and Peta came by to say hello.

Hans and Peta had been renters on our lot during our entire absence. They had moved onto our lot upon our departure on December 27, and were on our lot until yesterday. Their "original" cat Siemen, and our feral rescue kitten that they adopted, Kacey, now renamed Kofee, quite enjoyed their daily "outings" in our Arizona room. When Hans and Peta were moved to a vacant site on the other side of the RV park yesterday ... Siemen was upset. He threw a "hissy fit" and escaped ! They chased him unsuccessfully, then searched and searched and searched, last night and today. He was gone ! By now, 24 hours later, they were certain he had been eaten by coyotes, the usual fate of stray cats around here.

Their news was very upsetting to us. Sully throws similar "hissy fits" and tries to "run away from home" to express his displeasure at us. Maybe that's typical Siamese behaviour ? Siemen is also a Siamese. Hans and Peta were devastated. And we weren't far behind !

As Joanne prepared supper, I went outside to check whether or not I had closed the kitchen grey tank valve that I had opened to drain earlier. I checked the valve under the rear corner of the trailer, and as I stood up ... I sensed something. I shone my flashlight towards the dog park behind our yard and ... OMIGAWD ... there was Siemen sitting on our back fence, glaring at me !

He was alive ! ! ! And sitting on "his" back fence. Probably wondering who the hell was I ? And why was I in "his" yard ? I stepped toward him and called his name. His angry looked instantly changed to a look of fear. "UH-OH ... this man knows my name, and is approaching me". He rose from his crouched position and appeared ready to bolt. I backed away quickly !

I opened our trailer door, babbled at Joanne that Siemen was on the back fence, and told her to go talk to him softly while I ran to get Hans and Peta. I ran ... as quickly as I could ... I don't run well anymore ... to the other side of the RV park, and pounded on their door, hollering at them that Siemen was alive in our back yard. HURRY ! We rushed back to our yard. Joanne was in the back yard, confused. She never did see Siemen on the back fence. OH, NO ! Did he run ?

Hans and Peta called Siemen. MEOW ! He was still sitting on the fence, but in our neighbour's yard now. Hans went to get him. And Siemen ran ! OH, NO ! Hans chased Siemen out onto County 17th Street. Where Siemen finally gave up, sat down in the middle of the road, and waited for Hans to pick him up !

< breathing a huge sigh of relief >

Saturday ; First full day back "home" in Yuma. Hot, sunny, busy !

This morning I went shopping to RV Connection and Lowe's to get the last couple of items I need to finally do a permanent repair on the trailer's freshwater system. It's currently on version four of the temporary repair. Each version of the temporary repair is better than the one before, but ... it's temporary !

This afternoon our Escapees BC Okanagan Chapter 33 friends Barry and Jackie came by to visit. Afterwards Joanne went shopping and I continued puttering around with repairs, my main activity for at least the next month, I expect. At 4 PM I took Bo for a walk around the dog park. The daily 4 PM pack walk around the dog park seems to have died out with our departure a couple of months ago. Bo and I walked from our back fence to the dog park's entrance gate. I left Bo inside the dog park and went to recruit Bob and his sweet dog Maizie. They were both glad to see both of us. Bob, Maizie, Bo and I went for a walk around the dog park. Bob and I chatted for quite awhile. When Bo and I finally returned home ... UH-OH ... I had left the roast a bit too long in the Sun Oven. I forgot how intense the desert sunlight is. Oh, well ... Joanne always did prefer meat well done !

I spent the evening working on accounting and online work. I had forgotten how bad the Wi-Fi is here at Kofa Ko-op !

DSK