Saved by the Peak

We got out of Tucson around 4:00.  For me, it was unbearablely HOT.  Greg wanted to get out of the big city area, so we took off.  Driving West into the sun finally reached too hot for Greg.  We saw a RV park and pulled off for the night.  It was Picacho Peak Park...and the sun was going down behind the peak, it cooled off quickly with the breeze. 

We learned the next day that on the weekends rock climbers are all over the peak climbing to the top.  Can't understand that sport.

Another attraction next to the park was Rooster Cogburn's Ostritch farm.  It was closed on Wednesdays...darn.

Adding to the economy in Tucson

Well, before we leave Tucson we decided because of the other issues we had with the broken serpentine belt we should have an oil change.  I was beginning to think because we had an "older coach"  WE were the only ones with breakdowns and hanging around the repair shops.  But, not true.  Check out that line of big new rigs in line for service, and that was the "I'm next line"  There were others parked outside.

We had an appointment at 10:30.  The coach didn't get on the rack until 2:30.  Logan wasn't allowed inside the customer lounge.  So we spent our time "sitting around" outside.

Old Tucson

We drove out to Old Tuscon. It really is the western studio location that so many of the westerns were filmed. It is a slight distance way out in the desert. The cost was $18 each to tour. I thought that was too much when on Wed and Thurs the admission was $8. So we declined plus we had Logan in the car and didn't want to leave him any length of time in the sun. We drove a circle route back to town and passed a look out point, took pictures. That is Old Tuscon studios way out in the distance

and bought earrings from a Navajo couple. Sorry about the sideways picture...

Banquet

We had a banquet the last night of the rally and had good food and prizes.

This is everyone at our table . In the middle is Bob and Patti Haynes, the other three were first timers and from Hot Springs, Ark.

Greg won a platter with a giraffe and I won a paddle to clean the windows. Is that not appropriate?

Us with coach

Mesa ..Finally

We arrived in Mesa two days late. I was very exhausted and just wanted to shower and take a nape. The park was great…all gravel and hardly any dust flying around.

I called Julie Rowe and we drove over and visited with her. She lives in Scottsdale and works for the University of Phoenix. She did not have her air conditioner on and I was pleasantly surprise at how cool it was on her patio.


James made her elephant

Destination Tucson & Monaco Rally---OOPS

After the Mesa Rally we were going to caravan with 17 other RV’s to the Monaco Rally in Tucson, but when we started the motor a lesser squeak returned. Drove it to a Cummins service center in Avondale, west of Phoenix (about 60 miles) (that was on a Sunday) Most of the day we parked in the shade of the trees and on the street. It was too hot to stay in the coach, so we sat on the sidewalk in the shade. There were electric hookups but it required a 50 ft. cord to reach the post and ours was too short. They had the posts against the wall and a curb prevented the coach from getting close. Plus there was no shade in the parking area.

While we were waiting, I drove to the shopping center down the street. Discovered a Beauty School and decided to get a hair cut on Monday. I was given a young lady that apparently had little experience and required the instructor to assist several times. She cut her finger and I was concerned I'd survive. The cost was $5, and it wasn't the greatest cut but it will work for 4 weeks.

They replaced the belt with the proper size and returned the original belt tightener and not for sure what else they did for 4 hours. We made it to Tucson that night, and parked at the fair grounds. The rally was over booked with over 500 motor homes and no overflow parking. We eventually found a park and are staying a week, if nothing else, just rest. It turned very cold for three days but is back to HOT now.

We had good food, vendors with lots to sell and seminars on about anything to do with motor homes. I assisted with a craft class (making no sew fleece blankets). We had 30 ladies making blankets. Great evening entertainment.

I won a week stay at the RV Park we will be staying in Hemett, CA. Also got involved in a marketing interview and received a $25 American Express gift card. Sure hope this is a sign that things are looking UP.

On our way to Mesa, AZ & Safari Rally

We left Dean and Tamara’s around noon Sunday, Oct 18. Headed for the Safari Rally in Mesa, AZ to start on the 21st, plenty of time.
Our first night was spent dry camping at a casino. It was in a military base town, so there were no “senior” discounts. I usually take $5 and play slots until I lose it. After all its free to park. The place was absolutely packed and I couldn’t find a penny machine I liked. Finally I saw a “Topgun” machine, had never played one before so I set down.  Loud plane noise was blastng out of the head  rest every time I pushed the play button. Won the bonus and got to fly the plane and shoot down the enemy.  Hit it big time and walked away with $13.00. :-))

The next overnight was in a truck stop..very windy and dusty. When we pulled out the next morning, Greg saw a sign “Route 66” and decided we should reminisce and drive on Old Route 66. Well, it was a very bad decision. The first quarter mile it was fair but the remainer had not been repaired in a long long time. We had to slow down to about 10 mph for 5 miles to the freeway.

At our lunch break I noticed spots on the carpet in the left side of the drivers’ area. Greg investigated and found hydraulic fluid dripping from the emergency break switch. He unscrewed the switch mechanism and it was the pressure sensor that was leaking. We drove on to Parker, AZ and found a repair shop, had to order the part to arrive the next day. We parked and waited. A dust devil blew by rocking the coach and leaving a layer of dirt inside the coach, unbelievable.

When Greg started the engine to drive to the repair shop….fluid shot up and all over the ceiling, steering wheel, window and Greg…what a mess. We waiting hours for the part to arrive but he finally came out to the coach and installed the part.  We were out of there at about 3 pm.

We were happy on our way thinking we would be in Mesa and “happy hour” with the group tonight. when after a stop at a stop sign the coach would not shift and the gauges showed HOT. We were fortunate to have a service road running parallel and pulled off and started trouble shooting. The serpentine belt had disintegrated. No repair shops near us and it was after 5 pm. At a gas station they referred us to a Cummins service center in Blythe, CA about 65 miles away. The wanted $$$$$ to drive out and replace the belt. Soooooo Greg and I drove in the next day and purchased a belt and did the labor ourselves. Would you believe....the belt was TOO BIG.... so back to Blythe and exchange. The next belt was one quarter inch to small, (they assured us the belt would be ok) and we got it on. When we started the engine it started to really squeal, so we had to have the coach towed into Blythe. Thank goodness for AAA. The next day, the belt tightener was replaced.

O’ the best part was that we were short of water…holding tanks were almost full; that is because we thought we would be in Mesa with full hookups.

It was HOT..HOT and we were parked between two feed lots. The odor was not too bad, and the flies really liked us. The feed trucks buzzed by many times all day and night. Hungry cows.

The worst part was having no shower for two days. I can dry camp OK if I have empty holding tanks and full water. With the solar panel and the sun we have plenty of power to have lights, TV and run the computer.

Can't you just see Greg laying on top of the motor replacing the belt. I'm under the coach guiding the belt into place, no easy job ...got a big purple bruise on my arm.