When the mobile tech schedules us for Monday at noon to repair the slide I contact the park in Casa Grande to change our reservation from three nights to one night. It is a stop to get laundry done so one night will be fine.
We extend two nights at White Tank Mountain, and although we have to move to another site, it also means we can watch the NFL division championship games with our friends on Sunday afternoon.
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| View out our front window from Site 19 |
We enjoy the desert beauty around the campground in the morning, visit the nature center when picking up our new ID tag, and are ready for some football when Cyndee and Rocky join us for the Broncos/Patriots game.
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| Small signs of spring in January |
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| In addition to a nice interpretive center |
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| is a library with amazing views |
All of us are happy with the outcome of the first game - Go Broncos! Patty joins us between the games and there's enough food (thank you Cyndee!!) for two dozen people. Unfortunately the second game is so bad (we are in Arizona) that we move from the TV to the campfire before it's over.
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| Best seats for the game |
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| Still hopeful the Cardinals will turn it around |
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| Maybe if we ignore them, they'll score..... |
The campfire and the company are both warm, and ultimately we're all okay with the Carolina win. They did play an amazing game.
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| The setting sun reflects off downtown Phoenix |
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| The moon is beautiful, and gives us a great show from our fire ring |
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| Cyndee tests the heat resistance of her sneakers |
It's wonderful having this extra time with our friends in this exceptional place.
Monday morning we learn the game and camp fire are the silver lining as the part needed for the slide repair won't arrive until sometime Tuesday. Potentially not until 5:30 PM.
Irritated is a word. There are several others as well....
We cancel the repair and call the Casa Grande RV Resort and again change our reservation, this time making it for two nights, arriving the same day. We have people to meet and aren't going to delay another two days.
Even after our 40 yard move the day before, the 90 mile trip is very quick. This park is the opposite of where we were, with zero character, zero space between sites, zero views. It's fine for our needs.
Clean parks are always desirable, but the non-stop blowers going here are ridiculous. Especially when we see that they are blowing dirt off the street - and onto everyone's vehicles. Really?
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| So we can drive our dirty cars on clean streets |
A couple loads of laundry, a trip to Safeway for dog food and gasoline, and after a light dinner we go to bed early.
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| With the Safeway card discount, can't remember the last time I paid this! |
Tuesday morning is another bright and sunny day, the rest of the laundry can wait!
Bill has not seen the Casa Grande Ruins, and although I saw it when the boys were little, I want to see it again too. I forgot it's so close to "civilization", it's a little weird to turn right at the Walmart to enter the monument.
The parking lot is full, including a large school bus. All the kids are having their lunch in the picnic area, most of the adults are waiting for the guided tour scheduled in 30 minutes, so it's the perfect time for us to see everything with the least number of people.
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| We check out the information center first |
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| where there are signs that Tessa's ancestors lived in the area |
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| The multi-story Big House |
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| Amazing preservation of this centuries old structure |
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| My favorite part is this wonderful alignment with the turning of the wheel of the year |
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| Summer Solstice marker |
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| Twice a year the light of the equinox aligns here |
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| Thick walls maintained comfortable interior temperatures |
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| A pair of Great Horned Owls |
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| nest in the tall rafters above the ruins |
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| Enjoying the sunshine and history |
My favorite movie is Murphy's Romance with James Garner and Sally Fields. It was filmed in Florence, AZ. I'm hoping we can have lunch in the cafe that was the drug store in the movie.
Sadly it's now an insurance office :-( . The historic downtown is almost completely closed so we head back.
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| No longer the drug store/fountain counter or a cafe |
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| The tree James Garner planted in the movie is still here |
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| Nature's sculpture on a small side street |
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| County Court |
The Jeep lights are still working sporadically while towing so Bill pulls out the new cord we picked up in Quartzsite to install on the tow bar.
Pulling the end piece off the old cord he discovers that two of the wires are broken off. He fixes these, re-installs the cap and - yep - the old cord works fine. Don't mind that we have an extra cord now, but less thrilled about the $125 we paid the tech in Quartzsite who didn't check the wires.
While he's doing that I contact Jimmy's RV Repair in Deming, NM, and make an appointment for the slide. We can continue to live cozy for another week.
To celebrate the successful cord repair and renewed hope for the slide, we find an Italian restaurant with great reviews. The food is delicious at Tommy's Bistro - butternut squash with sage and brown butter, and spicy shrimp fettucini - it is much nicer than it appears on the outside.
Tomorrow we continue east to catch up with good friends in Catalina State Park.
Nothing beats spending time with good friends. We've been in parks where those blowers are busy blowing off our patios early in the morning. We've also been in parks where the weed eaters are busy eating weeds not long after dawn.
ReplyDeleteWe've probably been lucky this was the first one we've had - and at least it was in the middle of the day :-)
DeleteYou gave us a new "take" on Surprise--it's the closest big city to us and we usually avoid it but may have to take another look. Love Catalina State Park!
ReplyDeleteI know it's weird, but they have the prettiest freeways! Clean, art on the walls, desert landscaping. You can find almost anything you'd need on Bell Road :-)
DeleteI know it's weird, but they have the prettiest freeways! Clean, art on the walls, desert landscaping. You can find almost anything you'd need on Bell Road :-)
DeleteBummer about the slide topper...
ReplyDeleteI want to visit the ruins one day. Sure hope when I do, the horned owls will still be there!
Wish it were the topper and not the whole slide :-( I'm not sure how long they've been there, at least several months. Definitely worth a trip to see the ruins!
DeleteGreat location for Football Sunday. Too bad only one game was worth watching, but at least you had friends to add to the entertainment. Love your sunset with Phoenix:) I'm sure it was culture shock to go from White Tank to Casa Grande RV Resort! We were so NOT impressed with Casa Grande RV. Can't imagine spending the winter there. Glad your cord is now working!!! But that darn slide!!! Can't wait to see you Thursday:) Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing when we saw all the seasonals set up at that park. I just couldn't do it. Wish we had more time at Catalina!!
DeleteWOW Jodee! The pictures of those structures are so awesome. Brought chills to my arms to see something so amazing.
ReplyDeleteThey are really powerful up close, you would love them!
DeleteLooks like a great way to watch the game. I look forward to watching the desert bloom this spring.
ReplyDeleteMe too - we should have an amazing and colorful Spring!!
DeleteSo sorry you're still having problems with the slide. Such a bummer! But it sounds like you had a great time at White Tanks -- and more fun with friends! Love the petroglyph of Tessa's ancestor! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite pic :-)))) Thought is was hysterical with her standing right there too. Fortunately the slide being in hasn't changed our living arrangements much, but we'll be glad when it's fixed!
DeleteI must say you definitely roll with the punches. If I'd had as many big and little problems my first year as you have, I might have thrown in the towel. And I thought gas prices were supposed to be cheaper on the east coast. We're no where near that number. WOW! I say. And thanks for the pictures of the Casa Grande Ruins. I'm sorry it isn't out in the middle of nowhere any more. Those are always the best ruins where you can sort of feel the ancestors at the spot. Love Tessa's ancestor.
ReplyDeleteThe issues with the rig have been less frustrating than our inability to find a quick and competent repair facility/person. The regular cost on gas is about $1.79 which is still great, but with that membership discount I wished I had an empty tank to fill! We're looking forward to more remote ruins too.
DeleteThe issues with the rig have been less frustrating than our inability to find a quick and competent repair facility/person. The regular cost on gas is about $1.79 which is still great, but with that membership discount I wished I had an empty tank to fill! We're looking forward to more remote ruins too.
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