Saturday, March 28, 2015

The Pre-Launch Adventure Begins!

Wednesday, March 25 - Friday, March 27

I walk across the street and get the rig from the PetsMart where we parked it overnight (with permission) so we didn't have to wait for the storage lot to open at 9:00.  Wind was likely and I wanted to get ahead of it as much as possible.

Loaded up directly from the garage (Bill is so smart), and hooked up the Jeep for the first time. Easy process. Looks a bit intimidating when it's all put together, but we are so excited to be heading out on our 10-day adventure!


Ready to go!
While the traffic is light heading East on Hwy 210, the wind is not. We pick it up around San Dimas and I'm not a happy driver. Having driven I-10 in the desert in March/April I know the potential for a very nasty drive.

Taking a back road along the freeway we find ourselves in a wind tunnel, buffeting the rig around like a paper airplane, driving at 25 mph it feels like we'll be landing in Oz at any minute. This does not bode well for the Interstate ahead.  We continue onward.

We find a small, very dilapidated 3-Sisters Truck Stop to try fueling up in the truck lane. Hoping for faster speed and easier access we aren't impressed with either as our driver's side fill won't take more than 12 gallons without regurgitating every other drop we attempt.  This must be why there are two fillers and sure enough the other side graciously accepts another 35 gallons. We wait five minutes for a break in the trucks to pull back out on the road. Geez, give me a friggin' Shell station on the corner!

Fortunately we leave most of the chaos behind when we get back on the freeway.  Winds are manageable as I get comfortable with the sudden gusts that enhance the already 20 mph steady crosswinds.  Bill gives constant encouragement, avoiding the "Stop whining and just drive" that I'm sure is what he'd like to say. Instead he says "I'll drive."  Which is much more effective in getting the desired result. Some day I must learn to be a passenger.  Today is not that day.

A quick road-side stop for lunch outside Palm Springs, and by 2:30 we're parked back at our friend's place in Lake Tamarisk.  The winds had increased the last 25 miles, so the exit sign was a very welcome sight! 

Our great mooch-docking spot in Lake Tamarisk

Unhooking the Jeep is as easy as hooking it up, and we are already so happy with our Sterling Towbar.  We enjoy a relaxing evening on the patio. It feels different than our maiden trip here. Bill's retired.

Thursday morning we're back on the road before 8:00.  The wind is much lighter but it's still there all the way to Gila Bend.  The Palo Verde trees and Brittlebush are in full, heavy bloom, and the desert is a vivid yellow everywhere you look.  The red Ocotillo blossoms are beautiful as well, but yellow is the "it" color this season :-)  We enjoy an uneventful drive and find the Holt Shell Station RV Park before 1:00.  A Passport America park at $11.99 for FHUs and a large gravel site. Really, I just wanted to say we stayed at a gas station......but it's quiet and clean and just fine for our needs.

Quiet, large, cheap - it works for the night

There are two non-chain places to eat in "town". We choose the Mexican place with a patio and are the only ones there. It's mid-afternoon in a tiny place, we don't judge.  The food is fine, the lemonade wonderful, and we finish our meal before the flies make off with the plates. 

Room for 1/3 the population to join us

It is nearly 93 degrees and the AC runs nearly all night.  We sleep very well.

The sites back up to open desert and Friday morning we walk Tessa just after sunrise. The Palo Verde are incredible here as well, and there are dozens of Mourning Dove and Quail. 






Even with just a little sun the yellow was bright

This morning is another milestone. Bill hooks up to the sewer at our site and dumps our tanks.  I stay in the rig and get things ready to leave. The AC is off and the windows open.  I hear nothing.  He comes in and reports "It's fine."  He also shares that at the early hour he was careful not to swear loudly.  Perfect.  We now know we can dump our tanks.  It's a big deal, but it is early so we quietly acknowledge the moment and head out after hooking up the Jeep.

Our next stop is Tombstone, AZ, where we are staying with one of our brothers from high school and his wonderful wife.  We've been looking forward to this visit, they are both such great friends! 

We have been relying on our IPhone GPS and early in the day Bill says when we get back we're getting a real RV GPS. Works for me, the little one got us into some weird spots before, and I don't want that to happen with the rig. Towing the Jeep.

Too late.  Nerves and skill are put to the test as soon as we arrive in Tombstone.

To be continued.......


 
Palo Verde give way to Saquaros as we move south

31 comments:

  1. Has to feel good to be Really on the road. The desert looks good in yellow.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OH NO....a cliff hanger!! Well you two are brave souls 25 mph winds would have me postponing. I don't do wind or rain or dark of night. Call me a fair weather driver. At least I know you are ok or you would not be writing this. ;-). $11.99 for a PPA overnight is the best I've ever heard of. Your lunch description gave me a laugh. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It felt like cliffs at the time too...... We won't be pushing the weather after this trip, NOPE! Glad to share the humor, we laughed too :-)

      Delete
  3. Congratulations you two--here's to an uneventful, wonderful first journey!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Janna :-) Not quite uneventful and definitely wonderful.

      Delete
  4. So far so good, hope your launch continues with minimal challenges. I love Tombstone, enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They have been minimal. Our friends have lived in Tombstone for 20 years. Went to visit, and never left :-)

      Delete
  5. We were just in Tombstone a few weeks ago. I guess we are lazy. We don't unhook our Jeep until we get to our final destination. LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We have been arriving early enough to unhook and go look around, even just for a couple hours.

      Delete
  6. Everything usually gets better as you get more accustomed to being on the road. Watch those side winds though as they can surprise you. Sometimes it's best to pull off and wait for them to pass over. Great times and great travel are ahead for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Each day seems to get more comfortable even with the winds. Those gusts do get your attention!

      Delete
  7. We have had a Rand McNally GPS for three years. And it has done a very good job. We have not been able to get complete directions a few times, but if in doubt we will use the Google Maps on the phone as a back up. occasionally, that is very very rarely, i will also pull op mapquest on the computer. Remember you can unhook and back out of a wrong turn, but it is best to not get into one. Sometimes, I will look at Google earth zoom in to check out a gas station or other unknown. You will get the hang of it, and you will get into trouble a few times as well. We all do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think that's the one we're going to get too. It would never have taken us where the IPhone did! Thanks Merikay :-)

      Delete
  8. Great job, Jodee, driving with all the wind. I am an excellent passenger:) I love the photo of the rig with sunset in the back slide:) I had to laugh when I read about the dump success. We both remember our first experience!! The desert is gorgeous with all the yellow...enjoy and safe travels:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Pam! I'd be fine never doing it again :-) I'm so glad we got to the desert before the blooming was over.

      Delete
  9. You're off to a good start! I'm not a fan of the phone gps either. I've had my Garmin for 4 or 5 years now. It's great for the car but I'm going to upgrade to an RV specific one when we get a rig.
    Safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely get the RV/truck one, we won't do another trip without it!

      Delete
  10. Way to go hanging in there with the high winds while driving. Looking forward to what happens in Tombstone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mark :-) I won't leave you hanging too long!

      Delete
  11. I haven't been reading you for very long but already know that you're a keeper in my blogger world.... looking forward to your adventures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sharon, that's so nice to hear :-) Great to have you along!

      Delete
  12. I'm a new reader and looking forward to your traveling! Your RV is beautiful and enjoy~ Kay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome aboard Kay! We love the rig, it's our first :-)

      Delete
  13. Yay! You're off to a great start, winds and all. Sounds like you've gotten quite comfortable driving. That's fantastic! I hope you get some nice sunny, non-windy weather! Great job on the tank dumping. You decided to dump after just one day? For practice?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love driving the rig. It's less fun towing, but still fun. We didn't dump last time and have been using the potty while working in it in storage so while it wasn't full, it was ready :-)))

      Delete
  14. Great to hear that you're on the road. Winds can be really scary but oddly we have gotten better over the last two years. We know the times that it is best to get off the road. When you see the dust storm rolling your way take the next exit. Even sitting still the RV bounces around like we're in the boat. Enjoy your adventure. Life is good.

    Russ Ranger

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Russ! I think they're the worse when there are lots of big trucks passing as well :-(

      Delete
  15. I don't like driving OR being a passenger in strong winds. Glad you're safe, and I'm looking forward to the next installment! There are so many "firsts" when you take the leap into this full-timing adventure. You're doing great maintaining a sense of humor. :-)

    ReplyDelete