March 13 – 23, 2016
Sunday, March 13
Earliest start ever and on first day of time change, left house at 6am! OK technically 7am Durango time, but I'll call it 6. Cool 27 degrees in Durango but the day will warm as we get south. Got to RV storage around 2pm -- so early! Checked out the future campground across the street (instead of spending first nights at a casino) and then Bill pressure sprayed off the dust before we took off for Lost Dutchman. Gorgeous day, gorgeous sunset. Had dinner at Los Gringos, which was packed and had a very annoying woman laughing loudly with at everything—the whole table did for that matter, glad to get out of there, tho we did sit outside, it was nice out. Spot #24, on the outer ring, nice.
Monday, March 14
Drove down to Tucson on Highway 79 through Florence. Pinal Pioneers Parkway they call it. Arrived to a "Campground Full" sign at Catalina State Park, but sure didn't look like it inside. Either way, we have reservations for 5 days; Spot #B-9. Had a lady walk behind the site to say it was the best site in the campground. Really? as you walk through it? OK, thanks. Set up all over again, marveling that we've only been here for 24 hours... There are tons of small prairie dogs running all over the campground, loving the birdseed that falls from the many feeders throughout the park, so I decided to take their photos. They put on a show climbing the trees to get to the new leaves sprouting on the trees. Got some good shots. Later went to Trader Joe's and the Happy Saguaro, a Mexican imports shop with everything you could ever want -- and I don't need a thing. Maybe next time.
Tuesday, March 15
Today is a super Tuesday for the campaigns, listening to the media try to take down Trump; I hope they don't. They lie anyway. There is an In 'n Out Burger across the street here; perhaps today is the day... : ) But after a bike ride. Yesterday I had no energy, I hope today is better.
Yes today was definitely better. We biked the paved trail across Oracle road, and tried to keep going, as this is our first outing in MONTHS; at least since December in Florida. We are sooooooo fat and out of shape…. anyway, fantastic trail so we finally turned around when we realized it was easy going because it had been a gradual downhill. As planned, our final stop was at the In 'n Out burger across the street! We did about 14 miles. And had my first flying dutchman -- didn't realize that meant no bun. The Atkins burger! Later we went to Trader Joe's and the Marketplace shopping across Oracle. This is a good spot. Spend some nice idle time watching and photographing the cute prairie dogs. Weather was warm but not killer. They say it's been 10 degrees over normal. High was in the low 80s.
Wednesday, March 16
Going to be warmer today so went for a hike/walk earlier, about 10 am here at the park on the 50 Year Trail. It's all a gradual uphill, and after we got past the horse part of it it was quite nice, lots of cactus and creatures. Saw a roadrunner and while searching for the pee spot higher up on a ridge I seemed to have spooked a, what I later learned, was a mountain sheep. All I saw was a wide rear-end, bigger than a dog and later read they have been introduced and that you should stay on the trail and not spook them because it's lambing season. oops. didn't know that. sorry. Turned around after a few miles and figure we did at least 5 miles. Pretty warm on the way down. Done by 12:30. Later drove south through downtown on our way to HF Coors to check off the pottery. Got two mugs for Susan, but I declined. Kinda big for me. And to be honest, not overly impressed with half of the stock, those mugs are the best things. Made in Tucson -- hiring the wrong artists for the other stuff if you ax me. Hit many shops on the way back to camp in search of a floor rug; to no avail. But had dinner at El Charro and oh lucky us, Happy Hour. In camp we saw a scarlet tanager. Which in fact thanks to Kelsey was a Vermillion Flycatcher.
Thursday, March 17
Biked on the city bike trail for a ways today, ended up being 21 miles in total. Went as far as the Conquistadores golf tournament until Bill insisted we turn around. Gorgeous day. It warming up, mid 80s, though not too bad. Had lunch at In 'n Out Burger (#2) then rode over to the marketplace to shop. Bill lasted a few stores then rode home, I on the other hand even made it to Walmart. Worked for over an hour, got a call from O'Connor, had happy hour and finally picked a place for dinner: High Falutin' down Oracle. Not bad, out of corned beef tho, and the loudest table of 6 I ever heard (except for the table of 4 last Sunday). People seem to have extremely boisterous laughs down here, man o man. Hit Trader Joe's on the way home. Not bad livin' down here in Tucson.
Friday, March 18
Art show today downtown at the museum of art. Got an early start and buzzed thru (all the elderly retirees); left empty-handed. Some nice things tho. Had lunch at an Italian place off Craycroft, sat outside on a perfect day, on to more shopping: hobby lobby, BBB, Borderlands, and Macy's and REI, and a Safeway. Got a set of grey towels for the trailer; no more second-hand mixed colors! We also got a new heater for the trailer. Had planned on taking a bike ride to end the day but my back tire was completely flat so didn't go anywhere. Happy hour with guacamole and called it dinner. Streamed a Netflix movie, it works!
Saturday, March 19
Packing up to move to Cottonwood. Bill found a huge cactus spike in my bike tire. Tire and tube. Fixed that too, after a trip to the bike shop. One more lunch at In 'n Out (#3) then we hit the road. Warmer today glad we are leaving. But sure was nice to be there 5 days. Had to use the blue boy twice. Said bye to Spot (prairie dog who shared our site). Right know sitting in traffic on I-10 for an accident. There goes the 3:30 arrival time probably. Oh wait, then there was another on I-17 north of Phoenix for another 30 minutes at lease so we arrived at 4:30 instead of 3:30. Very busy weekend, lots going on apparently. 88 degrees, then 92... glad we are moving north. Found Redtail campground and our Spot #69, and also a skateboard and bacci ball kit in the driveway... sloppy neighbors who think they own the joint. This will be fun. Hoping they move along tomorrow morning, since bacci balls are flying around as well as frisbees and they don't care if they hit trucks. guess this is karma for all the shit I did with mark and chris... and God knows what bill did with whom. Outside typing this with a very bright 5/8ths of a moon shining brightly overhead. I bet this will be a smoky camp tonight, doesn't look like our Tucson crown of retired quiet types!
RIP: Frank Sinatra Jr.
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