Finally! In what seemed to be an eternity, we have (finally) left California! Our plan was to pick up the the new motorhome, shake it down locally, and learn how to live in it. The new coach has so many, many features, especially when compared to our old Class C. The Lazy Daze was a great camper for us, especially with our kids growing up, but it served its purpose and we, sadly, sold it. Although we were reasonably knowledgeable about motorhome living, the new Tiffin is like the latest electronics centric car and we were coming from a “radio and heater” car. Lot’s to learn and understand, but fortunately, we were a couple steps up the learning ladder to start with, and gratefully, the Tiffin is a great coach with few problems and tons of amenities and features.
So, we reached our time to leave Cali and have stopped for a few days in Arizona. First, “casino camping” in Yuma on the Cocopah Indian reservation. A small but clean casino with a parking lot for campers, and and nice breakfast buffet. Laura played some video games in the casino and we left with a few more sheckles than we came with ! Nicely done Laura.
Next day we head to Tucson and stay at the Rincon West RV Resort for a few days. Mostly full of snowbirds but a few spots for transients like us. Everyone there is very welcoming and friendly and interested in our story. This is a 55+ resort with many full time residents, or at least full time owners. Not exactly our kind of place, but lots of activities and clubs like a woodworking shop, knitting and sewing, ham radio and of course pickleball, tennis, pools and such.
On two separate days we visited both the east and west parts of the Saguaro National Park, both with its own personality and character. It was easy to envision that if each cactus had branches and leaves, this would be an impressive forest! The cactus have a tough and extremely slow growing life: 50 years until they grow their arms, 150 to 200 years is expected.
The images are representative of the area but it is so hard to express their enormity! Impressive and intimidating at the same time.
Along one of the dirt roads in the western district we happened upon some petroglyphs left by the Hohokem indians at Signal Hill. Pretty eerie sitting there thinking that 800 years ago the original residents were making these images.
A quick stop through Arizona and we are onward towards Texas, but New Mexico awaits…