Week 283-284 - Sunny Arizona - 01-22-2012

Sunny Arizona

This week we left sunny California for sunnier Arizona. Our two week trip took us through the back roads of SoCal and the freeways of AZ. There really are not any decent alternate routes in Southern Arizona to get you to Phoenix or Tucson.

As we left Hemet, we were in for a treat. Our good friend and missionary from Romania, John McDaniels, was on a trip with his father from Escondido to Blythe. As John receives our weekly travelogues (and responds most every week, yay John), he knew that we were close by. So we coordinated to meet at the Jack-in-the-Box in Brawley, CA, where our two paths crossed. It was a two hour trip for us, so we left at 9:30 to make sure that we were not late for our noon lunch.

The first leg of our trip was on Route 3, from Hemet to Aguanga. We have been on this road before, but failed to remember that it would take an hour to go the 25 miles. Our plan to meet John and his father, John, at noon seemed to be in jeopardy.

But as we passed through downtown Aguanga, the road picks up speed but we didn't have time to stop and shop.

As our speed increased to 55 mph, we flew by the Sky Sailing (gliding) company at Warner Springs.

Oops, passed by another great stop. As we drove through the curves of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, it looks as if the SnowMan could have used some Stimulus Therapy.

Mandy, low key during the trip, perked up when she saw Jack. Everyone enjoys two tacos for 99 cents! After the panic of making the Johns wait for us, it turns out that we arrived at Jack just minutes before they did. We had a wonderful lunch and it was a great pleasure to meet John's father and share with him.

Before leaving Jack, we made sure to get a snapshot of our meeting at Jack. This is one of few Jacks with a drive through big enough for the Mothership.

Next stop Yuma. But just before you leave California you can see what is left of the Colorado River as it heads to Mexico. We crossed over into Arizona and picked up some "cheaper than California" diesel.

After our exhausting one-day trip of almost 200 miles, we settled into Westwind Golf and RV Resort. This is first RV park where we joined our neighbors and good friends Ben and Sid. Five years ago, in January 2007, they stayed here in their 5th wheel. We came down from Quartzsite to join them. And we had the pleasure of hunting for their new motorhome Ralphie. Wow, how time flies!

After three days of pickleball with Eddie and the boys, we were rested up and ready for the next leg. Just leaving Yuma to the east, you pass through Dome Valley.

From this point forward on Freeway 8, you pass by lots of nothing. But the freeways are vacant and the trip is peaceful.

1) Picacho Peak rises 1500 feet, between Casa Grande and Tucson. 2) Arriving in Tucson we once again lucked out and breezed through while noticing that heavy traffic was going the other way. We have no idea why, but it is extremely rare that we get caught in the jams.

At last we reach our destination for the week, Voyager RV Resort. We came for a Pickleball tournament, what else? The Massage Center is looking pretty good post Pickleball.

The crowd is thick watching the Women's 4.0 Gold Medal match. Ellen is not present here as her skill level is 3.5.

But here is the darling of the PB world with her Bronze Medal that she and here partner Carol won. Pete and Ellen played in the mixed doubles and had great success until they ran into a "buzz saw" and got slaughtered in their final game. The same thing happened to Pete and his partner, Chuck. Hmmmm, what's up down with Pete?

We had a great two weeks, leaving friends in Hemet, lunching with friends in Brawley, and Pickleballing with friends in Yuma and Tucson. Many times we are asked "what is the favorite place you have been?" The answer is always the same, "it's the people!". What a blessing to be with so many fine people. The Lord is good!

Until next week, be blessed.

Love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy

Photos from Jan 2012