Leaving Arizona

One more photo at the Arizona rest stop before we get back on the road. Linda wanted Dan to stand infront of the Joshua Tree so it would look like it was growing out of his head, but he didn't cooperate.

We needed to get an adapter to use at the campsites where only 30 amp service was available. We have regular household extension cords. We saw a sign for an RV supply store as we approached Wilcot and decided to see if we could find the adapter. We found the store and this gunslinger manning the place. He was in costume for a re-enactment of a shootout in the historical area of the town. The shootouts were to be a 2 & 4 PM. If we hadn't been there at 10 AM with some mileage to get behind we would have stayed.

New Mexico!

Kartchner Caverns Campground, Arizona

This was a great place to camp. Interesting birds and very quiet. We visited with some of the other campers and their dogs. Dan was in heaven. We even encountered a scorpion just inside the door of the men's restroom. Of course Linda had to check it out, what do you expect?

We did not go into the caverns. We plan to visit Carlsbad Caverns and figured one cavern would be enough. Besides it was late in the afternoon when we arrived and we needed to get to our camp site, do the little bit of set up required and get in a nap before Dan had to prepare dinner.

Our dinner was "tossed salads and scrambled eggs", if you get the significance of that.

The moon was full and gave us plenty of light to walk around after dark. the defined shadows we cast reminded Linda of a song.

This variety of cactus was everywhere. Many had blossoms.

We managed to catch a bee at work while getting this close up of the cactus flower.

After leaving the campground the next day we stopped at the last rest stop in Arizona before crossing into New Mexico. We had stopped here on our first trip to Florida several years ago. The interesting rock formations deserved being photographed a second time.

Now on to New Mexico......

Blythe, California

We had planned to use the tent for camping again this year, but had a bright idea to make the Astro van a camping vehicle. After 3 months of brainstorming, engineering and constructing we had created a camping vehicle. This will allow camping in rainy & windy weather. If it gets too hot then it will mean hotels for comfort. Check out what we have done.

Dan built "chuck boxes" for the cooking & eating equipment, and canned & dry foods. These boxes stow under the bed platform he built. Large plastic tubs hold items not needed on a daily basis.

Stowing compartments for eye glasses, iPod, cell phone and personal flashlight. This one is great for access from the bed.

Closet and Colman thermoelectric cooler. We created the closed with PVC pipe and cotton duck fabric. This gave us more storage for clothing than expected. It is nice to have the clothing easy to access and not in luggage to search through. This also uses much less space. The cooler does away with the need for buying bags of ice and draining off the water on a daily basis.

Our first day out we camped at Peter McIntyre County Park on the Colorado River. We walked to the lake after dinner and noticed extensive gopher activity. This particular burrow hole is large enough for a person (or even a horse) to step into.

The lake is quite calm at this point, but is still moving rapidly enough to be cautious in the main stream. This is a pretty place.

There was a duck paddling around this dock, most likely hoping for a few morsels being tossed its way.

This first night gave us an opportunity to work out kinks in the usage and storage of items we will want to use in the evening, such as lap tops, reading materials and shoes.

All in all the Astro van/camper work very well.