Four campgrounds, 8 days
First stop was Homolovi State Park. Located off I-40 a couple miles north of Winslow, Arizona. This is our usual stop-over when we drive west to the Phoenix area. We like that it is paved, clean, neatly run, has cheap hookups if you want them and very convenient when the WalMart in Winslow doesn’t appeal. $18/night or $30/night. It’s out there on the windy desert plains along with some pueblo ruins. Sometimes when we need something nice we get fed in the Winslow railroad station, at their highly recommended Posada restaurant.
Our next stop is the Eagle View RV Park just east of Scottsdale off Rt 87 in Fort McDowell, AZ. It’s there primarily to serve the high rollers and their half-a-million buck rigs when they come to gamble at the Eagle View Indian Casino nearby. They park by the dozens, under the blazing sun on closely paved full service sites. Our business was a consultation at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Scottsdale. We reserved for 4 days, @ $36. Everyone had their ac roaring but at night things cooled off nicely, though out there in the open my not tropical RM8551 never recovered. On trips I always bring along the Engel cooler, just in case. WalMart sells 10 pounds of ice for $1.59, and Costco sells 20 pounds of ice for $1.79. We anticipated all this and left Josie home at a kennel we like.
The 102°F+ weather continued, following us south to the Sonoran Desert and Gilbert Ray County RV park. No reservations needed, because in that heat the place was bone-empty. They have plenty of 30 amp hookups ($20/nite, self register, since the office closes for the summer season) and our ac worked just fine, following the drama at our previous campsite. Took a small hike with the camera and came back with a few dozen nasty cholla stickers in my arm.
One night there was enough. Gassed/iced up at the Tucson Costco. We got on I-10 east, headed for City of Rocks State Park near Silver City, NM. City of Rocks has a load of dry camping spots but only fifteen with electricity, and all booked. We found site 17 amongst the rocks to be just fine. Got out my new 100watt solar panel but really didn’t need it. Next day drove to Hatch, stopped for lunch at Sparky’s where they sell the mother of all chili cheeseburgers.
Total towing miles, 1308. Five gasoline stops.
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Myron
"A billion here, a billion there...add it all up and before you know it you're talking real money." Everett Dirkson
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