May 6, 2011 – Day Two of Vacation—on to Gila Bend, AZ

I said Day Two—but I was also thinking Day One of the trip from Quartzsite, AZ back to Texas—it feels like a shorter distance to travel, smile.  Only 1,400 miles instead of 2,000 miles.

We left Barstow Flying J early this morning after a comfortable night dry camping in the parking lot.  We use the Fantastic Endless Breeze, a 12-volt fan, when we dry camp in warm, NOT HOT, weather.  It adds just enough breeze on us in bed to allow us to get a pretty good night’s sleep.

Once again I was dismayed to see the air quality about 50 miles east of Barstow.  The beautiful distant mountains were invisible—I just saw a a bluish-gray haze.   The air finally cleared up as we got closer to Quartzsite.

We picked up fuel at the Zip station at the intersection of I-10 and Vicksburg Road.  We were thrilled to see diesel for $3.91!  In January, we considered that price a disaster to our budget—now we are thrilled to see it.  How soon we forget—which is, of course, what Big Oil is counting on. 

We are at another favorite hidey-hole on our TX to CA trips, Holt’s Shell RV park.  During the winter months, he gives Escapees and Passport America members a 50% discount.  Today the fee was $23.64--$19.99 fee and $2.65 tax.  However, today I paid it with a smile. 

This is my list of leading indicators that just might say:

You are going the wrong way!!!!

#1.  Empty campground.  Those are worker’s rigs at the end.  We are the only visitor.  Why, you ask??

#2.  The bottom number is outside—the top number is inside.  And that is at 5 p.m.  It was over 100 degrees when we arrived—not a good sign.

#3.  When the knob on the air conditioner needs High Cool to make life bearable—you are in the wrong spot of the country!!

So tomorrow, in spite of knowing better, we continue on through Tucson, AZ and hopefully make Deming, NM or El Paso, TX by tomorrow night.  We are just ahead of a wind storm and hope to stay head of it!

Think of our poor truck laboring in the heat while we ride inside comfortable with the truck air conditioning on—heading in the wrong direction.