We have been in Scottsdale, Arizona (the above photo is daybreak at West World) since last Tuesday enjoying the beautiful desert, perfect weather and best of all the company of good friends. I guess after our experience in TEXAS the coach gods decided to cut us a break. Thanks coach gods!
When we left TEXAS we stopped at a KOA (yes, another one) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was the best one yet. It is situated on a bluff overlooking a valley and with a perfect view of the mountains. Once again Mary was escorted by a pilot golf cart into a pull through space so we didn't even have to unhook the car. It was all gravel and had a nice dog walk for Breezy. And it was so quiet you could hear the morning doves cooing on the breeze. It was heavenly. We had a drink and dinner and just soaked in the quiet.
In the morning we fired Mary up. She purred. The transmission monitor screeched. And red and green lights flashed. Did we get all upset like we did the first time? Nope. After our experiences in TEXAS we were cool as two cucumbers. Well...there were a couple of big sighs and a few little cuss words but after shutting Mary's engine down and starting her up a dozen or so times we decided that it was due to the crisp cool weather, which was what we thought the problem was when we were in Georgia and got the red light and the green light and the screeching noise. John listened to the Camry and determined that the transmission pump was actually running. Then he called the company that makes the towing system and they said that there were some faulty monitors out there and suggested that we start the Camry's engine and pull it running and then stop in Phoenix when we got there and have the system checked. We did that. Eventually the screeching in the unit stopped, much to Breezy's relief, and we hummed across the desert to Tucson.
As we approached Tucson the mountains got more prominent and we passed through some beautiful country. We had arranged to have dinner with the Ruxers in Tucson so I went to work to find a campground or parking area that was close to where they live. The best I could do was a "park" at the exit where the road takes you to their house. We took the exit, immediately crossed over some railroad tracks, made an immediate right and we were there...sandwiched in between I-10 and the railroad tracks. We figure we can do anything for one night after staying at the Wildwood KOA. We set Mary up. She looked a little out of place...like a Rolls Royce at a demolition derby. But we can do anything for one night. Except sleep.
We went to the Ruxer's lovely home for a cocktail and some good conversation and then they took us to a wonderful restaurant high up on a mountain with a heavenly view and great food. Once again the very best part was the company. We had a wonderful time and then they delivered us to our "park". We said good-bye and settled in for the night.
About an hour into our slumber we were snoozing restfully when all of the sudden we were both jolted out of sleep by the sound of a train whistle. "Holy cow," I thought, "the dang thing is going to blast right through the bedroom!" That scene repeated itself eight or ten times (I lost count) through the night. The "park" was just a hop from 1-10 and the train tracks crossed the highway so I guess it is a law of the railroad that they have to blow their whistle before they cross the road. I had no idea that there were so many different styles of blowing a train whistle. Some conductors blow the whistle in several short little spurts. Some just hit it once or twice and pass through. Most of them lay on the whistle for three long blasts. Or two short and one really, really, really long one. A couple of times I wondered if Mary decided that it was time to end it all with her novice RVers and had moved herself to the tracks while we were sleeping to commit hara-kiri and take us with her.
By the time the sun started to come up we were grateful to get up and get going. It was our last day on the road for a little while and I think all three of us were looking forward to stopping. By the time we reached Arizona I was completely confused as to what time it was. I'm not sure that I know yet. We left the eastern time zone and moved into the central time zone somewhere in the panhandle of Florida. So we gained an hour. Then we moved into Mountain time on Sunday when we passed into New Mexico. We gained another hour. Then when we were in Las Cruces the time changed to Daylight Savings Time. We lost an hour. Then when we passed into Arizona we moved back into Standard Time. We kept asking each other what time it was. When either one of us would answer we would say, "It's twelve thirty (or what ever time it was) I think." It was like one of those dreaded story problems that we used have to solve in grade school math class. I was never good at those. And I was nervous about getting up to take a shower in the middle of the night again.
We only had about two hours to drive to get to West World in Scottsdale but we made a detour through Mesa to get the transmission monitor fixed. When we fired Mary up in the morning it went bonkers again driving poor Breezy to hunt for a quiet place to hide. It turned out to be a faulty monitor after all. It was quickly and painlessly changed out and we found our way to the show grounds. Mary has spent the last several days parked in a giant parking lot with other like coaches and people from all different walks of life. West World is a multi-functional facility so there can be several events going on at the same time. We spent the week grooming horses for Tim Arcuri which was a lot of fun. He brought three horses down for a client but didn't have any help so we volunteered. It has been years since either of us have done that kind of work (I actually groomed for John several years ago) and it was fun!
The desert is perfect this time of year. It isn't hot and the air is very light and dry. We are all a little static ridden, Breezy has the frizzies and John asked me last night why he has wings in his hair...very fly away. But morning and evening we were able to open Mary's windows and enjoy the fragrant air. My oldest friend in the world lives here so she and I were able to spend some great girlfriend time together (tons of laughing) and Breezy got to meet her cousin Brazil, a delightful little Border Collie/Australian Shepherd cross. It has been a fun stay. Tim had a great show and we had a terrific time with him so it has been a nice stay and we hope to come back to the show again next year and back to Arizona before the year is out.
Breezy has become a full fledged horse show dog at this show. We are parked a little ways away from the Equidome where the show is being held so John got up early every morning, got on the bicycle and peddled full out with Breezy running alongside (full out, ears bobbing) over to the barns where they helped Tim work horses. Then they peddled back full out. We used the bikes to get back and forth which was fun. While she was at the barn she would hang out around the tack room and keep an eye on all of the horses in the stalls and passing by the barn making sure that they didn't get out of line. When it was time to show we had to put her on a leash (she totally hates the leash) and take her to the warm up arena and then to the arena for the classes. She trooped right along and while it was very difficult for her she maintained her composure while the horses did their work. We feel so lucky to have such a nice, patient little dog to travel with us. She is a joy.
Tomorrow we hit the road again this time to cross the desert to Barstow, California. We are on our way to Oregon to visit my family and see some good friends and our broodmares who are getting close to having babies. By the time we make it around again they should all have little ones on the ground. I know that Barstow is kind of out in the middle of nowhere but guess what? Yep! There's a KOA in Barstow near a ghost town! We will be making the trip up Interstate 5 to Sacramento and then north over the Siskyou pass into Oregon. I'm sure there will be lots to write about along the way.
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