CONGRESS AZ TO THE ROUTE 66 CASINO WEST OF ALBUQUERQUE NM

ALL HOOKED UP WEDNESDAY NIGHT & READY TO RUMBLE IN THE MORNING

Thank you to everyone for your kind concern & warming comments these past few days.  Very much appreciated by Kelly & I & we are grateful to everyone .  And on behalf of my Aunt Jean in Florida I’d like to say how much all those comments about her brother Harry’s passing means to her.  Below is a photo of Kelly reading the comments as we head east on I-40 this morning.

Many thoughts on my mind Wednesday night as Pheebs & I spent a last few minutes under a star studded Arizona night sky.   Took me back to campfires & summer Star Parties at the old Weenie Roast Ranch years ago.  Uncle Harry loved those star parties.  As I looked to the stars last night my mind was filled with memories of happier times.

<<< A LAST MINUTE CHECK OF OUR COMPUTERS THIS MORNING

We were up about 4 a.m.  Browsed our computers for a bit & moved some last minute things to the rig.  After a quick check of the morning news I took our satellite TV dish down & stored it away in the shed.  Locked it up.  House locked, electricity off, & at 5:43 a.m. we were ready to go.  Water company will turn the water off today.  Under clear skies & a big canopy of Arizona stars we sadly & quietly slipped through our gate, turned right & headed down Ghost Town Road for home……..

KELLY TURNS OFF THE ELECTRICITY TO THE HOUSE & AWAY WE GO

The little Sunseeker whipped us up the Yarnell Hill atop the Weaver Mountains like nobody’s business.  Watched Wickenburg’s shimmering lights off on the southern horizon fade into dawn as the valley fell away below us to the south.  We were well on our way.

 

SUNRISE HEADING FOR PRESCOTT:))

 

A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE WAY BUT WE WERE EARLY ENOUGH FOR NO DELAYS

An hour into our trip found us making our way along winding roads & Pine forests west of Prescott Arizona.   This was our third time using this route so we knew where we were going as we skipped around the north end of Prescott heading for Interstate-40 another hours drive away.

HEADING NORTH THROUGH THE CHIMO VALLEY

Today’s journey was basically a carbon copy of last year’s first day on the road.  Stopped at the same gas station & McDonalds in the Chimo Valley.  Climbed aboard the Interstate at Ash Fork & hung a right for Flagstaff Arizona passing by the majestic partially snow covered San Francisco Peaks.  A quick pit stop at a Rest Area east of Flagstaff & we were back on the road.

  

ROLLING ON BY THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS

So pleased with how well the Sunseeker performed today.  Been many years since I drove anything new & what a pleasure it was today cruising along the Interstate in a nice new well heeled machine.  Setting the cruise control at 60mph the onboard computer told us we averaged 12.5 miles per gallon.  Always enjoyed driving our Damon Motorhome but noticed today the Class C Sunseeker did not tire me as much as the larger rig did. 

REST STOP AREA EAST OF FLAGSTAFF ARIZONA

 

My goal today was the Route 66 Casino parking lot west of Albuquerque New Mexico & we made that destination at 4 p.m. this afternoon Arizona time in a short 460 miles.  Same place we stopped on our homeward trek the past 2 years.  Big well lit parking lot & lots of room.    Probably a dozen rigs here for the night.

NOTICE HOW WE KEEP OUR DISTANCE FROM THE OTHER RIGS WHICH ARE ALL BUNCHED TOGETHER

 

IT WAS A GREAT TRAVEL DAY WITH CLEAR SKIES & WARM TEMPERATURES AS KELLY CATCHES A FEW RAYS & CATCHES UP ON A LITTLE READING

We learned a lot from our short shakedown cruise to Borrego Springs a month ago.  That was why it was a shakedown cruise & that is why it was short.  From lessons learned we are definitely more comfortable this time out but for sure the dinette set-up still has to go!!

 

A FEW PICS ON OUR WAY THROUGH NEW MEXICO

 

OUR DESTINATION TODAY ON THE RIGHT, THE ROUTE 66 CASINO PARKING LOT

As we drove along today Kelly & I talked about Uncle Harry being gone & how it just doesn’t seem to be real.  Having not seen Harry since late last October & being so far away all winter it just seems like Harry will still be there sitting in his chair waiting for Pheebs to slip up beside him & nuzzle his sleeping arm.  We will slip down to see Harry just like we always did.  I understand the reality but somehow we just are having a little trouble accepting it…….

We will roll out early in the morning & I will look forward once again to cresting a section of I-40 atop a ridge just west of Albuquerque & seeing the whole city ahead & below laid out like a sea of glittering diamonds.  We’ll skip through Albuquerque well before the morning rush & climb ourselves up into the San Pedro Mountains well before old Sol slowly slides his way up over the eastern horizon:))

    

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A man comes home and finds his house on fire. He rushes next door, telephones the fire department and shouts, "Hurry over here. My house is on fire."  "OK," replies the fireman, "how do we get there?"
"Shucks," says the caller. "Don't you fellers still have those big red trucks?"

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.