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Posts from the ‘States’ Category

Dec 26

Deep Thoughts

Pondering

Pondering

Quick quiz … In the above picture, Kelly’s father (Gene) is thinking:

a)   If I added up all of the Snicker bars I’ve eaten, I wonder how many total calories have been consumed?

b)  I just kicked-ass on the golf course … damn I am good.

c)   Who’s cooler – the Lone Ranger or the Green Hornet?

d)  Why in the hell is that Airstream blocking my entire house?

Parked in Sun City West, AZ

Parked in Sun City West, AZ

(While each of these choices are easily plausible, the answer is B)

Today we left Tucson (and our hosts Barb & Steve) and drove to Sun City West in order to spend a few days with Kelly’s father (Gene) and his wife (Sandy).  As illustrated by way of the picture above, we have unhitched Mabel in front of Gene & Sandy’s home during our stay.

Things are pretty quiet around here, so I do not think the neighbors will mind  that our Airstream is occupying so much of the curbside parking.

Empty streets

Empty streets

Dec 25

Busted On Christmas

Unlike many Christmas mornings of my youth, I had no difficulty sleeping in late today.  And, despite the oddity of Christmas in desert devoid of snow, I managed to have a fine day with Kelly, her mom (Barb) and Barb’s husband (Steve).

Once I managed to pull myself from the cozy confines of a warm bed, I regrouped with Kelly and Lilly for the first of two visits to the local dog park.  Per usual, Lilly wasted no time focusing her attentions to the various smells of the fence-line.  Who knows what she was seeking today, but she housed no interests in paying fetch, her preoccupation with the fence superseding all other activities.

Lilly, following her nose

Lilly, following her nose

Once we were back from the park, Kelly and I wandered over to spend the day with Barb & Steve.  Kelly prepared a fabulous dinner for everyone.  Traditionally, the holidays are generally a good time to consume lots of sweets in between proper meals, and as I was a guest in another person’s home, I did my best to to uphold tradition.  To do otherwise would have simply been rude.

The chef at work

The chef at work

Following lunch, everyone was feeling a bit heavy in the waistline, and as such, it was decided that a post-meal walk would be in good order.  Being it is Christmas, we opted to ‘gift’ Lilly a return visit to the dog park, a decision which she found to be quite ideal.

Under the guise of photographing Lilly, I began snapping a few pictures of Barb and Steve.  At various times today I suggested we take pause to capture group picture, only to be thwarted with bogus delay tactics at each attempt.  Unwilling to depart empty-handed, I tried my best to stealthily snap a few pictures.

I got busted in the process.

Barb & Steve

Barb & Steve

Dec 23

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A Day of Firsts

Suppose I said Kelly did more driving than me today; would it be hard to accept such a statement as true ?

We’ve all heard tales of the unbelievable, a story that seems so unthinkable, its belief remains uncertain until such time there is no denying it’s truth.  And to that end, by of way the indisputable facts as documented within the picture below, all doubts related to Kelly driving with Airstream in tow may hence forth be put to rest.

Kelly driving

Kelly driving

Kelly did great and I was very happy to have the reprieve which provided me the opportunity to evaluate the relaxing qualities of the passenger seat  (it does fine by the way).  Like any Airstream, ours tows very smoothly and I knew that Kelly would quickly vanquish all towing related fears she’s been harboring.

Not unlike yesterday, today’s drive was long and mostly uneventful.  Our route containing a steady diet of I-10 (eastbound) wherein we found ourselves mostly traveling through the desert.  Less a few well-known towns, the area feels empty, quite vast, and offers sweeping views of beauty.

Desert foothills

Desert foothills

Crossing into Arizona, I quickly noticed changes with the road signage.  While I cannot quite put my finger on it, by comparison to California, something seems to be different with the signs here … almost like they are incomplete somehow.

The exit to nowhere

The exit to nowhere

While Kelly drove, I spent lots of time allowing my mind to wander.  Among other things, it dawned on me that today would  be one to remember:

  • the first time Kelly drive with Airstream in tow
  • the first time our Airstream was in Arizona
  • the first time Kelly and I have been to Arizona since the last time we were here.

Unimpressed with the day’s milestones, Lilly opted to focus her energies elsewhere.

Lilly, looking unimpressed

Lilly, looking unimpressed

Fittingly, we arrived to our destination today just as the sun was retiring from its own long day.  The sunsets in the desert are so incredible and I’m really looking forward to more of them during our stay over the next two weeks.

Sunset in the desert

Sunset in the desert

Dec 23

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More Of the Same

In what is becoming something all too familiar, Kelly and I once again made a visit to an Airstream dealer today for a bit of service work to Mabel.  Unfortunately the parts we require must be special ordered, necessitating yet another visit when we pass back through the area two weeks from now.

Awaiting our service appointment

Arriving for service

While I’m happy that our issues are covered by warranty, I’d be lying if I said these visits are not cause for frustration.   Interruptions like these drive me crazy and I cannot help but wonder if Airstream is aware of the costs (directly and indirectly) of poor quality as it relates to their parts suppliers.  These issues, while minor in actual dollars, do disrupt trips, and do generate headaches for Kelly and me.

In an attempt to return a smile to my face, I decided to wander the aisles of new Airstreams on the Toscano RV lot.  To my surprise, there were rows of  2013 inventory  to check out.

Lots of Airstreams

Plenty of Airstreams

Despite the stop, we were back on the road fairly early.  Apparently, many other travelers had the same idea which made for a steady flow of traffic along (southbound) I-5.  This part of California is dominated by agriculture and rolling hills, providing anyone paying attention, a partly beautiful, mostly boring drive.

A field somewhere along I-5

A field somewhere along I-5

About nine hours of driving was all I could muster today.  It wasn’t too long thereafter that I  became tired and found myself getting grumpy.  Accordingly, I suggested to Kelly perhaps it was time to stop for the day.  As per usual, she made quick work identifying a few overnighting options before settling on Country Hills RV park in Beaumont, CA.  It was dark when we arrived so I didn’t get a thorough look around, but the place seems pretty nondescript.

Tomorrow we make a final push to Tucson, where we’ll be spending a few days with Kelly’s mom and her husband.

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