Time to Roll, Goodbye Sis! New Park, Friends Reunion

Picacho Peak RV Resort, AZ

On Tuesday, Nov. 30^th it was time to move on, already. The week has zipped by and we have had a great time here in the desert with friends and family. Parking beside my sister and her husband was a first and we enjoyed each other’s company without being on each other’s doorstep all the time. ♥ We were up shortly after 7 and slowly began the routine for a travel day.

Last morning at the Q

All packed up ready to go
(Boy, I look tall!)

We only have a minimum distance to go today, 200 miles to Picacho Peak RV Resort near Phoenix but still wanted to be on the road asap. Our site is reserved for us and ready anytime for our arrival. We said goodbye to Gayle and John after we were hooked up. Rv’ers understand the need to leave each other alone while unhooking/setting up and hooking/tearing down. It makes for a stress-free time. 😊 We learned that early on in our journeys.

A wonderful driving day
(see the ghost?)

We pulled up to the dump station on our way out at 8:45 and within 15 minutes, we were dumped and leaving La Posa South. Gibbs settled down in the back seat once we hit the highway, familiar with this travel thing. 

Off in the distance, some beautiful jagged mountains

It was 55F/13C and the sky was clear, even the low-lying clouds from 7:30 had disappeared. It was smooth sailing until we got close to Phoenix. We had addresses for PetSmart and Camping World first, since they were on the way.

Gibbs gets right back into the day trippin'

What a rigmarole. If Gibbs didn’t need food, we might have skipped it but we found it and it was easy to get into. Next was worse, simply because C.W. seldom has room in their lots for big rigs. Now, doesn’t that make the least sense you’ve heard of? 

Gibbs goes shopping
Whee! I like these over here, Dad!

We pulled in and just stopped while we ran in the store. They didn’t have the blue boy that we want but I did find a grill pan and brush. We had to back up as there was no exit. LOL Thank goodness there were no customers parked in front of the store.

Camping World always has the huge flag
too bad they don't have the huge parking lot to go with it

Getting back on I-10E took a few decisions because of signs inappropriately placed or missing but once again, we persevered. Woops! There’s the 202 loop over there………oh well, we zipped through Phoenix pretty easily, despite the traffic.  There are so many Saguaros on both sides of the road along here, a very pretty drive. So, we find Picacho Peak RV Resort off I-10E at Exit 219. Nice and easy, just like Ken told us. 😊

Looks like the Picacho Peak (Mountain) to me

Confirmed!

We can tell before we even get in the park that it is a beautiful place to stay and we will enjoy the luxuries. Ken had emailed earlier asking us when we thought we’d arrive so they could meet us but because they had shopping and we were more than an hour away, we suggested they carry on and do what they needed. It is better for us anyway, as I mentioned above, setting up and THEN saying our hellos. No distractions and no mistakes that way.

We walked the paved streets to Ken and Nancy's

We knew our site # but stopped to register at the Office as required before following directions and pulling into our spot. #28. It is a pull thru and boy does that make life easy. You can imagine how thrilled I was to be at the site with the giant Saguaro as our ‘tree’! ♥ I’d seen it from the highway and though how lovely that would be………………and it worked out. 😊

The Saguaros are beautiful
but there is still something about seeing them in the 'wild'
that appeals to me
They are protected here by the park owners and that is great to hear

We set up and I replaced the things that had bounced all over the place (being stationary on the Ridge has spoiled me), we had a bite to eat. It was 2:30 and late for lunch and early for supper but we were starved. My head was beginning to ache, I had only eaten a snack bar on the drive. I should have made lunch, I guess, but I truly miscalculated how far it was and how long we’d be driving. My bad. ☹ Oh well, I had a wrap and Bill had cheese and crackers with a diet pop.

On our walk, Gibbs met (NCIS fans, are you ready?)
Zeva! No kidding!😂

I’d dusted as I was setting things up inside but could feel the grit of dirt and desert sand on the floors. We wanted to let our friends know that we were set up and ready for a pop-in visit so sent a text and then grabbed my dust mop. I was dusting the floors when they pulled up, returning from Casa Grande. Good timing! It takes us no time at all to remember the good times we’ve spent with these two and although we aren’t camped side by each, we’ll make more good memories.

Acquaintance time!
Molly, Gizmo - meet L.J. Gibbs

💓

Gibbs had a heyday greeting the two of them, all in the wrong ways, but other than saying “off, off, off” continuously, we ignored him as best we could and he soon slowed down. They have one Malti-poo and one Shitzu so that should be a crazy, fun time when we get them all together in their park model. There are two dog runs here, so this will hopefully be the time to let our little guy spend some energy and to meet other dogs too. They didn’t stay long, didn’t even sit, but when they left it was with a “catch you later”.

aren't they adorable?
Molly is 8 (I think) and Gizmo is 2 1/2

Bill climbed the back ladder and installed his weather station to keep an eye on the weather outside as well as the wind speeds. We have a great spot, close to the Interstate, yes, but our bed is at the end that isn’t near it. 😊 It won’t keep me from any sleep. I finished dust mopping, Gibbs went out for a piddle and promptly passed out on the floor. Bill, almost as promptly, sat in his chair and dropped off. I like our little piece of heaven here.  

Riding on the back seat for our tour

Our tour guides in the front

Around 4, we walked and found K & N’s home and introduced Gibbs to Molly and Gizmo. That was cute. They were much better inside with leashes off and all got along famously. They have a lovely little home, perfect for someone after living in a fiver for 4 years.  Then we toured the park on their golf cart, all 7 of us. Gibbs loved riding in between Bill and I on the back seat. That was fun and they dropped us off around 6 to make supper.

It was as filling as it looks!

Burgers tonight on the Weber and a night of watching shows recorded on our PVR or reading. To be determined. This was a great day, a long one but a great one. ♥

Site #28
See 'our' Saguaro? 😁

Good night!

Thank you for checking in to see where we ended up!