Tucson - Resting at Catalina

Resting in Tucson.  While we had cruised through most of our checklists to restore the RV to working and traveling order, I decided to take the afternoon off while Sraddha visited the Tucson museum of art.  After resting and reading for a while I repacked and consolidated the camera gear into a different bag. I had purchased a little tuner hooked it up between the antenna and the old standard definition tv so we could get HD over-the-air channels if we wanted. Unfortunately we could not get the PBS channel but we could get local news if wanted. All in all, it was a nrestful afternoon

Vereo with breakfast snack outside our RV

Yesterday morning as we set outside drinking morning beverages we watched birds.  No surprise there.  We had set out our bird feeder and the neighbors (mentioned before) had 2 bird feeders so we see a lot of activity.  I got the camera out and was able to shoot this Vereo who landed nearby.  Not a good photo because the background is washed out and I don't have the photoshop skills yet to fix it but he had a bug in his mouth.  kinda made the picture


Cooked dinner for S from some of the frozen (and now thawed) items we brought from home and she read to me before bed time.  This has become an evening favorite activity.  We are currently reading the Biography of Yogananda by J Donald Walters (Swami Kriyananda).

Today we head over to Camping World (about 45 minute drive) to get Water heater checked.  Seems the last time we heated with propane we got a lot of black soot coating the outside wall of the RV.  We have been using the electrical heater while staying at parks, but the campsite in Big Bend doesn't have electrical so will be dry camping and want to have this functioning correctly.  plus a couple minor other things.   This could take an hour or half a day.  Will see.  Sraddha is going to shop for a small list of non grocery items like a 5/8's open ended wrench to replenish the one she accidentally dropped behind a wall under the sink and now we can't get it out wtihout removing half the motorhome wall.  and some batteries, etc.

Made it to Tucson

After driving 950 miles over past 2 days, we have returned to Catalina State Park north of Tucson.  The first 850 miles were by Jeep to Tempe, neat Phoenix, arriving at the storage place around 10 AM this morning (doesn't that sound like we went overland through hill and dale?). We had prepared the RV for storage during a driving rainstorm last December and it sat unattended in a secure, covered storage facility for past 2 months. We had filled the gas tank with stabilized fuel, drained the water and waste tanks and lines, and disconnected the batteries. One reason for selecting Phoenix was the likelihood of the temps remaining above freezing which happened.  Nevertheless, we were prepared for something to have gone wrong.

Our Catalina campsite

Well, cross your fingers, but it hasn't happened yet.  We reconnected the batteries, checked the levels and started up the engine on first try!  Woo-Hoo!  then checked the tire pressure, visually inspected everything and were out the door by 10:45.  Drove 5 blocks to a shopping center to hook up the jeep and have lunch then headed for Tucson, arriving at the park around 2:15 PM local time.  Fortunately we had made a reservation last December for our original spot because we had just realized it is President's day weekend and the campground was full.  So we pulled in, received our passes, drove to the campsite and proceeded to hook up.  We noticed the brand new 40 foot motorhome next door made by the same company as ours when the Claire drove up to it and I asked her who was the "Gator" fan of the family to which she replied, "Both of us" then came over to introduce herself and invited us over for a little tour.  She and her husband, Chuck were long time RV'er's from North Carolina having spent time out here in previous years and were roaming around the southwest for the winter.  They had bird feeders out, drawing the finches and woodpeckers, which made Sraddha real happy. Real nice neighbors, with 2 beautiful Collie dogs, and we hope to see them again.

We wanted to get back to settling in and were hoping all the water lines were ok, which they were along with all things electrical.  Whew! After stowing gear for 2 hours we headed out 3 miles south to replenish a few needed fresh supplies to get us through a couple meals.

Desert flower

The desert is beginning to bloom here and I saw this cool little flower nearby which was only 6 inches high so I  managed to grab my camera with the closeup lens and shoot a few pics of it in the late afternoon light.  If any of the readers can identify it please comment so I can caption the pic.

We prepared some dinner after a little quiet time and were remarking how blessed it is to be here again.

As I am typing I can hear the coyotes howling in the distance, a nightly occurrence.  it is approaching bedtime and the campground is getting real quiet. It will be great to get a good nights rest and enjoy the quiet.

Big trip tomorrow to Southwest and Texas Gulf Coast

Friday morning we depart home for a 2 month trip. Well I will fly home for 2 weeks in the middle of the trip to work.  We hope this journal will be inspiring to you.

As you may recall, we left our motorhome under covered secure storage near Tempe, AZ last December so it wouldn't have to face the "harsh" winter of northern California.  So much for harsh winter.  Nevertheless, it is time to embark on a new adventure!  We load up the Jeep today whilst I have a full day of work and clinic board meeting tonight.  Packing has not been as frenetic as past times because we don't have to pack that much.  Some clothes;  some food like my favorite jam and peanut butter which we cannot get easily on the road;  a few things we have purchased for the motorhome, etc.

We hope to arrive at the storage lot by mid day Saturday, re-connect the batteries, start the motorhome and down to Catalina State Park just north of Tucson before dark.  We are bringing jumper cables in case the batteries have drained out.

After replenishing supplies, checking all systems (and hopefully not having to repair anything major), we will depart Tucson Wednesday March 22 for a 2 day journey into Big Bend National Park which lies on the Rio Grande river that separates Mexico from Texas south of El Paso.

To give you a distance perspective.
Driving distance:

• 950 miles = Ananda Village to Tucson 
• 350 miles = Tucson to El Paso, TX
• 330 miles = El Paso TX to Big Bend National Park
• 570 miles = Big Bend National Park to Port Aransas, Tx (Gulf Coast)

So, what's the big deal?  nothing.  takes us 2 days of easy driving to get to Tucson in jeep because we can drive in the left lane on the freeway.  350 miles in motorhome is 7 hours in the right lane so not too bad if you add a couple more hours in there for stops.  then another day to Big Bend.

After spending a few days in Big Bend Park we will drive down to Texas Gulf Coast, specifically Port Aransas on Mustang Island, which is a barrier island outside Corpus Christi, Texas. See map below.  you might have to click on the minus sign on upper left to zoom out a little to get the perspective.


View Larger Map

I will fly home a few days later to work in office having remotely worked while on the road, then return 2 weeks later to Corpus.  We will spend a few days up on the Bolivar Peninsula north of Galveston, then 2 weeks driving home, arriving mid April.

Our return route will be determined by weather, however our preference would be to drive north up to Amarillo and follow Route 66 westward through New Mexico and northern Arizona.  Will see if weather cooperates.  It didn't last December.  We will be posting regularly to this blog with updates and photos.  stay tuned.

Snow Kayak

late morning after all the snow melted almost all...

Well, at least I think it is.  Maybe there was some snow while we were in Arizona but I don't remember.  Anyway, it snowed overnight.  not much but enough to be white.  I didn't get a good pic early but shot this one around 10 AM this morning while visiting the Expanding Light. 

Yesterday I had installed the racks for the kayaks on the jeep and loaded up one kayak as a test.  So it kinda looked cool with snow on top of kayak.  Would have been neater to launch kayak in snow!!  Ha Ha.

We are now packing for trip. Departure is Friday and full week at office and other activities in the meantime.

Golden Gate Bridge and a new friend

GGB at night from first observation deck

Iconic structure widely recognized around the world.  Probably one of the most photographed of any place except Eiffel tower or Tower of London. (IMHO).



Was reviewing some pics tonight which I shot a couple weeks ago whilst visiting Baghdad by the Bay (San Francisco).

Point Bonita Lighthouse

I had driven out to the Marin Headlands one afternoon when the weather cleared to see the lighthouse and met a fellow photographer, Norman, who also wanted to shoot the Point Bonita lighthouse. However, we discovered our government dollars at work repairing the trail out to the point which prevented us from visiting it.

We struck up a conversation and it turned out he is a professional wedding photographer from the midwest on a little vacation trip on the California coast shoot landscapes, beaches, sunsets, lighthouses, etc for relaxation.

I asked if I could tag along when he shot the sunset over the Golden Gate bridge and he said yes.  What a treat!  Anyway we ended up having a real fun time and met early the next morning out on the same place in the headlands to shoot sunrise.

He sent me some really inspiring pics from his trip and I thought I had better finish some of mine too.

Hopefully we will meet up again next time he is out here on west coast!!