Salt Lake to Surprise, Arizona

We left Salt Lake and headed south. Our preferred route was east across Wyoming but the forecast was for snow and so we took the long route, planning on crossing the Rockies on Interstate 40 and then east and south to Florida.

So the first day we drove all the way to Mesquite, Nevada and even stayed in a casino rv lot. We even ate in the restaurant and then Renita gambled three dollars of her mad money. I am saving my money and so I couldn’t bring myself to spend a dime fighting the casinos odds.

The next day we drove to Vegas and then turned south on ninety three before connecting with Interstate 40 in the town of Kingman. The drive was the first time we have crossed the Colorado River below Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. We took it easy and the truck didn’t overheat and so we felt good as there are some substantial hills.

Checking into a rv park, east of town, the owner told us to stay away from the Balloon Festival and so we decided to head further south to Surprise and drop in on friends around Phoenix. Again the drive was hot and hilly as we climbed up to the intermountain plateau, before dropping down to the Valley, Phoenix that is.

Again the truck behaved itself and the engine stayed cool, not even using any fluid. Perhaps its as it should be but time will tell as we still have 2200 miles till we reach St Petersburg. Checking into Sunflower Rv park we were disappointed to learn the lapidary shop wasn’t yet open, but we did get in touch with our friends Alan and Sharon and Paul and Mary.

So I am thawing some salmon and getting ready for show and tell and of couse listening to stories of Alan and Sharons summer travels. We are also ready to swap Alaska bear stories with Paul and Mary as they have gone to Alaska for the past ten years and were there again this summer.

Oh and of course we stockpiled wine and supplies at Trader Joes. It still amazes me how cheap things are here in the lower forty eight. I do feel sorry for the people here who have to put up with all the campaign commercials. We have already voted at our new Wyoming address. Clear skies