This morning after Joyce did her walk we hooked up the car and headed up to the Davis-Monthan AFB FamCamp. The drive up was really easy until we got into the Tucson traffic making maneuvering a tad challenging. Sometimes you just have to be pushy to get the job done.
This is probably the largest RV park in the military system and for sure one of the best managed. When they built this park I’m sure they consulted an RV’er because all of the power, water and sewer connections are in the right place and all of the sites are very level. The park’s WiFi is the best we have seen anywhere and at $22 a day this park is a bargain. They get very busy here starting in November with folks staying the whole winter. They don’t take reservations so some snowbirds are already arriving to get their pick of parking sites.
October 24, 2017
After Joyce did her walk we finally left the base and drove over to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. Next stop was at Costco to pick up a few things and then it was back to the house for the rest of the day. We did look at things we want to see while we are here and hope to get started on them in the next few days.
October 28, 2017
Last Wednesday we went to see the movie Only The Brave that was about the Granite Mountain Hotshots crew that perished while fighting the Yarnell Hill fire near Yarnell, Arizona in June 2013. This movie is very intense with some of the best cinematography we have ever seen. Highly recommend you see this film.
We saw the film at the Roadhouse Cinema a very upscale theater here in Tucson. The theater isn’t just a place to enjoy a movie but you can have a drink at their full bar and order more food than just popcorn or a hot dog. When you are seated in your huge recliner a waiter will come around and ask if you need anything. Also, there is a button at your seat that you can use to summon your server at any time. It’s a little more expensive (unless you go on a discount day) to see a movie there but we can testify the experience is worth it.
Yesterday we went back to see the new film Thank You For Your Service at the Roadhouse. This film is about the Post-dramatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) suffered by five soldiers after their service in Iraq. Joyce and I both thought the film was very “dark” and disturbing but hopefully it brings awareness to the plight of our military folks suffering from PTSD.
After the movie and making a quick stop at Chick-Fill-A for some lunch we took the Mt. Lemmon Scenic Byway drive. The tour starts in north east Tucson and winds up the 8000 plus mountain for over twenty miles. You begin the trip in the desert and at the top your in pines. The rock formations are amazing.
October 31, 2017
Last evening we had drinks and a quick supper with Ben and Caroline Reed along with Ben’s mother-in-law at the sports pub here on Davis-Monthan. I flew with Ben on C-141’s back in the day with the 7th Military Airlift Squadron. Ben went on to transfer to the Reserves at Travis flying the C-141 then the KC-10. He has recently retired from United Airlines where he was a mechanic for thirty-two years.
Ben and Caroline have recently bought a new home here in Tucson and are in the process of moving down here from San Ramon, CA where they just sold their home. Joyce and I are going to go over and see their place today.
November 3, 2017
On Monday morning we left Davis-Monthan and after a quick stop for some fuel we headed up to the Rancho Sonora Inn and RV Park in Florence, AZ. After getting set up in our site we then went next door to the Desert Gardens RV Park where our friends Ed and Cindy Kopic have a RV lot.
Ed and Cindy bought their lot last year and now are planning on putting a park model on it next year. If you don’t know anything about park model RV read about them here: https://www.parkmodelsdirect.com/ph/. They plan to add an Arizona Room onto the one they buy which will give them more living space.
Yesterday we loaded up in Ed and Cindy’s truck and headed out to Casa Grande for lunch and to do some shopping. After getting a bite to eat at the Firehouse Subs we decided to go out to check out the RV park Joyce and I have planned to spend December.
Well, that didn’t work out so well. Last month Ed and Cindy had a new transmission put in their truck and have had it out of the shop for just two weeks. After getting off I-8 and turning onto Highway 84 the truck started acting funny. He pulled over and tried to shift the transmission and nothing happened. We got out and found fluid all over the bottom of the truck.
We did get to drive by the Wild West Ranch & RV Park where we were going to spend the month of December. There are several dairy farms and feed lots in the area and the smell was pretty bad. We decided to stay at here in Florence so I cancelled our reservation at Wild West. To the park’s credit they did refund out $100 deposit.
It just so happened that where we pulled over was in from to a home and the owners, Larry and Linda Venteichar were out working in their cactus garden. Cindy walked over to tell them what happened and Linda invited Joyce and her up to the house to get something cold to drink and to use their bathroom. Ed called his roadside assistance company to get a tow truck headed our way then Enterprise Rental Car to arrange a rental car. Larry then said for us to come up to the house for a cold beer while we waited. What a nice couple.
When we left Tucson we had a issue coming the living room slide. Three years ago we had the same problem and it turned out to be weak batteries and we’re now having the same problem. So yesterday Ed and I did a little troubleshooting. We hooked my battery power pack to the coaches battery bank and tried the slide which came in without a problem. Time to replace the batteries.
November 5, 2017
Yesterday morning Ed and I drove out to the Municipal Airport in Coolidge, AZ to check out their monthly Flyin. This event happens the first Saturday of each month and is a pretty big deal around these parts.
After getting a really good breakfast from the Lions Club we walked around checking out all of the airplanes and talking to a lot of the owners. Ed and I will definitely go back next month.
Had a chance to the builder of this one. He said that once the airplane is trimmed it's pretty much hands off flying.
Ed checking out the graphics.
This guy has 1/2 of a VW motor. The builder said he can do about 45 MPH and it's a blast to fly it.
There were several nicely restored Bonanza's there.
Later in the day Ed, Cindy, Joyce and I went into Florence for a car show that was being held in one of the mobile home communities. There wasn’t a lot of cars or motorcycles there but we did see some good ones.
For Jim Glaspey.
More next time.
Barry & Joyce
