November 28, 2012

Joshua Tree National Park

We were a little warmer last night because we topped the bedspread with a down comforter instead of the light blanket we had the previous night.   But between Monte sneezing from an allergy attack and the coyotes howling right outside our door I still didn’t sleep well.

Unlike yesterday when we slept until 8am and lost an hour of generator time, this morning we lay in bed waiting for the morning usage hours to begin. At soon as the clock hands hit 7am, Monte braved the cold outside (it was actually warmer outside than in the rig) and turned on the generator. (Monte noticed there were paw prints near out picnic table so the coyotes had been right outside)  Instead of using the fireplace to heat up the rig we turned on the furnace (that runs on propane) and we were toasty warm in no time. 

We booked a place in Apache Junction for the months of December and January so that is the direction we will be heading to today.  But there are three more days before we are due to arrive there so we have to decide where to stay until then.  We tossed around a couple of options.  The RV Park we will be staying at is approximately 280 miles from our current location.   I checked out places that accept Passport America and found one in Blythe, CA that is only a little over 80 miles from Joshua Tree NP but that would mean the next leg of the journey would be 200 miles.  I found a place in Tonopah, AZ that is almost 200 miles.  We are leaning towards traveling the further distance today and staying until December 1^st so that we will have only 80 miles to travel on Saturday.  

After stopping for lunch, I received a call from the manager of the RV Park we will be staying at in Apache Junction offering us an upgrade of a larger site at no additional cost.  She said we could decide when we arrived which site we wanted.  When I told her we were already in Arizona she offered for us to come today but we wouldn’t have to start paying rent until the 1^st.  Of course we accepted so it meant driving an additional 80 miles.  We hit some traffic on I10 passing Phoenix but still made it to the park at a little after 4. 

Monte pulled over to the side near the entrance and got into my car.  We followed the sign for the on-site manager and introduced ourselves to Betty.  She told us to hop in her golf cart and took us to the two sites.  The original site we were assigned was along a back wall and would be very private but was small and would be a real challenge to back into.  There was a small patio area but I would have to park my car there eliminating an area to put a table and some chairs.  The other site was near the entrance so we might be affected by traffic noise but it was large enough for the truck, my car and had a large patio area.  The sites are gravel and the roadway in the park is paved. 

 

After we decided on the larger site Betty drove us back to where my car was parked.  She said there was a slight problem in that the electric wasn’t working at the site but she already had a call in for an electrician. 

She also informed us there was a spaghetti dinner planned for the following night.   It was quite a challenge backing into the site because the road is very narrow but Monte did it like an old pro.  It didn’t take long for some of the residents to stop by and introduce themselves.  The guys said they were sorry they missed the show.  When Monte asked what show they said the show of him backing in. 

I don’t know what the issue had been about the electric but when Monte plugged in we had power.  So I called Betty to let her know so she could cancel the electrician.  We set up pretty quickly and by 6:30 were eating dinner and watching TV. 

I think we are going to be very happy here for the next couple of months.