8. FROM NORTHERN ARIZONA TO NEW MEXICO

Overnights in

Arizona	New Mexico

Day 18: Tuesday, March 28

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The weather symbols say it all - rain in the morning, cloudy most of midday, and sunshine for the run from Mesa to Tucson.

Last night worked on the journal and my e-mail until midnight, planning to use the modem port of the pay phone to upload in the morning. But it wasn't to be - pouring rain when I was ready to roll, and the pay phone is outdoors, without a means of sheltering the laptop from the rain.

After a great shower with unlimited hot water, delayed my departure until 9:15 AM, hoping the rain would let up so I could use the phone. No luck. Took AZ-260/87, but skipped the planned visits to Fort Verde State Historic Park and the Montezuma Castle National Monument. No fun to sightseeing in the rain.

I suspect that AZ-260 is a very scenic road, rising from Camp Verde at 3,300' to 7,300' a few miles north of Strawberry. The temperature dropped from the mid-fifties to 37F at the summit. At times I was driving through the clouds, occasionally would get brief glimpses of tall mountains. But certainly did not get any vistas to enjoy.

AZ-260 merges into AZ-87, a good road most of the way with scenic stretches. Jumped off on Bush Road and then Usery Pass Road/Ellsworth Road shortly before reaching Phoenix - also a very scenic stretch.

Stayed on Ellsworth all the way to Apache Junction, avoiding the Phoenix traffic. Got on the Superstition Freeway which soon turns into US-60. Hopped off at Florence Junction and took scenic AZ-79, the Pinal Pioneer Parkway to Oro Valley and the Catalina State Park.

Situated at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the park is very popular and usually fills up quite early in the day. I got there at 2 PM and could not get one of the non-hookup sites ($10) but had to take one of the high-priced water & electric sites at $15. The bathhouse looks very neat and clean.

Drove 240 miles today, was on the road for 5 hours. The night's low temp was 50F but it had already risen to 53F when I got underway, 85F when I got to Catalina State Park, and 60F after sunset. Bought gasoline near Catalina for $1.549/gal and averaged 17.4 mpg on the last tank. Have excellent TV reception and prepared a cheeseburger for dinner - preceeded by snacks and followed by strawberries.

Day 19: Wednesday, March 29

Went to bed at 10:30 PM last night and slept well until 4:30 AM. Outside temperature was 39F - turned up the thermostat and slept for 2 more hours. Then a very good shower in the excellent bathhouse. By the time I got on the road, it was 9:00 AM and 57F under a beautifully sunny sky.

On my way into Tucson saw a Kinko's (at 4343 North Oracle.) Pulled in and requested a phone line. Spent half an hour trying to get through to Prodigy on their 800 number, then another half hour uploading additions to the journal, receiving, and sending mail. Now, here comes the good part - Kinko's did not to accept payment! So, if you are in the Tucson area and need office support, please use them. Phone (520) 690-9585. Great people.

Drove through Tucson and picked up I-10 for about 90 miles. Some scenic views, espcially the Texas Canyon. Then took the Dragoon Road exit (initially very scenic) and then US-191 south and AZ-181 east to the Chiricahua National Monument. The park road (Bonita Canyon Drive) climbs about 3,000' on its 8 mile length, mostly through oak-juniper and pine forests. It ends at the mountain's crest - Massai Point. Got to see some spectacular rock formations.

Had wanted to explore two roads through the Chiricahua Mountains - Piney Canyon Road and the road to Bowie through the Apache Pass. Somehow missed them both - so now I have reasons for coming back to this very beautiful part of Arizona.

Instead ended up back on I-10 at Willcox and stayed on the interstate into New Mexico. Took a local road to Cotton City and then NM-9 to Animas. Shortly after passing through that little town crossed the Continental Divide at 4,520'. Went on to Hachita, Hermanas, and Columbus. If you have read my 1999-1 journal, you'll know that I much favor this pleasant and scenic alternative to I-10.

In Columbus is the Pancho Villa State Park. I had stayed there a year ago and liked the pleasant desert setting and superclean bathhouse. $10 got me a good and level site with water, picnic table, and grill. The electric sites are $14.

Spent the evening cleaning the inside of the van, on the phone with my wife, grilling a couple of hot dogs, eating strawberries, reading/answering e-mail, editing photos, and writing this section of the journal. It's pleasant outside, 68F, and I enjoy the brilliant night sky.

Drove 365 miles today, was on the road for 7 1/2 hours.

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