OKLAHOMA-TEXAS: WE’RE OFF!

(Click on Pics to enlarge)

Sunday, May 31, we get going at 9:45 and traffic is surprisingly heavy for a Sunday a.m.  Took 60 east and eventually merged with I-10, working our way through ugly desert to Parker, AZ.  First sight of the Colorado River is startling as it is so blue and clear looking.  Went north a bit towards Havasu City, following the river with Cottonwoods and numerous parks and rv parks.  AZ has invested heavily in this area.  We stopped at Buckskin Mountain State Park and snagged a spot right across the path from the river.  This is a very nice park, $20/night for E&W, but this area of the river is very heavy on the power boats and jet skis, and the roaring engines are a pain.  95 degrees on arrival, but the AC worked and cooled us right down.  Used the new Progressive Industries power monitor for the first time and got a reading at first of 117v, which dropped to 112v very quickly and stayed there.  Put black tape over the readout so it wouldn’t attract a thief in the night, then chained and locked the sucker.  Scrumptious salmon with sticky rice & green beans for dinner.  Total yum.

Monday, June 1.  6:30, out the door and “power walk” for 40 minutes, then over to the very clean showers, breakfast, and off at 8:30.  Getting better.  Headed southeast to the I-10, which is the only way to continue east, and played with the trucks all the way to Phoenix.  Used Gertrude to guide us through the city and she did so without a hitch.  Picked up US 60 at the SE side of the city, motored uphill to Globe through moderately interesting terrain. At Superior, we fell for a “tourist rest stop” sign (thought we’d stop for lunch), and instead got a detour through the town which was totally depressing, with 75% of the shops boarded up.  No rest area, and the scenery was not conducive to the old appetite.  Kept going on 60 and found ourselves winding through the Salt River Canyon.  this is more like it.  Sheer walls, a nifty bridge, switchback roads --- IOW, rv heaven. 

We’d descend 3,000 fit, then climb right back up again.  Spotted a fire just starting on the opposite ridge (across the river) which a lone helo with water bucket was trying to douse.  Not a chance.  With the winds, this sucker was growing fast as we passed out of view.  At least it was in the middle of nowhere.  We arrived at ShowLow (somebody’s winning hand back in the 1800’s was a deuce of clubs) which is at 6300 feet and blessedly cool.  We found the Fool’s Hollow Lake Recreation area, which is a very nice joint state-fed park built about 10 years ago.  Very very nice, with huge spaces, tall pines, a small lake, and hot showers.  Spent a very nice night under light blanket.  We finally feel we’re on our trip.

Tuesday, June 2.  Cool temps call for oatmeal & coffee, so we indulged and skipped the morning walk.  BAD campers.  We vowed to make it up this evening, but . . . Decided to go on SR260 loop instead of US60, and it was an excellent choice.  Beautiful alpine mountain drive through pine and aspen forests, small lakes, long-distance views, high plateaus.  big oohs and ahs all the way.  We rejoined US60 at Eagar and gradually descended through rolling plains.  OK, it was 50 mile views of nothing.  We are headed for the deliciously named Pie Town. Our “Great Road Trips USA” lauded the rejuvenation of the town’s pie history by a new bakeress who opened the “Pie-O-Neer” cafe.  As luck would have it, or my luck at any rate, they are closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Augh!  The only other place in town (it stretches for all of one sparse block) also advertised their pie-centric menu, so we gave it a try.  Two tiny BLT’s, water, and 2 pie-a-la-modes later, tax and tip, and we were down $30 and thinking Mrs. Smith’s has nothing to worry about.  Her pies are alive and well in Pie Town.  This is why we eat in the rig! 

Next stop was the Very Large Array Telescope, which stretches across 20+ miles of desert.  We had to turn off 60 and go 4 miles to the Array center.  Gertrude had fits, getting lost and trying to get us to turn into the desert, and once insisted we immediately turn onto the railroad tracks we were crossing.  Shut her off before she kills us.  The Array was interesting, with nice displays in the center, and a walking path out to one of the dishes.  There are 27 of them, situated in a big Y shape, with nine to each leg.   They sit on railroad tracks so they can be moved for narrow or wide sky vision.  It was a worthwhile visit as it was on our way, but I wouldn’t make much of a detour to see it.  The day was getting late, so we decided to stay in Socorro NM for the night.  There are no nearby state parks, so we opted for Casey’s RV park, a gravel lot with wispy trees and dodgy neighbors. No walking tonight.  Baths out of order, but they did have good wifi, so we got caught up on emails all evening.