THE FIRST STRIDE OF OUR NEXT NEW ADVENTURE!

What a beautiful morning! Although usually not as spectacular as the sunsets, sunrise is something wonderful in the desert. It is fast and in the minutes after that brilliant orb breaks the horizon, the temperature rises quickly; this morning it went up 24 degrees in 30 minutes—from 40f to 64f! In our Penny the Pace, we call it “free heat” because our little home on wheels warms up quickly once the sun is up. Mmmmmmm, the sun feels so good!

After gassing up in Casa Grande in the late morning we headed east last Wednesday, 25 February arriving in Willcox, AZ in the early afternoon. I wish I could report the trip was uneventful (always the preferable ride) but, I can’t. Our Penny the Pace’s engine died coming down that long 5% grade into Benson, AZ for no apparent reason. As usual, Phil stayed calm, immediately put her in neutral, turned off the key then turned it back on and she started right up again. We had been listening to a book on tape but turned that off and the rest of the trip we were tuned into the steady hum of Penny’s engine, which didn’t even hiccup the rest of the trip.

We have no idea what happened but Phil supposes she may have loaded up her carburetor going down that long hill in cruise control. But of course, that is just a guess. We have recorded the incident and even if it does not happen again, will report it to the mechanics when she gets her yearly checkup in a couple months. We want to know what might cause it in order to avoid it happening again. Do my mechanically inclined readers have any ideas? Please feel free to comment.

The Willcox Elk’s Lodge #2131 on Stewart Street—with a very nice RV park will be our home base for a week and such a deal! There are 28 spaces with water and electric, clean wide pull-thrus and a dump for just a $10 per night donation. At an elevation of 4,167 feet it is also “big sky country” to borrow the phrase from Montana and we are enjoying the quiet here except for the usual Union Pacific tracks just a couple blocks away. There are at least 10 to 15 freight trains a day going east and west and it is interesting how quickly we got used to that sound.

A panorama of the Dos Cabezas Mountains enhances the view through our front window with only a few fellow RVers pulling in overnight disturbing the peace. We do have some wind every day but that seems to be the norm for the desert. Sad to say, due to the shaky economy here, Willcox does suffer from a lack of variety where restaurants are concerned. So far, our meals out have been unremarkable and many businesses have been closed. Overall, it is a friendly, small town struggling to stay solvent since Interstate 10 bypassed town a few years ago. We like it here and wish them luck.

Until next time ...