Not Having the Brakes Checked and Catching Up (Chris's Visit)

Friday, February 28, 2020

We were up and moving early to get the last minute things taken care of before pulling out to head into Sierra Vista to have the brakes on the Stinger "B" checked. Our appointment was at 10 o'clock. First though we had coffee.

Some background:  Tom called this place to see if they could look at our brakes, as I mentioned in the last post they have been squeaking and we want to make sure there is nothing major wrong with them before we start moving east and then north. When he called he asked if they worked on motorhomes and explained specifically that we were a Class A 40 foot diesel pusher. The person he spoke to said, yes, they do and set up an appointment for Friday the day we were scheduled to leave here. On Wednesday we took a ride to find the place and when we pulled in we could not see how they were set up to work on a rig our size so Tom went in to talk with them. He mentioned again the size of our rig and was assured they could work on it and told him where to pull it in. So on Friday we did just that. I took off to run a couple of errands and check our route out of there and within thirty minutes Tom was calling to let me know they could not check the brakes. The guy he talked to on Wednesday came out and was totally surprised as to how big we were and the size of our tires. Our mistake was twofold when we saw the place we should have just cancelled but in our defense we wanted the brakes checked. Secondly, we should have asked do you know what size a Class A 40 foot diesel pusher and its tires are because obviously he did not but in our defense he did say they had worked on motorhomes so we thought he knew what he was talking about. We are guessing they have worked on smaller Class C's and was not listening to what Tom was telling him. He did apologize though and that made us feel better. (There may be some sarcasm in the above paragraph...LOL)

On a good note, looking at the bright side, they were able to suggest another place. Though no one was sure of the name they were able to give Tom directions to the general area. At this point we made the decision that Tom would drive the Stinger "B" back here to Quail Ridge  and I would take a ride using the directions they gave him to see if I could find the shop. I was able to locate it, stopped called Tom and we agreed I should just go in and make an appointment.This place is equipped to handle larger rigs and trucks. We will be leaving here very early Monday morning as our appointment is at  8:30AM. So again we will be hoping and keeping our fingers crossed it is nothing major and is an easy fix.

While I was out in search of the shop Tom pulled pack into our site, which was available until Monday morning so that worked out, and by the time I arrived he had everything hooked up and we are settled back in for a couple of days. So this was our saga of not getting the brakes checked out. Fun day!

We spent the afternoon doing nothing, actually we both took a short nap so I guess that would qualify as doing something. Just after 5 o'clock we decided to take a ride back into Sierra Vista to pick up a few groceries.  We also took a ride over to the San Pedro River. My Valentine's Day roses Tom bought me had seen their day but I always hate just throwing them in the garbage so we drove out to the San Pedro River and I tossed them in.

I actually did toss them all into the river and with the current
I could see them moving down river quickly.

As the sun slipped behind the mountains this evening it
glowed a bright golden orange. 

The clouds to the East as the sun was setting.

Now to do some catching up.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

My sister Chris was scheduled to arrive at the Tucson International Airport at 5:00pm so not wanting to be late we left here in plenty of time or so we thought. From here we have the choice of two routes to get to I-10 and we decided to take the scenic one. About 30 minutes down the road from here on that route there is a Border Patrol Check Point and we have always just been waved through. Today they were stopping everyone to inform them that they needed to turn around and find a different route. There had been an accident ahead and the road was blocked to bring in a helicopter to airlift the victim. Our hope would be that they ended up being okay. This is a two lane road so not much room. So by the time we got back to where we started, the park, we had lost our extra hour. Then checking the flight information as luck would have it Chris's flight was coming in fifteen minutes early. So I messaged her what was going on knowing she would get it when she landed. In the end we were only five minutes late for her original arrival time so she did not have to wait to long.

There she is watching the car in front of us take what seemed
like forever to get their passenger and belongings in the vehicle.

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 (Green Valley Market)

Today's "plan" was to go to the Green Valley Farmer's Market. Tom and I had gone last year and their is a lot of "stuff" for sale. Plus, it is a nice ride to and from. Unfortunately for me I had come down with a nasty head cold and did not feel like doing anything. So I suggested the two of them go and enjoy the day, which they did, and I was going back to bed. It was the best plan and by Thursday I was feeling a lot better.

Tom snapped a picture of Chris checking the market out.

Tom caught the last of sunset over the fence.

Thursday, February 20, 2020 (Tombstone)

Today we headed over to Tombstone to check it out and have lunch at Big Nose Kate's. We walked up and down Allen Street just taking in the atmosphere that is Tombstone and Chris checked out most of the shops. There may have been a few dollars spent on her part.

Big Nose Kate's

Before leaving we took a ride up Skyline Drive for the view

and to check out the Linear Garden.

We had found this last year following 

Nancy's, Kissack Adventures, directions.

A new addition to the garden as I do not remember this
from last year.

On our way back to the park caught this picture of the clouds.

Having Chris here is really lots of fun. We enjoy showing her places we have been and enjoyed. More of the fun during her visit in my next post. She mentioned in a message today that we need to take more pictures while she is here and I would agree we do but it seems like we are having to much fun to think about it.

Until next time stay safe and if you are traveling, Safe Travels.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Visiting Friends and a Ride Through Las Cienegas NCA

(Clicking on the pictures should open them up larger.)

Thursday, February 27, 2020

It does not seem possible that in the last post I published  I talked about arriving at Quail Ridge and now today was our last day in this area. Since then my sister arrived and left, all to quickly. Then friends Shirley and Ken, Michelle and Doug arrived, visited, and moved on to new adventures. Plus, Deb and Riley arrived and are parked out in the Las Cienegas Conservation Area. As always I have several catch up posts to write and publish in the next few days but for this post I am in real time.

The Las Cienegas National Conservation Area was designated by congress in 2000 and is approximately 42,000 acres, located in the transitional zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert.

We spent Easter Sunday in 2018 riding through this Conservation Area. Exploring the Empire Ranch and various trails checking out the available camping spots. That was then today's visit was about spending time with Deb and Riley. We sat and chatted about this and that surrounded by the beautiful grassland in sight of the mountains. The sun peeked out occasionally and when it did it brought its warmth but even when it was behind the clouds the temperature was comfortable for sitting out and enjoying our day. All to soon we could see the sun heading down towards the mountains and feel the chill that comes with that movement; it was time to head back home. So with hugs and see you down the roads it was time to leave.  We had a wonderful day, the kind you wish would last just a little longer like a good book, and like one of those old sayings my Dad liked to use, God willing and if the creek don't rise, we will have many more such days. Until then memories are wonderful to have.

The views surrounding them are beautiful.

Pulling up to their site.
They have found a peaceful place in the quiet of the
Las Cienegas Conservation Area.

 With no wind there is a stillness and a quiet that was
only broken by talk and laughter in our small circle.

Maternity Well Group Camping Area

After leaving their home we made the decision to ride through
the area and exit on AZ-82. 

The road is paved for a short distance but soon turns to mostly
 hard packed dirt with lots of holes in the roadway.

The beauty of these grasslands with the sun setting then add 
in the clouds and you are saying what holes???  Well almost.

Deb had mentioned they had seen quite a few piles of what
looked like small trees they had been cutting down and we
could see what she meant as we drove through.

The NCA includes a working cattle ranch and we came
across some of those cattle eating as we drove along.

Cottonwood Pond

One of several washes the road goes through.

The next two pictures are of these grasses.

As the last of the sun's light was leaving our day

we reached the entrance, our exit, to the NCA off of AZ-82

Heading east towards Quail Ridge RV and the Stinger "B" 
we could see some pink afterglow in the clouds.

Darkness quickly descends as we make our way home.

Visiting with friends then a beautiful drive through Las Cienegas National Conservation Area was the perfect way to spend our last day in this area.

This morning we will be taking the Stinger "B" into Sierra Vista to have her brakes looked at. We have been hearing some squeaking and squawking when they are applied. We have a lot of miles ahead of us as we head east towards the Atlantic Ocean then north towards the Great Lakes and home so we have decided to have them checked out. We are hoping, fingers crossed, it is nothing major and by this afternoon we will be again heading East on I-10.  Whatever the day brings it will bring and things like this when you live on wheels is just part of those "home repairs".

Enjoy your day and if you are traveling...Safe Travels.

We are so glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

Pointed East (Two Travel Days)

Saturday, February 15, 2020

So today we reluctantly pointed the nose of the Stinger "B" east. It hardly seems possible that we left Escanaba on October 5th, Michigan on October 7th, and now four months later we are starting the slow trek east. Very, very slowly as we will be in Arizona until the 28th of February but east we are headed. We have thirty-seven days to make it to our destination in South Carolina so it will be a slow journey and we plan on enjoying every mile.

Sitting out and enjoying our coffee while looking

around at the views for the last time.

A closer look through my zoom lens.

I was watching the hummingbirds and by this time Tom was

putting things away around me. 

Just after this picture Tom said, we are ready lets go.

Can I just say this is the least ready we have ever been in the morning on a travel day.  I really wanted to stay one more day but that would have meant close to a seven hour travel day on Sunday. So today's destination was the Holt Shell Station in Gila Bend which was about three hours and the only goal was to get there before dark. So we just took our time and it was close to two o'clock when we pulled out of our spot.

We are really on our way

and

East we are bound.

Waiting in line
to be waved through the Border Patrol Check Point.

Then we are headed through Telegraph Pass

and there are lovely yellow wildflowers
along the side of the road.

It is a pretty ride 

through here

and then the views open up to the mountains in the distance

with the beautiful green fields in the front.

Things have flattened out

and this will be our view 

for most of the ride.

Then off in the distance we can again 

see Saguaros.

Then just before our turn there are fields of green.

Our exit and we are

home for the night. The Holt Shell Station in Gila Bend.

One more picture of my roses.
We had forgotten to exchange cards.
So this picture is mostly for me...LOL

Sunday, February 16, 2020

Up and moving with the sun we again just took our time. Today our destination is the Quail Ridge RV Resort in Huachuca City.

But first the mandatory picture of
 the metal dinosaurs for the grandkids. 

While I walked around and took a few pictures Tom
added diesel to the Stinger "B".

Heading back to I-8 and

as we turn onto the Interstate the views in the distance

are wonderful. 

Then we are driving through the Sonoran Desert National
Monument.  Going through here you look in any direction
and what you see as far as you can see are Saguaros.

There are even a few Ocotillos.
I did not know it when I took this picture but this will
probably be the last Ocotillo I will see that is green.

Driving down the Interstates we see a lot of semi trailers
beautifully painted. Today when this one passed I actually
was holding my camera.
A special tribute!

We stopped a few miles down the road and
this was our breakfast view.

This guy looks like he is waving as we go by.

Then the Saguaros disappear and green fields can be seen

until just before we leave I-8 and merge onto I-10 and
there they are again.

We have merged onto I-10 and are headed towards Tucson.

I do like how they decorate their overpasses.
I think I have taken the bottom left one every time we
have driven through going East.

Driving through Tucson watching and watching
 I still missed the city limits sign.

We are now east of Tucson and the scenery has changed.

The Bee Line Tours passed us...😉

Then we spot our turn.

We are on AZ-90 heading South

and we can see the Huachuca Mountains in the distance.
Looks like snow on the peaks. We could also see the
Tethered Aerostat Radar System floating over the mountains.
It is just a very tiny dot in the picture.

Quite a few motorcycles passed us today.

Turning right onto AZ-82 there it is, Quail Ridge RV Resort
home for the next twelve days.

Having heard this barbecue is delicious we are hoping
to sample some while we are here.

The Stinger "B" is parked and we are ready to enjoy our
time in this park.

Monday, February 17, 2020


I left later in the day and headed over to Sierra Vista to do some grocery shopping the sun set while I was in Walmart but I did stop and catch the afterglow on my way back to Quail Ridge.

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Today we will be picking up my sister, Chris, at the airport in Tucson. She is going to be spending a week with us. One of the main reasons we have stopped here for these twelve days. Something tells me the time will be filled with sightseeing, shopping, talking, and laughing. It will be a  busy time. Now, if you read this blog, you know I do disappear for periods of time and this next week will be one of those times. Until next week we hope everyone continues to have fun and it you are traveling, travel safe.

Take care!

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.