Summer 2014 Trip to the Pacific NW and Beyond

 We are not full timers, but we are moving toward longer RV trips - this one planned to be around 3 months. Where we live in Green Valley, AZ, between Tucson and our border with Mexico, we recognize that summer comes early.  Temperatures begin to hover around 100 degrees F during May, so we consider May as summertime, a great time to visit more northern parts of the US.

And, I have discovered planning such a long trip is a fun task, but also a bit time consuming (but each time seems to get easier).  There are so many APPs available now - how did our parents ever travel across country without today's tech support?  I really admire them even more for being willing to pack us into the station wagon and drive down all those 2-lane roads, usually finding a motel and diner using billboards or info from friends.  Lots of good memories of those days, and, I hope, my grandchildren also have memories from their trips with us in the RV. 

Enough reminiscing.  About this trip -- Gary and I, along with Rosie and Willie (our canine "bosses") are ready to hit the road and head west and then north.  We started with a stop in the Phoenix area to visit Gary's son and his family before heading to CA.  Anna, our granddaughter, had her performing premier in her middle school's production of Cinderella.  A good time was had by all.  

Driving along I-8 toward Gila Bend on the way to our stop just west of Phoenix, we enjoyed some last views of the Palo Verde trees in bloom in the desert, along with the saguaro cacti. 

The Sonoran Desert has a unique beauty that I will miss (but not the high temps).

We spent 2 nights at the Phoenix Destiny RV Resort.  This was a large park that is packed during the  "snow bird" winter season, but with lots of room this time of year.  For those who like lots of close shopping locations, and, what we found in their literature, planned social opportunities during the winter season, it must be great.

Heading west on I-10, we had our first experience with Quartzite ( known to many in the RV community).  We decided to head north and get off the interstate, heading to Parker, AZ, and crossing the Colorado River into CA. 

Back roads traveling continued until we reached 29 Palms, CA, for our first major stop - a visit to Joshua Tree National Park. 

We had two reasons to try RVing: keeping our dogs with us for long trips and seeing national parks.  Well, maybe three - my Dad always wanted to take a camper and tour the US and he instilled his wanderlust in me, the youngest daughter.  There just always seems to be something

I've read about that would be fun to visit/experience.  And retirement allows one to have some time to commit.

Anyway, we are a staying at the 29 Palms Resort while visiting the park. 

The resort is a wonderful place for watching sunrises and sunsets, and is close to the NP entrance.  A bonus is that it has the best WiFi of any park where we have stayed.  And so, the long, long road begins.