My last day of work at Oro Valley Hospital was Tuesday. I had worked there for 6 years. I was part of the team that opened the hospital, working out of trailers in the fields behind the hospital. It was a great experience, but like most everything in life, there were many changes, not all good. A great opportunity came my way at another hospital in town, Tucson Medical Center.
I begin my new job August 16th, so I am going to relax a bit before then.
This morning, me, Ken and Justen left for Ponderosa Campground, just a few miles east of Payson. It’s a beautiful pine tree filled park. We took the girls there last year about this time. They loved it….that makes me miss them so much just talking about it.
We slept in, relaxed on the front porch drinking our coffee, took showers, finished packing the RV and left. We had to stop and get gas and at Wal-Mart for some kind of adapter. We grabbed some egg mcmuffins and juice and left.
We headed up Route 77/79, then cut off towards Florence, took 60 west to 87 north. It is a beautiful drive past the Salt River, Saguaro Lake and through the desert. The desert is very green right now just from the little bit of monsoons we have had.
We have the IPod shuffle on and Justen has his headphones on listening to his music. It’s supposed to be in the low to mid 80s during the day and low 60s at night. That will be so nice. It was 110 when we drove through Apache Junction and Mesa.
I’m looking at the puffy clouds trying to see things in them. It seems like I always see a dog, usually a poodle. I see one that looks like a baby lying on its back, kicking its legs.
We are driving through the small town of Rye and I see a sign: Pete’s Place Topless Cabaret…..strange.
‘Brown Eyed Girl’ by Van Morrison is playing. For the rest of my life, every time I hear this song, I think of Lacey Peterson, murdered by her husband Scott when she was pregnant with their son Conner. This was her favorite song.
We arrived in Payson around 2 PM. We set up camp, I fixed sandwiches and we basically relaxed…read our books.
I discovered I had forgotten a few things,,,,garbage bags, mayo and Ken had to return a fuel filter he had picked up…they gave him the wrong one so we drove into Payson about a 15 minute drive.
When we returned to camp Justen was still reading his book, a Harlan Coban novel.
For dinner we grilled corn on the cob and pork tenderloin; brownies and ice cream for dessert. It was still warm, in the 80’s and 84 inside the RV, so we turned on the generator to use the air conditioner to cool it down a bit. When we went to bed, we turned the generator off and opened the windows. During the night it got really cool…...61 degrees and had to put a blanket on.
Friday, August 6th
I’m not sure what time Ken got up, but I woke up about 7:45. Justen was just waking up too. We had coffee, bacon and eggs with green chili peppers and Swiss cheese. It’s going to be a lazy day. We took showers, cleaned up and read books. We bought these great lounge chairs that lean way back and lift and support your legs.
We came back to camp and it is 86 in the RV, and we are sweating so we turn on the air. I know, I know, this is not really camping but the fact is I don’t like “real” camping where you have to be uncomfortable, sweating with bugs flying around your sweaty face, flies biting you, pretending like you are having fun. I like the comfort of the RV, surrounded by beautiful nature. When it cools down this evening, I will go back outside, but for now, I think I’ll read my book “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafon; maybe take a nap.
We had grilled salmon, asparagus and rice for dinner. After dinner Ken and I sat outside by the fire and it started to rain. We started the generator to turn on the air again so it will be cool for sleeping. The generator went off after a few minutes. Ken initially thought the rain may have shorted something out. After he looked at it, he realized it had ran out of gas. He asked Justen to help him put some gas in it. It was dark, raining and the generator was sitting in a weedy area. After a few minutes, Justen came back in complaining that some ants had attached him, bugs had bit him; he said it was awful. I was laughing. He absolutely hates camping. He said he does not understand camping. He said way back in the 1400s man realized he needed shelter and now in modern times man subjects himself to camping. There were more bugs after the rain, I have to admit.
We also thought it was going to be a lot cooler here. Last year we were here in August and we were wearing jackets. No so much this year.
We read for a little and then went to bed. I had a little trouble falling asleep as I felt kind of ‘buggy’ too.
Saturday, August 7th
Ken woke us up around 8 am. It’s cloudy today, looks like rain. We drank coffee by the fire and it started to drizzle. We decided to pack up and go home today instead of tomorrow. Probably a good decision because it has continued to lightly rain.
We took our time loading up and stopped at ‘Tiny’s’ in Payson. It was just OK. Justen and I had Denver omelets and Ken had a burger and fries. Justen is going through sports withdrawal, so we are listening to ESPN sports on the radio on the drive home.
I’m stretched out in the back seat; I’m going to read my book.
Just as we get to Bush Highway, the truck starts to rattle a bit. Ken pulls over and we have blown a tire on the RV. Now Ken and Justen are changing the tire. It’s probably about 100 degrees out there.
Back on the road in no time.
We got home, unpacked the RV and watched some baseball. Since we didn't make any s'mores, Ken turned on the grill and we had s'mores for dinner. :)
