Tues 3-27

The morning started bright and early.  At 6 AM we gave Bob a fond “farewell” and we hit the road to get across Phoenix before the traffic got so heavy.  They have at least 4 lanes across each way but it still gets to be like a slowly moving parking lot.  After an hour drive, we stopped at Cracker Barrel for a hearty breakfast before approaching the RV Dealer.  They pulled the coach out of their lot with the front brace on the “bad slide out”.  This did not do the job.  It was still trying to push out so one of the energetic workers fashioned new bases for both ends of the “slide”  from a 2x4 with pieces of carpeting strapped to each end.

Although the work was not completed we were relieved to be on the road again. (about 9 AM)  Once on the highway, we road about 10 minutes and a red warning light came on and we could smell something burning.  We pulled off the road and pulled out the 1 manual we had.  It didn’t look like anything serious but Tom called back and talked to one of the men in the shop.  It turns out that the coach was just cleaning itself and burning off some carbon.   These things are scary smart.  So, on we went!

We drove through some pretty country. First through the mountains with all their rock formations and Saguaro Cactus; then, we started to climb and climb.  The terrain started to change to pine trees.  The accent culminated in us being 7500 feet above sea level with patches of snow around us in the trees. Phoenix is about 1000 feet and Palm Springs about 85 feet.  We are coming up in the world!

From there we went to the plains and gradually descended about 150 feet toward Albuquerque, NM.  We passed through Holbrook, AZ.   It is a charming town, sort of gold rush look and home of the Wigwam Motel Originally, when built in early 50’s there were seven concrete Wigwam Motels but only three remain and available for overnight stays..

We had to stop and few times and put the back end of the slide back in and re-wedge the board.  It kept popping out.  What a pain but we are at least moving East.  We passed the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert but did not stop since we visited them last year.  We rode on to New Mexico and wanted to stop in at the Acoma Pueblo Sky City (www.acomaskycity.org).  It is he oldest continuously-inhabited community in North America.  We stopped last year and so enjoyed our visit we’d like to go back but it was getting late.  Staying in Albuquerque, NM tonight.  Lexi has enjoyed being on the road again.