Our first stint on the road is a bit of a marathon and nearly all of it is on I-10. We set out to cover 1400 miles; Brazoria TX to Havasu Landing, CA. Original departure was to be March 2 but strong winds from the west threaten exhausting driving and terrible gas mileage. We postpone to the 3rd. After 4 months at the refuge, we are a little rusty breaking camp and packing up so we are pretty happy with our 8:15 AM departure. It is our first time on the road with our new rolling set-up. For now at least, I am driving separately in our new Colorado pick-up. The truck doesn’t fit in the trailer. It is all set-up to tow but we need to pull the trailer to Lake Havasu to have the boat with us so we can’t tow the truck. Stuff inside the trailer is all rearranged too. Here’s hoping it all goes smoothly!
Two hours or so into a planned 7 hour drive we make an equipment stop. Pretty good. A couple tie down adjustments but nothing major. Winds are lighter as forecast but still impacting travel a bit.
Seven hours stretches to nearly 8 as we get caught up in a traffic slow-down brought to us by repaving just past San Antonio, yuck. We roll into camp, Tree Cabin RV in Junction, TX. Just fine for an overnight. It is along the Llano River (actually in the flood plain but no rain predicted) with big rig sites for easy set-up and nestled between some nice hills and bluffs. Dinner in camp and likely to bed early. We have another full travel day tomorrow and Sunday and Monday.
Day 2, we awake to temps in the 30s and a dew point of 17. What a change from the Houston area! Off we go for a full day on I-10 with the only turns being to get on and off of it. Its not feeling real exciting.
Clay colored bluffs rise from broad clay colored valley floors all dotted with scrub brush and splashes of wildflowers and clusters of prickly pear cactus. The back drop is an amazingly clear blue sky. It is beautiful. I forget how much I enjoy this terrain.
Stop for tonight is Van Horn RV in Van Horn. It is not a busy place this time of year. Just a smattering of through travelers just like us. It is quiet and convenient. A cactus wren stops by, a sure sign we are indeed in the desert.
Day 3 – the journey west
We are rolling early to make a 425 mile day, Van Horn to just east of Tucson. I am following again today and get to watch as the trailer pushes against wind gusts and wallows through potholes. 10 is not in great shape but we have no big issues. Mountain crests in the higher mountain ranges are dusted with snow. Stalks of still-dormant ocotillo silhouette against the sky. We watch for prong horn sheep but no sightings so far. We are at the Pima County Fairgrounds RV park tonight. It is moderately busy but quiet.
Day 4 – we arrive
The drive around Phoenix is terrible and goes on seemingly forever, sort of like driving around sprawling Houston. Beyond that it is open desert. Jagged mountains mark the horizon both north and south. Wildflowers are coming into bloom. Brilliant yellow flowers of the brittlebush set on broom-straw-thin stems seem to float in a dome above the grey-green leaves of the plant. The red splash of Indian paintbrush dots the rock-strewn desert floor. I do love the desert in the Spring. We make a quick restocking stop in Parker and top off fuel then cross the Colorado river into California and one last time zone. The Garmin miss-routes Kent a couple miles and I manage one wrong turn; ultimately, we arrive at Havasu Landing RV Park; our home for a month. Lake Havasu City pushes well up the mountain slopes from the shore directly across the lake. We are amazed at how much it has grown since our earlier visits.