Setting up Camp For Real

We're here, safe and sound. Our friends were here to say hello, it is great to be back in AZ.

Along Hwy 60 towards Show Low

I'll have plenty to say later, probably in the morning. Tonight is about getting unpacked and setup in the real camp. No more Camp Hampton for now.

It does feel good to be here. There is a little desert dust to get cleaned up, and it is hot. Very hot. Wonderfully hot. Note: I originally wrote warm, this isn't warm, this is hot.

Total mileage in six days, 2,800 miles. 

Reality check: a long-haul trucker probably does more than 4,000 miles in the same time, and he/she doesn't have someone to help out. Judy and I pretty much split the driving.

Truckers don't stay at Camp Hampton (Hampton Inns). They live in their truck.

Frankly, we have no idea how they do it, week-in and week-out..  

American/ Canadian Truckers keep the system flowing. We really do recognize the contribution these road warriors make to the lifestyle we all currently enjoy. There are a lot of them, and they are a pleasure to share the road with.

Closing in on Mesa - Day Six

So far on this trip we've made just two major turns. Today, we'll make our final turns onto Hwy 25, south to Hwy 60, which will take us to Mesa. Here's the route.

Hard to believe we've come this far (over 2,300 miles) without a GPS. Turn one was Hwy 401 onto I-81. We stayed on that until Knoxville, TN. Right turn at Knoxville onto I-40, and here we are in Albuquerque, NM.

For now, breakfast at Camp Hampton kitchen, and then off we go. More later.