Our route from Houston, Texas to Tucson, Arizona was direct and quick. We had managed to escape freezing temperatures thus far and wanted to continue this trend. Our overnight stopovers were chosen based on night time temperature forecasts, hoping to avoid the potential for our water system freezing, as we had not winterized it. We were only hours into our drive when we came upon snow along the roadside, making us recheck weather to ensure the weather had not changed out of our favor. Our first night we stayed in Fort Stockton, Texas with areas of snow and ice in the shady parts of Hilltop RV Park. It was in the mid 30’s that night and when the sun goes down it gets chilly! We made a quick dinner, didn’t even bother to sit down to eat and made a mad dash for the inside of the trailer where we ran the heater and watched a movie. The next morning we headed out with a goal of 500 miles or more, which would put us around Wilcox, Arizona. There is not much for RV parks/ camping in this area unless you head out into the mountains. After passing by a few duds we settled on the Cattlerest RV Park. I would have loved to see this place before the pandemic. It is a small full hookup RV park on the backside of a bar that in more normal times had bands almost nightly and guest reviews were that the music went late into the night making it hard to have an early night.
The next morning we rolled into Tucson and got a spot at our favorite campground, Gilbert Ray, on the outskirts of Saguaro National Park. We paid for the maximum allowable stay, 7 days, and went about checking off our list of things to do. On our way back out to camp on our second day we noticed an obnoxious amount of oil under the Jeep in a parking spot at the store. Was that there when we pulled in? That couldn’t all be from us! Well, upon further investigation it was determined that was from the rear main seal of our beloved Jeep. We knew it had a small leak but hadn’t managed to get it fixed with all the other things this summer gave us. Sad to have more mechanical work done on the Jeep, but happy to have the opportunity to choose a shop in a town large enough to have options, we made an appointment with a shop that came recommended and enjoyed a few more days at our favorite Tucson campground before moving to somewhere without time limits on our stay. In our last few days at Gilbert Ray Campground, our good friend Darcie drove down from Phoenix and we went hiking in Saguaro National Park.
Surrounded by cacti and mountains at Tucson Mountain Park. 
The view from our campsite in Gilbert Ray Campground at Tucson Mountain Park. 
Tall Saguaro in Saguaro National Park. 
Prickley Pear, multiple Cholla and Saguaro cacti can be found throughout Saguaro National Park and nearby. 
Hiking in Saguaro National Park with Darcie. 
The sunsets never get old in southern Arizona.
We settled on Desert Trails RV Park on the outskirts of Tucson. Best decision EVER! They didn’t care that we didn’t have our own bathroom, they have toilets and showers. They were fine to let us be in dry camping for as long as we needed, as that never fills up. We were allowed to receive mail. And best of all the residents and owners are lovely! This RV park is the first one we have been to where people spend quite a bit of time outside. Such a great community option during COVID when social distancing is the new norm. We became the talk of the park, everyone wanting to know about that crazy folding trailer, the loud Jeep and about our travels.
The Jeep was delivered to the shop for the rear main seal. In order to do this work it required the pulling of the transmission, so we had the transmission sent to reputable transmission shop as we were again having problems with our transmission. It wouldn’t go into second gear, would pop out of 3rd and was beginning to make some other concerning noises. These two shops worked great in communicating with each other and when everything was all put back together we paid our bills and brought the Jeep back. Since we were loving Tucson, with such a lovely place to stay and the options for getting things fixed, so we made the decision to stay on a bit longer and get some other tasks taken care of.
We had some beautiful views at Desert Trails RV Park in Tucson.
The weather was forecasting snow and freezing temperatures in the Tucson area, and just about everywhere else for that matter. The one warmer place was Yuma. So, with mechanics appointments made, we packed up the trailer and headed for Yuma for about 5 days. We had never been and were interested to see what it was all about. We had a line on some dispersed camping on BLM land just outside of Yuma so we headed there. It turns out that is where quite a few others go and it was not as private as we prefer, so we opted to change locations to a BLM campground for a few days until it warmed up enough to head back to Tucson. The campground was on the other side of a mountain that the Army uses for a bombing range. Lots of planes could be seen and heard as well as distant “booms” from the artillery practice.
Dispersed camping outside of Yuma. What you can’t see if the camp behind the bushes who ran his generator 12 hours a day. 
We had to use rocks to keep our cards from flying away during our cribbage game. 
A donkey & a blimp meet… LOL! I did not photo shop this. There was a blimp in the distance and I didn’t notice it a first, but made for a funny photo.
Back to Tucson we got back to our list of things to do:
- Air Conditioning in Jeep fixed
- Power Steering Leak fixed
- Bearing service on the trailer
- New cookstove for trailer
- New countertop in kitchen to accommodate new cookstove
- Build new business website
- Order business cards
- New Hiking Shoes
- Fix Air Compressor (under warranty from ARB)
- Build Biltong Box
We did take a break for a week and headed out to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for our 16th wedding anniversary. It is so beautiful there, and quiet. Our Organ Pipe campsite neighbors, Kelley & Debbie, were a couple from California. They had a two door Jeep with them and we went out on a trail together one day. Even during COVID, the buddy system is a good thing to have when out remote. We had a great day driving some remote dirt roads and later they shared some great camping spots with us for the next time we head towards California.
Arizona has some beautiful desert landscapes! This one in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the border with Mexico. 
Organ Pipe Cactus in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 
One of our favorite South African wines to go with steaks cooked on the grill to celebrate our anniversary in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. 
Our Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument camp neighbors joined us for a remote drive beyond the park. 
Using one of our awning walls to provide some extra shade for us and our kitchen.
Back in Tucson, we continued working on our list of things, enjoying blue skies, colorful sunsets and great people. As many of the parks guests begin to pull out and head back to their homes in colder climates, we put our trailer in storage for a week and head to Phoenix to pick up a couple packages and visit with family and friends. By the time we return to Tucson, many had left and, though still enjoyable, it is clear to see that shortly this place would be a ghost town until next year, when the cycle of snow birds begins again.
Delicious food trucks in the RV park! Such a great treat and a fabulous option during COVID. 
San Xavier Catholic Mission Church, completed in 1797. They hold catholic mass every Sunday. 
San Xavier Catholic Mission within the San Xavier Indian Reservation, Tucson 
Ironwood Forest National Monument was a lovely drive. No visitor center or gate. You are also allowed to disperse camp here. 
Crested Saguaro in Ironwood Forest National Monument 
Our RV park neighbors needed to do some maintenance on their trailer. We gladly loaned them our Safe Jack to assist with the chore. We love this Jack system! 
I had no idea there were so many types of Agave. Big, Little, Short, Tall, and Colorful! 
A cactus growing intertwined with a tree at the Desert Museum. 
So many plants we had never seen before. This tree had leaves like a succulent. 
Thank you to our neighbors, Pat & Dennis, for sharing their guest pass with us to visit the Desert Museum. It is an amazing place! 
Don’t be fooled by the fuzzy look, this cactus will get you! 
I wanted to touch it! How on earth could those whispy hairs be anything but soft? 
These were the longest spines we have seen on a cactus. 
New cook stove that is more resistant to blowing out in the wind and our new stainless steel counter for it to set on. 
It is important to keep our home in good shape. Checking our wheel bearings and brakes is part of that. 
This fancy tool pushes the old grease out and new grease into the bearing, making short work and cleaner hands of the task. 
Tucson is surrounded by public spaces. Some friends from the RV park have a Jeep, but don’t take it out too often, so Jared took them on some trails and gave them some offroad driving pointers. 
New growth on a prickley pear cactus. 
Jared leading the way over some rocky uneven terrain. 
Jared’s cousin Jennifer was in Tucson for a weekend. We got to catch up with her over dinner in a lovely outside courtyard. 
Tumacácori Spanish Colonial Jesuit mission dates back to 1691. 
Tumacácori Jesuit mission grave site area and rotunda for the viewing of the dead. 
Cactus blooming! 
Sign along the roadway in Mt. Lemmon. 
45 miles of hairpin turns, 1 hour 15 minutes and over 6,000 feet of elevation we have an amazing views and cooler temperatures! 
Beyond Jared on the rock is Tucson 
A beautiful scenic drive from town out to camp as the sun sets.
As I have mentioned above, we have met so many amazing people here in Tucson and Desert Trails RV Park, some that we will continue to keep in touch with and others that, should we find ourselves in Tucson again, hope to reconnect. But one person in particular I want to tell you about. Patricia “Patch” McCairen. She is probably worth a post all on it’s own. Patricia is wintering in Arizona and happened to be in the dry camping area with us. We would see her on her walks with her Corgi puppy, Mr. Darcy, and chat occasionally. It turns out she has lived a very amazing and adventurous life. She has traveled to all 7 continents, been to more than 20 countries and in 1982, at the age of 42, became the first woman to solo raft the 277 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon unsupported and without portages. Patricia has written a book, Canyon Solitude, that tells her story being the first woman to solo raft the Colorado. It is a beautifully written account of the physical journey and amazing openness about her personal life. Jared and I both found this book a worthwhile read, which does not happen often! Now in her early 80’s she lives on the road, continuing her adventurous life with her Corgi companion, Mr. Darcy. You can buy her book directly from her via this link. Please do not buy it from Amazon, as she does not benefit financially from any Amazon sales of her book.
Patricia “Patch” McCairen, author of Canyon Solitude. 
Patricia’s companion, Mr. Darcy 
Patricia’s book Canyon Solitude
We arrived to Tucson on January 5th, it is now April 18th. Over 100 days!! We would say it has been a good winter!
