Great Weather and a Long Haul to Tucson

Location: Pima County Fairgrounds (El. 3,100 ft); Tucson, Arizona

(click pictures to enlarge)

I left El Paso early this morning with the intention of stopping a couple hundred miles down the road. I had even called ahead to make sure there was room in a campground in the little town of Bowie, Arizona. My plan was to stay only one night before moving on to Tucson. About 50 miles down I-10 I got into the open flat land of New Mexico and started seeing warning signs about dust storms. I had heard they could come up on short notice and could be blinding. As I got closer to Bowie, I started having thoughts about continuing on to Tucson even though it would make for a 300+ mile tow. The weather was great in the low 70's with NO wind. I figured I should get across this dust storm area of southern New Mexico and parts of Arizona while the getting was good. Freedom was having an easy go of it in the flatlands although she had to pull a long 8% grade across the Franklin Mountains north of El Paso. So, after filling up with fuel, and 60's/70's music blaring on the radio, we hammered down towards Tucson. I'm glad we did, it was a long haul but glad to be here. 

The plan is to get batteries here as well as exploring the area. I was planning to stay about 5 days but they told me I could stay 7 for the price of 5 so 7 it is. The campground is at the fairgrounds and is barebones. I have 30 amp service, water and sewer in a parking lot setting. It is about 15 miles south of Tucson so it is close enough for me. I'm satisfied. I forgot to get a picture, so that will have to wait for another post. 

I will also use the time here to do a little planning as to what things I want to see along my route this year. The general plan is still to head towards Crater Lake in Oregon then hang a right turn towards South Dakota then drop back down to New Mexico in the fall then over to Louisiana for Thanksgiving. Remember, that is all a general route only. If ya'll have any suggestions on things to see along the way, please let me know. 

Those are the Franklin Mountains north of El Paso. There is a long 8% grade up one side then down the other. I went this way to avoid construction traffic on I-10 through El Paso. 

Now this is a welcome sign. It is the best I've seen from any of the states so far.

Typical landscape for southern New Mexico and Arizona

One of the many warning signs about dust storms

Kind of a let down after the big overhead welcome sign for New Mexico

This is the rest area about 20 miles south of Tuscon. It was a 2 rest area and 1 fuel stop haul today. The rocks were unusual and only occurred around this rest area.

This is the same rest area. I included the picture here because I liked the glare made by the sun on the upper left. I didn't notice it until I downloaded the pictures to the laptop.

Ya'll take care of each other. I'll Cya down the road.