Leaving New Mexico for Marana, AZ was a little bittersweet; it was nice seeing old friends, meeting new friends, talking with family of friends, and riding the canyon roads; but, I did not enjoy the dry dusty heat or the severe dust storm that we had to endure. I hope to keep in touch and see the owner of Mountain Meadows RV Park but only if the visits are in Florida.

I took the 400 mile drive to A Bar A RV park in Marana, AZ; all went well traveling on I-10W and we pulled in an hour before we were scheduled...AZ does not participate in daylight savings time so I gained an hour. Dan checked us in at the office and we got camp set up quickly. I made my way to the office to introduce myself and ask a few questions about the local parks and area. Annie, the grounds manager was forthcoming with all sorts of (IMPORTANT) information that she did not share with Dan. There are lots to be said about this campground but there will be a separate blog done on the day I leave. One of the most important pieces of information I got was to be aware of the rattlesnakes. The desert is their home and they do come out at twilight and are very difficult to see; they blend well with the leaves and gravel and are hard to see - even with a flashlight. On Dan's flight home, his seatmate from Tucson to Atlanta told him she was staying at one of the upscale resorts in Tucson and every morning the staff had to round up all the rattlers before the guest were allowed in the pool area. Think desert, think rattlesnakes!

After dropping Dan off at TUS at zero dark thirty, I planned to stop at Walmart to buy water, insulated curtain material and a few other staples before heading on north to meet up with a long-time friend, Bobbie. We decided to meet for an early lunch and it was as if the twenty + years that I hadn't seen her had only been a blink. She hadn't changed a bit - still funny and had a better memory than me. I met her husband, Randy (a sweetheart) who entertained me with jokes and stories about Bobbie and then Bobbie sharing tidbits of her days driving the big rigs- all made for a great visit. It was such a nice visit but was sorry that I didn't get to see Patricia before she left for vacation and James had moved Ohio. After reminicing a while, it was time to say, not goodby, but "see you later and we'll talk again soon". They were headed to the lake and I had my sights on hiking Picacho Peak.