Vacation Pics

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

We recently got back from a vacation to Tucson, AZ. We took the motorhome but had to leave Peanut & CJ home. :( So here are misc. pics we took along the way.

On our second night out, we stayed at a campground just East of Amarillo, TX just off I-40, which used to be Rte 66 and which is the road the Okies took as they headed out of the dust bowl on their way to the land of milk & honey, aka - California. Really nice campground, and I found my new motorhome there!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p1af048a183e319b62dea4cbb76bf12b0/ef141bc3.jpg

But look, it has everything you could need, including water!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p8ff4bf2dc55f3d9fef8fac37ec0abe28/ef141bb3.jpg
This is an actual "Okie" truck, outfitted exactly the way the Okies outfitted it back in the dust bowl days. It was so cool to see the real thing.

After we left Amarillo, we got off the Interstate and took a 4 lane, flat, extremely smooth highway through New Mexico. I LOVE this highway! There was a small little rest area that we stopped at. Here we are taking a break and soaking in the warmth of the desert.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p764c51c5be36258187b5f237d62d126e/ef141ba3.jpg

And here's the motorhome with the desert in the background. Being from the Midwest, desert is something we rarely see and we're fascinated by it.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p01e933fc35ccca585ff6f7417f8d5d92/ef141b91.jpg

And here's a pic of our "rig" complete with car in tow and bicycles on the back. We're ready for va-ca-tion!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/pfe0b9a27859eee2e34d284c7c165e061/ef141b85.jpg

Another night we stayed at another beautiful campground in Picacho, AZ. This is the sunrise the next morning. Arizona does not do Daylight savings time, making them two hours behind us. Therefore, we woke up at 4:00 am and were raring to go by 6:00 am! Thus the sunrise pics.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p1dea85c15ac1cf7bea5c88794f48ea8b/ef141b6c.jpg

More in next post ------------------>

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

We decided to go for a bit of a walk since the morning was so peaceful and beautiful. We're kind of grubbed out here because we went for a walk before we took showers. More fascination with the desert.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/pfcb0d265e54e38c3287f8055b8351046/ef141b5e.jpg

Saguaro cactus. They say they get to 100 years old before they get their first "arm," so this one must be well over 150 years old! (The cactus, guys, not me!)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p1fd1453fe79321b7f239cbee55815df4/ef141b52.jpg

Here's a dead Saguaro cactus. They are protected since they take so long to grow, and you can't just go cut one down or damage one in anyway, which means this one died of "natural causes" somehow.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p3d0fd1ef4103df915f66564be6a4eb2a/ef141b3d.jpg

This one had to be absolutely ANCIENT! Even the arms had arms so those arms had to be 100 years old before they had arms. There were birds living in this one and it was absolutely beautiful!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p419bdbd18cbf0a705d70c67410da4ff5/ef141b1a.jpg

Terry took this on his way back. I believe this is a rest area somewhere in Colorado. The hills/mountains look like a pile of rocks instead of one big rock and it's unusual and neat to see.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p2fb9b008e17a35d936c64c8d39855466/ef141b08.jpg

Here's another pic of the rocks that make up the hill. Just like a pile of rocks!
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p5dbf3502fec9d862e6474b508284db8c/ef141af7.jpg

And finally, this is a sunset at Chatfield State Recreation Area just a little South of Denver.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p93d106a650fb996447cf4f723868a7c2/ef141ae0.jpg

I know most of the pics are of the motorhome :rolleyes: but I hope you enjoyed the scenery. :)

[Logan]

What a great vacation, Debbie!!!!!! :)

Thanks for the pictures! I have never really seen the desert. I would love to, one day.

Logan

[Killearn Kitties]

I certainly did enjoy the scenery! It was fabulous. What a great holiday you had! How many of us do you think you could fit in that motorhome? :D

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I certainly did enjoy the scenery! It was fabulous. What a great holiday you had! How many of us do you think you could fit in that motorhome? :D

Well....as the saying goes....Cocktails for 8, dinner for 4, sleeps 2. ;)

However, what I think would be a TOTAL blast someday would be to get a bunch of us together and travel cross country, stopping at hotels at night for our "guests." It would be kind of like a greyhound bus, but way more fun and way more comfortable at night. ;) :D

[Barbara]

Oh I love the Sonora desert and the saguaros:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid63/pfda0491059c1a7e05a4defa0b03b3bfe/fc08e02a.jpg

Waaahhh! I wanna travel!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kimboe]

Wow, Those are amazing pictures!
Boy, You and your husband are defenitly ready for vacation. :D

[ramanth]

What a gorgeous vacation! I find the Colorado photos even more interesting since I'll be heading to Denver May 19th.

If those are the sunsets I get to look forward too, then I'm psyched!

[Sonia59]

I enjoyed too! :)
What a big motorhome you have (and beautiful too)! Stupid question but...are they all of this size in the US??? For me, this is almost a truck! :D

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I enjoyed too! :)
What a big motorhome you have (and beautiful too)! Stupid question but...are they all of this size in the US??? For me, this is almost a truck! :D

He he, that was exactly my thought too :D . Here a motorhome is only 1/4 th of the size of yours.... :eek: .

Lovely pics of the desert!!

[caseysmom]

We actually have LOTS of different recreational vehicles here, I think that one is the maximum size.

There are pop up trailers, travel trailors, conversion vans, fifth wheels, class a and class c motorhomes. I have been doing my research :D I am in the market for a pop up trailer, I want to start out small and still have the feeling of the great outdoors, my favorite parks are the state campgrounds and they won't allow anything over 27 feet long.

[finn's mom]

Those are awesome! I want a motorhome so badly! That's what mine would look like, too, pulling an suv and with bikes attached. ;) Beautiful pictures, too! Looks like a great time!

[caseysmom]

Those are awesome! I want a motorhome so badly! That's what mine would look like, too, pulling an suv and with bikes attached. ;) Beautiful pictures, too! Looks like a great time!


Me too! I am afraid of anything that big though I plan on working my way up :D

[lizbud]

Great pictures of the desert & your wheels look beautiful. Almost like
taking your "home" with you. :) The Okie truck looks like it's straight out
of the movie Grapes of Wrath. I would love to see the desert up close one
day myself,

[moosmom]

Debbie,

I am definitely jealous!!! What great pictures and such an elegant way of seeing the country. That's definitely the way to travel!!!

[Kfamr]

Great pictures.. love the scenery! The talk of vacation is making me even more psyched about being off work for 2 weeks for OH/MI!!!

[QUOTE=caseysmom] I am in the market for a pop up trailer, QUOTE]


We just purchase a pop-up camper for our Ohio trip. They are really nice!

[finn's mom]

Me too! I am afraid of anything that big though I plan on working my way up :D


I know, I have never driven anything like that! I'd have to learn, for sure!

[caseysmom]

Kay I want to hear everything about it! The only thing holding me back is our neighborhood cc&r's so I will have to store it elsewhere. I went to look at them and it seems like there is more sleeping space in those than in the big motorhomes.

Did you buy new or used? What are you hauling with.....sorry to highjack :D

[Laura's Babies]

Thank you for posting these pictures. I think they were awesome! LOVED them!

I would love to do as the lady behind me and live in one so when a hurricane is headed this way, just disconnect and GO! (But I like my ROOM!)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I enjoyed too! :)
What a big motorhome you have (and beautiful too)! Stupid question but...are they all of this size in the US??? For me, this is almost a truck! :D
:D
No, Sonia, they aren't all this big in the US. We are very fortunate to be able to afford such a luxury. Motorhomes like this in the US can range from 28 feet up to 45 feet, which is what this one is.

We are also 102 inches wide and in Europe I know they are restricted to the metric equivalent of 96" wide. Only 6" difference, but it makes a world of difference in how roomy it feels inside. I also believe in Europe they are restricted to a maximum of 40', but I'm not sure about that one. Think tour bus and you'll have a good idea of how big this one is. ;)

I think the biggness of this is very indicative of American's need for BIG. Seems we need BIG everything - big houses, big cars, big states (Texas), etc. My experience is that Europeans are not used to so much space and so much BIGness, which in my opinion is a good thing because BIG also equates to a lot of waste and I believe Americans in general are a very wasteful society. Ok, ok, enough of my political view.....but really, this motorhome is the exact opposite of everything I strive to believe in, but.....it sure is nice and it sure is fun! ;) :confused: :p :D

Caseysmom - no problem, pop-ups definitely have more sleeping space than motorhomes, and I agree that there are some very nice ones out there, for not a lot of money. I think they have come a long way in the last few years also, adding more and more amenities like refrigerators and port-a-potties. Pop-ups are a great way to get started in camping and I would recommend one to anyone! :D

As for driving this big thing, I told Terry that we have to do this now while he can still drive, because once he gets too old and can't drive, we're going to have to downsize because I'm NOT driving a 45' vehicle! Of course.....I said that about driving a motorcycle and driving fast in a Corvette....and I ended up doing both so yeah, I'll probably end up driving this too....but only on roads like Hwy 70 through New Mexico - 4 lanes, NO traffic, flat and smooth. ;)

[caseysmom]

By the way the movie RV is hysterical even for a non rv'er.

[Edwina's Secretary]

I thought I had a pic of me with a sahauro too! From my college days but I can't find it.

I must hide this thread where Don cannot see it. He is very taken with your fabulous RV and the idea of "[I]See the USA in your...."

You could have come a few 100 more miles to the land of milk and honey you know! :D :D ;) :D

[Edwina's Secretary]

On the road in the Sahuaro National Forest -- 1973.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid57/p3ce9b377dcc01ae1f2265b7d43cf6d59/fc6c1c07.jpg

(Okay...so you can't see any cacti!)

[ramanth]

My parents have a 5th Wheel Trailer. Has a fridge, stove, and bathroom, and sleeps 6 comfortably.

So if you have a pickup truck, a 5th Wheel is something to look into. Larger than a pop up camper but smaller than a motorhome.

[Sonia59]

Debbie, I don't know about the authorized sizes of motorhome in Europe, but the smallest you indicate seems already quite big to me (although I am not sure with the feet and inches) :D :D And yours, indeed, looks like it is a bus size! I understand better that you can bring your kitties without problems to make them comfortably stay in it, it's like a house! :)

I think in Europe you could even not use it, it would not fit in parking places and you could not turn in little villages :D But I guess this is also why you pull your car.

I also undertand what you mean about wasting, you are right, the feeling most of europeans probably have when seeing such bigness is that it is completely... useless. But I also believe that such a motorhome is nice and fun! Wow! :cool:

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Great pictures. Debbie, does this mean all the problems you were having with the motorhome have been solved? :)
Yes! Woooo hoooo!!!!

On our way to Arizona, we had no A/C out of the dash, but I told Terry it wasn't a serious problem because we have 3 air conditioners on the roof! :eek: :rolleyes: Turns out it only needed freon, so that one's fixed. Then in Oklahoma, it was so windy that it ripped one of our awnings away from the motorhome and it was flapping in the wind as we were driving down the road at 65 mph! :eek: Pulled over and secured that (on the side of the road with trucks whizzing by at 70 mph! :eek: ) and got a new one installed when we were in Arizona, so that one is fixed. And that - knock on wood - is the last problem we've had. The rest of the trip out there and the entire trip home was problem free - knock on wood again!

So, yes, it appears all the bugs have been worked out - knock, knock, knock! ;)

Sara, can't see any cacti, and too bad it's not a little closer up shot of you. ;)

Sonia, when we were in Germany, France and Switzerland we were hauled around in a big tour bus. I could NOT believe the tight spaces the driver was able to maneuver us through! I told Terry to watch and take notes. ;) We stayed in a little town in Switzerland called Oberied (sp?) and one day there was a traffic jam because there was a bit of a tight turn in town and there was a bus stuck. Evidently that driver wasn't as good as the driver we had and he wasn't able to negotiate the tight turn with his big bus. :eek: We didn't stick around to see how he got out of it, but I'm sure there were cars that had to back up to give him more room to maneuver. ;)

[Randi]

Debbie, thanks for sharing your vacation pics, they're wonderful! Glad you had a good time! :)

I can't believe how huge your motorhome is - and the cactus. Wow!! I have no idea about sizes for these vehicles in Europe, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are limited.

[caseysmom]

Ramanth...I have looked at fifth wheels, they are very roomy and most have everything you could imagine, I am just afraid of the parking, my hubby doesn't go camping all the time, I would have to learn to back that thing it.

[Vermontcat]

Great photos! :D Aren't vacations fun!
I'm glad to hear that your motorhome is behaving for you now.
So when do you plan a trip to the northeast?
Dare I ask how the gas mileage is on your motorhome?
That is one thing that I hate about driving anywhere is how much gas costs now.

My in-laws have a 5th wheel motorhome that they pull with their big pickup truck.
My father-in-law is so nervous about driving it now that they keep it parked in Florida and only use it a few months of the year.
Casey's mom, the nice thing about RV parks is that you never have to back up, the lots are designed to pull in and pull out of without backing up.

[caseysmom]

Vermontcat...here in california...at least what I have seen the state parks are much prettier than the rv parks...but I haven't gone to lots of rv parks.