P.S.: Do not read any Facebook van users groups for anything. They will convince you that you won't make it out of the yard without the transmission blowing up, or squirrels eating all the wires, or aliens inhabiting your fuel tank.
I stopped in Tombstone to fill up the tank since for some reason gas is cheaper there than either Bisbee or Tucson ($3.79). Since it’s been awhile I got confused when it only took 2.5 gallons. Being an engineer I came up with an elaborate but logical experiment as to why I could only get 2.5 gallons in the tank. After trying a second pump and verifying there were no aliens in the gas tank fill hole, I realized I was looking at the temperature gauge and not the gas gauge. Worse than that, I am writing this blog entry to tell you all how stupid I am. Engineers...
Then a quick stop at Micky D’s for coffee, oj, and breakfast sandwiches (official road food), then up on Rt 10 through Tucson and a turn onto Rt 8. We stopped at Dateland for a delicious date shake (Deb) and some ice cream (me). All highway, not too much traffic, no slowdowns, new playlists, and even a podcast. It hit 107 degrees as we pulled into Yuma and you don’t notice it because of those engineers that invented air conditioning, until you open the door.
We found the motel, La Fuente Inn and Suites, that was recommended by our good friends Dan and Lindsay, and their rec was spot on. And the bonus was that it's Dove Hunt weekend!! OK what the hell is dove hunt weekend? Well, you drive every year to Yuma with all of your buddies and a truck load of shotguns, and you party and shoot doves. I grew up hunting so I completely understand the hunting tradition and during a particularly poor (aka hungry) stretch back in the late 70’s, I got through a winter eating pigeons, and doves are first cousins, so it was kind of nostalgic for me. We hit the pool, which was maybe only 80 or 90 degree water, but a hell of a lot cooler than the air. We chatted up a retired man and his girlfriend who were in town for the hunt and got all the details. Like my deer camp years when I was young, they were having a good time bonding with family and friends.
When we checked in we were given two tickets for free drinks at the 5-7 happy hour, which we cashed in, along with free nachos. My free Manhattan was pretty much free of anything but booze, so a good little unintended buzz. Then off to dinner (Deb drove) to River City Grill (another Koehler/Ringers Yuma must do) which was only 3 miles away. Small place but packed and very delicious. Back to the room (lots of grilling and pool action tonight, not by us) and off to bed.
Tomorrow we go to Tijuana to stay with Jake & Nath for a few days. We'll park on the US side and walk across.
Have to get some sleep because the hotel hunter breakfast starts at 3am!!
