02-02-11 Apache Junction to Tombstone

02-02-11
226.8 miles
Apache Junction to Tombstone
I leave Superstition Mountains Campground for Tuscon. But before leaving I stop by my new friend Ron Arendt’s trailer to do the interview I’d asked for.
His dad answers and apparently knows about me. They offer me some breakfast but I decline saying I’d already eaten. They are kind and gracious. I talk for a good time with Ron and get some additional insights I’d not heard from our earlier conversations. Ron is, under his circumstances of having MS, a remarkable positive, life affirming guy. His statement “I had a good life before, and I’m going to have a good life now” sticks with me. He’s got his head on straight. If only more people could master his perspective it would be a kinder more appreciative world.
We finish and I wish them both well and hope they will follow my journey and stay in touch. Who knows what will happen. We meet people for a moment and they may stay friends for life or become just a fond remembrance of that moment in time
I drive south . Well, West initially, Getting out the Metropolitan area know as Phoenix can take hours (at least it seemed like it). Finally I’m heading south and the driving varies between major highway and divided two-lanes where the top speed is is sequestered to 65...if you’re lucky.
I am looking for turnoffs to a certain campsite but have been told of two others that might be more readily accessable from the highway. The first one is easy to see from the road and is about 5 miles before Tuscon. I think about it, but there is an angry grey cloud formation too close to this place and the temperature is dipping and it’s only about 2pm. I drive south. I’m passing by the part of Town where Gabriel Giffords was shot back in January just before I took off on this trip. I thought about driving by the shopping center for the historical perspective of it, but it just seemed too “Ghoulish” of a thing to do, so I drove on. I saw the cloud formation lowering over all of Tuscon proper and decided to head to the last campsite that was just southeast of the city. I get there and am happy to see the wispy grey snow clouds are ending just north of me. I didn’t like the look of them, had bypassed Flagstaff and Prescott just to avoid them. And here the were. I was about to camp at this state park but saw the price! $28...for tent camping! The place north of Tuscon was only $15, but driving back was not going to be my choice. I was so closed to Tombstone I thought I’d go there and try my luck…if not…further south to Bisby near the border.
I get into the outskirts of Tombstone and after passing an Immigration checkpoint (the first I’d seen, but not the last) I found this RV campground and checked out the pricing. The same $28! Damn. But it was getting colder and dark was approaching and I was road tired. They mentioned it was supposed to get below freezing tonight and they had cabins for just a bit over $40 with tax (That’s motel prices and these rooms don’t have bathrooms or TV’s!! Outrageous!) I go for it. With my AAA discount I is about $40 even. I remembered out night in Kanab and decided to not chance the tent.
As it was, it was probably one of the better decisions of the Journey. The room had a twin and a bunk bed , a microwave and mini-fridge and a space heater that at first didn’t seem to work. I was given a second (I ended using both!) and even though I walked outside around 11 pm without noticeable discomfort (discounting bonking my head on the low eves of the cabin) the decision probably saved our lives