Glamping

We left Palms Springs bright and early because we were hoping to make it to Phoenix before the mid-day heat. We didn't quite meet that goal.

In the morning we drove by the Salton Sea.  We ended up on the wrong side of the Sea. We were hoping to drive hwy 111 but ended up on the west side, the less scenic side, on hwy 86. Eventually we made it to I-8 eastbound.  The only other option through Arizona to Phoenix was I-10, which is much busier.  We figured I-8 was the lesser of two evils.

We drove through Sonoran Desert National Monument on I-8.

We had a strong headwind most of the way.  Vanna is a full-figured gal, so with her large size we were buffeted quite severely by the wind all day.  We filled up in Yuma and only got 100 miles before the tank was down to a quarter full.  We calculated we were getting 10 miles per gallon.  I hope it is because of the headwinds and not symptomatic of engine trouble. We will find out tomorrow. 

We filled up at this old gas station miles from anywhere.  Our gps saved us by alerting us it was the only gas station for miles.  But the elderly couple who owned the station didn't accept credit cards, only cash.

And it was hot today. All the windows were wide open (Vanna's A/C) and it was 85 degrees, but the dogs in back were cool because of the strong breeze and tinted glass.  The wind and freeway noise were so loud we had trouble talking to each other. And music was impossible to hear with all the wind noise.  Sadly, it is predicted to be even hotter tomorrow.

We met our wonderful friend Dorothy in Scottsdale - her new name is  Miss Text!  She miss-texted us her address and left her phone in her car so we got an extra tour of Scottsdale at rush hour!

Made for good cocktail laughter once she came to our hotel!

(Dorothy, John wrote that last paragraph.)

Dorothy calls our mode of travel "glamping"- glamour camping.  She's right.

We lucked into The Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale near the civic center.  Here's our room.  John loves it because it is bright and colorful.  Very glampy.

We walked to the restaurant next door called AZ/88 and had dinner al fresco with Dorothy and the mutts.  The mutts got a lot of attention.  We didn't.

John, the mutts, and I walked through civic center plaza and I snapped this last pic.  It's kind of dark but I like it because, well, you'll understand.

Tomorrow we will meet John's friend Heather for brekkie.   And we might drive by St. Joseph's Hospital where I was a medical intern 30 years ago.