HikeArizona.COM

Well, I guess I'll have to change my screen name soon. My wife and I are going to be moving to Casa Grande before the end of the year. Listing the house for sale up in Page. No job yet, kinda scary, but my wife needs to go back to school full time. Even commuting to and from UofA, with the house prices in CG we'll save money over moving to El Pueblo. Big change - this will be my first time living off The Plateau since '99. Eeek!

Well, I reckon I'm moving to Tucson.

Anyone want to attempt a Catalina SP to Mount Lemmon, and back, hike in late May or early June.

@Jim_H
I hope you like it. I rank Tucson above most other places.

big_load wrote:Tucson above most other places

I don't. Even Alamagordo is thousands of feet higher. ;)

Yes, but it's all been downhill since Flagstaff. Still, Tucson is much higher than Phoenix. Memorial Day Weekend and Holiday mean no new employee orientation that week, and the next one is in June, so I will be here until the end of May.

chumley wrote:

big_load wrote:Tucson above most other places

I don't. Even Alamagordo is thousands of feet higher. ;)

Ouch!

Colorado is pretty high too ... :whistle:

Do you know where in AZ ?

@desertgirl Who are you asking?

Jim_H wrote:@desertgirl Who are you asking?

Probably me.

desertgirl wrote:Do you know where in AZ ?

Flag, for a while.

All the last-minute worries, getting service and a couple of tires for the RV, planning my non-interstate route to get to Flag from Valley Center California. I'm taking 76 east to 79 north to S22 to Borrego Springs. From there I'll make my way up to Mecca, CA. Hop on I-10 for a short distance to Desert Center, then take 177 and 62 to Parker. Possibly camp at Buckskin Mtn. State Park in Parker, or Cattail Cove at Lake Havasu. Then up to the 40, short hop on 40 to Kingman. Take Rt. 66 to Seligman, then will have to go the rest of the way on the 40. I just upgraded my AAA membership to include roadside RV assistance, and 100 mile RV towing.

Yeah, I do worry about it, since I haven't taken it on any long trips and I will be by myself. I had two tires stolen off it while it was being serviced in Escondido a couple of months ago, just noticed it recently, trying to get them to pay for new tires. I am almost ready to roll. Have several job prospects in Flag, a cheap place to park the rig with electricity, water and wifi, and money to live on for a while if I am very frugal. Summer in Flagstaff!!!

I had thought about renting a tow dolly from Uhaul to tow my Honda Accord, but I decided against it. I am going to take the train back and pick up the car. This will cost a little less, although the train ride is way too long, 13 hours, it's only $98. It will save me the worry of towing, though. I'll try towing later.

@azbackpackr
Train ride. Did I see train ride? Very cool!

azbackpackr wrote:planning my non-interstate route to get to Flag from Valley Center

Border Patrol drives the non-interstate routes too, so make sure you have your papers with you. ;)

chumley wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:planning my non-interstate route to get to Flag from Valley Center

Border Patrol drives the non-interstate routes too, so make sure you have your papers with you. ;)

I would think having multiple credit cards for gas would be even more important driving "The Beast" from southern CA to northern AZ

Good luck!

Grasshopper wrote:

chumley wrote:

azbackpackr wrote:planning my non-interstate route to get to Flag from Valley Center

Border Patrol drives the non-interstate routes too, so make sure you have your papers with you. ;)

I would think having multiple credit cards for gas would be even more important driving "The Beast" from southern CA to northern AZ

I do!

I have a question for Liz about the engine in that RV and maybe some of you grease monkey mechanics can give us an answer.

Does this vehicle use a metal or rubber timing belt and if so has it been replaced or at the current time and mileage should it be replaced?

Liz what do know about that and what is the mileage on that vehicle?

SuperstitionGuy wrote:Does this vehicle use a metal or rubber timing belt and if so has it been replaced or at the current time and mileage should it be replaced?

Like almost all push-rod V-8's the Ford 460 has a timing CHAIN, which should last the life of the motor.

Like many RVs used solely to take to the desert in SoCal, this RV has low mileage. 43,690. Thanks for your concern guys!

That'd be all I'd need, eh, if it had a timing belt to break? I had the timing belt on my '94 Honda Accord replaced soon after I bought it, since there was no record of it having been done.

I've had to have quite a bit of work done on it though. Power steering leaks, bad rear brakes, tune-up. Just stuff the previous owner should have taken care of. So far it seems to be basically a good machine.

The bad part is that I've been sick the past week with a bad cough. I've had to make preparations to leave here anyway, since I have to be in Arizona in about a week to train for a job. I really need to get over this cough! Very exhausting.

You wish performers good luck by saying, "break a leg."

Blow a tire, Liz.