Escape From Hell

After that week in Salome where if it wasn’t too hot it was raining, we headed back to Mesa, The Palm Gardens Motor Home Court but please don’t let that name fool you. This must be one of the older 55+ parks because there are only a handful of RV sites left. The rest are single and double wide ‘mobile’ homes. It was so damn hot that we spent little time outdoors. We did find a dog park to take Luna to and after gradually moving her from timid to anything-goes to the lake park, she took her first swim. We kept pushing her favorite ball out further into the water until she had to swim.

Except for the visit to cousin Sean and family – they are all so likeable – the dog park was our only other highlight. Well, we found the Chinese food place where we loved their dumplings last time. Hot Wok on the southwest corner of Broadway and Lindsay has the best dumplings/sauce combo on the planet in our opinion. The hot and sour soup is really a spicy hot mushroom soup. The cold sesame noodles were not advertised as spicy so Andrea asked to make them a little spicy. After a small bowl each, we had to trash it. Some people might like food so spicy that you can’t taste it and you sniffle all night. We don’t. The moo-shoo is excellent but if you can live with one taste, get the pork dumplings and ask for two extra sauce cups per serving.

OK, left hell this morning for a scenic drive northeast across SR87 towards I-40 and points east. Forward AC still out, we ran the generator and an AC AC to keep us somewhat comfortable. About two hours into to trip I was sure I was witnessing and might be part of a horrible crash. We had turned left off SR 277 to get on SR 77 to Holbrook. We were first in a line of vehicles. A red Cadillac a couple of cars back didn’t seem happy with the Odyssey’s acceleration, which I must admit is painfully slow in the lowest gears. By the time this moron decided to pass, I was up to the 55mph speed limit and as he pulled into the opposing traffic lane, it was clear that he had no chance of passing me before this massive log-hauling truck would hit head on. I was screaming “You’re going to kill yourself” and seeing he wasn’t accelerating all that much I pondered accelerating to force him back behind me. And then I thought I’m going to kill this asshole if I do that so I slammed on the brakes to let him pass and even then it was just a few feet between him being crushed and coming away with shit in his pants. I smelled that shit for 30 miles. I can’t tell you what his early rush was but it wasn’t there after the near death experience. We followed him into Holbrook at the speed limit the rest of the way but a few cars behind.

That was the most frightening experience of my driving career. I thought I was going to see multiple deaths.

Anyway, it was kind of scenic on 87. Got some pictures and sent them to my friend on Krypton and damned if he didn’t send back that shot of his twin suns from a similar road on his planet.

We finally arrived at Root 66 RV Park about 17 miles west of Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert (north side of the park). After setting up late – it was a long drive for us – we headed out for the park about 45 minutes from sunset. It would have been better to be there an hour earlier but we got there for moonrise.

Next stop west of Albuquerque for game 1.