2006 RV Trip Diaries - Benson, Tucson, Gila Bend, AZ

                                                                                                                                                                           

October 30 - Monday

This morning we toured Kartchner Caverns near Benson, AZ.  This cave was discovered in the 1970's and has been carefully protected from uncontrolled tourism.  Cameras are not allowed on the tour so we can only suggest to anyone traveling in that area that they should go see Kartchner Caverns as it is unlike any other cave tours we have ever seen.  Many of the rock formations are very fragile and beautiful and only could have survived in this closely controlled environment.

October 31 - Tuesday

Drove to Tucson to stay at our favorite Arizona state park near Jay and Kaye's house - Catalina State Park.  This is where we started our trip back in mid-September and since then we have driven in a 2,500 mile circle.  We invited Jay and Kaye for barbeque dinner at the park tomorrow and found out that Milt and Sue will also be here then.  They are invited also.

November 1 - Wednesday

Sue, Milt, Jay and Kaye arrived in a rental convertible that Milt and Sue have been driving around the southwest for the past couple of weeks.  We had a very nice dinner at the park.  Jerry made smoked ham, Kaye made her usual wonderful potato salad, Karen made smoked salmon spread with some salmon we brought from Juneau and Garrey bought a beautiful chocolate cake.  At right, Sue, Milt, Garrey, Jay and Kaye enjoy the good fun and great conversation.

November 2 - Thursday

Jerry and Kay drove up to Prescott to take care of business related to their storage shed.  Jay treated us all to an excellent meal at an Italian restaurant east of Tucson - can't remember the name of the restaurant but the food sure was good.

November 3 - Friday

We drove to Gila Bend with every intention of staying just one night.  As we checked into Augie's Quail Trail RV Park though, we learned about a shrimp festival that will be held in Gila Bend tomorrow.  They will have fresh shrimp that is grown in spring-fed tanks near here along with live music, shrimp eating contests and other events.  We will stay here two nights and attend the festival.

November 4 - Saturday - Happy Birthday Randy!

After calling Randy for Happy Birthday wishes, we went to the Shrimp Festival where we had some barbequed shrimp.  They call it "sweet desert shrimp" but this old Alaskan calls it tasteless.  Just as wild Alaskan salmon has much better flavor than farmed salmon, so does wild shrimp compare to the bland fresh water farmed shrimp.  The ketchup and horseradish sauce was good though.  We stayed for a couple of hours and enjoyed people watching along with listening to a Buddy Holly and Willie Nelson imitator.  The Willie impersonator was colorful enough to warrant a photo at below left.  At below right is the cooking area  for the local shrimp dishes.

The temperature is in the high 80's today so we went back to the RV park to enjoy the air conditioning in the trailer and update this diary.