New Mexico & Arizona

Slowly making our way back to the Pacific coast, we spent 4 days in New Mexico and 5 in Arizona.  In New Mexico, we visited 4 Navy friends with whom we served, all retired cryptologic officers:  Scott and Fran in Las Cruces and Mike and Jeremie in Placitas (near Albuquerque).  There were many common memories to share, as well as catching up on our individual lives since our last encounters in 2005.

Breakfast with Mike & Jeremie

Fran & Scott at their home in Las Cruces

In Peoria, AZ (a suburb of Phoenix), we connected with Dave’s cousin Nate, his wife Terri, and 3 of their 5 children.  In some ways, this last “cousin encounter” was similar to the first one in Portland, in that we had never before met as adults.  Nate is now the executive director at a Lutheran school and Terri manages sales for a large hospice corporation.  It was a joy to become acquainted again and to bring Nate up to date on the lives of other first cousins whom we had previously visited on this trip.

From left:  Carter, Terri, Davis, Nate

In Tucson we linked up with our immediate family, camping at the home of son Mike and his wife Stacey, and sharing Thanksgiving there.  We were joined by daughter Cheryl and family, who have been living in our house in Monterey, taking care of our cats, and managing our home affairs in our absence.  We also connected with daughter Laurie from San Diego and son Tanner from Los Angeles and their families, who traditionally come to Tucson to spend Thanksgiving with their paternal grandfather and other members of his clan.

Thanksgiving reunion with the whole family!

Feeding giraffes at the Tucson zoo

Brushing a friendly rhino at the Tucson zoo

Sad demise of the Skybox

In Arizona we needed a jump start at a highway rest stop when the Jeep battery refused to turn over one more time.  We replaced the battery the next day, as well as a badly worn tire on the Casita.  We have come to expect such mechanical failures on a journey of this length, and consider ourselves fortunate to find automotive services without undue difficulty or delay.  Less predictably, the bottom half of the Yakima Skybox suddenly developed long cracks and started shedding chunks of plastic.  We had to dispose of this auxiliary luggage compartment in Tucson and move its remaining contents into the car and trailer. We are confident that our rig will get us home within the next week.  California, here we come!