Moving Along to Tucson

We wandered around Yuma a bit and could not quite figure out how to enjoy a couple extra days.  Yuma is built around 3 industries:  military, agriculture, and tourism.  And the tourism is really snowbirds in RVs--who fill up the 20,000 RV spots and dry camp through out the BLM lands nearby.  But what they do all season--beats me?  So on we drove.

We opted to try out Tucson as our "winter roost" having found an RV park online that was small (200+ spots), located out of town on the edge of park lands, and offering all sorts of activities and amenities.  We pulled in and felt grateful that they had an open spot (only 2 spots remained!) & are going to try to keep us here for as long as we are interested.  Our spot comes with our own cactus garden!

Desert Trails RV Park is where our hydraulic jacks are down for now.  We are thrilled with the community, the activities, and the opportunities available in Tucson.  The weather is perfect--cool to chilly nights but mid 70s in the day time.  I just might have to try out the heated swimming pool this week!

The park has a "summer camp for adults" feel to it.  There are multiple activities each day, live music a couple of nights a week (local artists), and a real community feeling.  Many RVers return year after year and welcome us newbies.  Monday morning is the park meeting and the week's activities are discussed.  What a hoot!

Friday night at the park we listened to a concert by the Ellington Big Band of high schoolers from the Tucson Jazz Institute.  This group is no slackers -- they won top honors at last year's Essentially Ellington Festival at the Lincoln Center in New York.  Give a look to youtube -- I'm sure you can see & hear a performance.  It was a "pass the hat" event to raise money for  their return to the Lincoln Center and a trip to Europe to play the jazz festivals.

And we watched some football games in the Oasis Room.  Yeah, I was cheering for San Francisco as I don't quite believe I am from Seattle yet.

Alan is off with the cycling group this morning.  I am going to a crafts group this afternoon.

On tap this week for us:  the hiking group will explore part of the Tucson Mountain Park (my new back yard), 2 music events (including a high school mariachi band), spanish class, and a celebration of Robert Burns Birthday.  One of the residents is hosting a party to honor Burns and offers to serve malt scotch and explore your potential Scottish genealogy.  Oh yeah and food trucks and bocce ball and yoga and bingo and you name it!  And that is just in the park.

Tucson Mountain Park.  Our new backyard.

Tucson Mountain Park is adjacent to Saguaro National Park West Side