Mary awakens early, and goes outside to watch the sun rise over the valley.   It's spectacular! 

It's the beginning of our 3rd week on the road, and we're starting to get the rhythm of the road trip, so we decide that a leisurely day is in order.  We pack up the van and move across the campground to site #58, which has a better view.   We set up the screen house, so we can store some things in it, and make the van a bit less crowded. We enjoy the quiet beauty of the campground, while eating cheese quesadillas for breakfast.  Most people are up early, and out of the campground by 9 am, so we have a peaceful day at the site, catching up on some reading and writing.  In the afternoon we head out to the Gouldings dining room, and decide to share an open faced turkey sandwich.   We checked out the museum that documents the movies filmed in the Valley, from the early days to the present; then we're off to do some photos of the valley in nice light.   We get back to the campsite after dark, and enjoy some Jiffy Pop under the stars.

Sunday morning we're up early, and Caryn photographs sunrise over the valley, while Mary begins to pack up, so we can get an early start.   We decide to pass on Mexican Hat, AZ (da-dunt ,da-dunt, da-dunt), and set out for Sedona area.   We stop in the town of Kayenta, for some breakfast at McDonalds.  They're all out of pancakes.   Can you believe it?   First, I couldn't get regular milk in my coffee at McDonalds in Youngstown Ohio, or at the largest McDonalds, and now this.   Caryn has an Egg McMuffin, and we're on our way.   We stop at a grocery store in Tuba City, and Mary gets the worlds largest fritter doughnut for $0.40, to make up for not having pancakes.   Even eaten in 2 sittings, it still makes her sick.   Caryn fares better with the normal size doughnut.

We arrive in the great city of Flagstaff, AZ at midday.   We visit the tourist info bureau, and peruse PEACE SURPLUS, a great camping/outdoor store.   As we walk through downtown, we visit no less than four outdoor stores, and find a road trip shirt featuring a VW Bus covered in big flowers, being driven by a Kokapelli character.   We have a difficult choice deciding where to have lunch, because this town has a lot of great restaurants.   We decide on Mountain Oasis, and  have a great meal outside.  Mary has some miso soup, and a salad, while Caryn has a Thai chicken stir fry that was delicious.   While having lunch, we saw lots of people heading in to Coldstone Creamery, including the owners of a Wheaten Terrier. When we finished lunch, we went over to meet the dog, which ended up being fathered by Wheaten, and mothered by a Chow.   After that, we headed into Coldstone, where we ordered coffee ice cream, with Reeses peanut butter cups mixed in by hand.

We headed south to the Motel in the Pines, in Munds Park, AZ.  We got a room for $30, instead of $49, by using a coupon.

Monday morning we head across the street to Buckleys for breakfast, and then it's off to Sedona.   The road we had planned to take ended up being a dirt road, so we had to backtrack to Flagstaff, and then down 89A.  Mary got some Smokey the Bear pins at the rest area, then it was down to Sedona, where the elevation is 4400, and the temperature was around 100 degrees.   We took a drive through one of the private campgrounds in town, but it gave us the creeps.   Too many permanent residents.   We decided that 100 degrees isn't good camping weather, so we decided we'd backtrack 20 miles to spend the night in Flagstaff (6905 ft), when the time came.

We had a nice lunch in Sedona, then headed back up 89A for a visit to Slide Rock State Park, known for it's creek with rock formations that you can slide down.   The air temperature was in the 90's, but creek temperature was 63 degrees.   We decided not to put on our suits right away, but to check it out first.   It was a neat spot, and there were quite a few people there, both sliding in the creek, and sitting on the rock formations along the creek, which formed a natural amphitheater.   We were content to sit on a small rock, with our feet in the water.   After a few minutes, our ankles were painfully numb. Awhile later we walked farther up the creek, where one of us decided to go skinny dipping, while the other sat alongside, mortified when some other people walked by.

We met a lab/weimeraner mixed pup, who was having a great time in the water, and climbing on the rocks.   She was very enthusiastic to meet Caryn, and licked her face and neck, and left her with a muddy paw print on her shirt, which made Caryn very happy.

We hit the market on the way out of the park, for a Frozefruit to cool us down.   Then it was back on 89A north, to Flagstaff,   to secure a room for the night.   We chose the Travelodge, at a coupon rate of $28, and then headed to the center of town for dinner.   We photographed some neon signs, including the Grand Canyon Cafe, which advertised “Chop Suey”, then it was off to Mountain Oasis for another good meal.   We had a veggie sushi roll, and falafel platter washed down with fresh squeezed raspberry lemonade.   Of course after dinner we made a stop at Coldstone Creamery, for some vanilla ice cream w/ hot fudge and coconut mixed in.   Then it was back to the Travelodge.   At this time Mary said “How come every clock I've seen for the past few days is off by an hour?"  Caryn suggested she call the front desk, to determine what time actually was.   Well, it seems somewhere along the way we slipped into West Coast time, and didn't realize it, thereby setting an all time record the day before when Caryn was out of the hotel room by 7am!!!

Tuesday morning Mary secures some breakfast doughnuts from the hotel lobby, then heads out in search of block ice, while Caryn showers and packs up.   Upon her return, we both decide to while away the morning at Barnes and Noble, sipping coffee, and reading magazines and travel books.   Two hours later, we're ready to move on, and head over to Cafe Express in downtown Flagstaff, for a quick bite.   Both order the Peppery Chicken soup, which causes Caryn to cough, turn red, and ultimately drop her soup cup, splashing chicken shards into her iPaq.   After a few tense moments, she is able to clear all the buttons w/ the edge of a sugar packet.   All is well.   They go on to enjoy their half sandwiches, and Mary has another latte, which proves to be just a bit too much caffeine for one person.   Caryn starts the drive to Tucson.   As we travel through Phoenix and see some Extended Stay hotels, we decide it would be great to find something like that in Tucson, since we need to be there a few days, and it's over 100 degrees, not ideal camping weather.   Mary works the cell phone, and discovers that there is an Extended Stay, and also a Crossland Suites, which is a scaled down version.   We get a room with kitchenette and a pet cricket, which just returned with a gold medal in long jump competition, all for $200 for the week, including tax.   We're thrilled to be in a room with air conditioning, and free local calls for less than $30 per night.   Soon after we unpack, a huge storm blows in, bringing wind, rain, thunder and lightening.   We cook up some fresh ravioli, and are happy to be settled for the night.

Wednesday morning we get a lazy start, and decide to head across the street to Camping World, to browse the RV accessories.   When we pull in, we discover that Camping World is on the property of Beaudry RV, a HUGE RV dealer.   In the parking lot is a Chinook camper, as well as a Pleasure Way camper van.   We check out the spacious Chinook, and as we exit the back door, Steve the salesman is waiting for us in his golf cart.   We chat about how we came for Camping World, and just wanted to check out the camper, since it was right there.   We also mention we saw the service department with its 25 bays on our drive in.   He tells us it's 50 bays, and says, “Hop in, I'll show you around”.   Like pigs to the slaughter, we're on our way.    He zips us around the lot, telling us the particulars of the dealership, yada yada yada.   He ends up in front of the showroom, and says, lets go inside, I'll get you some water, then we'll look around some more.   We sit at a table (you've seen them before at every car dealership, the deal table) while Steve is off to get some water.  Caryn and Mary just smirk at each other, this wasn't what we had planned for the day, but what the heck, it's too hot to do much else, and this will at least give us something to write about besides our meals.   Steve returns with some “BEAUDRY RV Spring water”, and asks us the particulars of our Eurovan, and what we're looking for, and how much we want to spend.   Mary explains that she doesn't really want anything too big, but a bathroom and the ability to use the AC while parked would be nice.   We're back in the cart, and zipping around the lot first looking at a used Rialta, which is built on the same VW chassis as the Eurovan.  While it does have a bathroom and slide out shower, it has the same dinky fridge as the Eurovan, and doesn't offer much more space inside.   Steve takes us over to look at a Fleetwood Tioga, a type C camper, based on either a Ford or GM.   It's CAVERNOUS inside, and has a microwave, real oven, fridge with separate freezer, and a bathroom with a TUB!  It sleeps six.   Steve notices our gaping mouths, and decides to set the hook and reel us in.   “How do you like it?” he asks.  Mary, thinking she's playing it cool replies “Well, it huge inside, but I don't think I'd like to drive something this big.”   “Well, lets try it out” he says, and heads off to get a dealer plate.   (Hey, what‘s going on?  We just wanted to browse at Camping World!)   Next thing we know, we're cruising down the highway in a behemoth home on wheels, and it's only 23 feet long (but wide)!  It takes a lot of pressure to stop this baby, but Mary pulls over to let Caryn have a drive.   Caryn realizes that it's great space, and drives down the highway nicely, but we can't imagine traveling in this thing, making frequent stops and u-turns.   Mary realizes that she would be way too cranky driving around it this monster, so we drive a disappointed Steve back to the dealer, where he offers to show us something a bit smaller.   We have a look inside a couple of Pleasure Way vans, but they're very cramped inside, and Caryn immediately develops claustrophobia.   By this time it's 3pm, and hot, and we haven't eaten all day.   WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!!!!    We get Steve's card, he assures us that if we want the 2000 Fleetwood Tioga he can ”Blow it out” and we can be on our way.   We tell him we'll think about it, and thank him for his time.   Mary is struck by a profound sense of guilt for even thinking of betraying the beloved Eurovan, who has been so good to us.   We return to “Sleek Stella” as Caryn has taken to calling the EVC, and we're happy to be back inside our cramped, bathroomless yet fun-to-drive van.   A quick browse through Camping World, and we're off in search of food.   We stop at a carnitas joint, and chow down.   Then we cruise through old Tucson, spotting some great motel signs, and note their locations, for a return in nice light.   A quick trip through Millers Surplus, a camping and army/navy store, but there's nothing we need.   We note that they have a five gallon sun shower for under $10, and think it's a good deal, but decide we don't need it.   We hop on the highway to head to  Saguaro National Park for some cactus photography, but realize with the after work traffic it's too late in the day to make it there in time for sunset, so we decide to save that for another day.   We head out in search of a grocery store, and pick up some more ravioli for dinner.

Thursday afternoon we head out to Saguaro National Park, to get up close and personal with some giant cactus.   It's pretty weird when you get to the area where these giant cactus grow, like some type of aliens planted here, just waiting for you to turn your back.   We stop at the visitor center to watch a film, and discover that we've been mis- pronouncing the name all along (it's pronounced Sa-whar-o).

We head out on the six mile scenic loop, which turns out to be a rough dirt road.   We're looking for the perfect cactus to photograph at sunset.  Lots of stops, and we still didn't find it.   We decide to head back to the visitor center, where we seem to remember a few good specimens.   We decide to shoot at the trail head, and it's okay, but decide we need to come back another day.   We take a straighter road home, it's a longer trip, but it bypasses the curvy mountain roads.  

Friday morning we're up early to shoot our job, and we're done and exhausted by 11 am.   We're off in search of a restaurant Mary had read about, only to discover that it's no longer there. We decide to head back to EL PASO, a barbeque restaurant we had passed on the way.   It's 11:30 am, and this place is packed, and more people, including lots of folks from the nearby air force base, are flocking toward the door.   Mary was skeptical of a bbq place in Tucson, but after eating a pulled pork sandwich (without sauce) she declared this the best bbq she's ever had.  

It's back to the hotel, where Mary takes a nap, and Caryn indulges her new addiction of playing solitaire on her iPaq, until the battery goes dead.

Saturday we're up and out early to shoot again, and then it's off to EL PASO, where this time we decide to sample the onion rings, that we just drooled over yesterday.   Having these delicious rings, as well as soup caused us to have leftovers, but we don't care, we've got a microwave back at the hotel!   No nap today, but instead we caffeinate our selves, and head back to Saguaro so we can find that perfect cactus that we know is there.   Man, it is hot here, considering it's 5 pm, and only an hour away from sunset.   Mary can actually feel her brain dehydrating as she walks only 50 feet from the van.   Back to the van to down some liquids, and wrap a wet, icy cold bandana around her neck.   Caryn does the same, even though it's dry within minutes.   We do pretty well with the pictures, shooting some 120 film, and sunsets using a tripod.   Brandon would be proud!

Back at the car, we discover that our legs have lots of tiny, hairlike thorns in them, from brushing against the cacti.   They burn and generally cause lots of discomfort.   We remove our socks and shoes for the drive home, so at least our feet won't be poked the entire way.   I-10 is closed for construction, so the ride home is over 45 miles.   We're glad to finally be back at the hotel, and begin the arduous task of plucking stickers from Mary legs, using tweezers.   When this is complete, we begin work on our socks and shoes.   After a shower, we're almost as good as new, but a bit scratched up.   This cactus photography is tough.   Those postcards are definitely worth every cent of their $.35 price tag!!!

Sunday we decide to sleep late, then Caryn heads over to the laundry room to do the deed, and read the Sunday paper.   Mary stays in the room, and watches “Ghosts Of Mississippi” with Alec Baldwin, Whoopie Goldberg, and that blonde guy that was in Fargo, and lots of other movies (Bill Macy maybe).

We discover that the temperature has dropped down to the 70's, and the wind is quite strong.   Caryn decides it would be a good day to wash the van, so we're off to a self serve car wash, with a hand full of quarters.

Let's just say that this would have been a good job for a warmer, less windy day, but after four cycles, the van is noticeably cleaner.   Caryn is beaming, clean clothes and a clean van.   It doesn't get much better than this for her.   Mary is a bit frazzled after playing beat the clock at the car wash, but she recovers.   We cruise to downtown Tucson, and stop at a colorful office complex called “La Placita”.   We wander around, and find the Tourist info place, and gather some info on local happenings.   Mary has a clogged ear, and feels a cold coming on, so we head back to the hotel for a rest.   After 60 minutes we go across the street for a quick bite to eat at Dennys, since we have a coupon from the Sunday paper.  Service is slow, due to two waitresses who didn't show up for work, so we decide to get two slices of pie to go.   Caryn chooses Peanut Butter Pie, and Mary opts for Chocolate Silk.  

Caryn heads to the checkout to pay, because the one remaining waitress hasn't been seen for a while.   Caryn finds the waitress, and orders pie to go.   The waitress gives us the pie for free, stating “Everyone deserves free pie tonight”.   We're thrilled; pie is that much sweeter when it's free.  We head back to the hotel with our leftovers and pie, having only spent $8.69 plus tip for dinner.   We get back to the hotel and chow down on the delicious pie, and wait for “The Practice” season premier to begin.

 
Monday morning finds Mary feeling better, and up early to take the van for 10,000 mile service at Beaudry VW, the local dealer that happens to sell Eurovans.   All goes well, including a free wash (Just in case we missed anything the day before).

On the way back from the dealer, there's a bit of a traffic jam.   It looks like it might be a fender bender, but as she gets closer, Mary see's that a guy is lying in the street, partially covered with a blanket.   As she passes, she sees lots of blood forming a thick pool at the back of his head. No joke here, just a disturbing image in my mind, and a quivery feeling in my extremities.

Back to the hotel to pick up Caryn, and head to Firecracker for lunch.   A great Asian-fusion place, where we share veggie spring rolls, Mongolian beef, and fish tacos.   Yum!   Revitalized from our lunch, we head over to Comp USA, to pick up some Columbus Day rebate items. We end up with over $300 of software and gadgets which will be free after rebates.   Then it's off to the Mission San Xavier del Bac. After poking around for a bit, we head to downtown Tucson to photograph some old motel signs at dusk.

Back to the hotel for some Dennys leftovers, and to grab our pillows, and we're off to the drive in.   It's Monday night, so we get to see a double feature for $3 each.   We park the van, and Caryn whips up some Jiffy Pop in the back.    It's a pleasant evening, and we spend it watching   BRING IT ON and COYOTE UGLY.  
 
Wednesday morning we're off to the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona.   We browse the gallery and book shop, and grab a bite to eat near the campus. Then we're off to browse at Sams, then over to the grocery store to pick up some tortellini to whip up for dinner. After dinner we begin to gather our strewn belongings; tomorrow we're checking out and heading over to Joshua Tree, CA.

Onward to CHAPTER SIX!