First, this post is greatly delayed as we drove home immediately following our visit and within 24 hours of arriving safely, both of us came down with a very bad flu virus. Once I recovered, there was mounds of laundry, housework, grocery shopping, trailer unpacking to do and a trip to the vet with kitty. But anyway, here is the final blog post for the 2015-2016 season.
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Our last weekend in the southwest is spent partying back in Lake Havasu City. Along the drive between I-10 in California and Parker, Arizona is this strange "shoe fence". We often see wacky stuff like this driving through the desert, and this day we make time to stop and take a few pictures. It's crazy - shoes and clothing just stuck in this fence. Need a shoe, take a shoe. Have a shoe, leave a shoe. |
We arrive at Paul and Sue's on my birthday, and this beloved group of friends surprises me with a delightful chocolate cake after a dinner out for dollar tacos. How did you know chocolate was my favourite? I guess the t-shirt is a dead giveaway (it says "Give me chocolate and nobody gets hurt"). |
We're really here to celebrate Paul's 60th birthday. To party with friends is why Paul and Sue built this house in Lake Havasu City, and we thank them. Brad and I enjoy an afternoon with the group in the pool the day before the celebration. |
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| Patron Silver Tequila |
Sue's blog already has the best party photos. We played volleyball in the pool, had a great Mexican feast for dinner, complete with margaritas and tequila shots. And Sue put together a groovy 2-hour playlist for evening dancing. What a party!
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! |
Camped in the one of three full hookup sites in the Porters' driveway with an almost full moon rising. Our last night in the southwest. |
The day after the party and we make a run for the border - 2,400 miles (3,860 Km) in 3 days! Normally, we would take 4-5 days to do that kind of drive, but bad weather in the form of rain and gusting winds is expected on day 4, so it's a mad dash. Luckily, the weather is great all the way home, and we arrive on day 3 around 10:30 pm, unpack the entire trailer, and tumble into bed around 2am. But by bedtime the next night, we are both sick with the flu and spend almost a week in bed. But enough of that. Here's the 2015-2016 trip's numbers:
| Total distance driven: | 11,700 miles (18,830 km) in 5 months |
| Total amount spent on diesel (truck fuel) | $ 2,233 USD of which $910 USD was spent driving out and home (fuel was VERY cheap this year) |
| Total amount spent on propane (heating and cooking) | $ 293 USD which isn't bad considering it was a cooler, wetter season than in past years |
| Total trip-related expenses: | $ 3,740 (excludes groceries since we would buy food at home) |
| Average trip-related cost: | $ 25 per day for the two of us |
| States Visited: | Utah, Arizona and California |
| Number of different camping spots: | 14 (2 were repeated during this year - Lake Havasu City and Yuma) |
| Amount spent on camping: | $24 - 2 nights paid for in 5 months; all the rest of the trip was free camping - a new record! And - on that second day after paying, we learned where the free camping is in the area, so we could have spent $0,000.00 on camping this year with that little extra smidge of knowledge! |
Now to begin planning the next trip, hopefully to the Oregon coast starting in early September 2016. Safe and happy travels everyone. Thanks for following us for another year.
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| Favourite photo of the trip |
we did have a blast, didn't we? Great shot of your rig with the trees and the moon!!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to next winter!