Day 12 – Wednesday, May 11

Today we left Sin City and are happy to report that we lost $0 gambling.  We stopped at Hoover Dam on the way to Grand Canyon.  Other than Hoover Dam, there isn’t much besides desert between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon, so not a lot to report.  It gives me a good opportunity to answer questions that people have been asking.

First, in reply to HobbyLady’s comment – I actually do spend quite a bit of time behind the wheel in the RV.  That’s me in the photo.  It’s my favorite place to sit and wait for Mom and Dad.  I don’t get to stay there when the RV leaves a parking lot.

Second, gas prices – we paid $3.79 in Oregon, $4.09 almost everywhere we filled up in California ($4.11 one stop), and $3.79 in Las Vegas.  Dad has an app called Gas Buddy on his phone.  It shows us gas prices at gas stations near where we are (the phone also has a GPS, so it knows where we are).  We’ve found that Costco is our best bet, if there is one in the area.  We paid $4.29 today in Williams, AZ, which is just south of Grand Canyon.  We expect that we will be paying more in the remote areas that we will be visiting for the next few weeks.  The highest price that we’ve seen is $4.99 at the first gas station outside of the Mojave National Preserve.  Mojave is BIG, but there aren’t any gas stations inside the park.  We were glad that we didn’t need gas there!

Third, what do we need to camp – Our motor home is pretty much self contained.  We have a fresh water tank and also tanks for grey and black water (if I need to explain further, you can email me).  We also have a 3 burner stove, oven, and furnace that run on LP.  Our refrigerator has a main fridge compartment and a separate door for the freezer.  It runs on LP or electricity, when available.  The same with the water heater, LP or electric.  We have two batteries that charge from the engine that the run lights.  When we are connected to electricity, we also have a microwave, TV, VCR, DVD player, and Air Conditioning.  We also have a full size shower, toilet, and 2 sinks (kitchen and bath).  Mom and Dad have a queen size bed in the back.  I sleep in front on either the benches in the booth dinette or in the barrel chair.  Really, we have all the comforts of home.

Fourth, what are the roads like – The nation’s interstate highways are in really bad shape, at least in WA, OR, CA, NV, and AZ – every state we have been in so far.  Pretty much every time we stop, we find a stray screw or something that has rattled out with all the bumps.  There are stretches that are really nice, but lots of highway in need of repair.

Well, I think I’ve covered all the main topics that people have asked about.  Let me know if you have more questions.