San D to Phoenix
Odometer 67,964
San Diego to Phoenix
We are in a unique situation this morning. Joan and I are headed for Yuma for a couple nights before continuing on to our friends house in New River, AZ The unique part is that we normally tank up on arrival, because I don't like the tanks to have air space where condensation can form in them, as the ambient, and day- night temperature changes.
We are in this situation because on our way in on Thursday, we could not find a diesel station to save our soul. Joan started actively looking about 15 miles out of town. Usually we can find a truck plaza or a bigger station we can get into. We jumped off the freeway once only to find the station too small to get into.
Resigned to our situation we went to the RV park and settled in.
We are going out on the same route, so our first chance at fuel will probably be 22 miles out. It'll be as familiar as I like to get with the bottom of the fuel tank in this beast.
I was actually doing fine as we headed out. I was feeling pretty sure that we'd see a station on this side of the freeway that we hadn't seen on our way in, but no. I have no idea what trucks do on their way in and out of here- but I will never come this way on low tanks again!
Just when I'd calmed down a bit the fuel warning light came on- I'll be honest with you- I didn't even know this bus had a warning light!
We kept looking at each exit and sometimes we'd see one that had possibilities AFTER we were past the off ramp. California, unlike Oregon apparently doesn't encourage stations to put an informational sign on the freeway before the off ramps- we saw none.
Finally, when I was sure we'd be dead alongside the highway, we made it to Campo, CA and the Golden Acorn Casino and truck stop. If you read my previous blog, you'll remember that we are in the Rocky Mountains here- 4 summits of 4,000 feet- working the Kitty Kat diesel motor hard.
Our motorhome has a rather flat fill hose and it is sometimes a real pain. The nozzle has to be held in the horizontal position for the whole fill. Our tanks take up to 90 gallons and it keeps you pinned down for the whole time.
The fuel this far away from town is usually expensive, and California has a 40 cent surcharge on their fuel. We were only going to get a few gallons at $4.10/ gal. and wait until Yuma, AZ where the fuel would be a dollar a gallon cheaper. Well, that was the plan... The uneasy feeling I got watching the needle settle on E made me put in 30 gallons. We'll get 'er topped off in Yuma, but for now we'll douse that pesky low fuel warning light for a long while
My happiness melted when I walked back to check on the Tracker we tow behind the motor home. We have an air line that connects the motor home brakes to a braking system in the car. Somehow the air fitting came loose from the car an has been dragging on the pavement.
Nothing I can do about this here, and we have towed without brakes before- it is no problem for this size tow vehicle, still I want to get it fixed as soon as possible.
We finished the transit to Yuma and checked in at the Westwind RV Resort for a couple nights on our Passport 1/2 price card.
I love the discount variety stores that abound in Yuma. I did a hasty set up and took off for Wally's World and the RV Superstore. I had a list of items I needed for maintenance, and I just wanted to see some of the cool stuff they always have. I wanted some plastic drawer catches, which are getting hard to find. I didn't find them here either, but I did find some 50 pc packs of electrical crimp on connectors, some steel stakes for staking down my satellite dish, some screw driver tips for my impact driver and a few other things I didn't know I needed, all at bargain prices.
The next day Joan and I went to a towing specialty shop called Just For Towing in Yuma to get a replacement end for the air line we damaged on the trip from San Diego. These are specialty coupling manufactured in Germany- I'm glad to be able to get them.
In more than a decade of towing we've never had anything come loose, now we've had two things on the same trip- is it me or ?? Joan and I have a routine we follow when getting ready to leave, which includes double checking each other and complete lighting and brake check. Hmmm.
The trip from Yuma to Phoenix is uneventful and we notice that the temperature is warm for November, even down at this latitude.
We roll into Phoenix and find a Shell station to top off our tanks before we get set up at our good friends RV in New River.
Home is where we park it... and this is pretty nice
Your Traveling Friends
Jeff and Joan
.
San Diego to Phoenix
 |
| Fuel close to E |
We are in a unique situation this morning. Joan and I are headed for Yuma for a couple nights before continuing on to our friends house in New River, AZ The unique part is that we normally tank up on arrival, because I don't like the tanks to have air space where condensation can form in them, as the ambient, and day- night temperature changes.
We are in this situation because on our way in on Thursday, we could not find a diesel station to save our soul. Joan started actively looking about 15 miles out of town. Usually we can find a truck plaza or a bigger station we can get into. We jumped off the freeway once only to find the station too small to get into.
Resigned to our situation we went to the RV park and settled in.
 |
| Low fuel warning light |
We are going out on the same route, so our first chance at fuel will probably be 22 miles out. It'll be as familiar as I like to get with the bottom of the fuel tank in this beast.
I was actually doing fine as we headed out. I was feeling pretty sure that we'd see a station on this side of the freeway that we hadn't seen on our way in, but no. I have no idea what trucks do on their way in and out of here- but I will never come this way on low tanks again!
Just when I'd calmed down a bit the fuel warning light came on- I'll be honest with you- I didn't even know this bus had a warning light!
 |
| An hour on empty tanks finally we reach our last chance fuel station |
We kept looking at each exit and sometimes we'd see one that had possibilities AFTER we were past the off ramp. California, unlike Oregon apparently doesn't encourage stations to put an informational sign on the freeway before the off ramps- we saw none.
Finally, when I was sure we'd be dead alongside the highway, we made it to Campo, CA and the Golden Acorn Casino and truck stop. If you read my previous blog, you'll remember that we are in the Rocky Mountains here- 4 summits of 4,000 feet- working the Kitty Kat diesel motor hard.
 |
| I'm happier than I look here |
The fuel this far away from town is usually expensive, and California has a 40 cent surcharge on their fuel. We were only going to get a few gallons at $4.10/ gal. and wait until Yuma, AZ where the fuel would be a dollar a gallon cheaper. Well, that was the plan... The uneasy feeling I got watching the needle settle on E made me put in 30 gallons. We'll get 'er topped off in Yuma, but for now we'll douse that pesky low fuel warning light for a long while
 |
| Air umbilical to towed car |
My happiness melted when I walked back to check on the Tracker we tow behind the motor home. We have an air line that connects the motor home brakes to a braking system in the car. Somehow the air fitting came loose from the car an has been dragging on the pavement.
Nothing I can do about this here, and we have towed without brakes before- it is no problem for this size tow vehicle, still I want to get it fixed as soon as possible.
 |
| Tucked in at the Westwind RV Resort Yuma, AZ |
We finished the transit to Yuma and checked in at the Westwind RV Resort for a couple nights on our Passport 1/2 price card.
 |
| SMI repair kit for the air line |
 |
| Good as new |
In more than a decade of towing we've never had anything come loose, now we've had two things on the same trip- is it me or ?? Joan and I have a routine we follow when getting ready to leave, which includes double checking each other and complete lighting and brake check. Hmmm.
 |
| Dashboard temp gauge |
The trip from Yuma to Phoenix is uneventful and we notice that the temperature is warm for November, even down at this latitude.
We roll into Phoenix and find a Shell station to top off our tanks before we get set up at our good friends RV in New River.
Home is where we park it... and this is pretty nice
Your Traveling Friends
Jeff and Joan
.
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