What a great start to RT5! Well it wasn’t perfect because we got a late start due to waiting for the Cox Cable repair guy, Also we ran into a nasty, windy rain storm as we traversed the Tecate Pass on I-8, not too far east of San Diego. Then the wind was blowing like crazy, but it turned into a tail wind and we zipped across Imperial County and into Arizona in no time. We cut up US 85 at Gila Bend (check out the Space Age Motel!) and headed toward Phoenix.
We passed what looked to be a huge new sports stadium under construction. I guess it’s the new home of the Cardinals.
We took a few wrong turns, but finally found our way to Pleasant Lake Regional Park Campground. We found a spot in the dark and set up. (This was the next morning.)
This is Pecos Pete. He's been our leader and guide since the first day of our first Road Trip, nearly five years ago. He has lost his hat (somewhere in Texas), his left arm is nearly severed and his diet of smashed bugs, windshield washer fluid, and rain water has taken it's toll over the years, We're afraid he won't last much longer.
A view of Lake Pleasant.
Wine Stop!
The next morning we ate breakfast and packed up and headed to downtown Chandler, just southeast of Phoenix. We got to our first winery at 11:00, only to find that they didn’t normally open until 11:30. Since we had tickets to the Padres game at 1:00 back in Peoria, 30-something miles away, we thought that the best plan of action would be to knock on the door and see if someone would let us in for an early wine tasting.
Sure enough we were in luck, the owner himself, Dennis Mincella, happened to be hanging around and let us in, introducing us to Joe the bartender so we could taste some fine Arizona wines. And they were fine wines and at very reasonable prices! Kokopelli Winery and Bistro is in historic downtown Chandler in a building that was at one time a bank. Joe and Dennis were terrific hosts and we wished we could have stayed longer and sampled the food.
Dennis informed us that all the grapes for their wines are grown near Wilcox, Arizona, which is a ways east of Chandler but contains fewer people and is not exactly Napa Valley in terms of attracting tourists, so the figured Chandler was a better spot to get exposure for their wines and they’ve done an excellent job, not only with their wines, but with the décor and ambiance of the “bank”.
Padres Spring Training
We had to drag ourselves away from Kokopelli so that we could get to the Padres game. We zipped back across Phoenix on I-10 and Loop 101 and got to the Peoria Sports Complex just in time to miss the top half of the first but we saw the Pads score 4 in the bottom half. The game went at least 10 innings and we never did find out who won because we left after the tenth.
A view from our seats
Another view from our seats
Lorri and the team mascot. I think he's called the "Swingin' Friar". I didn't want to get too close.
A Brian Lawrence fastball on the way to the plate
Kahlil Green on deck
Lorri relaxing in the stands
Jack & Lorri at the old ballgame
We went back to Pleasant Lake Camp Ground and found another nice spot.
On to Pie Town!
The next day we took US 60 east out of Phoenix, mainly because we wanted to stay off the Interstates and visit Pie Town, New Mexico, which happens to be on Route 60.
US 60 shows on the Rand McNally as s scenic route and as we left the Phoenix area, I was a bit skeptical but as we climbed up the grade toward Superior, Globe and Show Low, it truly was scenic and at times, spectacular.
I had no idea that this part of Arizona was so HIGH! With elevation comes lower temperatures, and of course we had the ever-present wind.
I'm not sure what this gorge is called but it was very impressive. The highway winds down a series of switchbacks all the way to the river below and then climbs back up; and ear-popping experience.
Lorri at a viewpoint.
Looking down the valley from where we came.
