Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Trip Report (My "Birthday Trip")
| Trip Report [message #294379] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 12:22  |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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I turned 60 last Saturday, the 16th and here is a summary of my "Birthday Trip":
We left Tucson and traveled the 240 miles to Yuma on Friday, 1/15. I've been through Yuma dozens of times, but never really stopped there for much else than a bite to eat and some gas. We overnighted at the Paradise Casino, across the river in Winterhaven, CA. They have a big dirt lot and will allow you to stay there for $10.00 for three nights. We toured the Yuma Territorial Prison (State Park), went for lunch and a date shake at Martha's Garden Date Farm. We also met up with a nice GMC couple from Canada, Janice Tronsgard-Culig, and her husband Carlo, who I recycled a couple of brake drums to for a little gas money. We ate dinner at the casino, lost $35.00 to video poker, and won $27.00 back the next morning. Saturday morning we did a little grocery shopping and headed out.
Next destination was Anza Borrego Desert State Park, west of the Salton Sea in California. This is California's largest state park and is in a very dry desert environment (6" rainfall/year average) at the western base of the San Ysidro Mountains. The campground was very nice with full hookups and paved, roomy spaces for $35.00/night. A 2 mile hike from the campground took us to a palm tree oasis complete with lots of running water in the creek, and a chance to see Desert Bighorn Sheep along the hike. We didn't spot any sheep on the way in, but saw several, both rams and ewes on the way out. I managed to get a few good pics (on Facebook). This is a very remote area, although the town of Borrego Springs has several stores, motels, etc and seems to be a thriving community. We stayed there for three nights.
Next destination was Quartzsite, AZ for the big RV show. We left Anza Borrego Tuesday morning and headed out, across the park on highyay S-22 toward 86, then north to Mecca where we took 195 (Box Canyon Road) up to I-10. Just as we were leaving the agricultural area east of Mecca, we spotted another GMC coming the opposite direction. Much flashing of lights and waving commenced as we passed each other. This was a nice curvy gradually sloped road that comes out onto I-10 right at the exit for Joshua Tree National Park. Right before we got onto I-10, we spotted another GMC going west, and then two more within a few miles. We guessed they were Pacific Cruisers heading home from their Lake Havasu rally.
Quartzsite was a zoo as always during the show, but lots of fun. We stayed down at the Roadrunner 14 day (free) area south of town a few miles, where we used to camp with Dan & Teri Gregg (Missed them!!). WE met up with Hal St Clair and his wife, Bianca and had a chance to go look at his re-engineered coach with the diesel/4L80E, Revcon transfer case,, GM Truck third member, 1-ton front end, 75 gallon fuel tank, Kubota generator, etc, etc. What a nice job he has done on this coach! Great couple too. AS we were getting some lunch at the big tent event the next day, we came face to face with one of the newest Saguaro Jetsetters, Bill Bolka, whom we had just met the month before at our Ajo rally. Imagine that, out of 100,000 people there, we randomly ran into someone we knew! Oh, we saw four more GMCs in Quartzsite, besides Hal's, and got to talk with Mac the Fire Guy and Jim, G's wife Ada.
Left Q on Friday morning to head to the GMCSJ rally at the Pinal County (AZ) Fairgrounds, the Bluegrass Festival Rally where Bill was also headed. We decided to stop at a rest area about 75 miles out to shower, figuring there would be hot water by that time. It was barely lukewarm. I guess that restrictor in the hose to the heat exchanger doesn't let the water heat up very fast. On to the rally with a stop in Gila Bend to take advantage of a free dump station at Holt's Shell. At the rally, there were a total of seven GMCs along with five SOBs. We all had fun listening to the bands Including our own campfire group featuring Steve Ferguson and his jamming buddies from Sierra Vista, checking out the car show, and watching the antique tractor pulls.
On home and back to reality Sunday morning where we proceeded to catch up on mundane things like doing laundry, grocery shopping, unloading the motorhome, and thinking about going back to work, while envying our retired friends who were going back to a less hectic lifestyle or going off on another adventure.
The GMC performed flawlessly the whole trip and appeared to get terrific gas mileage in California where the towing speed limit is 55. Both it and the Tracker have a noticeable amount more power at the near sea level elevations in the low desert than they do at our 2,600' elevation at home.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Trip Report [message #294381 is a reply to message #294379] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 12:29  |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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Happy birthday, young man. Now you can vote and buy whiskey. Remember, the ones with the zeroes on the end are the hard ones to get past. Many more!
--johnny
Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: Trip Report [message #294383 is a reply to message #294381] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 12:40 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Thanks, I'm still not old enough to drink 
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Trip Report [message #294403 is a reply to message #294379] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 16:27 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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Happy Birthday Carl.
As you can see I never made it to Quartzsite. I really wanted to go but I ended up having to attend to my brother for the week. He had a leg removed and was released from rehab a week ago Friday. On top of that my air-head niece lost his car keys (chipped Key), so I ended up driving him to various places all week. He can only walk about 50 feet on each attempt. he has only had the artificial leg for about a week.
Oh well, there is always next year.
It sounds like you had a great time.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: Trip Report [message #294419 is a reply to message #294403] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 21:03 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 25 January 2016 15:27Happy Birthday Carl.
As you can see I never made it to Quartzsite. I really wanted to go but I ended up having to attend to my brother for the week. He had a leg removed and was released from rehab a week ago Friday. On top of that my air-head niece lost his car keys (chipped Key), so I ended up driving him to various places all week. He can only walk about 50 feet on each attempt. he has only had the artificial leg for about a week.
Oh well, there is always next year.
It sounds like you had a great time.
Ken, I was kind of keeping an eye out for you but figured you were not able to make it. It's a long way to travel for you for just a few days. You should consider making a motorhome trip out of it sometime with Laurie and stay in the warm Southwest for a while.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #294420 is a reply to message #294384] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 21:06 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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James Hupy wrote on Mon, 25 January 2016 11:45That $37.00 you gave to the Indians would buy some pretty good booze.
Sounds like a good time. Hal and his wife are good people. We get together
when we can.
Jim Hupy
On Jan 25, 2016 10:41 AM, "Carl Stouffer" wrote:
> Thanks, I'm still not old enough to drink
> --
> Carl Stouffer
> '75 ex Palm Beach
> Tucson, AZ.
>
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Hal has some SERIOUSLY enviable fabrication and mechanical skills. The conversion(s) he did on that coach is pretty incredible.
Hope you're well on the road to recovery.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #294425 is a reply to message #294420] |
Mon, 25 January 2016 22:13 |
Hal StClair
Messages: 971
Registered: March 2013
Location: Rio Rancho NM
Karma: -12
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Senior Member |
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Happy birthday Carl. It was a real pleasure to meet you and your lovely wife Kathy. Thank you for the kind words but with out my wonderful, understanding wife beside and with me I couldn't accomplish much. It,s obvious you have the same support with yours.
It was fun visiting your coach and seeing some of the improvements you've done to yours. I'd sure like to find an awning like yours  , it really complements the look of the GMC. Yours certainly looks great.
Thank you also Jim,hope you're feeling better.
Hal
"I enjoy talking to you. Your mind appeals to me. It resembles my own mind, except you happen to be insane."
1977 Royale 101348,
1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
Rio Rancho, NM
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| Re: [GMCnet] Trip Report [message #294538 is a reply to message #294425] |
Wed, 27 January 2016 08:18 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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Hal StClair wrote on Mon, 25 January 2016 21:13Happy birthday Carl. It was a real pleasure to meet you and your lovely wife Kathy. Thank you for the kind words but with out my wonderful, understanding wife beside and with me I couldn't accomplish much. It,s obvious you have the same support with yours.
It was fun visiting your coach and seeing some of the improvements you've done to yours. I'd sure like to find an awning like yours , it really complements the look of the GMC. Yours certainly looks great.
Thank you also Jim,hope you're feeling better.
Hal
Pleasure meeting you and Bianca as well. You're right about my wife being very supportive. She was a bit reluctant to get into RV ownership at first, thinking that as a working couple, we wouldn't get much use out of a motorhome. But, as soon as she found out she found out how much fun we can have with it, she was all in.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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