This morning we loaded up the old Prius and headed south. It was such a beautiful morning at home we were almost reluctant to leave. Clear skies over the Cascades provided a brilliant sunrise. Mt. Rainier and little Tahoma were clear. An eagle flew by and then an osprey. Lots of rain in the forecast so we left, destination Arizona and the great Southwest.
After a quick stop in Poulsbo to check on the boat, we zipped down to Fife to buy a sofa (Merry Christmas me!) and slogged through post holiday traffic down I-5 to Centralia where D uncharacteristically turned in to the discount mall and bought himself a Pendleton shirt and a Coach belt. Merry Christmas David. Killing time at Chico's, I ended up with a new dressy blouse.
Nothing but solid stop and go traffic all the way to Cottage Grove where we got a room and an amazing dinner at Jackspratts. Crispy tofu version of coconut shrimp on quinoa and fresh greens, more than I could eat.
Day two saw us landing in Chico Ca in a dubious Best Western which turned out fine and trying to get into the Sierra Nevada brewpub for dinner but it was totally packed, then a Chinese restaurant that was totally empty and a little creepy so we found a great place nearby, The Pourhouse, that made us very happy.
Next day google maps directed us onto a short cut that put us on a narrow dirt road in the rice fields outside Chico. Awesome birding there and soon the road normalized and we were going over high passes on the way to Reno. Saw cousins and hit the road again for the Owens Valley. Stayed at the Vagabond Motel, almost the only vacant room in town. So overpriced! Lots of vacationers in the area.
Friday we enjoyed cruising through Death Valley, lunch at the surprising Amargosa Cafe in Death Valley Junction, then a great time in Pahrump, NV, with cousins.
Saturday was a long drive to Tucson with a stop for late lunch in Wickenburg. We like that little town. Got to our Airbnb in Tucson after dark. Stayed 10 days. Loved it. Two nights in Bisbee at the Bisbee Grand Hotel. Witnessed the amazing arrival of the Sandhill Cranes at the Whitewater Draw.
On the way to Silver City, we spent three hours at the Amerind Museum in Dragoon. Wow! Rediscovered Rodney's in Willcox but the meal didn't match up to our memories. Landed just fine at the Agave Adobe and here we are, several days later, happy to be back in Silver again.
