California to Texas is 1,400 miles 2013

Our visit to Bakersfield was to say the least, anticlimactic.  We had weather issues, Drag races do not happen of wet race tracks.  In the end, the 3 day event of March Madness was shortened to 2 of it’s 4 days.  Maybe next year.

We ran 357 miles into Quartzite, AZ.  This is further than we usually drive but there was a vision of Silly Al’s pizza in my head.

We left for points East the next morning, at a late afternoon fuel stop we ran right into serendipity.  Anne-Marie noted that the Saguaro Co-op was in this town, a phone call told us they had a few sites available out of their 302.  It was so nice and inviting we stayed 3 days, giving up the head start we had gotten by leaving early.

It is the nature of commercial campgrounds that they do not age well.  This member owned Co-Op is about 25 years old and looks as new.  Sitting on a bluff a short ways from Benson, most of the sites are improved with Casitas and have desert plantings along with beautiful views.

 

 

 

The Clubhouse has about 5,000 sq feet in dinning area where they have about 3 meals a week.  These are put on by volunteers for various charities, our Fish fry was excellent at a cost of $7.00.   There a side rooms with libraries and exercise facilities.  The is a separate ‘Man Cave’ with wood and metal working tools.

We were so impressed that we have put ourselves on the 3 year waiting list to buy a lease.  We will be paying about $9600 for the lot plus reimbursing the previous owner for (recited) capitol improvements.  The high end would be $20k for a real nice casita (W/plumbing), covered porch and ‘widow’s walk.   Annual cost is about $700 for assessments, power and taxes.  If owners are absent, they can put their site into the rental pool.  In that case 75% of the earning returns to help defray campground improvements.

 

 

 

 

 

Next issue will tell you about our visit to Tombstone.