Snowbird RV Adventure Part 2: Tempe to Picacho Peak State Park

Part 2: Days 16 - 19

Picacho Peak on the right and a volcanic dome on the left.

February 17-20: After four days of "city camping," we headed southeast on Interstate 10 to Picacho Peak State Park north of Tucson.

We wanted to stay here on our 2019 Rental RV Road Trip, but it was full. Reservations this time of year are a must. You can call last minute to see if there are any spots available.

Public parks are my favourite. They remind me of camping with my parents and tenting with Wayne when we were first married.

Sites are more spacious and typically give you some privacy from your neighbour. What's new is utility hookups in most parks and very few tent campers.

Site #22 in Loop A with a view, privacy and ramada cover for the picnic table.

We reserved Site #A-22 online in November. Even then, many spots were booked. We selected one with a ramada (shelter) over the picnic table. I thought the extra shade would be important, but the sun angle kept it away from the table most of the time. Next year I won't use it as a selection criteria.

All of the park's parking pads are flat and tent areas are spacious if needed.

Also new is wifi available for purchase from AirBeam. We were skeptical at first, but have been pleased with the quality. It was $3.95 for one day or $8.95 for three days. The account allows your to connect any wifi capable device. Camping is a time to get away, but it's also good to remain connected.

Beautiful skies and clouds to watch.

We settled in and used the afternoon to relax, read and finished the day with the national news on our built-in TV using local air channels picked up by our antenna. What do you like to do while camping? -- Wayne and Margy

Trip Mileage Log

Leg - 71 miles

Total - 535 miles

Using one of Mom's "flippers" is nostalgic for me.

When we first thought about RVing, we talked to our good Powell River friends Dave and Marg. They have a truck camper and use it for family and hunting trips. Dave had two big tips for us, take a flipper and a space heater. 

Flipper first. Dave's a great cook. Pancakes (and cobblers) are a specialty, so a flipper is a must. What's a flipper you ask? Listening to Dave I figured it out. Yes, I have a flipper on board.

Our RV's 30 amp system can only handle one space heater.

The other was a space heater. We thought a thermostatically controlled propane heater was enough, but it was a good thing we took Dave's advice. The propane heater on our first Rental RV Trip broke.

We use a ceramic space heater almost daily in sites with electricity. Heaters draw too much power for battery use. To be safe, we only use it while awake. It takes the chill off in the morning, and warms us in the evening. Then night heating reverts to our on-board propane heater.