Yesterday we pulled out of Quartzsite. It was fun for a few days, but it became tiresome. We drove west a couple of miles to access I-10 east at the Dome Rock exit. This avoided the traffic mess in Quartzsite.

We stopped in  Buckeye and topped up the fuel tank with 40 gallons of fuel. The price was good. The Chevron station with truck and RV lanes at exit 114 was selling diesel fuel @ $3.56/gallon. While we were stopped, Donna made lunch. We ate before resuming our route back to Mesa. The drive was uneventful – this coach handles like a dream.

Donna was able to work on her laptop as we rolled down the road. We set up a tray table in front of her seat and it worked out great. She looked at options for camping near Mesa. We decided to camp in the Tonto National Forest near the Salt River. Donna called the ranger station for information. She found out that our National Parks inter-agency pass would allow us to buy the National Forest access permit for half price. We could dry camp in the camping areas for three dollars per day! The ranger told Donna where to buy the pass. We stopped at a gas station at the corner of Main and Ellsworth – right on our route – and bought a pass for one day so we could check it out.

We went to the Phon D Sutton recreational area, just south of Bush Highway between Power Road and Usery Road. RVs can set up in the parking lots from November to April. There is a 14-day limit. Then you have to leave the Tonto National Forest for 16 days before you can return to stay at any of the park’s recreation areas.

Our spot last night

We met the camp host and a few other friendly people camping there.

View from our doorstep

This morning, I dropped the trailer and left it locked up in the campground. We drove the coach to Apache Junction where I had an appointment to change the oil and filters in the engine and the generator. Although the dealer that sold us the coach said the oil was recently changed, he was a little vague about it. Diesel engine oil turns black soon after an oil change, so it’s hard to tell if it’s freshly changed or not. Oil and filter service on a big Cummins diesel isn’t cheap – it takes more than six gallons of oil! I could have pulled an oil sample and sent it for analysis, but I’d rather change the oil and have a baseline to work from.

Once that’s done, we’ll buy more daily access passes and spend the next 10 days or so down by the Salt River.