Postcard from Arizona-2

Benson, AZ

We stayed a week at the KOA in Benson, AZ. It was a good stop and we enjoyed the rural setting including the yowling coyotes. We were surrounded by mountains (Dragoons et al) with desert brush & cactus everywhere outside the park. Sunsets were spectacular and, thanks to getting rousted by the dogs at 7:30 every day, we are able to see the sunrise. I think I prefer watching the sun set to watching it rise before morning coffee! They even had a Thanksgiving dinner for the guests which was pretty cool.

Part of the display area at Davis-Monthan in Tucson, AZ

We made it to Davis-Monthan AFB for a visit with Dan & Betty to see their new 2011 Montana. Looks to be substantially the same as ours, so we don't have to be envious of a newer model! :) Montana works small changes into production throughout a model year, but outside shape changes or major changes to the interior seem to be reserved for a new model year (July? August?). While there we wandered thru a static display at the base, some of which are active aircraft at the base, then lunch before heading back to rescue the dogs.

We've known about the local SKP park in Benson but had never been there. It's not owned by Escapees RV Club, but it is affiliated hence the phonetically similar name. RVing friends we'd met in Santa Fe were really enthused about SKP Saguaro and had gotten on the 'hot list' to lease a site (currently an 8 year wait). So we decided to drive over and take a look. Wow! What a place! Huge sites on the order of 2,500 +/- sq ft; wide, paved roads; 50A/30A power with full hookup; giant club house with activities scheduled all day. Something for everyone it seemed.

Our assigned site at SKP Saguaro in Benson, AZ

Lease holder sites are available to rent by visitors when the lease holder is absent. While they don't receive income from the rental, they do get credit against their annual fees so there's incentive. The park is very popular with Escapees members and this is the busiest time of year here, so I never expected to find a place for the remaining 6-weeks we'll be in Arizona. But I asked anyway and- tah-dah! -they had room for us. May have to move at some point if the lease holder returns unexpectedly, but I believe we're covered one way or another till it's time for my mid-January appt. So we hitched up on Saturday AM, trundled across town and checked in at SKP Saguaro. We ended up in a site which has a casita (not available for use by a renter). But the site has a large *level* pad and the it's landscaped. Pretty nice digs.

And check the size of the streets and lots. Even I finally managed to get parked here.

To cap it all off we learned that Mike & Susan, the folks who told us about SKP Saguaro while we were in Santa Fe, have decided to leave Seattle and are headed to Benson. How cool is that?!