On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, 22 November, I headed out on a solo road trip to El Paso, TX. My dad's accountant had to settle an estate sale on a 2015 Subaru Forester with only 8100 miles on it. His sister in El Paso bought it, but couldn't figure out the best way to get it there.
Wish I would have known, I would have bought it for the family or my son. My dad wasn't going to drive it and didn't want her to fly in and drive it back either. Both are 70+ in age.
Shipping was $1300 for just over 500 miles. I told my dad I would do it no problem, and that was a ridiculous quote for such a short distance. We are 1 hour from the nearest major interstate, so I get it, but won't pay it.
The weather was perfect, and it was only one day out of our family trip and I had just been home, so the kids spent time with my mum and took her to lunch at In N Out burger as they had been craving it for so long.
I was on the road at 0350 , passing through Phoenix in the dark and finally seeing the sun rise over Picacho Peak, where I had seen many jets and A-10s buzz by in the 90s from Davis-Monthan AF base.
I cruised into Tucson and made a short detour down Speedway Blvd. to the University of Arizona, my alma mater, to have a quick drive around campus. There were many changes and I drove by one of the houses that I lived in while going to school there. Was very nostalgic to see what had changed and relive the time I had on that campus.
Continuing on I-10 east for the New Mexico border going through Willcox and Benson and the turn off for Douglas down by the border. Very pretty country. One summer for All Star baseball, we had won in Holbrook to make it to the State playoffs in Douglas, only to lose our first game, but we made it. Mom was a trooper taking me from the heat of the reservation to the border town of southern Arizona to play baseball.
I love southern Arizona, well pretty much all of Arizona. The beauty rivals the ocean and the sunsets and sunrises either at the low desert or higher altitudes where my parents live is truly stunning.
I blasted through New Mexico, seeing a few more troopers in black and white Tahoes. Traffic was not an issue and the rest stops for fuel were plentiful. I only needed two. A fill up before departure and $54 of 87 octane for the trip. Averaged 27-33mpg at 77mph. That Subaru was easy to drive. Not going to win any off the line runs, but everywhere else it excelled.
Train in New Mexico for
@adventurenali92
I made the turn off to Trans Mountain bypassing Las Cruces and the smallest sign in Texas showed me that I had left NM. I arrived into El Paso at 1230.
This trip was no big deal and I hadn't seen my cousin, aunt or uncle in over 20 years!!! No kidding. My other aunt I had seen a few years ago, but happy to help her out and get a great road trip across some beautiful desert countryside.
My uncle recounted some Vietnam stories as he spent most of his time in the Navy running the river boats.
The last time I saw my cousin was at the family house in Mexico for a massive reunion, and he was going to buy a Camaro.
Well he did buy a 1967 Camaro that he still has. He bought a newer Corvette, sold it, then a new Camaro and got into track racing and then some autocross.
Funny thing he said was that he would rather drive slower car fast than a faster car slow. I cannot recall which one had 600HP, but I think it spooked him a bit. Was cool to catch up. He is married with an 11 year old now.
He was and I think is the ultimate Star Wars nerd since he was a little kid. He had every figure in the storage boxes and aircraft from the movies. We spent a lot of holidays over there when my Grandma was alive. Thankfully that was only when the original I, II and III were on the scene so it was easier to keep track of the figures. To most, they are now known as IV, V and VI. Pick your way, but in my book they are the OG I, II and III. lol
We grabbed some lunch at a hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint.
Squarebody pic was better then my tacos lol!!
We dropped by one of my aunts house to pick something up, which turned out to be my Grandmas old house. I did not know that. Holy cow! That was pretty cool to see.
Then I was back at the airport for my 1hr 20min flight back to Phoenix. Definitely in Texas when you can get a boot shine as well.
My dad was down in the Valley doing some shopping and picked me up at the airport. I drove home another 2 hours to their house. Traffic was bit hectic and he isn't as steady and confident as he used to be. We were home by 2100. A long day indeed, but glad to help everyone out.
