Traveling on I-40: Tennessee to Arizona

March 7

Turned clocks back: CST

Big Bear; Little Bear

Hopping on I-40 in Knoxville, we traveled to Memphis where we settled in at the Graceland RV Park, across the street from Elvis Presley’s famous home.  We had happy hour in the adjacent Heart Break Hotel.  Not being big Elvis fans, neither of us desired to tour the home. 

Elvis's grave

However we were told that if we were at the Graceland gate NLT 0730 in the morning, we could walk onto the estate and visit the Meditation Garden where Elvis and parents are buried. So we did!  It was a lovely way to start the day before breaking camp and heading out of Tennessee.

March 8

Turned clocks forward: CDT

Weather was holding, so we decided to stay on I-40.  We passed through Arkansas, picking up one more state for our map of states traveled in the Casita. 

We were happy to drop in on my college roommate Kay and Doug in eastern Oklahoma.  So glad they were available! We had visited them in their comfortable, rustic home above Tenkiller Lake in 2011.  Although we had very little time to spare on this trip we made the best of it, even accompanying them to their friendly church on Sunday morning.

March 9

Lake Elk City Park

Still in Oklahoma we discovered a delightful, free campsite at a local park in Elk City, OK.  It seemed to be a popular site for the local folk, walking, playing ball, water sports on the too-low lake.  But come sundown we had the entire park to ourselves.

March 10

Turned clocks back: MDT

We had an excellent lunch at Dell’s in Tucumcari, NM and then 45 miles later had a total blow-out on one of the Casita tires.  No cause for panic.  The same thing had happened in 2011 in the middle of Washington state.  USAA came to our rescue in the form of Bobby, whom we had just seen at Dell’s.

Kirtland AFB Family Camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico was our destination for the night. The next morning we bought new tires at Discount Tires close by.

March 11

Turned clocks back: MST

It’s becoming very difficult to tell what the correct local time is!  Arizona does not move to Daylight Savings Time.  At least now we are actually on PDT so we won’t have to change our clocks again!

 

We decided to take a short cut and leave I-40 at Holbrook in Arizona.  The highway was nearly deserted and very scenic.  Several US Forest Service campgrounds along the route were closed.  It’s still cold at 6000 and 7000 feet altitude! So we settled down for the night at the Payson RV Park, among the pine and cactus, the high chaparral.  Tomorrow: Phoenix! Yes!!!