So hard to say goodbye (cue Boyz II Men)

I think the hardest part about this trip so far, is meeting people, whose company we enjoy, and having to leave. I think this is true of military life in general, but add military life to RV life and you have a very quickly changing social setting, that makes it hard to leave the places that you have come to appreciate. I know that we have all found that to be true of Davis-Monthan AFB. From the Happy Hours, to Tombstone, to the kids down the block, to the ranger program and park activities, we really enjoyed Tucson, but alas, we have more people to meet and things to do and places to see, so on we go.

Today's drive was a debate for me. There was a more highway-intensive route, and the route that we took.  The route that we took, left Tucson on highway 77, which merged with highway 60 and took us through Tonto National Forest and two different Apache tribal nations, and brought us to the town of Show Low, AZ by which time I was tired of driving and everyone insisted on being hungry at the same time (well, that part actually worked out), and we ended up finding a nice private RV park for the evening with excellent WiFi and cable. It is a little over budget, but we were all just DONE, and it is convenient for a quick access to our destination for tomorrow.

The drive through Tonto was beautiful and a little scary and reminded me of Zion National Park, but with more trees, and more traffic. I remember when we drove through Zion, I was thinking to myself that I was glad we were just in the Pilot and not the RV. Well, this time, we were in the RV and the switchbacks and hairpin turns were insane, and we definitely put the new engine through it's paces. I feel fairly confident right now that we have a decent engine and we'll be good going forward. It pulled the Pilot up and down the mountains, and we had no issues with the braking system, or the engine or anything else. So that's good anyway, right?

In any case, this song has become our travel anthem, if you will, and I think it is about perfect for our adventure. The kids and I belt it out and sing along with every single word.

Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne)

Clean Bandit

"Oh We're a thousand miles from comfort, we have traveled land and sea

But as long as you are with me, there's no place I'd rather be
I would wait forever, exalted in the scene
As long as I am with you, my heart continues to beat

With every step we take, Kyoto to The Bay
Strolling so casually
We're different and the same, gave you another name
Switch up the batteries

If you gave me a chance I would take it
It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it
Know with all of your heart, you can't shame me
When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
Ooh ooh

We staked out on a mission to find our inner peace
Make it everlasting so nothing's incomplete
It's easy being with you, sacred simplicity
As long as we're together, there's no place I'd rather be

With every step we take, Kyoto to The Bay
Strolling so casually
We're different and the same, gave you another name
Switch up the batteries

If you gave me a chance I would take it
It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it
Know with all of your heart, you can't shame me
When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be (Yeah)

Hoo
(Be)
Yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah-e-yeah, yeah, yeah

If you gave me a chance I would take it
It's a shot in the dark but I'll make it
Know with all of your heart, you can't shame me
When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be
N-n-n-no, no, no, no place I'd rather be

When I am with you, there's no place I'd rather be"