Tucson!

Made it to Tucson. Four hours down boredom boulevard, turn right at Hatch, and then 4 more hours to Tucson. I worked for a couple hours on a paper while Tim drove.

Stopped at a million dollar bathroom and pulled out some tahini, bread and carrots for lunch. Then I snored while Tim drove. Hatch looked kinda cool. Hot Damm Chile. Chile Willie's. Hatch is famous for its chile--red or green. Found some coffee at Sparky's Espresso.

In Hatch, we tried our first 60 mph SPOT OK message. And apparently it worked because it showed up on our SPOT adventure.

At dusk, east of Tucson, we drove through a zone of rounded granite boulders in Texas Canyon that reminded us of Joshua Tree National Monument where we did a lot of climbing while I was in grad school. Cochise Stronghold in the distance was blood red in the setting sun. The traffic got a little intense near Tucson. Leo's directions got us to their house without much confusion. Parked out front, met their new puppy Sukie and their old puppy Olive. Leo grilled up some slabs of steak with mushrooms, green chile, and a roasted red pepper-garlic-olive oil sauce.

For breakfast we have requested the Leo Special, a Fiesta de Bacon! And some exercise before we get back in the car to go to Yuma. Our Christmas present from Leo and Leslie is a new door handle for the Nissan! Leo found one at a Tucson auto parts store. Que milagro! Now we won't need therapy over letting each other in the passenger side door.