Tucson and a New RV!

While in Tucson, we continued to look at larger RVs, although we still debated whether or not to buy one. Our 22-foot Catalina is great, and it would be perfect for a trip of just a few weeks, but it's feeling tighter and tighter as we think about the six months of travel to come! We narrowed our search down to RVs with two slides for extra room, a rear living area with two comfortable chairs for relaxing, a separate table and chairs (instead of a dinette with fixed benches), and a shower stall. Nestor Diaz, at Beaudry RV, helped us find the Forest River Sabre 30RLDS, which fit the bill to a T. The Sabre threw a monkey wrench into our discussions, as it's a fifth wheel, which is much different than a travel trailer. After four more days of debate, we bought it!

The switch from the Catalina to the Sabre took nine days, during which we stayed in Beaudry's transitional park. It took several days for Don, a very thorough mechanic, to prepare the Sabre and for us to prepare the truck by selling the cap and having a fifth wheel hitch mounted in it. Don then spent two hours with us, explaining how to operate and care for the Sabre. It took another day and a half to move everything from the Catalina to the Sabre and another two days to actually live in the Sabre and list the flaws we found. By then, it was the weekend, so fixes had to wait until Monday.

The Sabre sitting next to the Catalina in Beaudry's transitional park:


We hadn't even finished moving everything out of the Catalina when it was sold!


We had some free time during the big transition, so we took a few little trips. The first was to Tucson Mountain Park.

Ocotillo in bloom:


Porcupine prickly pear:


Another type of prickly pear:


Spring Beauties (?)


Another type of prickly pear (this one outside Old Tucson Studios, where lots of old western movies and TV shows were filmed):