July 30, later in the day

"a passage way to hell"---Andrew doesn't hear quite right...what we really did was part of the Apache Trail.  Lots of curves in the road and beautiful views. Scrubby trees, TALL cactus, and other shorter varieties of cactus, some blooming!  Superstition Mountain, Tonto National Park, and more - WOW.  Daniel (nephew) is a great tour guide.  We are amazed at the brown, hardly any grass.  It actually rained today.  Daniel said that usually the sky is blue, no clouds.  Today it was cloudy and it rained. I have a picture of rain drops on the windshield before they evaporated. It is amazing that the land along the roads doesn't have grass, but tannish rocks. They look like big, giant landscaped beds. Going to eat this evening at a "western town" themed restaurant.  Bye for now. and we'll get some pictures uploaded as well.  Hope all is well in Indiana....I heard it rained today! Oh, the temperature on a sign by the Interstate said 112!  It is hot, but not humid.  Still hot :).

July 30

Brain fart: Belt. Not hose. (Not that it matters so far as breaking down goes.)

The flight out was uneventful--we're in Phoenix. High temperature of the day 106. But it still feels better than home (not so humid).

Daniel is well. We're going to tour the area around Chandler / Phoenix.

Aurora lands at 7pm local time and we'll get her there.

July 29

Poor Sunshine.  She tries so hard :).  We left last night at right before 10 PM and barely made it to mile marker 42 when  Sunshine popped a hose.  We THINK it is the same hose that we had replaced in Fort St. John, Canada 5 years ago!!  Anywho, it broke and fragmented in the fan, which is never good.  We don't know if there was/or how much damage (with her luck, most likely) so we cannot go to California via the Yellow Submarine, aka Sunshine, like we planned (for years!).  She will sit at Berg's until we return.
We went to Plan B and arranged plane transport to Phoenix to pick up Aurora and visit with Daniel.  Then a van to Vegas, 29 Palms to visit Jordan, aka Tiger, and Hannah and then up the California coast, catching up with Alessio and Andrea in San Francisco, ending at Forks, Washington, then down to Phoenix a different route.  We start our journey in 5 hours, with an EARLY flight from Louisville.  We will post pictures when we can; and update when we can.  See you soon!!
Signing off,
Kyana Verkamps

July 28

Prepping for the trip.  Hip! Hip! Hurray!