Rolling, rolling, rolling...

Up and at it this morning.  As we arranged with Steph, I called her as soon as we were ready to start hooking up the "train," so they could come by to say one last good-bye.  Exactly right on time, I was just locking up the Honda after we checked the lights - ready to roll.  We said our teary good-byes, then Steph gave us an Easter basket to take with us on the road - these two are so sweet.

Inside the Aspect, I grabbed my camera and went back for one last photo...

Don't let the smiles fool you - they are gonna miss us.  ;-)

It was 8:15 as we headed for the Interstate, hoping that we'd be ahead of the usual Phoenix traffic...

Yep.  But, I know you don't care about the traffic - what about Rufus?  How'd he do?  Thanks for asking.  We kept him in his carrier for the first 15 minutes or so... I have mentioned that he can be vocal.  Yep, again.  This is his first time with the RV moving (even though we have taken him for car rides), so the little furry boy wasn't sure about the whole thing...

Joan held him in her lap, and he was OK.  He wanted to hop down, but we wanted to get through Phoenix first.  Fortunately, the traffic remained light, even past the airport...

Joan let him down, but followed him around to make sure he was OK.  He wanted to come over to my side of the cab, but I was concerned that he'd hop down and get under the gas and brake pedals.

Joan held him in a blanket for a while.

South of Phoenix, past Casa Grande, and by Picacho Peak...

Heading towards Tucson, Joan opened our Easter basket...

All kinds of sweets, some cat toys for Rufus, gift cards, and a really nice card that they both signed, saying how much they enjoyed having us here for the past couple months.  It is very special for us, too.  Plus, did I mention: we got sweets?  ;-)

We stopped to top of fuel; gas prices are running around $2.55 most places, about 25% higher than when we came through here two months ago.  On the bright side, the weather weasels were calling for hot and sunny, with building wind.  It was overcast and didn't get above 80º; the headwind we had on the way to Tucson, turned to a quartering tailwind as we turned east.

Rufus settled in, ready for a nap...

East of Tucson, you climb from the low teens to over 4,000' elevation...

I mentioned he can be vocal...

Rufus decided he was going to come sit with me...

Being RVers, we stopped at a rest area for lunch, for all three of us.  Rufus was a happy boy, knowing that the meal service he has become accustomed to continues, even when this house moves.

Continuing east...

The driving is easier when I have some help...

We ran into some crappy road surfaces in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.  Rufus asked, "It it always going to be like this??"

The road surface smoothed out, and he was able to get back to his cat napping...

Getting an early start, we probably could have gone further, but we figured 350 miles was plenty enough for today - we are down for the night in south central New Mexico.  Land of Enchantment.  "Enchantment" is an old Indian word meaning: blowing dirt.

While I hooked up electric and cable, Joan put the jacks down and the slides out - Rufus is very happy that his "house" is back to normal.

I am very happy with how he did today.  We'll see how tomorrow goes...  Rufus: "Wait!  We're going to do this again??"

"Yep, we need to start checking off states that you've visited - with only two, you have quite a ways to go."  ;-)