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Old 01-25-2011, 05:41 PM   #1
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First Trip to a Warm Spot

We live in OR and most of our trips have been within the state or to the coast. We are leaving Saturday for a trip down to Green Valley, AZ and plan to stay a couple of weeks.

Since this is our first time in a hotter place I am sure there are some things we should watch out for. Like, how to keep various critters out of/away from the rig.

If we are in an RV park in Green Valley, in a resort-type place, are we likely to run into tarantulas, snakes, ants, spiders or other beings of that nature? Can critters crawl out of the sewer or water tank while we are hooked up?

Okay, okay, go ahead and laugh. Then please tell me what you think.

Thanking you in advance.
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Old 01-25-2011, 06:43 PM   #2
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LOL....look on the thread I started entitled "Can Snakes Get In?". They scared me to death, but after all the "let's scare the girl!" BS, they told me it's highly unusual for snakes to get in - although they will crawl up in old derelict trailers looking for mice. Mice do get in - or have certainly been in ours. Spiders can get in, but I think people bomb their trailers before they leave to take care of that. Ants are kept away by spraying around the wheels and jacks with insecticide, probably. Oh, and don't put outside stuff in the inside storage - might bring in a bug! I put decon in ratty looking places in our trailer. I KILL meeses!

I'm telling you, they laughed at me - but I have a horror about it. But they ended up making me laugh, too!

I'm happy for you that you get to go to a warmer place. I will be following you to someplace warmer as soon as we get our rig ready to go!
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Old 01-25-2011, 07:45 PM   #3
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Always check your shoes for scorpions before you put them on...
Look in the toilet before you sit down....
Check all covers before getting in....
Open cabinet doors slowly....
Tarantulas can jump, but they don't bite....
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Old 01-25-2011, 07:56 PM   #4
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I was in Green Valley for a couple weeks in January '03 with a farmer's daughter. I was bored out of my mind. I remember driving one night on a back road in the desert, on the way to a restaurant, and counting the coyotes. The air is good there due to the elevation.

Then we stayed in Tucson for two weeks. That was better than Green Valley. More for me to do. Farmer's daughter spends money . . . is not fussy where. I spend too . . . I'm not very fussy either.

I liked the Tucson fairgrounds flea market every Saturday. I learned to go hungry. There was a lot of good food there. We were staying in hotels and didn't have any run ins with any bugs or varmints.

I liked Apache Junction better than Tucson area and I liked the huge flea market at Mesa. Food was cheaper in Apache Junction and the traffic was mild compared to Tucson.

I may like flea markets.
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Old 01-25-2011, 09:56 PM   #5
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We have spent a lot of time in the area that you plan to visit. There is almost zero chance that you will be bothered by the critters that you mentioned while staying in a developed campground. The snakes are hibernating as it is winter and the rest of the critters are out in the desert.
You will enjoy yourselves as there is lots to do. Nearby are casinos with gambling and fine dining. There is lots of golf in Green Valley. Tubac is nearby and there are art galleries and fine dining there.
The gem show is coming to Tucson soon and it is world famous. Several major league baseball teams make Tucson their winter homes and the Cactus League will start soon.
There is lots of hiking in Madera Canyon and around Patagonia.
Nogales, Sonora is down the road and you can walk across the border, shop and have lunch with zero risk.
Bissbee and Tombstone are short drives away and are tourist attractions.
Getting out in your Airstream is what it is all about. Enjoy your trip.
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Old 01-26-2011, 02:49 AM   #6
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Handn sounds like an Arizona native. Good tips. Winter is great in Arizona; it gets cold enough at night in the winter that there are usually no bugs, snakes or other critters. There could be small wild animals, but they usually avoid people. However, you might want to keep your pets near, as coyotes can be a hazard for them. Not like they'll stalk you, but you probably don't want to leave a poodle outside on a chain overnight, depending on how close the campground is to open desert.

Great weather now. It's supposed to be in the low 70's in Phoenix for the next week, and in the mid 40's at night -- great camping weather. It will be cooler in Green Valley even though it's farther south, as it's slightly higher in elevation. The weather will be really nice until a little after tax day, when it starts to warm up. Even after that, the evenings cool off real fast until later in May/June when the 100 degree weather comes.
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:21 AM   #7
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Be especially careful of the CHUPACABRAS if you go hiking in the desert at night!
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:37 AM   #8
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Be especially careful of the CHUPACABRAS if you go hiking in the desert at night!
Good point, BEWARE
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Old 01-26-2011, 09:41 AM   #9
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I was told recently by an individual in the Airstream business that he uses "oil of peppermint". He said he uses cotton balls to rub it on the outside of his AS at places where they might like to walk in.

Has anyone else used this? I'm going to give it a try.

The "bomb" before leaving for trips, or at least for the beginning of the season, sounds like a great idea too. I wonder if it (the "bomb") would kill mice too?

FYI (at least to give you all a good laugh) -- The last camping trip we took last Fall, I had a dream, I guess it was a dream, but it sure seemed real. (Maybe it was the ghost of a previous owner!) All I remember is someone telling me, in my ear, "It is a R......." -- as soon as I registered what was being said, by the time the letter "R" was said, I screamed and jumped up out of my bed (twin beds) and was headed for the door. My DH sat up and asked what was going on and I turned, looked at his bed, and made a dive for it. We were both on that one twin bed, turned on a flashlight, and I was prodding my covers and everything else I could reach looking for the "R" (which, I assume would have been finished off as being "RAT!!", however, I remember thinking about snakes as I was going to bed. A total bed check is what I always do. It's a good thing I can laugh at myself -- I'd love to have a video of that incident! : -)

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Old 01-26-2011, 10:12 AM   #10
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Total bed check - will do.
Shake out shoes - will do.
Remove keester from potty prior to the Big Flush - will do.

Feeling better now.
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Old 01-26-2011, 11:04 AM   #11
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You'll be fine and have a wonderful trip. Just use a little caution whenever you go somewhere new. If hiking in the brush, stomp your feet a bit and most everything will try to get out of your way. Always look close when stepping over downed logs, rattlesnakes love them. I was running once and jumped over a few, looked down at the last second to see one sunning himself there. How I got the extra mileage in mid air is beyond me, but I learned a good lesson...

Carol
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Old 01-26-2011, 12:29 PM   #12
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I still think a mongoose in my traylah would be good insurance! btw, Jack Russell terriers are known for hunting down and killing snakes, rats, etc. They use them on shipping docks to check cargo being brought in. I would have a useless but beautiful Bichon Frise.
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Old 01-26-2011, 01:35 PM   #13
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We live here. Some don't go out at night without a baseball bat. I prefer a double barrel shotgun. And, our two standard poodles enjoy chasing coyotes but they stay away from the mountain lions. Be sure to use duct tape to secure your trouser pant legs as the spiders like to crawl up your leg when you least expect it. Being a dry climate they like the moist areas.
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Old 01-26-2011, 01:56 PM   #14
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We visit the Tucson area quite often and will be headed that way in just a few weeks.


At this time of year, we have never seen snakes or scorpions - and we do spend quite a bit of time out in the desert hiking and geocaching.

Tombstone and even more so, (In my mind!) Bisbee is a great spot to visit if you have time - after leaving Tucson to start the trek home, we often stop for a couple of nights at the "Queen Mine RV park" in Bisbee. Very small, only maybe 30 sites, no real amenities other than laundry and washrooms, but very well kept and about a five minute walk from the centre of town. It is perched on the edge of a huge dis-used open pit mine, so I hope it is still there this year!

We always used to make a day trip to Nogales, a border city in Mexico when visiting Tucson, Just park on teh US sie and walk across the border.

But this year, my "Mrs" refuses to go due to all the bad press concerning Mexican border towns. She probably has more smarts than me!

Have a great time, I wish we were there already instea dof up here in teh snow!

Brian
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Old 01-26-2011, 05:10 PM   #15
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Kathleen,

A couple more places that may interest you is the Pima Air and Space Museum here in Tucson and the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita which is right next to Green Valley. The Titan museum is a deactivated ICBM site that is open for tours.

By the way, Gatorboy is really trying to pull your chain over the whole chupacabra thing. I don't think you will see any unless you come across a coyote with a bad case of mange!

I hope you enjoy your visit. It is a great time of year to be here.

Wingeezer- As far as I know the RV park is still open next to the Lavender Pit in Bisbee. That was a former open pit copper mine. The ore was shipped down the road to Douglas where the smelter was. The smelter is now gone and they even demolished the stack several years ago.

Tim
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Old 01-26-2011, 05:51 PM   #16
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Kathleen,

A couple more places that may interest you is the Pima Air and Space Museum here in Tucson and the Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita which is right next to Green Valley. The Titan museum is a deactivated ICBM site that is open for tours.

By the way, Gatorboy is really trying to pull your chain over the whole chupacabra thing. I don't think you will see any unless you come across a coyote with a bad case of mange!

I hope you enjoy your visit. It is a great time of year to be here.

Wingeezer- As far as I know the RV park is still open next to the Lavender Pit in Bisbee. That was a former open pit copper mine. The ore was shipped down the road to Douglas where the smelter was. The smelter is now gone and they even demolished the stack several years ago.

Tim



Hi Tim,


My comment about the Queen Mine RV park maybe being gone was meant as "tongue in cheek" as the campground looks a bit precarious hanging as it does on the edge of the Lavender pit!

I'm pretty sure it is still there, although I think the fellow that originally developed it has been very ill for a few years and it has been run for him by friends/volunteers. Not sure what the status is now, last time we stopped in was two winters ago.

Agree with you that the Titan missile museum is an interesting place to visit. We've never been to the Pima Air/Space musem and may do that this time.

Someone mentioned a flea market at Tucson Fairgrounds. I'm not familiar with that one & will have to do a search.

We always plan a trip to the Tanque Verde Swap meet and also the
Tohono O'Odham Swap Meet. Connie and I are both suckers for a good flea market!


Cheers ....... Brian.
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Old 01-26-2011, 05:55 PM   #17
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Critters

The only concern you should have with Coyotes is providing them with a meal if you have a small dog or slow cat and you leave them outside. If your pet is on a leash, it won't have a chance.
The Coyotes won't bother you, we have them all over where I live and they tend to steer clear of humans. I see them on a daily basis.
I am a bit puzzled by all of the comments about mice getting in peoples trailers. I live on a farm, "lots of mice". I have no signs of mice getting in my trailer. I did do a good job of sealing everything that looked like a critter could get in. So far so good.
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Old 01-26-2011, 06:04 PM   #18
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Brian,

I think you would enjoy the Pima Air and Space Museum. Several large hangers house a SR-71, B-29, B-17,B-26 and others as well as all variety of planes outside to look at. This is a great time of year to go and see them as the weather is great for touring the outside exhibits.

Sorry, I did not get the joke about the RV park in Bisbee. Not sure it is still active since I have not been down there since the Last Brewery Gulch Day's last year.

Visiting Nogales, Mexico is up to you. We have not had any violence/shootouts for awhile down there. However, we did have a DHS/BP agent killed a couple months ago in a shooutout with bandits on our side of the border. My wife went down to Nogales a couple of weeks ago to fill some prescriptions at the pharmacy on the Mexico side and she said it was so said to see all the businesses that are closed down or boarded up down there.because of the violence/economy.

Have a nice trip out our way. If you have questions about the area send them my way and I will try and help.

Tim
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Old 01-26-2011, 08:13 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ahab View Post
We live here. Some don't go out at night without a baseball bat. I prefer a double barrel shotgun. And, our two standard poodles enjoy chasing coyotes but they stay away from the mountain lions. Be sure to use duct tape to secure your trouser pant legs as the spiders like to crawl up your leg when you least expect it. Being a dry climate they like the moist areas.
Wait are you serious? People do this? (taping up pant legs)? Or is this some sort of "sound" advice you give to out of towners?
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Old 01-26-2011, 09:23 PM   #20
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From the title of this thread I was expecting to hear about swimming in cold water and then finding a warm spot. happened many times to me in my youth.now I use the hot tub, no worries.
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