Road Kill Salad

Tucson, Arizona: Not a lot to report tonight. We had a travel day - nearly a five hour drive from Yuma to Tucson. We actually had a little rain during our drive today, though it was still warm.

Mom and Dad left ahead of us. They had an appointment at the Camping World in Tucson to have their washer/dryer inspected. A few days ago, it suddenly died (in a burst of flames). Seems they needed a new washer/dryer. Too bad, as the units are quite expensive; but pretty nice as the newer models (their washer/dryer is six years old) are larger, more efficient and actually pretty spiffy. A girl doesn't want to be without her washer/dryer while roughing it in her camper!

The Splendide units - built in Italy - wash, and then dry, your laundry in the same unit. They are a marvel and do a perfect job with your clothes. The unit my parents purchased today has the same capacity as a normal American washing machine. The units are about $900 each.

We are camped next to my parents at Beaudry's RV Resort. This campground - a huge gravel parking lot - is still about as good as you are going to get in American urban camping. Sites are large, well-appointed and pull-through. They have a nice pool, spa, bath house, laundry, on-site restaurant... and happen to be located at a huge RV dealership and Camping World store. Obviously this campground is popular for quick repairs and quick stops for supplies at Camping World. Even DT was down there this afternoon loading up on RV supplies.

We are "camped" between a lemon tree and a grapefruit tree


Mom & Dad camped next to us in Tucson

Mom and Dad came for Shabbat to our bus. I planned a wonderful menu with Italian gnocchi. However, when I boiled the gnocchi, they turned to mush. Most embarrassing (except I was cooking for my family and they were most forgiving). Luckily we had salad to appease us while I boiled substitute penne.

And, here I must tell you about our "road kill" salad. Yuma is one of the lettuce capitals of America. Several plants in Yuma process the thousands of acres of greens grown in the area. You buy lettuce from Yuma in heads or in pre-washed bags in your supermarket daily. Occasionally (read that weekly) while driving near their campsite, my parents find boxes of processed lettuce that have fallen off a truck or have been abandoned by the processer. This week, they totally scored and found a box of 30 heads of iceberg lettuce! Everyone in the campground shared in their road-kill bounty - and tonight I made beautiful wedge salads from their find. Who needs a Farmer's Market when you are in Yuma?

This should have been gnocchi with peas...

Until my next update from Tucson, I remain, your road kill correspondent.

RV Park: Beaudry's RV Resort