Day 2 Continued.....

I think our theme song for the first part of our trip is "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson. 

What is The Thing?  We've been seeing billboards for this must see attraction in the middle of no where.  Let's stop and check it out!!!  It's only a $1 and by the signs, they also have fun souvenirs.

8:20am AZ  We have arrived at The Thing?!

Sorry about the bugs on the windshield.  Our poor rental car is covered in bug juice.

We checked out the cute, but over priced souvenirs.

So what is The Thing?  It's only $1 so let's do it!  Ha, wow.  Okay, so definately a creepy strange thing.  They have a collection of old stuff to see before you get to The Thing?.  Fancy old cars, old wagon, odd carved people, an exhibit of how people are tortured around the world.  What is going on here!? I'm for sure feeling a little cr



Here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for!

The Thing? - a mumified mother and baby

Cool, but I think the excitement of wondering what The Thing? was, was higher than the excitment of what it actually is.

Alright let's get outta this creepy rest stop.  To see more pictures check out Stella And Petunia's Facebook Page

The Thing? gas station also has a Dairy Queen.  I don't think I've ever seen so many Dairy Queens before.  At least these Dairy Queens have more than just ice cream.

10:00am AZ Yay, civilization!!!  Hello Marana, AZ.  Is it lunchtime yet?  Maybe not in Arizona, but in Texas it's lunchtime.  Stella really wants some In n Out Burger but it's not open yet.  We need to kill 30 minutes.  I still needed some pepper spray for those creepers and bears since I couldn't find some at the Wal-Mart in Fort Stockton, TX.  They have it!  Pink or black??  Pink it is. 

It may look sweet and innocent but it will sting!

It is 10:30am yet?  Nope.  Okay, my Starbucks app says there is a Starbucks near by.  Let's go.  I love me some Starbucks.  :)  And with my Starbucks gold card, I earn stars towards a free drink!

My lasted obsession - Caramel Macciato with 1% milk.

Almost, 10:30am.  We can just wait in the parking lot for In n Out Burger until it opens.  Who knew a burger joint would open at 10:30am??  I guess lucky for us, it does.  I don't really get the whole obsession with In N Out burger, maybe it's just because I'm not a huge burger person.  They are good burgers - always fresh, never frozen, and they have a sauce...kinda like thousand island but with dill pickle in it.  The french fries are okay.  I think I like McDonald's french fries better, but if they'd have sweet potato fries, or more options on the menu, I might like In N Out Burger more.  I do like the idea that their food is fresh and they don't over process their food like other places.  Anyway, it's almost a "must stop" for everyone to at least try.  Also check out their not-so-secret secret menu.
In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out Cheeseburger and French Fries.

11:00am AZ  Stella has been driving since early this morning, but she says she is still okay to drive some more.  Fine with me!  We are about 2.5 hours away from Black Canyon KOA and it's only 11am!  I didn't think we'd get there until late Saturday.

1:00pm AZ Another potty break, this time we are in North Phoenix, it's a very cute area!  Stella said she wants to move here.  I don't like it THAT much, but it is very nice.  This area/town is called Anthem.  We gotta stop at Wal-mart, again!  We wanted to pick up some stuff that we will need for camping.  Stella forgot socks, I still need facewash and contact solution.  20 minutes until we are at our KOA campground.


Black Canyon City KOA

1:40pm AZ  :)  We are here!! Black Canyon KOA.  Our first campsite.  The office doesn't open until 2pm, but they have a box with our info and tent site number on it since we made a reservation here.  We drive around the campground, it's not bad.  It has a pool, a lot of RVs, a great view, but no one is really outside, probably because it's so freaking hot outside.  The campground also has 4 cute cabins.  The tent sites aren't really much of anything, it's hot outside and we are both so tired.  I wonder how much those cabins are.  $40/night, so we'd only have to pay an extra $20 to stay there since we've already paid $20 for a tent site.  Let's do it.  $10 each for not having to set up a tent and having AC. SOLD!  Well as long as they are available.

Our KOA Cabin

2:00pm Thank goodness!  It was available.  It has a full size bed and bunk beds, AC, a little desk, windows, a mirror and a cute patio with a porch swing.  Awesome!!!  I immediately take advantage of the showers since we've basically been stuck in a car for 24 hours.  Stella takes a nap.  She's beat after driving for 6 hours.  I pass out as soon as I get back from the shower and neither of us wakes up until 5:30ish.  A bed never felt so good!

Click for more Black Canyon KOA Pictures

Before heading out on this road trip, I found a popular restaurant that's near Black Canyon KOA and has been featured on the Food Channel, so we are going to check it out for dinner.  It's called Rock Springs Cafe and it's known for it's pie.  It's also the closest food we have to the KOA other than the campground store, which closed at 6pm.   Rock Springs Cafe

Caesar Salad

Huge cornbread and so good.

We both had Chili.  Good with a little kick.



I had their special Mixed Berry Crumb Pie.  Very good.

Stella's pie.  Banana Cream I think.



It's not that late.  What should we do now?  It's a 20 minute drive back to north Phoenix.  We could go see a movie.  Besides it looks like rain again.  It rained last night too.  

Rain cloud rolling in.  Our campsite is in that direction.
At least the rain created a rainbow type thing in the clouds.



Check out that sunset!

Ya know what, both of us are really tired and nothing looks that good in the theaters right now.  Let's just find a Starbucks so maybe we can find an Arizona or Phoenix Starbucks mug.  The rain has started!  The first Starbucks was out of mugs and said they were told that they weren't close enough to Phoenix to get mugs in again.  Ugh!  Let's try our chance at another Starbucks.  yay!  They have the mug.  It's not a Phoenix mug, but at least it says Arizona.  I have a nice collection of mugs at home from other places I have visited.

Back at camp.  We are so happy that we upgraded to a cabin, especially since it's not raining outside and hot.  Let's sit outside on our covered patio.  It feels nice outside and it gives Stella a chance to give herself a mani pedi.  I, of course, add some excitement to our night, not intentionally though.  I have a good imagination and I've seen too many scary movies.  I think aloud and tell Stella my thoughts.  "I wonder what's out in the dark shadows.  We can't really see anything.  There could be someone sitting on the patio next to us or something out there watching us and we wouldn't know since we can't see anything"  hahaha, bad conversation to have in the dark, in a quiet campground.  We freak ourselves out and go inside, but ahh.  Stella needs to use the restroom, which we DON'T have in the cabin.  Of course she makes me go with her since we are now scared to be out in the dark.  I grab the handy mag lite my aunt and uncle let me borrow, since it's light and my uncle said it could be a good weapon.  :) 

Back in the cabin, lights out, door locked.  Good night. 

Stella, "Petunia, do you hear that???"  Me, "Yea, it's just a car driving by."  Stella, "Are you sure??".  Me, "Yes, go back to sleep."

A little later.  Stella, "OMG, did you see that?? Is that a shadow at the window?? Do you see that?" Me, "It's nothing.  Go back to sleep.  Nothing it out there."

I lie awake for a little while listening to the outside, and talking myself out of thinking that anything is out there.  ZZZZzzzzz