Lightning & Thunder & RAIN!

We had just gotten home from our walk last night when it started to rain. The TV weatherman had been predicting rain for the past few days, but we hadn't seen any. It made up for its procrastination in arriving last night. Then this morning as we were beginning to get ready to leave it really let loose. Lightening flashes and booms of thunder that sounded like they were right on top of us. Rain was running down the middle of the streets 2-3 inches deep. (Now we know why all the roads in the park are sloped to the center.)

We were a little nervous about leaving in the storm (checkout time is 11 AM) so called Security and asked if it would be all right to wait until the storm cells passed. They said no one was scheduled into our slot, so it would be fine to wait a few hours if necessary. But by 12:30 the rain had stopped, we were seeing some blue sky and the water in the streets was gone.

Since Camper World was closed last night, Forry decided to drive Auntie Violet over there while I followed in the Jeep. We'd hook up the toad (towed vehicle) in their parking lot. I took the picture of this really neat saquero that was alongside the road on the way over. While the RV sales part of Camper World was open, the store was not. BUT, they said the store on 17th was open. We hitched up the toad, then headed to that store. It WAS open, but they didn't have the next size up of tire covers! They offered to order a set for us, but at that point we decided to let it go....

We headed down the highway to Casa Grande to the Pinal County Fair Grounds where the Gypsy Journal Rally is being held. We went through Chandler and actually saw a bit of farm ground on the way here. (Though most of it has signs about the new subdivisions of new housing "coming soon.") We recognised cotton fields by the telltale white stuff left behind, but that's all we could identify.

We had a few sprinkles of rain as we were driving, but could see storm clouds all around us. When we got to the fairgrounds, you could tell that they had gotten a deluge as well. The parking crew had us in a holding area for a while until some of the rigs who were here for a "Gourd Show" left. But, the whole center of the parking area is a boggy mess. They are hoping for some warm wind during the night to dry it out for rigs (including our friends Tom and Junie) who are coming in for the rally opening tomorrow afternoon.

We only have 15 amp hookups (the usual is 30-50 amps) which are strung on a temporary pole in the middle of the parking area. Two rigs are supposed to hook up on each side of the line... They are also planning to string hoses for water tomorrow as well.

Forry has the generator running right now which should probably charge the house batteries enough to get us through the night.