A reason to visit Picacho, Arizona

Greg and I arrived in Phoenix, Arizona on March 8th, and stayed overnight with friends.

When we started house sitting, we hadn't expected to develop friendships with the owners. After all, they would be gone when we were there. However, that hasn't been the case. We've come to know many of the homeowners quite well, but this couple in Phoenix has become good friends. At least, I call them good friends - she calls us family!

She caught the biggest fish that trip

The next day we headed for our next house sit in Tucson, about two hours south of Phoenix. On the way there, we decided to stop for a meal, but we were in the fairly rural area approaching Picacho (population 521 in the year 2000), with no commercial areas visible. It's at times like that I resort to Yelp and Tripadvisor for recommendations. 

Relaxing after a good meal

There were good reviews for Frankie's Chuck Wagon, a steakhouse at the KOA campground. Although we were both sceptical, given it was a campground, we decided to give it a try. The restaurant is only open from 4 pm to 8 pm, 5 days a week, and reservations were recommended. Again, reservations at a campground restaurant? It was 3:45, so we decided to wait and take our chances. 

While we waited, we chatted with one of the campground workers and learned about working with KOA. He and his wife both work about 10 hours a week to get their free campsite (value at about $400 month). After that, they were paid hourly for any extra hours they worked. She covered the office and he did maintenance, and they loved it. He told us about the various states they'd already worked. He explained it was a way to supplement their pension.

Back to the restaurant story. We were the first to go in at 4 pm, and were promptly asked if we had a reservation. Then I noticed the reserved signs on many of the tables. However, they had room for us and we enjoyed a lovely meal. Greg ate one of the steaks they were famous for and he said it was delicious. The reviews didn't steer us wrong! Yikes, I just caught that pun!

Greg said this is Frankie, but I didn't ask

Here's the BBQ cook stationed outside, ready to work. All of the staff were sociable. The restaurant servers weren't paid a wage, so signs encouraged you to tip well. It seems a server's wage is low in Arizona, and by not being paid they came under the radar of having to declare tips. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but it is what it is.

Four large hummingbird feeders hung outside the restaurant. Our server explained that the flowering bushes nearby attracted many hummingbirds. She also told us a piece of trivia that fascinated us, saying that the hummingbirds migrate south in winter on the backs of geese. However, an Internet search says this is yet another urban myth. That's too bad as we liked that concept. 

Oh, could you read the sign on the bench, behind Greg? It made me smile.

In Tucson, we're sharing a home with this elderly cat, Tagine, pronounced ta-heen, but Greg calls her Tag. We house sat with her last year, but they lived in a different part of Tucson at that time. Apparently when people new to her arrive she hides under the bed, but her owner assured us she must remember us as she was content to stay nearby us. That was nice to hear.

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Location: Catalina Foothills, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Weather: High 82ºF (28ºC), low 54ºF (12ºC)

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