A Quick Escape to Rocky Point
A Much-Needed Getaway
Sometimes you don’t need a week-long vacation.
Sometimes all you need is a couple of days, the sound of the ocean, and a good excuse to get away.
Our excuse this time was simple enough. The internet at our condo had stopped working, which meant our security camera was offline as well. Tracey was convinced our aging router had finally decided to retire, so we loaded up the truck with a replacement router, packed a few clothes, and pointed ourselves toward Rocky Point.
Fixing technology was the reason for the trip.
Relaxing by the ocean was the real goal.
Finally on the Road
Like so many of our adventures, leaving the house took much longer than we expected.
There always seems to be one more thing to pack, one more errand to run, or one more stop to make before we finally pull out of the driveway.
Eventually, though, we were fueled up, loaded, and headed south.
About three and a half hours later, we’d have our toes in the sand.
The drive gave us plenty to laugh about as we watched traffic do what traffic always seems to do—speed up, slow down, wander between lanes, and make us wonder where some people learned to drive.
A quick stop at Sonic cured our hunger, and before long we were cruising through Maricopa, chatting about old RV parks, casino offers, and future camping trips.
Half the fun of road trips is the conversations that happen between destinations.
Crossing the Border
As we headed toward the border, I shared a few reports I’d read about increased police activity in Sonoyta.
Whether the stories were true or not, Tracey did what he always does.
He slowed down.
We received a green light at the border crossing and carefully made our way through town before making our usual donation to one of the local families collecting funds.
It’s a small tradition we’ve continued over the years, along with our regular donations to the Red Cross in Rocky Point.
Before long, the Sea of Cortez was waiting for us.
Back at Our Happy Place
Pulling through the gates of Las Palomas always feels a little like coming home.
Well…almost.
This visit greeted us with a few minor challenges.
Our owner’s gate card refused to work.
The bellhop never arrived.
Our condo phone decided it no longer wanted to communicate with the HOA.
Thankfully, after a few laughs, a little patience, and some help from Fernando in the IT department, everything was eventually working again.
Sometimes vacation begins with fixing the little things before you can truly relax.
Hello, Ocean
Once everything was unpacked, we threw open the patio doors, turned on the ceiling fans, and let the sound of the waves fill the condo.
No matter how many times we visit Rocky Point, that first breath of salty air never gets old.
We wandered down to the beach, where the wind had stirred up impressive waves.
Being Arizona people, we both agreed on one thing.
The water was cold.
Well…
I thought it was cold.
Tracey was already debating whether he wanted to go swimming.
I’ll happily cheer him on from the sand.
Good Friends and Cold Drinks
Before heading back upstairs, we stopped by the pool bar and were greeted by one of our favorite employees, Samuel.
One of the things we love most about Las Palomas is that so many familiar faces remember us from previous visits.
After a warm welcome, Samuel served me a cold beer and Tracey his favorite michelada.
There really aren’t many better ways to spend an afternoon than sitting with someone you love, enjoying a drink, and watching the waves roll onto the beach.
If it weren’t for family back home, I’m honestly not sure we’d ever leave.
A New Look for Our Condo
This trip also gave us the chance to finish one of the projects we’d been planning for a while.
When our kids were younger, one of the bedrooms had been designed entirely around bunk beds and University of Arizona décor.
As the years passed, our travel companions changed.
Now we more often visit with friends than with children.
So it was time for a little update.
The bunk beds were replaced with a queen bed, beach-inspired furniture, and a more welcoming space for another couple.
We couldn’t completely retire the Wildcat décor, though.
After all, one of our sons and his wife are both proud University of Arizona graduates.
To balance things out, Tracey insisted we add a little University of Nebraska pride as well.
Thankfully, both schools share the same shade of red.
The room now celebrates both families—and turned out better than we imagined.
Slow Mornings Are the Best Mornings
One of my favorite things about being at the beach is how slowly the mornings begin.
Coffee for Tracey.
Tea for me.
Ocean waves replacing alarm clocks.
People gradually appearing on the beach.
Neighbors enjoying coffee on their patios.
Life unfolding at its own pace.
It’s impossible not to relax here.
Pool Time and New Friends
The weather was perfect for spending time by the pool.
After deciding the water felt much warmer than it had the day before, we eased into the negative-edge pool overlooking the Sea of Cortez.
People-watching has become one of our favorite vacation activities.
You never know who you’ll meet.
That afternoon we struck up a conversation with another Arizona couple, Tony and Zeni from Glendale.
What started as a casual conversation turned into nearly an hour of sharing stories about Mexico, travel, golf, and life.
Travel has introduced us to so many wonderful people over the years.
Sometimes all it takes is saying hello.
Lunch with an Old Friend
After showering, we wandered over to Wrecked at the Reef for lunch.
As soon as we walked through the door, Tracey spotted Omar.
Within seconds they were shaking hands, hugging, and catching up as though no time had passed at all.
That’s another reason we keep returning to Rocky Point.
It isn’t just the beach anymore.
It’s the friendships.
The food was excellent, the conversation even better, and Omar promised us we’d better not wait another year before coming back.
We’ll certainly try not to.
Small Problems…Easy Solutions
The rest of the afternoon was spent solving one final mystery.
Why wouldn’t our owner’s gate tag work?
After some detective work, Fernando discovered the culprit wasn’t the gate at all.
It was our old car wash membership sticker interfering with the owner’s tag.
Once we peeled it off the windshield, the gate opened perfectly.
Problem solved.
It’s funny how often the simplest solution turns out to be the right one.
Homeward Bound
All too soon it was time to head home.
Leaving Rocky Point never gets easier.
Every time we pull away, I find myself wishing we had just one more day.
The drive north was uneventful until we reached Why, Arizona, where we found a family stranded with a dead battery.
They had jumper cables.
They just needed a little help.
Within minutes, Tracey had them back on the road.
Acts of kindness don’t have to be big to make a difference.
Sometimes helping someone continue their journey becomes part of your own.
Funny How Life Works
As if the weekend hadn’t already come full circle, we stopped for lunch in Gila Bend on the drive home.
While waiting for our food, we suddenly recognized familiar faces.
Nancy, Carol, and Bill—the neighbors we’d met just the day before in Rocky Point—were eating lunch at the very same McDonald’s.
We all laughed.
It’s a small world.
Especially when you’re following the same road home.
Until Next Time
This wasn’t a vacation filled with sightseeing or elaborate plans.
It was simply a quick escape.
A chance to recharge.
To fix a few things around the condo….To spend time with old friends….To make a few new ones….To listen to the waves.
And to remind ourselves that sometimes the best journeys don’t require a long itinerary.
Sometimes all you need is a few days by the ocean and someone you love to share them with.