Trying to get to San Diego via I-8 with your RV from the western part of the greater Phoenix metro area can be a problem. State Route AZ 85 is a dangerous road with a lot of head on collisions. That was the way it was in the past. Help is here the road is now 4 lane divided highway. At the time this was my quest for an alternate route to AZ 85 we drove the OLD US 80 HWY in 2004 between Buckeye and Gila Bend, AZ. This is a first on this highway for me. If you are familiar with Maricopa County , Arizona this road begins at the same alignment as Elliot Rd and AZ 85. OLD US 80 does take you out of the way a little as it heads west through the cross roads of Palo Verde, Hassayampa and Arlington. The Palo Verde Nuclear Power plant is even visible from this road. The highway turns south and then southeast. I was beginning to like this road. No traffic, and even if you are traveling a longer distance no idiot drivers trying to pass you even if it isn't safe. Then we get to the Gila River. The bridge that crosses the Gila River is a very long narrow and its design was

popular in the first half of the 20th Century. I was driving my tow vehicle and it bounced around as if the bridge was on its last leg. Then I looked to the left at Gillespie Dam. It has been breached as a section of the dam is gone. Since I have written this article I found out that the local government breached the dam due to the excessive silk build up. My research shows that the dam was breached in 1993 however I don't know that for sure. The road continues southeast and heads for Gila Bend. The map says that we are to go through Cotton Center but if it was there its a eye blinker. I can now see why they abandoned this alignment for US 80 to what is now State Route AZ 85. Since they improved AZ 85 its the way to go no need for my trek on I-10 to I-215 to I-15 to San Diego.