RV Adventure – February 2019

FEB 2, 2019 – Tubac, AZ

After a tip from a former colleague in DC who has moved to the Midwest with the US DOT, we headed south!!! Phoenix was OK – the drive from Silver City was spectacular – up and over the mountains with terrific rock formations and odd but oddly beautifully colored very large terraced copper mines. Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, is very flat and seems to have more RV and trailer park homes than regular homes. We walked some and Thom sat and read by the very clean heated pool and hottub. The air was a bit chilly for a dip and we learned once in place that there was no wifi at the site. My hotspot worked fine but there were a few thing we liked ad didn’t like about the Golden Sun RV Resort.

The tip was to visit Tubac, AZ. It’s 45 minutes south of Tucson and very small and quiet. Occasionally there’s a train running nearby. It’s a half mile walk to town which has a population of less than 1500. Seems there are more people on foot in the town than drivers/cars. The second week of February is the annual art festival and there is excitement here about the 60^th anniversary and about 200 vendor booths. We won’t be staying as everything is booked.  The mountains and the stars are exceptional!!!

On Monday Feb 4 – we’ll head east and boondock just south of I8 in the Sonoran Desert National Monument, the most biologically diverse of the North American deserts, and the monument captures a significant portion of that diversity. The most striking aspect of the plant community within the monument is the extensive saguaro cactus forest. The monument contains three distinct mountain ranges, the Maricopa, Sand Tank and Table Top Mountains.  Not interesting – went onto Yuma AZ, at the border for 1 nights, Feb 4.

https://www.blm.gov/visit/sonoran-desert

After that, farther west. Trying to stay longer, slow down more!!! 

We hear roosters much of the day and coyotes at least on the first night. Clouds left after lovely sunset last night and the starry sky was mighty clear. Still can only spot orion and the dippers!!!

FEB 4, 2019 – Gila Bend, AZ

Great drive today. We left the very small town of Tubac AZ after 5 nights, and drove to Tucson and then through the Sonora Desert National Monument. A very large place with several mountain ranges and valleys through which I8 crosses. We have stopped in Gila Bend, AZ for one night. Drove around a bit, in search of what appeared to be a large Gila River on google maps. We were supposed to be right next to it – but it wasn’t there. Must be the dry season!! Lots of saguaro cacti. Tomorrow we drive thru Yuma and into CA.

FEB 11, 2019 – La Quenta, CA

We stayed 3 nights at the county park on Lake Cahuilla with great facilities. We were close to La Quenta where there’s a Trader Joe’s and lots of gated communities and green irrigation. Hard to understand all the green after years of drought in CA. We enjoyed the quiet of the park and took walks around the lake as well as into the nearby hills.

JAN 13, 2019 – Joshua Tree National Park, CA

We spent 2 nights boondocking at two of the many NPS campsites in Joshua Tree. It was our first time using the geezer pass which provided free entry ($30) and half priced camping. Saved $50 first time using the pass!!! It rained, day and night, which was odd and welcomed at the same time as they only get 4″ of rain a year!!! We had several great walks/hikes with lots of joshua trees and cacti.

FEB 16, 2019 – Lake Havasu City, AZ

We left Joshua Tree NP leaving out the northern access road and headed east back towards AZ. Still hoping to make it to the Grand Canyon. Lake Havasu City is on a large lake made possible by the Parker Dam on the Colorado River. We walked to the “London Bridge” bought some time ago and now quite a spot of activity. Also enjoyed slightly warmer weather and views of the lake and the many boats.

FEB 19, 2019 – Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

On February 16 we drove to Kingmen, AZ which is not far from the Grand Canyon. However the weather was not cooperating.  As when planning to go to Denver,  seems when we want to go somewhere in a rental car we have a snow advisory for the next 16 or so hours?  We are now planning for a bucket list destination – the Grand Canyon. Though it’s possible the entire view will turn out to be all white! 6-9 inches on the south rim, and nearly 12″ at the north rim. We are staying in the GC Village. It will be a high of 20 something on Tuesday and a low of around 14 deg. We found a odd place to store the RV for 2 nights in Kingman, AZ, with electricity? for $25. We keep the keys! then off to the GC. Though not yet sure what it will be like in below freezing temps with snow….

I have lots and lots of photo of the Grand Canyon. What a place and even in winter with several inches of snow it does not disappoint. It’s a very WOW kind of place. Turns out many of my photos ended up looking very much the same even though I’d walked another 1/4 of a mile. It goes on and on – canyons, cliffs, reds and greys of color with the snow sprinkled everywhere. We walked a portion of the South Rim trail between Pipe Creek Vista and Yavapai Point and then in the vicinity of the Village/Bright Angel Trailhead. People were hiking down into the canyon with big packs and crampons. It was reported the temps at the canyon floor were 25 degrees warmer. We went back to Mather Point just before sunset but the sun was so low we mostly saw the canyon in shadow. As we walked back to the parking lot several deer stopped for a photo op!

FEB 20, 2019 – Route 66, AZ

After leaving the Grand Canyon we stopped for a late breakfast in Williams, an hour south of the GC. On Rt 66!

FEB 22, 2019 – Hoover Dam, NV

THE HOOVER DAM…. I was tremendously impressed and awed. Completed in 1935 it’s amazing!!! The architecture, so modern at the time, is still stunning and inspiring. We stayed at a beautiful place overlooking Lake Mead. Lots of water watching and one night of a clear dark sky with the majestic night sky above us. 

FEB 28, 2019 – Lake Mead, NV

We finally decided to stay in one place for a week. We had a wonderful, spacious, quiet spot overlooking Lake Mead. We had a fire ring for night fires and a great expanse to wander through. We walked down to the marina for lunch one day. Lots of water watching and one night of a clear dark sky with the majestic night sky above us.