From Western CO, I meandered down to NM via Durango CO, and West to Shiprock NM. Red Mountain Pass is a stunning cruise up to 11,075’ through the old Mining District between Ouray and Silverton, and a slow go on 6 Cylinders. To date, CO Snow has been light, and Roads were perfect and dry.
The Million Dollar Highway
I’ll follow dear ole Mom’s advice and say nothing about Shiprock. The RV ‘Park’, on a Mud Flat by the Animal Shelter, was closed. Parking Lot Boondocking at a small Indian Casino I backtracked to East of Town ensured getting towed at 1 A.M. closing time, the Manager assured me. I was hoping they had a few legit hook up Sites, as most Casinos have. So, I pumped up the Air Bag Shocks a bit to level the Headlights, and kept going 90 miles South to Gallup NM.
Wally World Boondocking – Gallup NM
A City-run RV Park I drove by was pretty grim, so I used my fancy new Android Phone to navigate to the Wal Mart by Voice Recognition. Whatta great feature! I joined a few Semis and RVs parked in an orderly row, well patrolled by Security, and fired up the Furnace on a 5 degree Night. I even had the sense to stay a distance from the Cardboard Compactor noise, since it got a workout in the wee hours. Now, I can claim I’ve Boondocked Retail.
After leaving at oh-dark-thirty, I found myself in the wrong [middle] lane to hit the only Gas Station around. After executing a clever right turn into a Shopping Center from the middle lane, the local Sheriff’s Deputy unseen behind me hooked around for a lil chat. I thought fast; apologized for the Geezer turn [with Turn Signal, fortunately]; and lied through my Teeth that I’d forgotten to check my Propane Tank Valve during this informal Sobriety Check. After gassing up, away toward Flagstaff and Sedona AZ on I-40 I went.
Flagstaff – Sedona - Cottonwood
Driving through the Desert at Sunrise is my kinda experience. Gorgeous, and very primal to imagine all that ancient Seabed. You know you’re getting near Flagstaff when the smell of Dog Food cooking at the huge Purina Plant smacks you. For Route 66 Fans, Flagstaff is one pretty place to see some of the old Architecture, and a Train Display.
Flagstaff AZ Visitor Site
After a hike around Sedona in stunning Weather, I checked out the Visitor’s Center and met some fellow Coloradoans seeking nicer Winter Weather in Sedona. The one RV Park in Town looked too upscale for me, so I went on down the Road to an RV Park reconn’ed prior on line.
Cottonwood AZ
This funky lil gem of an RV Park, with some elbow room, was right on the Verde River. Propane was a reasonable $2.75/Gallon, and there were Indian Ruins at the Park perimeter. I plugged in for Battery charging; checked out the nice-looking Showers and WiFi connectivity; and took off for the Mining Town of Jerome that the Maintenance fellow filling Propane told me about. The Town is readily visible line-of-sight.
I made contact with a fellow who had a nice CT Conversion that was very well thought out. His sideways Bed was set about 4' high, allowing easy access and storage underneath. The front was a small Bar Sink and a Dorm Fridge. Lighting and Carpentry details were immaculate. He declined to have any pictures taken, but I gave him details about this Site.
Rio Verde RV Park
This ‘Crow’s Nest’ Town setting is really spectacular. One large and another small Copper Mine built the Town, and a marvelous Mansion on the Hill in the ‘20s. It’s now a Museum. There’s an excellent, Pro Video on Town History. Amazing accomplishments and decadent behavior. The Town Madam was one of the wealthiest Citizens. The Electrical, Water and underground Train Systems were designed on the spot, as were Buildings to cope with the unforgiving, sliding Land Topography. The Town survived intense Mining pollution and deforestation to develop Tourism and Artisan interests.
The AZ State-run Museum Building
Jerome AZ Pictures - Links
Quartzsite Or Bust
The Road through Jerome to the South is pretty much like one of those winding Alps road in a Car Commercial. Quite the challenge with an 8’-wide TTT. But, no Traffic pre-Dawn on a weekday was the trick to ensure I could swing wide and miss the precipitous Road-side Rock.
After the amazing Mountain descent out of Prescott where the Road ascent and descent are on separate Grades for safety, it was Burger time just East of Quartzsite at this entertaining Joint run by MN Snowbirds. The ‘Steve Burger’ had Onion Rings on it that you had to smush down. No exceptions; no removing the Rings. More importantly, the super nice Owner let me fill up my 30 Gallon Water Tank n/c which saved me hauling around an extra ~250 lbs. of weight in preparation for some AZ Boondocking. And, as the old Gas Station Signs used to say: ‘Clean Restrooms’! It was quite an entertaining Meal just watching the Locals patronize the General Store attached, or Commuters and sundry Desert Rats traveling to/from Quartzsite stop by.
A Volunteer at the Quartzsite Gem Show gave me the tip of Short Term BLM Land being South at MM 99. So, I headed down to claim my Homestead around Sunset after checking out some Show Minerals. I worked the very famous Tucson Gem Show for years, and loves me my Gemstones. Some folks rough it differently in the Desert than others. In the Long Term BLM section, there were a refreshing number of Solar Panels evident on Rigs of all sizes.
Roughin' it:
I hit the Quartzsite RV Show on the drive back, but found it lackluster. However, that just speaks to my 'non Mainstream', Boondocking interests. Lots of Booths for Water Filtration and solving Lower Back Pain, etc.. However, a few Booths were good for checking out Accessories like LED Lights. So, the Gem Show and Swap Meets perused on this outbound Trip leg floated my Boat more.
Folks in the BLM Outback were respectful and solitude was reasonable on the first leg. Things were a bit more crowded on the return leg, due to the RV Show, but it still was a great experience. There’s good Hiking all around, and plenty of Ma Nature to simply observe. And, hey, if Camping solitude is the goal, going to Quartzsite with up to a million other Visitors is counterproductive Trip Planning!
Note to myself: shoulda gotten the $2.39 Gas in AZ vs. the $4.00 Gas in CA in Blythe!
Pechanga Indian Casino – RV Resort
Since it was so close to my Dad’s Assisted Living Facility [he’s doing very well], I opted for a $35-/night space at this RV Resort. Pool; Hot Tub; Showers and Laundry; and monster Rigs flowing in as the week went on. Morning temps were at freezing, so Electric Heat was good. Throughout the Trip, I ran into none of the RV Park restrictions on Electric Heaters mentioned elsewhere [from using ‘too much’ Electricity], and enjoyed the relative comfort. I don’t drink or gamble, but sure enjoyed People Watching! I had not realized there was such a shortage of Fabric for Women’s Clothing in CA!
Size matters:
Pechanga Casino - RV Resort
Pala & Mt. Palomar
Continuing on down Hwy 79 from Pechanga takes you into my beloved ‘old’ CA: Avocado and Orange Groves; rugged, Earthquake uplift Mountains; and Open Space. Fortunately, they don’t cut Roads this close to existing obstructions anymore.
Mt. Palomar was one stop, and I was pleased to read that Caltech has plans for a new 30 Meter Telescope IF Funds can be raised.
Mt. Palomar
The Pala Mines are another unique stop.
Pala Gems - Tourmaline Queen
Pala Mining
Another Day Trip was over to Oceanside, since the Ocean is big for us Coloradoans to see.
The Mission Inn – Riverside CA
The Mission Inn, Riverside, was one of the original 13 California Missions. It has been nicely refurbished and is THEE place for a nice Meal or simply taking in the Architecture and provenance. This Student Government Geek greeted Attendees at our High School Prom held in the Music Room there, and it’s a Hometown place dear to me.
Mission Inn History
I had planned to go visit the ‘Integratron’ in Landers CA, built by a Relative of my Grandpa [a fellow Desert Rat like Gramps]. However, once I turned off toward Joshua Tree heading North and caught the ~80 MPH Wind sideways, it made driving even w/o the Trailer miserable. The numerous Electrical Wind Turbines there were immobilized electronically so that they wouldn’t self destruct in such Wind. I changed my Plans and saw other sights.
Integratron - Landers CA
Cabazon CA Dinosaurs
After the second stop in Quartzsite on this return leg to catch the RV Show, I decided to stick with Interstates driving back. I had to make one last swing through the Gem & Mineral Show, however. A Prehistoric Ammonite Sink, anyone?
Livin' Large in a CT Conversion:
Quartzsite Sunsets:
The Wind was hellacious for several days, so I took in bits of Route 66 where possible. A rusted old ‘Whiting Bros.’ Gas Station Sign, and a few old Curio Shop Signs were pleasant reminders of Childhood trips to IL over three days on old Route 66. There’s old Pueblos to visit, and plenty of desolate side Trips possible here. But, I had to keep moving, having been gone for 2.5 weeks already. With temps predicted to hit 14 degrees, I decided to call it a night after a long day driving, and get some heat into the Trailer.
Grants NM - Bar S RV Park
A Family-run RV Park in lovely Grants/Milan NM was a great find at $17.99/night. Yah, it’s between the Interstate and VERY busy Train Tracks carrying endless Containerized Freight, but the middle of the Park was fine sound-wise. Clean Showers and very friendly Owners eager to help.
Bar S RV Park
RV Park Reviews
The TTT is in for an Axle flip now. The low-slung, rear Bathroom Plumbing requires constant vigilance of even modest dips, so this will eliminate that problem. The Trailer performed very well, and the Fridge did fine when running on Propane while moving. A new $48- Microwave from Wally World made reheating things easier when plugged in. I used the Trailer to haul back a few items from Dad’s House; a nice bit of ‘closure’ for this Trip.
‘Twas a good, Mind-clearing Trip to my Home State…
