And here we are at Meteor Crater RV Park!
I might have been hesitant about making reservations at a place with such a name, but I read the blog “Zen On Wheels”, and I remember Michael saying it was a very decent place, and I trusted his word.
It paid off…it really is a nice RV park, and it’s ….well…location, location, location. Look at a map and you might think…location? It’s smack dab in the middle of nowhere!
Sometimes the middle of nowhere is the place to be!
“The middle of nowhere!”
In reality, not too distant from us is the meteor crater of course (more about that in a minute), Walnut Canyon (ancient dwellings), the Petrified Forest, the Painted Desert, Winslow (where I can go and stand on the corner), and Flagstaff. Even Hubble Trading Post in Ganado isn’t too terribly far.
Today I decide to see Meteor Crater. I go early, since I’ll leave the dogs in the truck (windows open). It won’t be more than about 60 degrees by the time I’m ready to leave, and I park so the back seat is not in direct sun.
I get $2 off for being old, and another $2 off because I’m staying in the Meteor Crater RV Park, so that brings my total to $14 to get in.
First I watch the movie “Impact”, a brief 10 minute orientation, and then I take the tour which lasts about 1 hour.
I’m fascinated with what I learn and what I see.
It’s believed that the meteor hit here about 50,000 years ago. It hurtled to the earth at 26,000 mph, and is estimated to have been about 150 feet across, and weigh several thousand tons. It was composed mostly of iron and nickel. The force at which it exploded into the rocky plain was greater than 20 million tons of TNT.
In 10 seconds a crater 700 feet deep and more than 4000 feet across was formed. Imagine 20 football fields on it’s floor, and 20 million spectators viewing from the sloping sides.
This is a rather small crater, as craters go, but it is the best preserved, and loads of research and study have been done, and are still going on here.
There are 27 known craters in the USA, and 200 worldwide, but it’s believed most meteors have landed in the oceans.
Just north west of us….The San Francisco Peaks.
UPCOMING PLANS!
Besides the things I mentioned above, I have more plans coming up. When we leave here in about a week, we will be going to spend a week in nearby Williams, and then to The Grand Canyon for a few days! I made reservations there at Mather Campground awhile back, and with the help of the Senior Pass, prices are very reasonable, even at the major National Parks. (and admission is free). After I leave the canyon, I’ll be heading over to camp at Yosemite National Park for a bit! When I shared these plans with my friends Laura and Joel (the Joel Pole man), we discovered that we will be at Yosemite during the same time frame, so that should be fun.
Upon leaving Yosemite, we’re heading back to what used to be the home place….the Monterey area of California, for a few weeks….mainly to celebrate my youngest sons 40th birthday! (wait….wasn’t I just 40????) (guess not!)
From there, we will be heading to Glacier National Park, where we’re meeting friends Shirlee and Doug, whom we met early on in our adventures, in December of 2014. We have reservations to camp next to each other for a week, after which time we will head into Canada and do some camping there (Shirlee and Doug are Canadian).
Soooo…..that takes us up well into June. I’m excited! and looking forward to sharing lots of adventures with you!
Wandering Spirit 
Totally enjoyed the read.
Glad to hear it Ego!
I enjoyed the read, too! Micky, your enthusiasm is infectious, it’s obvious you’re feeling better. I’m looking forward to future posts. It’s good to hear you’ll make it to Canada, it’s gorgeous. I love Banff, and central Alberta.
Hey Maureen your birthday is coming up and I am going to wish you a Happy Birthday right now! Hope you have something great planned!
I’m looking forward to Canada. Not sure what we will do there yet…haven’t gotten that far in the plans, but I know it will be good!
Thanks, Micky. Birthday next week 😳
Traveling around the country was always my dream for my retirement. As they say, then life happened and I am responsible for 2 other people still. I am still hoping.
Oh Pat, I’m hoping for you, as well! You deserve to have your dream come true!
The visit to Meteor Crater is such fun. On my visit I think I enjoyed the museum as much as the view of the crater.
Wishing you a wonderful visit to Grand Canyon and Williams. Both are a delight. If you get the chance to, I can recommend the train from Williams to Grand Canyon. It makes for a fun experience and takes a full day. I splurged on a ticket for the luxury car and was glad I did. It was a foolish amount of money to spend on a one-day activity, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable experiences of my Fall trip. The food, entertainment, and views made it worth the expense in my view.
Have fun in Williams!
Hi Michael, and thank you for the recommendation on this RV park…very nice.
I’ve passed Meteor Crater so many times and wanted to see it, and finally got the chance to stop. So glad it finally worked out!
That train tempts me. I like trains. What holds me back is the dogs. I know I could board them for a day….but I’m such an over-protective mom. If I HAVE to at some point I will, but otherwise, I probably won’t. If I could leave them with someone I know, that’s different, but there will be no one around….so maybe another time. Who knows.
But we will camp at the canyon for 3 nights, so between walking and driving, I’ll get plenty of views. Just no train ride…for now.
Wow, your plans sound wonderful! So glad you are well and back to adventures!
Thanks Sharron, yes, I’m excited! Hey, Blue Bonnett isn’t far away!
Check on opening date for Going to the Sun road in Glacier. Sometime it does not open until late June.
Hi Gene,
Welcome! Nice to have you here.
Yes, I noticed that about Going To The Sun. Keeping my fingers crossed that at least part of it will be open. Last time…so many years ago…I was at Glaciier was in late May and it was open. Also, there were SO many waterfalls….everywhere I looked…and it was so green, and so many baby goats. Hoping for a similar experience!
Oh, your plans sound so wonderful! I am just so excited…my place is sold!!! Should finalize in about three weeks, and as soon as I have money in hand I’ll be finding my new home and joining ya’ll on my new adventure! Thinking I’ll probably stay in Tx for a while to get used to my new way of living and then head north toward cooler weather. I can hardly stand the waiting.
Congratulations on the sale of your house Pat!! That is wonderful! I remember that kind of excitement and it’s great. 😀 (I was renting so it was a bit different, but the excitement was there!)
Good idea to stay near what you know till you get the hang of things. I know you will LOVE this kind of life. Please keep in touch, and let us know how things are going.
My first attempt to bicycle the Going to the Sun road was on 15 June 1990 and it still had a wall of snow about 20′ high blocking the road. Was able to ride it the following year on 13 July 1991.
Advice: When entering Canada they do not like guns any more than Mexico does.
Hi Ed, yes guns, ammo, mace, all have to be left behind when going into Canada. I will take care of that.
Wonderful pics and writing, Micky! Did you say you’d be in Monterey? Would love to see you when you breeze in.
Hi Marian, yes, we should be there in the area starting in May for up to 3 weeks. Hope we can get together. Keep in touch!