Sunday, April 10 after 8 pleasant days at Meteor Crater RV Park, I pack up and hook up and we head west on I-40 towards Williams. Our journey is short today and I have extra time so we stop at Twin Arrows Casino and Hotel near Flagstaff, which is run by the Navajo Nation.
This is my first stop at a Casino since I began this adventure! I’ve heard RV’s can use the parking lot here and spend the night, so I wanted to check it out for future reference.
The lot is huge and at the far end I see a few RV’s. Big trucks are at the other end of the lot, so noise from them wouldn’t be an issue.
It’s rainy and cold today so I can leave Joy and Shiloh in JR for a little while without worrying about them getting too warm.
I load my pockets with loose change (for the slot machines!) and head for the bright lights!
It’s big and flashy and colorful and noisy…just like a casino is supposed to be. I wander towards the fancy machines, and I begin to study one. It says bets start at 1 cent but I see only slots for cards and bills….nothing for change. So I wander to another machine, and another….nope….can’t play my pennies, nickels and dimes! Silly me!
There is no way I’ll go to the window with my loose change…or use my credit card in one of these things! Besides, I’m watching people play various machines, and, well, I don’t get it. They sit so casually pushing buttons and pulling levers….it couldn’t be hard, but I’m too embarrassed to ask how it’s done. 🙂
I see there is a soda dispenser and it’s apparently free. I can figure out how to use this machine and I pour myself a coke with lots of ice.
I settle for the gift shop. It’s very nice with lots of Navajo jewelry. Easy for me to spend money here and I settle on a small pair of beaded barrettes for my hair. The design on them is Eagle feathers, for protection, the lady tells me. They are made on a loom.
We continue on our way to Williams.
Bill Williams (actually William Sherley 1787-1849) was a mountain man, among many other things. He managed to get this town named after himself, along with a river and a mountain.
Today the town is small and touristy, and is known for the train to the Grand Canyon. Any of the many hotels, motels, or RV parks here will happily book you a seat on the Grand Canyon Railroad.
Down town Williams. There are a lot of souvenir and gift shops with some beautiful local wares. And some stuff from China too.
We are staying at The Canyon Motel and RV Park. Two reasons I chose this park…(besides the fact that the NF campgrounds aren’t open yet).
- They accept Passport America here for the first 5 days of a stay. That gives me 50% off for 5 of my 7 days here. 2.
- The other reason is the location….right up against Kaibab National Forest. We simply cross the property line and we are in the National Forest where dogs are allowed off leash.
Happy dogs!
I had to back into my RV site. Look! Look!
It took me 15-20 minutes. The employee who they sent to ‘assist’ me knew less about backing up a trailer than I do. She was no help.
Then of course….as usual in Arizona, the sunsets can be amazing!
Sunset from The Canyon Motel and RV Park, Williams, AZ
Wandering Spirit 
I’ve been enjoying reading your blog. I just thought I’d let you know. I’m curious to know how much the RV park cost after your 50% discount. Happy Trails!! Larry
Hi Larry, welcome to this blog! Glad to have you along for the ride.
It comes to about $20 a night with the discount. This is the least expensive and smallest RV park near here too, being ‘the gateway to the Grand Canyon’ everything is expensive. Now you can see why I was so glad to use Passport America.
Way to go! I’m proud of you. Looks good. You’ll get better with time and practice.
Cat Lady
Thank you! I know you probably posted twice because the first one didn’t show up. But then it did, and when I answered it my answer went to the wrong place. 😂😂
Dear Mickey, they were Navajo birthing beads that you brought back to Santa Teresa Land D from your 2 week C.E.trip 21 years ago. Did you stop at that Navajo village this time?. I can’t tell you how many women have used those beads during their labor and deliveries! >100 (I have 5 daughters and they lent them out to their pregnant friends.
I admire your freedom and your lifestyle! I’m living through your journals vicariously. Yesterday my dog began barking about noon, in the backyard. He had fenced a possum, who then stared back at me as I took their picture. That’s the extent of the wildlife in San Jose. Thanks for keeping me on your list! Marie
Hi Marie, yes those were Navajo Birthing Beeds. I kept in touch with the lady who makes them and got them for nurses I worked with when I went to work at CHOMP. I got a few each Christmas….and I still have mine.
I went through the Navajo Reservation in late October but did not make it to visit that Midwife. Someday I hope to. Oh she would be so excited to know how many women have used your beads!
I’m so glad you are enjoying this blog, because I sure enjoy writing it.
Did you put that possum picture on FB? I’d love to see it! 😃
You did the best thing with your $ @ the casino…bought something you can have and hold (as well as cherish, the barrettes are lovely). I also could not figure out how to use a slot machine – guess we’re lucky. Great pix as usual – – do I see a ‘on the road’ book in you future??
Hi Marie, yes I’m really glad I have the barrettes…wearing them now, in fact.
I’m glad someone else admits to not knowing how to use those machines! Ulf showed me once, when we were in Vegas to see the Stones. I went through $20 in about 2 minutes and that was the end of that. I probably had a drink too, so I have no memory of what buttons to push and what levers to pull.
A book….I think this is it…here and now. ☺️
Hey Mickey, wish I’d been with you at the casino..I do plan on checking out a few. Looks like a great place you’re at and awesome that you can let the babies off leash! Can’t wait for those kind of sunsets. It won’t be long now till I’m on the road. Don’t have them yet, but have them “spoken” for..a Rockwood Ultra Light…23ft 7inch..and a Chevy Silvarado 77Z, 4wd. Should pick them up in the next couple of weeks. What do you think of them?
You don’t have solar, do you? Do you have a generator? What about internet..do you have an air card, or what? Do you have trouble getting cell phone connections?
Guess that’s enough questions for now..but I’ll be back!
Hi Pat, I think those choices are perfect! I think you will be very happy with the truck and travel trailer you have chosen! Big decisions, aren’t they….and you just kind of hold your breath and whisper….I hope I got this right! I’m sure you did.
Yes, I do have some solar on top of WS. I bought her used and Doug, the man I bought her from had it up there already. It’s small…really small…40 or 60 watts…can’t remember, but if I’m careful, it keeps my battery charged when I boon dock. I also have a Honda 2000 generator. That came with the Casita too. I use it, but so far quite rarely.
I have AT&T, and I have a little my-fi thingie. I have an antenna which I lovingly refer to as the Joel Pole. My friend Joel created it and he and Laura gave it to me as a retirement gift. Between cellular, my-fi, the Joel Pole, and free internet, I’m rarely without some form of communication.
I know they say Verison is better than AT&T out here, but really, you couldn’t prove it by me.
Mickey,
If you’re using free wifi (I do) I suggest you use a VPN to insure your being safe while doing so. I use TunnelBear. So far I’ve used the free access, but paid access giving you more megabytes isn’t very expensive. It\s very easy to set up, and to use (although a bit slower). Here’s a video I found which convinced me to make the move. Once the program is installed it fires up when you first start your computer. I just turn if off when I feel secure on a secure system, but I use it on any insecure system (like McDonnald’s, ect).
Happy Trails! Larry
Thanks Larry. Thank you for the suggestion! Since I’m about kindergarten level on things like this, I’ll see about getting some help from friend Joel. I’ve always been leery about free internet and don’t do any business…banking, ordering, etc, on it. Also I haven’t used things like McDonalds. If I use free it’s usually the RV park Internet.
You’re welcome. Any wifi where the longon is commonly known, or easily found out, is dangerous without using a VPN. The video pretty well explains it. Years ago my email was hacked at a campground. Now no-goods go way beyond that. They can insert key loggers on your computer, and get at everything. A VPN encrypts all outgoing and incoming info making it unreadable to oursiders. Without using the VPN on such wifi systems, you’re playing Russian roulette. Just saying.. Happy Trails! Larry
Hi Larry, Your comment below doesn’t let me reply below it for some reason, so I’m commenting here, all out of order. I really appreciate your input here. I didn’t realize there was a way to protect myself with free internet, but so glad to find out that there is.
Thank you again!
You’re very welcome Mickey. I looked it up, and unlimited access thru the TunnelBear VPN for a one year commitment is only $50. A bargain in my book. I also use Kaspersky anti-virus and Malwarebytes, both of which I highly recommend,. Happy Trails again!! Larry
Thank you so much for the encouraging words. Now I’m a little confused..the my-fi thingie you got from AT&T & that gives you an internet connection? Is that what you mean by “free” internet..you don’t pay monthly for it? Then what does the Joel Pole do?
Good questions Pat! Nope, the little my-fi thingie isn’t free. It uses my data from AT&T. I used to get 10GB’s of data a month. Then AT&T started with the roll over plan, and then they added 5 more GB’s a month for no extra charge. Also I had to pay for the little device. So with these 15 GB’s ( or how ever many it comes to with the roll over) I can use wi-if or cellular, but texting and phone calls don’t count because my plan has those unlimited.
Having said all that, and since I’m careful and don’t stream any movies, that much data should be way more than I need, I’m told. But…my pictures eat it up like crazy…more than they should apparently. I don’t know why, AT&T claims to not know why, and my Guru Joel hasn’t figured it out yet either. So if I’m using my own internet, you see small pictures. If I’m using RV park free internet, I make them medium sized.
The Joel Pole is an antenna. It has a cord that hooks into where a TV would hook in on the outside of the trailer and Joel rigged it up so it attaches to WS’s back bumper. It has an extendable pole, which also turns so I can turn it in any direction. Inside it also hooks up to where a TV would, and that cord hooks up to the little my-fi divice. So….if there is an AT&T signal out there the antenna can pick it up and bring it in stronger. If there is no signal out there, I’m outta luck. This can be of help around mountains or when a signal is weak for what ever reason.
I don’t understand a lot of it…like why wi-if and cellular are interchangeable on the my-if divice, etc. I just know it works. And I’m glad.
As Larry pointed out above, free wi-fi can be a big concern. If it’s free, it’s easily hacked. He has also pointed out above that there is something we can do about that. That will be a soon upcoming project for me!
Thanks again, Mickey. That clears some things up for me. Like you, I just don’t know how all of it works..I’m just amazed that it does! Guess what it comes down to is that I need to find a “Joel”. 🙂 Wondering if the place I’m buying the trailer could do the antenna. Or…I know a place that does trailer wiring…I had them wire a horse trailer once. And I will definitely do what Larry suggests..that sounds like a no brainer, right?
Very impressive chandelier. Love the pic of the happy dogs and the one of the sunset, too!
Thank you Eileen, I appreciate the compliments on the photos. It’s easy to take nice pictures out here in all this beauty….even with my 5 something IPhone!
There is a little trick I learned about backing a trailer. put your hand at the very bottom of the steering wheel. Which ever direction your hand turns, is the direction the back of your trailer will go.
Thanks Randy, and yes I’ve tried that. I’ve tried everything except standing on my head I think. I’ve come to the conclusion my back up gene is missing. I compensate by working very very hard at it and figure in five or so more years I’ll probably get good at it.
Proud of you, Mickey.
Cat Lady
Thank you Cat Lady!
What a beautiful sunset!!!! Enjoy.
Yes Mary, isn’t it though. The sunsets out here have me gasping!
Another wonderful chapter! So glad PA is a blessing! We are parked at Stacked Stone winery outside of Paso Robles (I know, not far from home but miles away from taxes & April 15th!) that had electricity for us & is just beautiful, free w/ Harvest Hosts. On to the Pinnacles today!
So glad your kids can walk free in the forest!!
Yes Patty, Passport America saved me $100 this week. Very nice!
I think you and John deserve a nice winery after the tax fiasco! Enjoy!
Hi Micky,
We we’re your neighbor there for a couple of days. My husband said he tried to help you with the backing in. He also said he wasn’t very good! LOL
We meant to give you our email address, in case you ever needed to stay in Bakersfield, but forgot. I had to register here to post, so I think you can find it if you want it.
Happy Travels!
Hi Wanda, yes we were neighbors! And since you signed up for the blog, we can sort of stay as neighbors. So good to have you here!
You made it out of here just before the really cold and snow hit!
Yes, I have your email address now. Thank you! I will email you with mine.