Wandering Spirit

Prescott, Arizona….between Grand Canyon and Phoenix, elevation about 5,300 feet, with Prescott National Forest round about.  Just about 3 miles from down town is White Spar, one of the NF campgrounds.  This is where Kerry and I decided to meet up.  We have camped here together before and we like liked it, so we reserved the same two sites we had last time.

That’s Annabelle over on the right.

Kerrys travel trailer.  We are next door but the sites are nicely spaced.

The forest around us is mostly Ponderosa Pine.  Nearby there is some color change, but it’s subtle, and almost done….

We’ve had lots of time for visiting, and lots of dog time.

Kerry playing tug with Annabelle and Joy.  Shiloh is having a laugh!

The Wild Iris is a nice coffee place in town, where dogs can join their people on the patio.  After we go in and order, Kerry brings the coffee….

While I wait with the kids.

Then we take a walk around the down town.  It’s a very dog friendly town, and in the center is the county building with lots of grass all around it.  Lots of dogs and their people hang out there, including us…

Annabelle found a nice place to sit, on the picnic table. 🙂 Annabelle was a rescued Rez puppy about 3 years ago.  She has been a handful, but her mom is up to it.  Kerry takes such excellent care of this girl!

We’ve been having a nice time!  Weather has been in the 70’s down to the 40’s, but is now reaching highs in the 60’s.  This is what all of us prefer.

We have been taking lots of walks around the campground.

Joy has been using her stroller part of the time.  Shiloh thinks it’s a hoot.

As of today, White Spar Campground will be partially closing, and the water will be turned off.  The sites we are in will remain open year round.  It costs $14 a night to camp here, or $7 with the senior pass.

BOONDOCKING

For the whole summer we used campgrounds with either water and electric or full hook ups (which would include a sewer). Starting at Grand Canyon we began boondocking, and except for one night on the way to Caballo Loco Ranch, we will continue boondocking for the winter.  My 40 watts of solar on top of WS takes care of most things, unless I’m in the shade or there are days of clouds.  For the occasional extra boost I have the Honda 2000 generator, which I love.

I have little LED lights strung around the inside of WS to add an even more cozy feeling, and actually I have a string of them that use the regular outlets for when we are plugged in, and I have some that run on batteries for our boondocking times.

These are the battery operated lights.

The other changes that boondocking brings is no AC ( apparently it will run on the generator but I’ve never tried it), use of the furnace and /or the Little Buddy propane heater instead of my little electric heater, and using the tea kettle instead of the hot pot for heating  water for coffee and such.  I can’t watch tv, which I rarely do anyway, and if I need to use the hair drier or blender I can plug them into the generator.  We would have to be hooked up to the generator to use the microwave too, and though I use it a lot when I’ve got electric hook ups, I’ve never used it while boondocking.  I miss it, but I survive.  😊

I have to put water in my tank myself of course, and find a place to dump.  At the ranch this winter, since I’ll be parked in a place without a sewer for a long time I’ll use my ‘blue boy’ type thing, which is a container on wheels that you can empty your tanks into and attach it to the truck and drive it to the dump.  Really, you get used to it…it’s not that bad.  Other than those few things, life goes on about the same for us, with or without hook ups.  No doubt about it though, electricity is a luxury!

If you have more questions about boondocking, please feel free to ask in the comments.

Bye for Now!

The following pictures were taken around sunset on our last evening at Grand Canyon.

They were all taken around Mather Point, so you will notice some of the same rock formations….just presented in different ways.

In the last blog “2 Billion Years, 2 Billion Views”, I started out wondering about rock ages, and then said that was a question for a geologist.  Well, a geologist answered the question!  Check out Kitty’s comment….very informative and explained so even I can understand.  Also I bought one of the geology books at the GC Bookstore, which I’m reading ( aloud to the dogs for better understanding😀), and that’s helping me get some very fundamental geology info.

Thank you Kitty for taking the time to explain!

The colors seem to pop more with the light from the setting sun.

“When the deep purple falls”…)

I love the way that weed in the center picked up the light.

Okay, good bye for now Grandest of all Canyons.  I’ll be back if it’s meant to be.

We have arrived safely at the Prescott National Forest, and are camped right next to Kerry and Annabelle for awhile.  Kerry is taking a 3 day class nearby and Annabelle, Joy and Shiloh and I get to hang out together.  They became a ‘pack’ a long time ago ( along with Kerry and I), so they get along great.

It’s peaceful here in the forest and I’ve been listening to two woodpeckers refine the entrance way to their homes.  They stop periodically to have a snack.  Busy birds.  More later!

And then some….

They say the rocks at the bottom of the Grand Canyon are close to 2 billion years old. ( I don’t understand why the rocks at the top of the canyon are not also 2 billion years old but that’s a question for a geologist I guess).  However, it’s ONLY been 5 or 6 million years since the canyon started to rise up and form as the Colorado River cut through it.  I would love to learn more about the canyon geology….maybe someday.

Every day the canyon looks different….every hour….every minute….every degree the sun moves…every degree I move…every angle…every cloud…and I’m only seeing it from the rim.

It’s all about erosion.  Water, ice, wind, heat, and very important….silt in the water works like sand paper.  Since there are now dams at both ends of the canyon, the erosion has slowed considerably related to the water in the Colorado River and the silt it carries.

I think part of the awe of looking into the canyon comes from being aware of all those millions and billions of years….not that I can grasp that concept in the least….it’s like trying to fathom the distance of the Stars in the night sky.  Between all that, and the size of it, and the beauty of it, one feels very tiny and insignificant.  Perspective….Life and pain and sorrow and war, joy and peace seem to change shape.  A human life span is but an instant.  Perspective.

Our earth is big!  And our earth is oh so tiny…microscopic.

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I wanted to mention about bringing dogs here.  dogs are welcome on all the trails above the rim.  You can walk them all around the village and market area.  There is a kennel, but you must reserve ahead and have proof of immunizations.  They are of course, welcome in the campground.  You can’t take them on shuttles, tours, in any buildings, including the hotels and lodges.  It would be lovely to take the shuttles here, but I won’t put my fur babies in the kennel unless it’s for some kind of emergency, so no shuttles for me.  We are limited in our walks because Joy doesn’t go for long walks these days.  I have left them in JR for up to a couple of hours while I explored.  They were in the shade with windows open.  Not always easy to find a shady spot…

The weather has been just about perfect with average day temps of around 70 degrees and average night temps of 40 or so.  There was one very windy day.

Its been wonderful.  People from around the world are here to see this amazing place.  I hear so many languages…English maybe half the time!

But….we leave tomorrow!  The week went so quickly!  Another adventure awaits though, and we will be meeting up with our friends ‘Kerry’ and her dog ‘Annabelle’. ( not their real names).  I’m so looking forward to seeing them!

Again, there are no words to describe this place….The Grand Canyon.  Showing pictures is like picking up a handful of sand and telling you that this is what the beach looks like.

Yet….yet…I must try!  So that if you haven’t seen this place of majestic wonder you will be inspired to come here.  I am grateful to be able to look on this grandure yet again.  Each time I visit it grows sweeter and even more beautiful in my eyes.  These days I can’t look into the canyon without tears welling up as I try to take in this beauty-beyond-measure…try to absorb it…try to bring it to live within me, and be part of who I am.

How can rocks be so beautiful?

How can this vast expanse wrench my heart so?

I love watching the Ravens grab the updrafts as they fly over the openness….I want to fly too!

Joy makes me nervous.  She likes to go right to the edge and her vision isn’t so good these days….but she seems to grasp the grandness of it.

And so does Shiloh.  He sees something that makes his ears perk!

Yup, I’m really here!!

The Watchtower at the far eastern end of the canyon.

From the Watchtower area it’s easy to see the Colorado River.

And then there is our camp at Mather Campground….

With friends wandering Through….

And they don’t seem to  mind Shiloh at all!

It will cost you $30 entrance fee these days to get into the Grand Canyon, (good for a week) unless you have the Senior Pass, aka the America The Beautiful pass.  Or some other pass, which brings the price down to 0…..and then camping with the pass is $9 a night no hook ups. ($18 without the pass)  There are water spigots and bathrooms around, and showers and laundry at the front of the campground.  There is a campground with full hook ups too, for quite a bit more money.  If you are not into camping, there are many beautiful hotels/rooms to stay in, but no deals there.  Also you can stay outside the park, and just drive in to visit.

People ask me about my favorite places that I’ve seen in my travels, and I find it really hard to choose…but I can say for sure that the Grand Canyon is in my top 5 list….a place of wonder…not to be missed.

When we leave Eager, Arizona on Sunday, October 8, we head on down to Meteor Crater RV Park to stay for 3 nights.  I not only like this park, but It’s in a great  location, too.   The nightly rate for pull through water and electric with the Good Sam discount is $30… not the cheapest, but worth it to me.  There are lots of very private showers, and you get a whole bathroom, not just a tiny shower.   There are  nice, clean washers and dryers, 2 large fenced dog areas plus a great dirt road with no traffic to take walks on.  I have a favorite site and have not failed to get it when I ask for it, when reserved ahead.

Last nights sunset from Meteor Crater RV Park.

Nearby of course you have the big Meteor crater 6 miles down the road.  And I do mean BIG!  It’s worth it to go see it and take the tour.  But also to the west there are various other sites for day trips, including, Walnut Canyon, Sunset Crater, Wupatki, Flagstaff with Lowell Observatory and all its other adventures including the San Francisco Peaks.  To the east Winslow (where you can stand on the corner and take it easy!),

There’s that flat bed ford!  It’s all right there by Route 66.

Just a few blocks down the Route is The La Posada Hotel.  (The Resting Place).

This beautiful hotel was designed and decorated by Mary Jane Colter (she is famous for her magnificent buildings at the Grand Canyon, but this was her favorite) and built by Fred Harvey for the Santa Fe Railroad.  It opened in 1930 and was the finest hotel on Route 66 for many years.  But…it was closed in 1957 because rail travel was becoming less popular.  Forty years later it was purchased and remodeled room by room by The Winslow Arts Trust.  It is once again a stunning Spanish Hacienda, and a lovely place to visit, stay or go for lunch or dinner to its lovely Turquoise Room Restaurant.

When we were here in this area in March I went to Walnut Canyon and wrote about that experience here.

This is an area of ancient ruins that it just fascinating.  At that time I took the trail into the canyon.  There are lots of steps but I highly recommend it if your knees/back/feet can handle it.  There is another trail along the rim that I took this time.  It’s only about 3/4 of a mile round trip and has no stairs.  Not as impressive but still amazing.  Bring binoculars.

The homes were built right into the sides of the canyon. Those are the San Francisco Peaks in the background.

Here’s a closer look.

Near Walnut Canyon we take a walk on a trail in Coconino National Forest. (Dogs are not allowed on the trails in Walnut Canyon).

These trees are callled Gambles Oak.  Leaves turn golden brown in the fall.

And then, back to the RV Park….

The trees have changed a lot in just the three days we’ve been here.

And then you have those Arizona sunsets!

This sunset happened tonight, and those are the San Francisco Peaks there, as seen from this park.

Tomorrow…..oh my gosh…I’m very excited….we will be heading to the Grand Canyon for a week!!

On Sunday, October 8 we travel the short distance of about 50 miles from Show Low to Eagar, Arizona, to Bear Paw RV Park. (Weekly rate comes out to about $21 a day.)

Eagar is at just over 7000 feet elevation, not quite high enough for Aspen to flourish.  The amazing trees in these pictures are in nearby Apache National Forest and on the Apache reservation, where the elevation is more in the 8000 to 9000 feet range.

Gold on gold.

Pictures work better than words here, so I’ll just let them speak…..

And then there are the Ponderosa Pines…..

Reaching for the sky.

It’s hard to stop taking pictures!

We’ve taken many walks on the trails here this week.

On Sunday we’ll be moving again….heading back near Flagstaff for a few days, .on our way to the Grand Canyon!

Excited to be there…but happy to Be.  Here.  Now.

Joy.

We come to the White Mountains of Arizona to find fall on October 1.  It’s all about elevation…1000 feet can make a difference in the color change, and what trees we see.

We stay at Walthers RV Park in Show Low for a week. (Weekly rate comes out to $25 a day.)

Elevation here is 6347 feet, but just a pleasant drive south onto the Fort Apache Indian Reservation brings us into the over 7000 feet range where the Aspen are quietly donning their fall finery.

When I mention the White Mountains of Arizona I often get blank stares.  Show Low ( the name of this town was derived from a card game, in case you were wondering) is northeast of Phoenix, about 50 miles south of Holbrook and I-40.

This is off subject but just north of Show Low is the town of Snowflake.  You’d think they must get  a lot of snow, right?  They do get some, but the town got its name because of the two guys who founded it…. that would be Erastus Snow and William Jordan Flake.  I kid you not.  In 1993 the movie Fire In The Sky was about Travis Walton, who lived in Snowflake and was abducted by aliens.

Ok, back to falling leaves….😊🍁🍂

Aspen leaves on the ground.

The white tree bark sets off the gold and green and blue so nicely.

That’s called A-1 Lake.

A little fisherman at Hawley Lake.

We found a meadow area next to Hawley Lake where Joy and Shiloh could run free.

And a beautiful stream where Joy could soak her belly.

All the above pictures except for the campsite were taken on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.

There is a great trail system (White Mountain Trail System) in the Show Low area.  We walked on the Rim Trail for a bit.  That would be the Mogollon Rim (named for Mr Mogollon of course, and pronounced ‘muggy-on’.)  This is a geographical feature that runs across Arizona for about 200 miles, forming the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau.  (Monument Valley is part of the Colorado Plateau).  If it were in California it would probably be commonly referred to as a ‘fault line’,  but I don’t hear that much around here.

Walking on the nicely paved Rim Trail.

Joy overlooks the Mogollon Rim.

Today we plan to move on to Eagar, AZ, about 50 miles  east of where we are now,  still in the White Mountain area.

Still seaking autumn….

Before I write about Monument Valley….

I feel the need to say some things about the horrific Vegas Massacre.  I unexpectedly have tv where I’m staying this week, and I’ve been watching the news.  It’s beyond imaginable.  The survivors speaking on camera this morning are breaking my heart.

“I probably walked past people who didn’t know they were going to die.”

” Tomorrow is not promised.”

“Love your loved ones and be the best person you can be.”

“I feel guilty.  Why did I live and so many younger people had to die?  I can go back to my daughter in LA this morning, but they can never go home.”…..this last said by a man…a lawyer  with tears running down his face.

These survivors haven’t really had time to process all this yet, that may take weeks or months, but one thing is for sure, all of the 22 or 23 thousand people there Sunday night have had their lives changed forever.

I try not to take life for granted…even tomorrow.  It’s why I write things like ‘the plan is….’ or ‘if things work out….’ or ‘I hope to….’.   Because I just never know.

I just never know.

But this is a wake up call that brings the tenacity of life into better (and shocking) perspective.  We…none of us…know if we have tomorrow.

Be in this moment.  Be Here Now.  I remind myself to live this day as if it were my last day on this beautiful earth.  I hope you will to.

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And now to Monument Valley.

I continue driving down the eastern part of Utah,  past the red rocks and walls of Arches National Park and Moab (went to those places last time I was here), almost to the boarder of Arizona.  There are so many bucket-list-worthy places in Utah.  If you come here you can easily spend 6 months!

Monument Valley is …I don’t know….I continue to search for words to describe this place, which is one of the reasons it’s taken me so long to write this blog.  I still don’t have the right words.  Oh I can tell you the physical attributes and show you pictures, but those things don’t do it justice.

Physically it’s red buttes, rising straight out of the red earth as high as 1000 feet, shaped over time by sun, wind, rain, ice, heat and cold.  The Navajo park covers about 5 square miles, though the buttes are scattered through a much larger area than this.  Depending on how the light plays on the, they look different.

For me the area is special in a mystical sort of way, related to an experience I had here many years ago.

It’s so much more than ‘awe-inspiring’ or ‘beautiful’ or ‘amazing’.  It reaches out to me on a spiritual level and I just can’t explain or describe the feelings that I have as I stare off at these odd formations.  Mere words seem blunt and stiff and useless here.

The concentrated area is a Navajo Tribal Park, and it will cost you $20 to drive through it.  A Senior Pass will not decrease the price here.  The road is terrible, and I mean REALLY terrible.  There is a museum, a gift shop, and a hotel here now too.  A better idea might be to take a tour of the place, rather than drive your own vehicle through it.  Also this way you can learn so much from the tour guide.

The unassuming grocery store.  It looks so tiny.

The airport and a hogan….and a lot of open space in muted colors.

We camped at a brand new campground, not even finished yet.  It’s called Monument Valley Camp Park, and has views all around, but nothing fancy in the campground.

Horses (cows and sheep as well) are allowed to run free in the Navajo Nation, including on the road, so be careful.  Here they are in the RV park enjoying the rare grass.

But then, someone comes to round them up…..

On a motorbike!

I hope you are able to come to this very special place someday.  Spend a little time, not just looking, but contemplating too.  You won’t be disappointed.

Our trip south through Utah is relatively quick, but we stop for two nights at two places That i love.  Part one is about the first one we come to.

On September 25 we are on our way to DEER CREEK STATE PARK.  This will be our third stay here since we have been on the road.

Its another day of driving through rain sleet and snow to get there though.

It seems even more scary than my last snow drive (see last post).  The road is even more windy.  The higher the elevation the lower the temperature and it reaches down to 31 again, same as it did a couple of days ago. In places there is slush on the road but it doesn’t freeze.

After we pass through Heber City the stuff falling from the sky eases up.  Ten miles further on we reach Deer Creek State Park and the precipitation has all but stopped.

The temperature is in the low 30’s though so I set up quickly and we all retreat into cozy WS where I run the electric heater and warm my hands.

The next day is perfect, clouds making way for sun and in the 60’s.  We stay for two days during which time we take frequent walks and just admire summer, turning into fall, turning into winter….all at once!

Site CC13.  I’ve reserved this one each time we’ve stayed here.  $30 a night.  Full hook ups, covered picnic table, grill and fire pit….and such beautiful views.  Most all the sites have beautiful views and are well spaced.  Some are pull through, and this is one of them.  Hehe.

The rest of the pictures are scenes from our walks…of the varied seasons…all within a couple of days!

There are showers and bathrooms here, and a boat launch area too.  The small town of Heber City is about 10 miles away.  The whole area is just beautiful and I could easily spend 2 weeks here.  Highly recommended!

Utah part 2 will be about Monument Valley, with breathtaking beauty of another sort.

It feels like late November or into December.  I’m resisting playing Christmas music.

“Following the weather” hasn’t worked for me this year.  We are in Utah now, heading for Arizona.  It actually got up to 52 here today but that was a heatwave and tomorrow, where I’m headed the high is supposed to be 34 degrees.  Meanwhile Marie in Tawas, Michigan tells me it’s 91 there today.  Ok, that’s too hot, but what the heck is going on?

Heading for Idaho from Montana.  This is “Big Sky Country”.  Big sky full of snow clouds….

Beautiful….yes….

But…but….

We approach Monida Pass which is …hmmm…around 6,500 feet.  (Monida=Montana+Idaho).

It maintains 31 degrees and sometimes there is rainy stuff and sometimes snow, but it doesn’t freeze.

But I’m not having what you would call a good time as I drive the pass. Thankfully the worst….over the pass…is only somewhere between 10-15 miles, and things get much better.

Snow in the mountains is so beautiful to look at, but not to tow in!

Dogs like it!  That’s Joy rolling in it.  Legs straight up in this picture.

Sorry, so blurry.  Snapping a picture of the Utah sign as I wizz by.  You can see there is some blue sky….but….

I took this a little while ago on our walk.  I think the weird weather is following me!  Or attached to me somehow.

However, it’s not as bad as hurricanes nor is it as bad as being in the midst of an earthquake, so I’m just going to try an appreciate the snow…and the cold….and keep heading south!