Month: May 2016

Upon leaving Flagstaff, we had a few days to get the far distance of Moab so we decided to enjoy it. We drove up to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Parked in bus parking at the visitors center and took their tour bus service as far west as they went, out to Hermits Rest. We did some walks along the way out to the different points as well. Sadie even went for a stroll and stopped for a photo op!

 

After a day of adventure, we had planned on Boondocking somewhere. Sue used a website that was recommended of Campernium.com. She read some reviews and directed us to a part of Kaibab National Forest. According to the directions, we turned off Highway 64 onto 310 (road name) and went past the cattle crossing and then could find a previously used site. Seeing as it was getting dark, we found a turnoff that came back onto the road and parked there. We had 2 neighbors, one on each side of us as evident by the campfires and one serenading us by guitar.

In the morning, we walked around and climbed 80 feet up a fire lookout tower to see some views and  get some cell phone reception to do some check-ins. Boy, the wind was cold up there!

We saw several other campers in various modes as well.  Sadie ran around off leash and found scat as well as a lower portion of a leg that still had fur and hoof, either mule deer or elk. She sniffed at it but would not go near it. She later found something else that smelled appealing as she decided to roll into it.

Back out to the Highway, we did some more lookout points, parking our bus along the side spots just like a tour bus would! Some of the visitors to the canyon even took photos of this spectacle. LOL

The rest of the day we meandered our way north and east. We looked at making some stops along the way, but were not sure of us getting in let alone getting back out, so we continued until just north of Mexican Hat UT we turned onto Valley of the Gods – dirt road.

 

 

 

 

We drove out a few miles as based on the reviews we could go as far as the spires with no worries.

Now the review didn’t say how big of a rig could make it, but Rob wanted to give it a shot. Just had to remind him once or twice of just what vehicle he was driving as it was not our beloved ole Bronco!

 

 

Picked a spot and stayed for the night and next day and night.

 

 

 

 

We are parked under the “Resting Hen” which is the rock formation above us.

 

We left 1^st thing Friday to go the rest of the way up to Moab.

Why Moab you might ask?  Well for the annual Bronco Safari that is the first week of May. Just cuz we don’t have one to drive doesn’t mean our fellow bronco brothers won’t have an extra seat in one, or a few, of theirs!

Our niece and fiancé live in Flagstaff. They planned their wedding for April 16^th in Sedona, so we drove the far distance from Mesa to Camp Verde – 110 miles. We parked there, as well as Bud & Kay, to be close enough to town, while not in town. There were no places to be found in Sedona available nor that could fit us both. The wedding was out on a cliff called ‘Chicken Point” and required a little off roading to get there. The wind had been bad the couple of days before and we were glad it died down mostly, it was still a little cool.

The ceremony was beautiful as was the view.

Pictures do it all no justice as seen

here by the bride’s beauty.

 

While we were parked in Camp Verde, we took a ride out to Jerome –

talk about a town on a hill! 

We also drove over and saw Montezuma’s Castle.

Rob & Bud took care of some RV stuff on both rigs. We parted ways, the folks heading south and us north all the way up to Flagstaff – another 56 miles. Whew. We lent a hand to the newlyweds as they were doing some painting & fixing up of a new home for them and moving out of an apartment all of this the week after the wedding and while still working every day. Luke & Amanda are proud to have a “home” to call their own. 

 

We spent our winter from the end of October to the end of March doing workamping jobs. We only needed to work 12 hours a week each to pay for our space and utilities. Rob sat at the Activities Office desk and assisted anyone who needed information or to purchase tickets to events. I spent my time in the Computer Lab helping anyone with anything they needed. Rob also volunteered as a Ranger, they helped Courtesy Patrol and parking incoming rigs. 

Then on his free time, he also played Horseshoes.

 

 

 

 

We really enjoyed getting to know the people and all the activities, oh and don’t forget the food. We played cards, some we knew and some new ones we learned. Sometimes we served the beer and wine for the gatherings the park had, sometimes we just enjoyed the festivities.

The weather had its ups and downs, January had a cold snap – not long enough for Sue, while February saw a record of the consecutive days over 80! YIKES. Sunsets could be very colorful.

Christmas lights on the streets were very pretty – they even had a contest. 

Oh and we got a great gift for christmas…

 

Thanksgiving had Bud & Kay, as well as Robert drive out to us to spend the holiday together with us. In December Robert came from CA while Steven & Jen flew out from MI to Phoenix and stayed with his folks. We all got together for a few gatherings as well as an early family Christmas. When Robert drove back to CA he had a passenger – Sue. She was headed back to CA to get her left knee replacement surgery.

She was headed back to CA to get her left knee replacement surgery.

Rob worked both of their hours while she was gone for 3 weeks. She came back minus a limp, one that anyone who saw asked about. The knee is almost as good as the other that was replaced 4 years ago.

We played in a Ladder Ball Tournament with the park managers Robert & Esther.   

 

 

 

 

 

Rob had a great hat for St Patrick’s Day. 

Our summer plans are based around a few weddings that we are attending all on the west coast. Sorry east coast family & friends, not this summer.

After WI, we bopped down to AR to do some CPO RV Inspections. While we were there just north of Little Rock, we caught up with a friend that we haven’t seen in 25+ years, and that was a great day.

Then we had to visit a distillery – of course. Rock Town Distillery is the first one in AR since prohibition. They wanted to be making Bourbon, so upon opening, they started by selling some Vodka and Gin from the clear stuff and started barreling for the bourbon. Their Gin is very good. Rob got a bottle of their bourbon of course.

After the inspections, we had some down time before heading to the Workamper Rendezvous in Heber Springs AR, so we dropped down to Red Bay AL and saw our favorite people at Tiffin!

Rob helped a Jeep owner.

 

Oh and after we drove out of the bay, we had an extra little tool.

Look closely toward the roof. 

 

 

Got some great cabinet additions and slides added. What an awesome time, even Sadie had fun playing with their dog.

 

We were out of town so we had a fire, cleaned up some scraps and the yard too! Love our tub!