fulltime.hitchitch.com Ron and Terry go fulltime

GO  BACK    GO  FORWARD    GO HOME

 (It is now Sat. and watching the final four and on Sunday will relax and read the paper) We plan on heading out on Monday east on I-10 and getting off on exit 31 and taking HWY 60 to Wickenburg. You Escapees people know that area as Congress North. We stayed last year at Congress north so know the area.
Wickenburg has a Bank of America and need to get some cash. This way we can go around Phoenix. Who needs that.  We have checked out Lake Pleasant  and the web site said dry camping on the beach for $5 a night. Sounds just what we will be looking for and getting in on Monday we should not have the weekend campers to worry about. After that up I-17 and adventure. To be determined. 

Its spring and time for all good Full Timers to think about their spring and summer plans.  We have wintered in Quartzsite, and while it was fun while the fun lasted its time to bo on the road again.  This morning we did the final packing and cleaning.  Hooked the trailer up, and held our breath, would the slides work.  would the satellite dish stow,  would we be able to hit the road. 
 

Hooked up and ready to go

going

 

And gone.   Our home of the last few months in now just another bare patch of desert on the fringes of Q.  WE has a big day planned,  a whole three hours of travel time, with a stop in Wickenburg at noon to visit the grocery store,  go to the bank, and pick up a couple of baubles at the hardware store.  One stop shopping in wickenburg.  A tank of Diesel fuel was added to the mix and we continued on our way, ending up at Lake Pleasant Regional Park. 

APRIL 3 MONDAY AFTERNOON 

We had found the park last year when we went to phoenix from The october camp in Congress, but did not stop.  The internet informed up that there was primitive camping for five dollars a night, and we were up for that.   Arrived at the park at 2:00 pm and then went about looking for a campsite.  Registered at the south entrance, and went to the visitors center, where they informed us that the best camping was at the north entrance.  After having to back up and turn around once with the road being closed due to high water we got to the North entrance and got settled in.

Our excellent site overlooking a quiet cove. 

After setting up it was time for a hike.  This view is but a short distance from our camp.  I always enjoy the contradiction posed by a large body of water surrounded by miles and miles of saguaro cactus.
 

And a reminder of spring, the flower cluster of the ocotillo cactus caught my attention on the hike down the hill.  More to come tomorrow.
 
 

APRIL 4 TUESDAY

On the road again, but only for a short trip up the road to Cottonwood, Az.  Tonight we are setting in Dead Horse State Park with full hookups.  The batteries are very confused,  they have not been plugged into Ac power since last Sept.  We have 50amp power and a water hydrant.   We also made our arrival in civilization official hitting a Walmart, Home Depot and Safeway all in one day.   Here we are located in our new home for the next few days.  The forecast is for rain and high winds tomorrow,  we stay here for a few days of exploration while waiting for the weather to improve in the north and east.

Went for a short drive this afternoon and ended up in Jerome,  The road climbs quite rapidly from Cottonwood,  narrow with lots of switch backs and longggggg drop off.  Would not want to be on this road with any ice or snow.  did get a couple of shots out the window and the street scenes below.
 

Just a small section of road from the valley up to Jorome.

A great site Jerome Chamber of Commerce    Another site all about Jerome, AZ
Located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff is the historic copper mining town of Jerome, Arizona. Once known as the wickedest town in the west, Jerome was a copper mining camp, growing from a settlement of tents to a roaring mining community. Four disastrous fires destroyed large sections of the town during its early history, resulting in the incorporation of the City of Jerome in 1899.

Founded in 1876, Jerome was once the fourth largest city in the Arizona Territory. The population peaked at 15,000 in the 1920's. The Depression of the 1930's slowed the mining operation and the claim went to Phelps Dodge, who holds the claim today. World War II brought increased demand for copper, but after the war, demand slowed. Dependent on the copper market, Phelps Dodge Mine closed in 1953. The remaining 50 to 100 hardy souls promoted the town as a historic ghost town. In 1967 Jerome was designated a National Historic District by the federal government. Today Jerome is a thriving tourist and artist community with a population of about 450.

Jerome sits above what was the largest copper mine in Arizona and produced an astonishing 3 million pounds of copper per month. Men and women from all over the world made their way to Arizona to find work and maybe a new way of life. Today the mines are silent, and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in America.

Left the pic larger so you can read the sign.

With the weather predicted to be bad tomorrow, we will plan on a day in camp, possibly take the truck in for service if we can get in.   I would like to go back to Jerome and walk around and look at the shops, but who knows right now.  I do know what breakfast will be,  bought bagels, cream cheese, and sliced ham this afternoon.

by Terry 
 

APRIL 5 WEDNESDAY
 

Still in Cottonwood at Dead Horse state park. The weather started out today as predicted and never got any better.  We had rain and sleet showers off and on all day.  In between showers we were out and about town.  This morning we could look into the hills above town and see the dusting of snow in the higher elevations. 

We stayed at the state park as we didn't see or read about many other options. And with the bad weather it was nice to have unlimited electric to waste as we saw fit.

Went to the Chevrolet dealer Larry Green here in Cottonwood for an oil change.  The dealership was very nice, a new three million dollar building that they moved into in October, but very little customer traffic.  Got a quote of $75.00 for the service check up and probably should have called the GMC dealer down the road for a second quote, not that they didn't do a good job, but the entire time we were there had to listen to hard core christian rock on their speaker system.  The oustside patio speaker was very loud, with constant songs about the lord and salvation, and we after to listening to this for an hour, did go and complain to management. After a smile, each employee would just say that the Muzak was directed by the owner.  Must be a great place to work if you don't fit the owners perfect mold. We were surprised that a place of business would play something like this, and would want to take any chances offending customers.  Word of mouth is a great marketing tool and as we spoke to people around town in visitor centers, etc. we received the same response that they did not have a positive opinion of this dealership. A letter will be sent to GM.

Wanted to go to Montazumas Castle National Monument but got lost trying to get there.  We did find the fish hatchery and had a good time feeding the trout in the show pool.  When we got back to Cottonwood I went to the Bank and Ron went to Safeway, then back to camp where we got to watch several more rain showers roll through.
We spent 6 months in Quartzsite and now rain and now here in Cottonwood downpour after downpour. Doing a good wash job on the truck and 5er.

Tomorrow we are going on a road trip to Sedona and points north. 
Will have to work to get to stop in Sedona, as Ron does not like to shop in tourist traps. 
 

And another fabulous Arizona sunset picture from our campground in Cottonwood, they never quit.

APRIL 6 THURSDAY

Today was our Sedona, Red Rocks day.  The Red Rocks area is very beautiful, sublimely so, the great shame is they had to plop Sedona down right in the middle of it.  Sedona to my way of thinking is a carnival come to town and never left. Lots and lots of ticky tacky tourist trappy shops, with some very high end art galleries thrown in for good measure.  We drove the length of  Oak Creek, and then climbed the hill to the ridge top for a quick viewing of the overlook.  Last night it had snowed, with bits of the snow still remaining.  The area at the rest stop was full of tourists, and where ever there is a concentration of tourists there springs up a Native American flea/silver market.  This was no exception, the vendors were setting up as we got there, complete with propane radiant heaters.

The view below is from the upper lookout at the Sedona Airport.  They wanted a  buck per person to view at the stop. We didn't see anyone inserting a dollar into the machine. It didn't give a receipt so what the heck. The forest service requires the purchase of a permit if you are going to park on any of the Forest Service lands in the area.  The local governmental bodies see the views as a cash cow to be milked. The tourists supplying an ever flowing supply. 

From the airport lookout. in Sedona

We had planned a picnic lunch at some overlook with the grand views as our decor,  but we got to Oak Creek and turned around in the Wendy's parking lot and Ron decided he was having a fast food withdrall, instead of my gourmet lunch.  (Insert by Ron... this was the first time in a long time Terry had made a travel lunch, let be known I harassed him into doing it.) After lunch we walked main street looking in the various shops and had an ice cream cone for desert.  The ice cream cost more then lunch at Wendy's.  Our final stop in Sedona was the community arts center, where the staff was busy setting a new show.  By mid afternoon we were on our way back to Cottonwood.  On the way back to Cottonwood we decided to drive the road back up to Jerome and then went up higher up HW 89A to the top of the ridge at 7040 alt. up to the pass summit. 

Driving the road above Jerome is a true mountain highway experience.  The road is narrow and has many switch backs, and there are many long drop offs.  The road reminded us of the highway between Oury and Silverton Colorado.  Ron loves these mtn roads but they make me nervous when I am looking over the edge and seeing blue skies and nothing more.  We saw a lot of motorcyclists on the road and in Jerome.  They really like the experience of the winding road. 
 

Above Jerome  on HW 89A looking out over Cottonwood and way in the background the red clifs of Sedona.

We had a great day,  exploring an area we had never been to, and we know that we missed seeing things that we should have gone to.  Had an email from a Jan back in Quartzsite that we opened tonight that had a couple of Sedona suggestions, a couple of galleries that we should have gone to featuring work of a couple of very prominent silversmiths. Maybe next year.

Friday we are thinking of hitting the road again.  We are looking at the area around Winslow and from then on to Canyon De Chelley.  After that it will depend on the weather.  Would like to hit Navajo Dam, but the weather looks like it might be to cold. 

APRIL 7  FRIDAY

We have landed at Winslow, AZ a short drive up I-17 to Flagstaff and east on I-40.
We like to go to the internet and Google counties, cites, and chamber of commerce's to search out the best value in campsites. Most cities and county parks are almost next to if not free. Take where we are at right now at McHood City Park 6 miles south of Winslow on HW 87 and then left on HW 99. Great sites overlooking a fishing canyon lake, no electric or water but FREE. Here is the link to the C of C with the park info.
 The web site sez they have been thinking of updating to electric and water since 1999 but since they have not it is still free. Now is this site better than the Wal-Mart parking lot in town?

We could have gone just north of Winslow and stayed at the Homolovi Ruins State Park at a cost of 
around $20 for electric or $12 for dry. But here with no crowds and FREE. It is Friday night and there are two of us in the campground. And funny both of us have satellite internet deployed. 

It is soooo nice here, we are thinking about statying for the weekend. As this from USAToday online weather.

In the morning we have to go for water. Remember we have 3 ea. 15 gal. tubs so we can get a couple of them filled and not have to move the 5er. With empty holding tanks we could stay here for a LONG time. We have enough food to feed an army. No more room in the fridge. So a great weekend is in the offing.  Like camping again. Take another look at the picture above to see the layout. 

It just hit me why we like it here....  Water... Lake... Canyon.  Things we missed for many months in Quartzsite and here it all comes together in the high plains at about 5000 ft. No wind and perfect. 

I did not like Sedona. Another tourist trap and way too much money being spent on fancy homes by the rich. Nobody needs to live like that when people are starving.  I have to admit I am a socialist at heart, and think some of the wealth should be shared where it will do some good.  I know some do share, but much more is needed. 
(Ron speaking)

Oh and later Bill Maur is on HBO as it is Friday and we will give hime another change. This season has been lame and just more of the same old tried lines from him and his repeat guests. The only good part is the 'New Rules' at the end of the show