Mileage: 60,702 Oak Flat Campground Tonto National
Forest Superior, Arizona
We left Blythe, crossing over
the Colorado River into Arizona. We
drove on 10E through the desert, through the mountains, past Quartzsite, and to
Phoenix.
It was very windy today and
you could see the dust blowing.
We noticed a small
penny-sized chip in the RV windshield yesterday. We called Safelite AutoGlass first thing this
morning and they were able to arrange an appointment for us in Phoenix at 1:30
this afternoon. We got there by 11:30
but they couldn’t see us any sooner.
Samson was our technician and he did everything he could to make it as easy
as possible. The windshield was repaired
and it was after 3:00 pm. We were not
sure where we were going to spend the night.
Our friend, Claudia, had told us that Apache Junction, Salt River Canyon,
Show Low, and Springerville were all very beautiful. Looking at the map, there is a lot of scenic
highway out that way. We headed in that direction,
through Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa. In
the AllStays App I had found a small campground just east of Superior.
10E in Phoenix was crowded and
we were traveling during rush hour. We
were glad when the expressway ended at Apache Junction and the Gila Pinal
Scenic Route began.
The Queen Creek Tunnel
through the mountain had a clearance of 13’6”.
Our RV is 12’10”. We saw a large
fifth wheel and a tractor trailer emerge and we knew we would be fine! We chose to ride in the middle lane. It seemed taller than the sign said!
Our campground, Oak Flat.
We took a short hike up to
the ridge. The hiking surface was craggy
volcanic rock. In the picture below
there is also a spider hideaway.
Thankfully our campsite has a great big willow tree for shade.
We spent some time this morning doing laundry and other chores. Tim found a place to get his haircut. By 10:30, we had our cooler packed and we headed north of Blythe. We really were not certain exactly where we were going. We were looking for a Jeep trail that would take us into the Big Maria Mountains. We found the perfect ride. First, Tim had to air down the tires. Please note his handsome hair!
Lunch spot.
This was the most precarious part of the ride. We had to descend about 100 feet vertically on a very steep slope and then get back up again on the other side to continue the trail. From one ridge to the other, through the wash. Slow and easy…It was almost a “V”.
There were parts of the trail where we would go up to the top of the knoll and not be able to see what was beyond that. We would have to creep over the edge to see where the trail went next.
It felt like summer here today!
We took our chef salads and berries with sourdough bread down to the river for dinner.
If you know Tim, then you know this is how he parks!
We watched the river current, rougher tonight because of the wind. We saw a vermilion flycatcher, a small bright red bird unfamiliar to us at home. We saw grackles chasing one another across the sky. There were yellow winged blackbirds in the campground today. We also saw a pair of herons in flight. It’s amazing how much things change with the water supply from the river.
This evening we met a couple in the campground and we spoke with them about off-road adventures and the RV lifestyle. They had also been small business owners and we had a lot in common.
Mileage: 60,476 Mayflower Regional Park Blythe, California
We are starting to head east. First, we wanted to see the rest of the scenic route around Joshua Tree National Park. We passed through Indian Canyon.
There were miles of windmills.
We passed through Palm Springs. Several people had told us how beautiful the city was. There were curved paved walking paths, landscaped with brightly colored flowers. The lawns were lush and green. This was a very upscale kind of place! Some of the houses were boxy and modern. There were villas built into the mountainside with large expanses of windows. There were large adobe houses with terracotta roofs. In the next town were the car dealers…Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, Austin Martin. I think that I read that there were 100 golf courses in the Palm Springs area! No place here for us and our little RV!
We passed through the desert with mountains flanking the roadside. We stopped at a gas station and on the way out, we passed over the lip onto the roadway. As we made our way onto the road, we hit an unanticipated dip in the road, looking at it later, we couldn’t even see that it was there. It caused the RV to rock from side to side sending dishes through the cabinet door and shattering Pyrex bowls. The glass shot forward into the cab and onto the counter-tops, into the sink and onto the furniture. The refrigerator door lock broke and groceries tumbled to the floor. The jar of sweet pickles broke as well, leaking sticky vinegar onto the tile and carpet. We pulled over onto the shoulder and worked together to clean up as much as we could.
We got to Blythe and we took everything apart to clean. It was 98 degrees inside. It was warm but because there is no humidity it really wasn’t uncomfortable!
When the RV was sparkling and fresh, I drove to the grocery store to shop.
After dinner, I went and walked around the park. Mayflower Regional park is right on the Colorado River.
There is a nest of owlets high in an old tree. The mama was initially sitting in the nest. Only the snowy head of one baby was visible.
She’s blurry but this is the mama owl in the nest.
The father sat in a nearby tree watching the nest while the female took a break.
As I walked back to the river, I saw her sitting in a tree.
I stayed at a table listening to the birds settling for the night. I could hear peepers from the lagoon. The mother owl began to hoot gently. The moon was a sliver and it glowed in the early evening sky. Stars had just started to pop. What a peaceful way to end the day.
Day 3 Twentynine Palms RV Resort Twentynine Palms, California
I walked through the campground this morning to the office to extend our stay. Tim saw this bee swarm directly across from our site. It was about 7 inches across. We were not sure if they are the africanized bees or not…but we kept our distance. The bees travel in a swarm, surrounding the queen as they fly. They often stop to rest.
The campground has a lovely rose garden. Pink roses are my favorite and this bush was resplendent!
We drove through the park early this morning. It was another gorgeous day. The forecast was for 87 degrees and sunny. I’m not sure I would like it here much in the summer but there is something to be said for dry air with NO humidity, NO bugs, NO rain, and NO allergies!
Today we had a shorter off-road adventure planned. Old Dale Road passes through the Pinto Basin and into the Pinto Mountains where there are several abandoned mining operations. Tim researched this and there was a wide discrepancy in the reviews of this trail. Some Jeepers described it as moderately difficult in spots and others were more negative. There were several warnings at the trail-head.
Can you imagine taking your rental car off-road!?! Recovery/towing fees in excess of $1,000.00…yikes!!!
The first 10 miles of the trail was soft sand and a pleasant ride. It sure is pretty here!
We saw our first desert tortoise today. He was about 12 inches long.
As we climbed in elevation and into the mountains, the trail was rougher.
The road was narrow and skirted the mountain on a steep ledge. There were honestly times that I busied myself looking for lizards while Tim negotiated the winding way. I saw dozens of them. It wasn’t a good place to stop and take pictures though! Tim needed to concentrate on his driving. It was very warm today and we saw desert iguanas, chuckwallas, and all kinds of smaller lizards. Most quickly skittered away as we passed…elusive little critters!
We descended the mountains and made our way back to the highway.
Tim was able to watch the end of the NASCAR race and then we went to dinner in town at a good Mexican restaurant!
Day 2 Twentynine Palms RV Resort Twentynine Palms, California
We had planned a long off-road drive today in Joshua Tree National Park. We packed breakfast, lunch, and snacks and started our ride. There are 9 campgrounds within the park and they are all full! The place we are staying is only a couple of miles from the north entrance to the park.
The weather was perfect today! The mountains, the rock formations, the wildflowers and the critters were all in rare form. The off-road trails were fairly tame but we had some fun spots too! We had an amazing day! We didn’t get pictures but we saw a golden eagle soaring overhead. It began to make tighter circles and it looked like he was hunting. We watched him dive and fly off with a jackrabbit in his talons. It was a spectacular sight!
Geology Tour Road took us down into Pleasant Valley. Because of the fertile soil and the water in the valley the variety of flowers here was incredible. Pictures cannot capture the large expanses of flowers nor the dazzling colors. We are fortunate to be able to see this. Many years there is not enough rain for the wildflowers to bloom. Seeds can lie dormant on the desert floor for years before the conditions are right.
Berdoo Canyon Road was a little more challenging.
We had to pull over to allow a Jeep coming from the opposite direction to pass. The guy in the first Jeep told us there were 28 more Jeeps behind him! We watched as they passed by! The last one was a little bit bigger than a Jeep!
Flowers in the canyon.
Beavertail cactus, a kind of prickly pear, in bloom.
Gorgeous views.
Lunch spot.
Desert Caterpillar or white-lined sphinx moth caterpillar.
A pair of really cool bugs.
A chuckwalla sunning himself.
We took the highway to the next trail, Pinkham Canyon Trail.
We got out to walk around and the caterpillars were everywhere! They were moving a a very fast pace across the gravel road.
This guy did not like me to get too close…he started throwing himself around.
We got back to the main park road after 5:00. Pretty here too!
In the campground there is a permanent unit parked with this sign out front. Yockey was my maiden name and it isn’t very common. I have been watching to see if anyone is around…I’d have to stop and ask if somehow we are related!?! Maybe tomorrow I will ask at the office!
Mileage: 60,295 Twentynine Palms RV Resort Twentynine Palms, California
It is moving day!! We took 95 south away from Las Vegas…away from the crowds and noise and traffic! We did have good time there and we got a lot done…it is just time to go!
We passed a large solar farm…miles long. They probably only produce enough electricity to power the Bellagio; its fountains and chandeliers, and neon lights and slot machines, bars and hotel rooms!
We passed through an area of “Critical Environmental Concern.” The desert tortoises are a protected species. They are able to get all the water they need from the food they ingest. They store this water and recycle it. If they are startled, it can cause them to urinate. They lose all their water, dehydrate, and die. Turtle nests are an easy buffet for all the animals higher on the food chain.
We started to see Joshua trees and we looked at the elevation app on Tim’s phone. We have made the observation that they thrive in desert elevations of 3,000 – 5,000 feet. They only live naturally in the Mojave Desert. They grow about 1 inch a year. The park has a tree that is 40 feet tall and 350 years old.
We stopped at the Cal-Nev-Ari rest stop and had our breakfast outside.
We stopped for diesel fuel right after breakfast and before the California border. We paid $3.19 a gallon. The next gas station was in California and diesel fuel was $5.49 a gallon. We bought 30 gallons of fuel. We saved $69.00 by buying our fuel in Nevada! California has a problem!
We took Route 95 to Route 66. It was our plan to take Route 66 all the way to Joshua Tree. All of a sudden, the road was closed. We had to turn around, luckily there was a place large enough for us to turn around, and we made a new plan.
There were so many beautiful wildflowers along the roadside today. It just doesn’t work to take pictures of them from a moving vehicle. This year there is a “superbloom” in the desert because of the very wet winter and spring. Pinks and purples and yellows and whites and then the prickly pear cactus are just starting to bloom so suddenly you see a bright splash of fuchsia on the desert floor. I love flowers!
Such a pretty ride!
The town of Amboy and Roy’s Motel and Cafe was a famous stopping spot when Route 66 was in its heyday! Now it has a population of 6 and there isn’t much left. Production companies and photographers do use this now defunct business for filming and there was a crew there today.
The Amboy Crater is the remnant of a cinder cone volcano. The black lava rock that spewed from the volcano goes on for miles.
Just outside Amboy there were salt fields/a dry lake that were being used to harvest calcium chloride.
After we got to the campground, we rested for a short time and then packed a picnic dinner; crostini, bruschetta, Havarti and cheddar, apples, hummus, and veggies.
As soon as we entered Joshua Tree National Park, Tim spotted this bighorn ram on the rocks. We watched him and took some pictures and as we drove past the rocks we saw the rest of his crew heading away from us.
The boulders and rock formations are otherworldly. It looks like wads of clay bunched together haphazardly. Something a child might construct.
There is a veritable forest of Joshua trees. These trees are growing more densely than others we have seen. They are also much larger.
There was stunning scenery from Keys View. This overlooks the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault. It was 55 degrees and breezy!! Most people had on winter coats and cold weather clothes.
We took the Queen Valley Road, a dirt trail, through the valley, where we had our dinner.
We only did a short loop this evening and we plan to take a off-road trail, the Geology Tour Road, tomorrow.
We began the day at McFadden-Dale Hardware. We found everything we needed to finish attaching the bike rack to the Jeep. We got back to the RV and everything fit together perfectly. We had one final hurdle…would the bikes fit on the rack with the new tire…YES!!!
We packed our lunch and headed our for a trial trail run. We wanted to try out all the new stuff on the Jeep. Tim was happy and the Jeep ran like a champ. The new tires make him a bit more brave…I will get used to it!!
The trail was initially quite tame and I think that Tim was disappointed.
Las Vegas in the distanceThe Strip
Beautiful yucca blooms in the foreground.
The Joshua trees are beginning to bloom as well.
We followed the power lines for a long while.
We finally found the Tierod Canyon Trail. It was rated 5 of 7 or moderately difficult. There were lots of obstacles and Tim was challenged by the course.
Lunch Spot.
There are still things we cannot try! Tim said rock crawlers probably use these steep trails.
While we were out, we got a texted a bunch of pictures. PopPop, Oliver, and Austin were all out 4 wheeling today!
It was a successful run. We are leaving Las Vegas tomorrow and will head south toward Joshua Tree National Park.
Today we waited. While we were waiting we did laundry and other chores. We also rode bikes around the campground. Finally we got the call, the Jeep was ready. Carlo from 4 Wheel Parts sent his wife to come and get us. She was as excited as we were to see the “big reveal.”
Tim was so happy…boys and their toys! It really does make me happy to see Tim so happy!!
We went for a late lunch and celebration at Steiner’s. We had delicious salads!
We toasted to our “Little Roughneck.” For months we have been trying to come up with a name for the Jeep…I liked Roadrunner…but it wasn’t the right name. A couple of weeks ago, it came to me…”Little Roughneck.” When Tim was young and in trouble, his mom would say, “You ain’t nothing but a roughneck!” Tim liked this reference instantly. So, in honor of his mom…we now have the perfect name!
We spent the rest of the day trying to make the bike rack work on the new larger spare tire on the back door. It needs some modifications. We worked on it until after dark and we will see if we can make it work tomorrow. We hope to have some time to go play with the Jeep. We want to take it off-road before we leave town so that we know everything is working the way it should!
We took the Jeep to 4 Wheel Parts this morning. We got a ride back to the campground and now we wait. Hopefully the Jeep will be ready with her makeover tomorrow!
We did ride bikes around a little bit and we had lunch in the resort cafe.
The remainder of the day was very unblogworthy!! We were lazy and even a little bored. No pictures either!
We wanted to go back to Red Rock Canyon and go hiking and take the Jeep off-road.
I am really glad that we went back. The view from the hiking trail is incredible. You get an entirely different perspective of the rock formations. The rock is very intricate and beautiful. The layers of sediment that formed this sandstone is easy to walk on except when it is wet. Apparently it gets slippery but also very brittle and therefore dangerous. We stood in awe, watching the climbers. They looked like ants or spiders scrambling up the rock-faces.
The yucca plants are just beginning to bloom.
We took the Jeep on a trail.
Always looking for the perfect picnic spot.
There were a couple of challenging sections…always get out and look instead of getting into a jam!
It looked passable…so on we went.
Part of what makes this so thrilling is that you never know what lays ahead on the trail. Wildlife encounters, obstacles, stunning vistas…or a brand new, very expensive Range Rover with temporary tags…stuck and with 2 flat front tires…in the middle of the trail…
Tim walked ahead on the trail, looking to see if he could find the driver. We will never know what really happened here but when I peered through the window it looked like someone had tried to start it or move it without a key…lots of wires sticking out and a screwdriver on the seat. We had no cell phone service but we were going to report the car at the ranger station. On our way out we passed some guys in a big pickup with tires in the back. They were going to get their car!
