Grand Canyon to Prescott Valley

We headed out to the Grand Canyon pretty much the same way we came into Las Vegas only this time over the Freedom Bridge. Past the Hoover Dam and along I40 cutting off and taking Highway 66. The most iconic road in America. Through lots of funky little towns that unfortunately were dying.
 Then back on the highway for what seemed like forever until the turn off into the Grand Canyon Rd into the Kaibab National Forest and Hwy 64. By the time we pulled into the BLM spot we had found for the night it was pitch black.

 And of course they were burning slash just up the road so when we woke the next morning the RV smelt like an old campfire.

Next morning up early and into Canyon Village for Tyler’s birthday present.

We flew over the Grand Canyon on a earlier flight with Papillon Helicopters. It was beautiful and very impressive.

 The only thing I wish they would have turned the music down or picked a not so boom-boom classical tune.

The Canyon was incredible and it was interesting that even flying at 120mph it took us about 15 min to cross.

Tyler loved the heli flight and unfortunately they stuck him in the center seat (something about weight distribution)so he did not get to see as much. So I took lots of photos for him.

Having gotten an earlier flight meant that we had a lot more time to walk the rim trail of about 4km from the visitor center to the railway station.

Caught the shuttle bag to Furgy (the RV) and headed back to Route 66 to check out a town called Seligman.

We RV’ed behind the OK Corral and just had to go for lunch at the Roadkill Cafe. Cool old place. Ended staying for 2 days so we could check the place out.

Our wonderful goth bartender showing off.

Had cocktails at the Black Cat lounge and Tyler beat me at pool 3 out of 4 games........ok I sewer-ed a few times but it was still fun to chat up the locals and let our hair down for an evening. Then off to Salome AZ to visit my friends Rick and Polly.

We were able to park at a friend of theirs, in the same RV park which was perfect. Thanks so much Sharon for the use of your lot and the shower. We had 2 dinners with the Pizzi’s and spent a day wandering around the back hills looking for rocks..... I love rocks.

Hands full of rocks.

Tyler filled his pockets and me my hands and after cleaning them I will have fun making pendants and bracelets with them. Going to try to resin coat a few. Out in the desert we saw many different cactus (Tyler even got one through his shoe), lots of birds and the funnest was the little lizards scurrying around.

Thorn stuck right through Tyler's runner.

One even stopped for a photo shoot.

Can you find the lizard?

On the way to Rick and Polly’s we traveled through a place called Skull Valley that we thought was interesting. Heading back up that way and after stopping in Wickenburg for groceries head back up into the mountains to Yarnell. Found a very inexpensive RV park ($25) to stay the night and thought we would wander here for a day or two. As almost everything was (is) closed up in Yarnell we headed to the Legion Post 79 just in time to enjoy a few beers and be there for Taco Tuesday. Very busy spot with lots of locals to tell us all about their town and area.
So here we are again with no wifi to download to the blog and having a ball. After Yarnell we drove to Prescot Valley and stayed a night in the Willow Park RV Park.

Prescott Valley

It gave us time to do laundry and shower and we had hoped catch up on the downloads and blog. Not a chance.

The wifi wandered in and out. We almost lost our cat Sam. The little bum managed to open the small window at the top bunk and go wondering for the night. Really scared us and we were prepared to stay another day or two to look for him. But 6am and he meowed at the door wanting to come in. He must have had quite the night as he slept for most of the time during the next 3 days. We will really have to watch them from now on.

 Jan 18th Thursday. Having both kitties back safe and sound we headed out to Skull Valley, 5 miles in off the highway on the roughest washboard road I have seen in a long time.

360 of Skull Valley above out camp.

Everything wound up on the floor, even the mustard lost its cap in the fridge. What a mess. Then to top it all off a branch came off the tree we were parked next to in the wind and smashed the sky light and the cover for the refrigerator.

Not happy about me taking a bum shot.

We managed to get the branch down and moved to a safer spot away from the tall trees. After the clean up and plasticizing a garbage bag over the skylight we sat relaxed in the sun... and wouldn’t you know it I got a little sunburnt. +16 deg C (60F). The next day we woke to wind, rain and cold inclement weather so stayed pretty close to home.

With all the excitement of the last 2 days nether one of us was feeling up to snuff and just enjoyed laying around and snoozing.... Then the next morning we woke to quite the surprise; it had snowed about 3-4” over night and 11 deg F (-11C). But we were toasty and warm and luckily the water did not freeze.

Tyler removing snow off the damaged sky lights plastic bag.

 Another day of staying close to home with a short walk in the afternoon. Sunday we decided we just had to check out the local brewery only 2 miles from our camp site.

The Barnstar Brewery was a blast. We sampled a few of the 12 beers they make and chatted to everyone that came through the door. It was busy and friendly and the owners warm and inviting.

 A tour of the brewery grounds, bratwurst and sauerkraut, (Tyler had the home made pulled pork)for lunch. We had a great time and thankfully a local couple gave us a ride back to the RV as it was dark and getting cold when they finally closed for the day. Having such a great spot to camp has been wonderful. We ended up 6 nights at the triangle spot on FSR 102. Watched the birds, deer and a few local dogs come to check us out. We hiked, visited with many of the locals and had a few pint of some pretty darn good beer. It made up for the missing cat, broken skylight and sunburnt day.

Desert to City

Valley of the Fire; only one thing to say about it. WOW. 

 

  We stayed in the RV campground for 2 days and roamed the bright red rocks.

  Hangin’ on.

Took so many photos and it is hard to not show them all. 

 

  Nap time.

The formations and colors have no words to describe them. 

 

 

So, I am not going to say much and let the pictures talk for themselves. 

  King of the Castle.

  Getting a little sun burnt.

We wandered and climbed to the top of the rocks, visited the petroglyphs, then relaxed our sore and tired muscles.

 

On our way to Las Vegas we stopped to Visit the Hoover Dam. 

 

It was packed with people.  Having the RV we had to park way the heck up the hill and walk down to the dam itself. 

 

Still an amazing place even though there was little water in the reservoir and we were sure that the dam was not producing power. 

 

The new Freedom bridge that has been built over the dam was pretty impressive.  

 

Then came Las Vegas.  We did not plan it but made it to Vegas for Tylers birthday.  Which turned out pretty amazing on its own. 

  We woke to rain.

It rained, and then it poured and they are totally not ready for water in their city.

  River of water coming out of the Linq Parkade.

  Through the parking lot and all from 1.5” of rain.

We wandered around, saw a few of the sites, laughed at the fact that almost all the shows had been cancelled due to weather.  Even the inside ones.  The escalators were shut down, water (rivers) running down and through the parking lots. 

 Lazer show at Sam’s Town.

But we managed to have fun, have a few beers, and a awesome steak diner at the Yard House Pub (only place we found with lots to chose from and no smoking).

Nevada High Desert

We stayed at the back of the Tonopah Frontier Station Casino in their slightly tilted paved RV sites for 2 nights and enjoyed their WiFi.  Which was about the only thing good about the place (oh forgot this was the cheapest spot we had found to date at $27.00 a night).  We are so unaccustomed to public places that allow smoking that just to walk into the place was an assault to the senses.  The bathrooms were also appalling. If we hadn’t really needed a shower I think I would have done without.  But Tyler was able to get the work for the school done that he needed and that was the important thing.

 

Leaving Tonopah we headed east on Highway #6 and then onto the Extra-terrestrial Hwy and had a blast.  Stopped at the Little Al E Inn restaurant and pub for lunch, chatted up the waitress and even left a jar of rhubarb strawberry jam with her.  The place is a hoot and lots of paraphernalia to look at and buy.

 

 

Then off to see the black mailbox; which wasn’t there.  Just the cement block it used to be in, I think.  We were disappointed that after all these years it was gone. 

   Tyler walking away disappointed the black mailbox was gone.

There was a lot of litter everywhere and Tyler even found a pom-pom.  Too funny.  But I was excited that in it’s place was a Joshua Tree forest. 

 Joshua Trees 

Then a beautiful drive through the high desert with the highest elevation we crossed was 6522’.  That is up there and amazingly higher than most of the mountains in British Columbia.

 Yesterdays road into Horney’s Rest Stop.

We ended stopping at a BLM site called Horney’s Rest Stop. OMG it was perfect. 

  Tyler overlooking the desert from ridge above camp.

A bit bumpy on the way in but then we found a flat spot, set up camp and went for a hour long walk out into the desert.  When we got back to the RV, got out a few beers and the camp chairs; let the kitties out for a quick snoop which they loved and proceeded to watch the sun go down and a faint pink take over the sky. 

  Carl and Sam checking out the new spot.......a little bit of freedom.

Then it happened the full moon rose over the hills and lit the camp site up.  It was magical.  The perfect high desert night and not a soul around. 

  Full moon rising.

The next morning was breakfast, 2 more hikes up onto the ridges and lots of photos. 

 

We saw Jack rabbits, lots of cactus and Joshua Trees, birds and a lot of rocks. Tyler was excited as he thought he found a bit of gold but it was only pyrite. 

A beautiful day of hiking, afternoon nap and watch the moon rise for a second night.  We just had to stay 2 nights.  A great spot to just relax and wind down.

 

Ok we got up on the third day, the sun shining and decided to stay an extra day.  It was wonderful.  We walked up to the ridge that followed the base of the mountain, took more pictures of cactus, rocks and desert things.  Spent about 2.5 hours wandering around and headed back to camp.  We then let the kitties wander around for a few hours and now they are pooped and hopefully not wandering around all night.  They had a great time. 

  Tomorrows road.

Tyler and I sat in the sunny, sheltered side of Furgy (the RV) and had an afternoon cocktail and watched the sky get dark and moody.  One of the most relaxing and beautiful days since we left the city. 

But alas, Tyler won’t let me stay one more day as we are out of coffee milk and getting short of supplies.  On the road again. Lol