Friday, March 20, 2015

BELLEMONT TO VALLE AZ, RESTING UP AT FRED’S PLACE & LOT’S OF OLD AIRPLANES

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Overnight at the Bellemont Truck Repair Center still had us close to the Santa Fe’s main rail lines & with a rail crossing a short distance away we had train whistles in the night but I didn’t think there were as many trains.  I did hear a big tractor trailer pull in right beside us & shut things down though.  We were both up at 4 & waved bye bye to our memories of Bellemont Arizona by 7:10 a.m.

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HARD TO IMAGINE THIS FLAT TERRAIN JUST 40 MILES AHEAD HOLD’S ONE OF THE 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Over coffee about 4:30 this morning we discussed our route & decided to backtrack a short distance to Williams & head straight north up 64 towards Arizona’s Grand Canyon as originally planned.  Needed to replenish our fresh water tank & have ourselves a slow relaxing day so headed for Bedrock City in Valle Arizona.  Nice soothing early morning drive with the rig running perfectly.  Less than an hour out of Bellemont we were at Fred Flintstones RV Park in Valle.  We were here once before back in late 08 so knew what to expect.  This is a theme RV Park long past it’s hay-day but they have a neat little restaurant (Fred’s Diner) here & we weren’t long in getting ourselves settin down for some breakfast with coffee being 5 cents a cup.  Mexican lady doing the cooking so Kelly’s big Burrito breakfast was excellent as well as my standard eggs, bacon, toast, hash browns & 5 cent coffee.  This is a uniquely rustic & tired old gift shop with a cozy little restaurant at the north end.  I liked this place right from the first time we walked in there six & half years ago & I liked the little cave like dimly lit hole in the wall eatery.  No fancy schmanzy stuff here……..My kinda place:)) 

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THAT’S KELLY WAY BACK THERE IN THE CORNER LEAVING A TIP AT OUR TABLE (RIGHT PHOTO)

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I THINK MOST OF THIS STUFF HAS BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME

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MAIN DOOR ON THE RIGHT

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Tim Horton checked us in at the office/grocery store.  Yes that’s his name so I took his photo.  Any coffee loving Canadian would have done the same. DSC_0017 DSC_0016

CHECKING IN WITH MR. TIM HORTON WHO HAPPENS TO BE ORIGINALLY FROM FLINT MICHIGAN

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BEHIND THIS WALL LIES WHAT IS LEFT OF THE WILMA & FRED FLINTSTONE ERA

Found us a spot where both water & electric worked, un-hooked the Jeep & settled us down a spell.  Nobody close just a dozen old abandoned RV trailers close by.  Counted 15 rigs in the Park & 12 of them were long ago empty.  Yes we’re quite comfortable with absent non existent neighbors like that.  I remembered they had an air museum nearby so after having a shower I headed myself just down the road half a mile or so to have me a look at all the airplanes there.

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NOBODY LIVING IN ANY OF THOSE OLD TRASHED TRAILERS BEHIND US SO WE HAVE US A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD EXCEPT FOR TRAFFIC ON 64 IN FRONT OF US BUT IT’S NOT A PROBLEM

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PHEEBS HOLDING HER PAW UP BECAUSE SHE STEPPED ON A GOATSHEAD STICKER

This is a first rate aircraft museum located right on highway 64 at Valle’s south end.  Just $6.95 to get in & I spent a couple very enjoyable hours walking around looking at everything.  Only a handful of people there & of course that was a major bonus for me.  Nobody getting in the way of photos & no hollering kids racing around.  Now how nice is that. 

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GERMAN MESSERSCHMITT ME-109 ON THE LEFT

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THIS ‘SPIRIT OF GRAND CANYON’ AIRCRAFT ONCE FLEW PASSENGERS OVER THE CANYON (OF COURSE IT HAD FABRIC ON IT’S WINGS THEN)

After all these years I finally got to see what the cockpit of a P-38 Lightning & an F-86 Sabre Jet looked like.  Just about all of the aircraft displayed looked perfectly flyable & I’m sure some of the were.  So great that so many people have come together to form groups with the goal of preserving aircraft.

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COCKPIT OF A P-38 LIGHTNING

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ENGINE & BUSINESS END OF A P-38

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INSTRUMENT PANEL OF A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS

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P-51 MUSTANG ON LEFT & AN F4F CORSAIR ON THE RIGHT

Out back of the large hanger were parked another half dozen old planes plus a lot of airplane parts with some of them being huge.  Can’t imagine how aircraft aficionados can restore aircraft from bit & pieces but they do.  There were sections of what I am assuming was once a large 4 engine bomber of some kind laying in sections out back.  

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RUSSIAN MIG

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5 BIG ENGINES OF WHICH 4 COULD BE OFF A LARGE WW2 BOMBER

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TAIL SECTION & A HUGE SECTION OF WING

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2 ENGINE COWLINGS ON ONE WING PLUS ENGINES

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INSIDE A WING & LOOK AT ALL THAT COMPLEXITY AMIDSHIPS BETWEEN THE WINGS

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Would have stayed longer at the air museum but my legs gave out & were bothering me so knew I had to get back to the rig & sit down.  The overhead cloud cover was breaking up so Kelly & the Pheebs were out soaking up a few warming rays.  Oh so nice to see the sun & feel it’s healing rays.  By the end of the day we were under clear skies.  We both agreed it was the right decision to come here to Valle’s Bedrock RV Park & just veg out for the day totally relaxing & putting the last couple days behind us.  Kelly’s been handling the stress levels better than I have.  All day I felt the way I usually feel after a long & grueling journey & here it is only the 3rd day of our trek home.  I’m hoping today’s rest & relaxation with a good night’s sleep & no nearby train whistles will catch up with me tomorrow.

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LOCKHEED CONSTELLATION OFTEN CALLED THE ‘CONNIE’

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BIRD’S NEST IN A WHEEL WELL

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Plan to head off to the Grand Canyon’s south rim first thing in the morning.  We’re going to start off by riding the Canyons buses.  They are free & take folks all around the Park pointing out all the highlights.  Figured that’s a good way to orient ourselves with the surroundings.  Last time there in late 08 we did a lot of walking along the Canyon’s rim & around Canyon Village.  Might do a little more Jeeping this time because like I said I’m having some problems with my legs.  We are also going to scout out a couple boondocking spots south of the Park & if we find one we like we’ll maybe move the rig up there Saturday morning for a day or two.  Our journey carries us through the Park & out the east entrance anyway when we depart the area so everything is right on the way.

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REASON I HAVEN’T CAPTIONED ALL THE AIRCRAFT IS BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ALL ARE

Pheebs & I went for a short walk after supper & scared us up a few sunset pics along the way.  C’yall tomorrow night:))

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LOOKING AT THE WEST SIDE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS FROM FRED’S PLACE

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GROANER’S CORNER:(( You Know the computer belongs to a Redneck if....
1.The mouse is referred to as a "critter."
2.The keyboard is camouflaged.
3.There is a Skoal can in the CD-ROM drive.
4.There is a gunrack mounted on the CPU.
5.The password is, "bubba."
6.The numeric keypad only goes up to six.
7.Outgoing faxes have beer stains on them.
8.The printer goes really slow since Bubba don't read too fast.
9.The extra RAM slots have Dodge truck parts installed in them.
10.The menus all have Budweiser, Black Label, and Old Milwaukee options.
11.Jeff Foxworthy *.wavs.
12.The monitor is up on blocks.
13.Seven blue tick hounds under the desk.
14.Deer jerky in the desk drawer.
15.The screen saver consists of pictures of Ned Beatty with dueling banjos playing in the background.
16.The six front keys have rotted out.
17.John Deer Pocket Protectors.

 

24 comments:

  1. I'm going to have to show Joe your blog tonight. He would have been in 7th heaven touring through that place.

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  2. A much better day. The planes are cool but don't know they'd intrigue me enough at $6.95. Look forward to seeing the canyon through your lens tomorrow. It's been too long.

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  3. What a perfect day since your departure from Congress. Glad you are going with the flow and just enjoying.

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  4. Bedrock seems just the place to decompress and forget the last few days. I sure enjoyed the airplane pics and thanks for posting them. It appears they have a KC-97 tanker to assemble or make back into a B-50. Those engines with the chopped props are P&W 4360's 28 cylinders and the cowlings on them were only used on the B-50 and later KC-97 aircraft. The blue angles appears to be a L-39 trainer. Number 262 is an F-80 Shooting Star. Number 556 is an F-84 Thunder Jet. The Mig 17 looks very nice also. That appears to be a museum I should see someday, they have a great hanger display and not all overstuffed. Thanks again for posting.

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    1. Duh my bad...the Mig is a 15. 4 fences not 6 and small hortz stab.

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  5. Good idea to decompress. Sorry to hear your legs are bothering you again.
    Really looking forward to your pic of the canyon.

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  6. Now thats the way to travel, we like to take about 6 weeks or heading to and from the southwest, drive a bit relax a bit enjoy the different places along the way.
    Have fun.

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  7. That biplane in the first museum photo is a Stearman trainer. On my 'Air Zoo' post, I have a few photos of one, along with a photo of my dad in one in WWII. Interesting story of how he dead-sticked one back to the airfield.
    Hope you legs feel better soon!

    Jim

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  8. You just KNOW how much I love the Military Aircraft!!! Put the Pima Air Museum on your must do list ..around Tucson...Glad things have ratcheted down for The Bayfield Bunch...A little R & R is definitely in order!!!! Enjoy the "Canyon"..

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  9. Looks l like a great little spot to refuel yourselves. I bet that was a fun and colorful place in its heyday. My folks used to argue about the Flintstones - Mom saying it was a cartoon, and dad saying it was a tv show because it wasn't on Saturday mornings. My how things have changed :-) Safe travels to the canyon.

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  10. The number 262 aircraft ( Shooting Star) up in our neck of the woods was called the T33,I spent many hours doing maintenance on those in my RCAF days,along with the Mk 5 Sabre, which I did my initial trade training on.
    I'll have to check out that spot next winter.

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  11. So glad to read this post--enough was enough! Love the last sunset photo!

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  12. Off beat campground and air museum, perfect place for us:)

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  13. Enjoy the Grand Canyon. Shouldn't be too crowded this time of year...:-) I hate crowds, too.

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  14. Beautiful planes. I like those kinds of museums too. You know you real lucky to have that starter short problem while at the RV shop. On the road that could have been a terrible thing to happen and very costly to run down. Your stressful day was actually a blessing in disguise.

    Enjoy your visit to the Grand Canyon. Dolly and I loved it back in 2007.

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  15. The sunset pictures are wonderful!!

    arlonHboozer

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  16. Is the campground only for RV's? I am intrigued by the old wasting-away travel trailers. Are they just going to sit there forever?

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  17. Your Flintstone Park is kinda kitchy and kewl! I would stay there, for one night.... for grins!
    I sent you an email (and FB messages) about a boondocking area near the Grand Canyon. Can not wait to see all the pics you are gonna take!!!!!!
    KarenInTheWoods and Steveio
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    (Blog) RVing: The USA Is Our Big Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

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  18. "IF" you ever decide to come down the west coast (or go up the west coast), be sure to stop in Tillamook, not only for the 'cheese' factory, but they have a WW2 Blimp Hanger which is filled with old planes....lots and lots of them. (The hanger was for nine blimps if I am not mistaken, it is HUGE). Of course, one HAS to do the Tillamook Cheese Factory tour just for the free ice cream at the end of it (and of course, the cheese gift shop). Have a safe trip home. --Dave (GoingRvWay.com)

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  19. I'll say ditto on the museum in Tillamook. Sorry we missed you, we're at North Ranch.

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  21. Great photos of all the old planes today, Al. Like you, I am glad the old planes are being preserved. I hope the weather at the Grand Canyon is pleasant for you. Lovely sunset pictures.

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  22. Nice blog Al..... Yer in an RV park??? Really?? But I agree, it was time to shut it on down and take her easy.... Maybe play tourist for a while and then start over like it never happened.... Ur rig must have sat for a while, so your chasing out all the gremlins that moved in... But you'll get to the bottom of all of them.... Just have patients....

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