FROM BEDROCK TO DEAD HORSE

SUNDAY NOV. 25/07
Our outside thermometer told us to stay inside this morning because it was only 27F & would you believe there was a tent pitched a few sites down. How those people (kids) keep warm in flimsy tents at those temps I'll never know. Better them than us I guess.

Took the dogs for a walk around the big Freddy Flintstone parking lot & snapped some pictures of the Bedrock RV Park. Somebody sure put a lot time, effort, & money into this place years ago. There's a whole theme park behind a colorful wall but we didn't see that. Quite a place, but I kinda liked it because maybe I got a little bit of Fred in me:))

We were on the move again by 8:30 heading south on highway 64. Hopped I-40 west for a few dozen miles then climbed off on 89 heading down through Chimo Valley. Our destination was Dead Horse State Park southwest of Sedona. We could have (should have!!) gone through Flagstaff but we had already been there so I figured we would try a different route & see new sites. Oh boy, was that a mistake!!!! Somewhere south of Chimo Valley we grabbed highway 89A east for Sedona. We had only gone a few miles when we noticed the first road sign & then a few miles more we noticed the second road sign that said, No Trucks Over 50 Feet. Oh Oh!! We weren't sure what that meant but by the look of the Mingus Mountain range in front of us we figured it might be a wise move to un-hook the car. Wow, was that ever a right decision!! Kelly had one walkie-talkie & I had the other & within minutes as Kelly followed me, we were into the most challenging stretch of road I had ever seen.....ever!! And there was no turning back & no room for turning around. The twists & turns on this road made the switchbacks at Zion Canyon look like child's play. Blind curves, no shoulders, 15MPH hairpin turns, steep grades, sheer cliff drop-offs. This long stretch of road over Mingus Mountain had it all. There was no let up, no sigh of relief, just deadly curve after deadly curve. On some blind curves I was nearly stopped to edge myself around. I was so close to some of the guardrails with the motorhome it nearly scared the paint right off coach. I felt kinda sorry for some of the drivers coming the other way because all of a sudden they had a big 33 foot motorhome in there face coming at them on a road that was hardly passable for 2 Volkswagon beetles in some spots. I had to reach deep into my bag of driving skills numerous times but all & all, it was an exciting drive to say the least. And then, just when I was beginning to enjoy the challenge, I saw a sign ahead that said, "Road Narrows." Oh geeeeezzzz!!!! Within seconds I was into the mountain town of Jerome, Arizona. And this town was like no other town I've ever seen. If I thought the mountain road was narrow, it was nothing compared to the main street of Jerome, weaving & winding it's way around buildings, curbs, people, parked cars, & just about anything else imaginable. Reminded me of movies I've seen of Swiss Alpine Ski Villages. Couldn't resist grabbing the camera & taking some pictures as I twisted through the streets. I could see Kelly behind me & knew she was going to be very upset by the time we ever got to where we were going, but, there was no place to stop so had to just keep on going in the hopes I didn't catch a top corner of the motorhome on somebody's eave trough or protruding balcony. Some of the corners were so tight I was way over into the other lane to get around them. Eventually the buildings dwindled as we made our way down the rest of the mountain through the town of Clarkdale & then into Cottonwood. Found a place to pull over on the main street so we stopped & touched base for a minute. As soon as I got out of the motorhome I could smell hot brakes. Despite gearing down on the hills & using my brakes sparingly, I still managed to overheat the brakes on the rig. Found that a little scary but at least we were down on the valley floor & out of the mountains. A few minutes later we were able to find Dead Horse State Park & were soooooo happy to pull into a nice quiet campsite & shut everything down for another day. The lady camphost who lives there told Kelly, "I can't believe you came over Mingus Mountain in a 33 foot motorhome." Well, I can't believe it either, but we did. We definitely won't be going back that way but you know what.......I wouldn't have missed that little stretch of excitement for anything, but, I wouldn't want to have to do it all over again either. Aw yes, another day in the life of......The Bayfield Bunch:))

P.S. No internet here at Dead Horse State Park so we tried again to set up our satellite system but without success. I just can't seem to find the satellite or something. So discouraging!! (I think I am right on the verge of being traded in:((

Will maybe take the laptop & try to find a Wifi signal in the town of Cottonwood to-morrow to check our email & get caught up on things.

COTTONWOOD, JEROME, & MINGUS MOUNTAIN, YEP WE DID EM ALL TODAY

Took ourselves (Pheebs too) for a daytrip back to Cottonwood today for a looky-see at a few things, lunch at Randall’s, a purse swap for Kelly (orange to blue) in one of the groovy shops she was in a few days ago & a stop in mountainside Jerome for Kelly to pick up a colorful South West stylish long shirt.  I’ll see if I can get a few pics of all that tomorrow along with my Jammie Bears:))  And Chinle…..this is the link to my JAMS.

MOST PHOTOS TAKEN FROM THE DRIVER’S SEAT ROLLING THROUGH JEROME AZ TODAY

 

NOTICE THE SKULL TAIL LIGHT EYES ARE LIT IN LEFT SHADOWED PHOTO OF TRI-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE

DON’T KNOW IF THIS IS A CAR OR A MOTORCYCLE…MAYBE A CAR-O-CYCLE

 

GLAD WE HAD THE JEEP TODAY & NOT A MOTORHOME

Been a few years since we ACCIDENTALLY brought our 33’ Damon Motorhome over Mingus Mountain & through the narrow streets of Jerome & I’ve always wanted to do that drive again but from the other way heading west out of Jerome.   Today we did that.  Enjoyed the scenery unlike back in late 07 when my full concentration was concentrated on getting our rig around the tight mountain curves & hair pin turns.  That is quite an amazing drive & I have always held that one as my personal benchmark to measure other tough Motorhome mountain drives by.  Have always figured if I made it over that Mingus Mountain Jerome drive I should be able to handle most other tricky drives as well.  And that was only our second month on the road with our 33’ Damon Challenger Class A.

  

---------

SPOTTED THIS COUPLE A FEW DAYS AGO AT THE ‘OAK CREEK VISTA’ DOING A SELFIE

An update on what is happening in SLAB CITY at the moment can be read here at ‘LAST FREE PLACE’.  Thanks to COZYGIRL for the update:))

TRYING TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH AN IPAD….WHY WOULDN’T YA JUST USE A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR TAKING PICTURES….LIKE MAYBE A CAMERA!!!!

I stayed up past 10 a couple nights ago to watch Jimmy Fallons monologue.  He’s the new host of the The Tonight Show recently vacated by Jay Leno.  I lasted about 5 minutes & shut the TV off.  That ends a long running tradition for me of watching both Johnny Carson & Jay Leno’s monologues since way back in the 60’s.  It’s not that I don’t like Jimmy Fallon.  It’s just that I do not find the guy’s sense of humor…………funny.

And a surprise at the Post Office today.  Thank you so much DONNA & RUSS for what you sent us.  Beautiful, & tomorrow I am going to see if I can creatively photograph some of them & include the pics in Saturday’s post.  We will find a special place here in our South West setting to give them a home.  Thank you for thinking of us:))

I DON’T KNOW WHY I TAKE PHOTOS OF THINGS FLYING OVERHEAD LIKE PLANES, BIRDS, BALLOONS, BUGS, & HELICOPTERS, ETC BUT I JUST DO………………..

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Thanks for the Hockey pics Alice:))

A HARROWING MOTORHOME DRIVE OVER MINGUS MOUNTAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 2007

A WINDY STORM TOSSED LAKE HURON ALONG BAYFIELD ONTARIO’S SHORELINE

RV NET is our favorite website for keeping tabs on the pulse of the traveling RV public & it's the place to go with all your RV questions, curiosities, & comments regarding the lifestyle.  Many topics in the forums & any RV problems you have can be answered here by fellow RV folks.  Always people ready to lend a helping hand.  There is no cost to join the site, just register & away you go.  We've been members since 2002. 

ALL THESE BAYFIELD HARBOR BOATS WILL SOON HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE WATER FOR THE WINTER

It was while I was perusing through some of the topics yesterday morning that I came across a post from some folks thinking of buying their first RV. They were trying to decide on what length of an RV to buy.  The fellow mentioned that he didn't want an RV that was too long or it might limit them to certain parks & he didn't want to get into towns or places that were too small to get his RV out of.  He mentioned the MINGUS MOUNTAIN  town of Jerome, Arizona as an example & that immediately reminded me of an accidental wrong turn & harrowing ride we had over Mingus Mountain right smack dab into the narrowed streets of Jerome on November 26th of 2007 with our 33 foot motorhome.  Our blog for that day is HERE & the photos I took while trying to squeeze through the streets of Jerome & still leave some paint on the rig are HERE.  Additional pictures of Jerome, Arizona are HERE.

SQUEEZING THE MOTORHOME THROUGH THE STREETS OF JEROME, ARIZONA

When we think of Autumn we generally thing of falling Autuman leaves, & that's a common thought.........unless you live in a pine forest!!  Before moving here we never thought of pine trees dropping their needles in the fall.  Not all of them of course, but a lot of them.  Always a big huge pine needle clean-up in the sping.  It is windy here to-day & it almost looks like a lite snowfall with all the pine needles falling from the trees.

THE YELLOW PINE NEEDLE  ROAD IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE

Had a few questions about yesterday's Ikea blog & the furniture we bought there for the motorhome.  A resounding 'yes' to the question about whether the furniture has worked out well & do we still like it. 

POANG CHAIR….2008	VERY HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING
THE PAINTING BEGINS	BORREGO SPRINGS 09

ONE PICTURE SHOWS MAX RESTING ON A BIG CHAIR IN THE CORNER….THAT CHAIR FOLDS OUT INTO THE  COMFORTABLE SINGLE BED LITTLE CORA IS SITTING ON

While boondocking east of Sierra Vista last winter we met a fellow on RV Net who worked on the army base at Fort Huachuca.  We called him Sergeant John.   The ‘Sarge’  & his wife Jackie live in the little town of Elfrida.  They are an RV couple & the Sarge’s hobby is his 2 Hudson Hornet cars.  They have traveled to many car rallies over the years & I think John may have been President of the Hudson Hornet Car Club at one time.  The photo album below shows the Sarge’s cars in storage at his home.

View Full Album

It has turned out to be a very windy & gray rainy day but I did manage to slip over to the lake earlier & grab a few photos before the rains returned.

THE FISHING BOATS EVEN STAYED IN HARBOR TO-DAY

A VIEWPOINT AT BAYFIELD’S PIONEER PARK OVERLOOKING LAKE HURON & THE BEACH BELOW

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The nicest thing about the future is that it always starts tomorrow.

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

WHY I LIKE BLOGGERS, BLOGGING AND BLOG LAND:))

MANAGED TO CATCH ME A SMALL RAINBOW THIS MORNING

Another cold wet rainy day here in south-western Ontario.  Figured I had better get myself out of the house and catch me a little fresh air.  My travels took me up and around the Goderich harbour and down along wind tossed Lake Huron.  Only camera I had with me was my point and shoot Canon Powershot SX210IS so all of tonight’s photos are with that camera.

THE OCEAN GOING CARGO SHIP STEFANIA 1 WAS IN HARBOUR THIS MORNING PICKING UP A LOAD OF EITHER GRAIN, BEANS OR CORN

 

GODERICH’S SIFTO SALT MINE IS SEEN ACROSS THE HARBOUR

JEAN AND SKIP are currently in Cottonwood Arizona and yesterday toured the historic mining town of Jerome Arizona built on the side of Mingus Mountain.  We accidentally first encountered Jerome in November of 2007 after an unplanned harrowing trip over Mingus Mountain.  I was driving the Motor Home that day with Max, Checkers and the Motormouse on board with Kelly following in the Santa Fe.  If I thought getting over Mingus Mountain was scary....I had no idea what was ahead of me in the narrow twisting streets of Jerome!!  For my post that day click here.... FROM BEDROCK TO DEADHORSE
 

TRUCKS WAITING TO DROP OFF THEIR LOADS OF GRAIN AT THE GODERICH GRAIN ELEVATORS…BLACK PUFF OF SMOKE LOWER RIGHT CAME OUT OF A STACK ON THE STEFANIA 1’s STERN 

A TRUCK TIPS IT’S LOAD INTO THE AUGERS OF THE LARGE GRAIN ELEVATORS WITH THE STERN OF THE STEFANIA 1 JUST AHEAD

STU AND DONNA travel fully prepared for flat tires and it was a flat tire on their fiver along I-40 near Knoxville that had them donning safety vests, putting out traffic cones and hauling out the impact wrench, jack and spare tire.  And, was there damage to the rig?  Yes there was.

I always find my fellow Blogger's posts about their views on blogging interesting.  How they got started, what they like or dislike about blogging.  What motivates them to write a post every day or every once and awhile.  Where do ideas come from and how are ideas formulated.  I'm always interested in the mechanics of how people put their posts together as well.  Are they using Live Writer, Blogger, or a different writing platform.   What photo editing programs are being used and how are they used in relation to a Blogger's post.  Some blogs are records of daily activities, some are more travel oriented, some opinionated, some occasionally humorous and some occasionally sad.  I find the whole world of blogging very interesting.  I thought Donna’s TRAVELS IN THERAPY post this morning was a fine example of how the freely sharing of information between Bloggers can be so very helpful.

 
A blog may be technically helpful or thought provoking on a philosophical level.  It is the wide diversity of topics I enjoy here in Blog Land.  And, for the most part it is the respect here in Blog Land that most Bloggers have for one another that I appreciate the most.  Very rare to find rude and sarcastic comments in our community and I think we all appreciate each other's maturity for that.  I have seen other forums where things get very personal and nasty.  Nice to be part of a community where most of us have respect and understanding for each other's thoughts and opinions.  It is also the support Blogger's have for one another in times of difficulty that makes our community very caring and very special. It was this morning’s post post by BIG DAWG AND FREEWAY  that set my mind to thinking of all my fellow bloggers and the great community we all communicate in. 
 
<<< RURAL ONTARIO

To answer the question about my suspected wheat intolerance and if it was diagnosed by a Doctor.  No, it was not.  Just my opinion on some physical things that have been occurring for quite awhile and seemed to coincidentally take place after eating breads and buns etc.  Maybe I do not have wheat intolerance at all, but at least the symptoms for wheat intolerance got my attention enough to make me try some new changes to my eating habits.  Since making those changes I have not had the lethargic bloating feeling I was getting so bad after eating products made from dough.  I love anything made from dough so have always fell prey to things like donuts, muffins, sweet buns, and any kind of bread products, etc.   Wheat intolerance or not, I figure a change regarding wheat products could very well be a positive and healthy change for me.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  We'll see how it goes.   I should also add here that I consider myself a very fortunate person in that at the age of 67 the only prescription drug I take is something called Arthrotec which helps with the sometimes aching stiffness I get in my legs.  Been taking this for about 13 years now when it was originally prescribed for bone spur problems in both my feet which have long since been surgically corrected.

GODERICH EVEN HAS A HORSE RACING TRACK

One of my favourite periods of each day is my 20 minute morning shower time.  This is a time when the beginnings of many blog ideas for the day are conceived.  My shower routine is always basically the same from the time I enter the bathroom to when I leave.  I generally always turn on a small electric heater because I like the feeling of warm air wafting over me.  And, I like my shower water on the hot side as well.  I also have a habit of turning the bathroom lights down while in the shower and I have absolutely no idea where I picked that habit up or why.  As many long time readers know, I am a music oriented person so of course I have music in the bathroom as well.  Back in the 80's I made countless hours of cassette tapes (remember them) from CD's.  It is all the ambient tapes that  I now listen to each and every morning in the shower on a boom box I found a few years ago in a Goderich Thrift Store.  It is that warm air, soft lighting, hot water and music which makes a special time for me each and every morning:))

 

A STORMY LOOKING DAY AT THE LAKE

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Old ranch owner John farmed a small ranch in Montana.  The Montana Wage and Hour Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his workers and sent an agent out to interview him.

'I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,' demanded the agent.

'Well,' replied old John, 'There's my ranch hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 a week plus free room and board. Then there's the half-wit who works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night.'

'That's the guy I want to talk to, the half-wit,' says the agent.

'That would be me,' replied old rancher John.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers  experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their  soul remains un-awakened.
BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295
The only thing better than right now  will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.

THIS POST IS COMING TO YOU FROM SOMEWHERE NEAR SEDONA ARIZONA

SEDONA ARIZONA’S RED ROCKS AT SUNSET

It was already well into the 70’s before 9 this morning so we  we weren’t long in heading ourselves out the driveway heading for higher & cooler elevations.  With Winnie’s A/C on we made a quick stop at the Congress Post Office.  Nuts!! No Jammies yet:((  Threw some gas in Winnie’s tank & with the Jeep tied on behind we headed up the Yarnell Hill.  The rig handled the hill just fine.

 

WINNIE CHASED THIS CLASS A ALL THE WAY UP YARNELL HILL

Quick stop at the Cornerstone Bakery in Yarnell & we were on our way.  Destination Sedona Arizona.  Well not so much Sedona proper as the area somewhere around Sedona.  We had a couple hot tips on a few quiet boondocking areas.

<<< COMING OUT OF YARNELL’S CORNERSTONE BAKERY WITH SOME GOODIES

It was a familiar drive for us up through Peeples & Skull Valley.  Wound our way along Iron Springs Road into Prescott & picked up the Pioneer Parkway which took us in a North-Easterly direction around Prescott.  Broad sweeping vistas as far as the eye could see.  Long golden Valleys stretched to distant mountain topped horizons.  And lots of Evergreen trees & forests around Prescott.  I figure if I was forced to live in a city in these here parts I would choose Prescott just based on scenery alone.

GLAD WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS LONG TRAIN IN KIRKLAND JUNCTION

 

THE GENERAL STORE IS NOW CLOSED & KELLY CHECKS OUR GARMIN

SWINGING WAY AROUND PRESCOTT

Topped a rise north of Prescott & I could see the snow covered SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS just north of Flagstaff maybe about 75 miles away as the Crow flies to the North-East.  Made our way to a place called Dewey & headed North from there.  Traffic had been lite until we hit #17 coming up from Phoenix.  From there the traffic just got heavier & heavier.  Cottonwood was a manic mosh of metal monsters.  Kelly & I had stayed at DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK back in late 07 but neither of us remembered this much heavy traffic around Cottonwood then.  So glad to get out of that traffic mess & onto highway 89 heading for Sedona.  We were back out in our comfortable countryside again & darned well planned to stay there!!

FROM PRESCOTT WE CAN SEE THE FAR AWAY SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS NORTH OF FLAGSTAFF

BEGINNING TO SEE SEDONA’S RED ROCKS ACROSS ARIZONA’S SWEEPING VERDE VALLEY

We did find the area several fellow RV Boondockers had recommended but we immediately ran into an unexpected problem.  Headed up a dusty road & pulled over into a flat spot to unhook the Jeep.  As soon as Pheebs got out she had 4 flat tires.  The whole area was covered in those dreaded Goathead prickly stickers.  They are the most miserable things of ever.  Got the stickers out of Pheebs paws but we had them stuck to the bottom of our shoes too.  We knew that particular area was not going to work for us.  With the Jeep we scouted another couple roads but they were too rough for the rig.  We knew of one other place across the highway so off we went.

We knew Annie was tucked away on that side of the road somewhere so we cruised along the gravel road slow until we spotted her RV through the trees.  Found us a spot to pull in & walked over to Annie’s place. 

ANNIE’S TUCKED AWAY IN THE TREES

We had never met her before but we have been following THE GOOD LUCK DUCK long enough to know about Roxie & Annie.  Annie was home & soon her dog Jake & Pheebs were making fast friends.  Nice to finally meet Annie, a nice easy going Gal.  She knew of a couple camping spots within walking distance of her so we all walked over & checked them out.  Could tell right away it was not going to be an easy campsite.  There wasn’t a spot of ground flat enough anywhere to land a fly let alone a 26’ Class C rig with no levelers. 

 

THAT’S MINGUS MOUNTAIN ON THE HORIZON

We did manage to wiggle into a spot on the sloping hillside & with the aide of some plastic Camping World levelers we did manage to square things up a bit but nowhere close to level from side to side.  Not much we could do about it though because we didn’t know where else to go.  On the plus side we do have a great view out over the Verde Valley & we can see the twinkling lights of mile high Jerome way across the valley on the side of Mingus Mountain.  A cluster of lights on the valley floor below I’m guessing belong to Clarkdale & Cottonwood.

JEROME IS ACROSS THE VALLEY ON THE MOUNTAINSIDE DIRECTLY ABOVE WINNIE’S HOOD

Don’t know if we’ll stay in this spot or search us out a new location in the morning.  Kelly suggested we hit a Home Depot & get them to saw us up some sturdy 2’ sections of board to use as levelers.  We just might do that as they are always handy to have along for un-level situations like the one we are in.  In our Damon Class A I always carried a ready to use lumber yard with us.

  

No idea where we will go or what we will do over the next few days here but I’m sure we’ll think of something.  We just wanted to take advantage of this warmer weather in an area that is not normally known for warm weather this time of year.  Temperature in the rig this afternoon was 83F.  I’m wilting, I’m wilting……………..

Been awhile since I have stood out under a big Moon in short sleeves but it is warm enough tonight to do just that.  Jerome is just a tight cluster of shimmering diamonds nestled into the darkened side of Mingus Mountain across the valley. Our nocturnal landscape lay before us bathed in an ethereal hue of tumbling Moonbeams………………

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Jim had a terrible day fishing on the lake, sitting in the blazing sun all day without catching a single fish.  On his way home, he stopped at the Fish Store and ordered four rainbow trout.  He told the fishmonger, 'Pick four large ones out and throw them at me, will you?'  'Why do you want me to throw them at you?' Asked the clerk?'  So that I am able to tell my wife Sandie, in all honesty, that I caught them.'

The fisherman's golden rule: The one that got away is always bigger than the one you gotta weigh.