Wednesday December 20 – Today’s temperature: 39/72. Clear and breezy
Plans are made to go early to Palm Canyon in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, about 15 miles from where we are camped. We (Clifford, Rollie, Bill, Sally, and I) head out in a couple of vehicles, driving about seven miles south on 95 to the turnoff, a dirt road that takes us several scenic miles across the Kofa Refuge to the parking area at Palm Canyon.
Scenic views as we drive into the Kofa MountainsView of the Chocolate Mountains to the south from the Palm Canyon parking areaCloser view of the mountains to the south
Now the problem with leaving early is that it is cool in the morning and the mostly south-facing canyon is still deep in shadows.
Canyon in shadows
The wind is chilly, but we are all eager for the hike and head up the trail.
Eager for the trail: Sally, Rollie, Bill, and Clifford
The canyon is lush with desert plants, the trail a bit rugged, but not difficult.
Rugged terrain of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
At the end of the trail is a viewing spot and a sign. We look across the canyon to the deep ravines on the opposite side to see the palms growing there.
Ravine across the canyon where the palms growClose-up of the nook where the palms have taken foothold
These California Fan Palms are possibly the only native palms in Arizona in a natural location. They may be remnants of an earlier cooler climate or perhaps seeds were carried to the deep ravines by wildlife. Either way, these palms flourish in the coolness of the shadows where the ravine collects moisture from scant rainfall. It is possible to go beyond the trail and make one’s way across the canyon and up to the palms, but we are not doing that today.
Looking deeper into the canyon
After taking photos, we head back down the trail.
Because of the chilly wind, we decide to take our picnic back to camp. Bill has made a great ham and chopped egg sandwich mix for us, which we enjoy around a little campfire, protected from the breeze of the day.
Friday December 15 – Today’s temperature: 47/78. Quite a switch from much of the rest of the country.
Our campsite at first light
Clifford and I walk out to the host station to sign in, since we arrived here too late yesterday to do so. While we are there chatting with the host, my brother Rollie and his little dog Ninja arrive. He has been in Arizona since October and now that we are here, Rollie is going to join us for some time camping together.
After Rollie gets set up just a ways down from us, he takes out his instruments. I get out my guitar and we jump into some bluegrass music. Doesn’t take long for my fingers to object, as it has been quite some time since I’ve played the guitar. One might think playing cello would keep my fingertips tough enough for guitar, but not so.
Music with Rollie and Ninja
I round out the day with editing for Ang – her next series “Dragons of Va’ha’den” – before making chili dinner for Rollie, Clifford, and myself. It is fun talking to Rollie about some of his adventures thus far in his winter travels.
Saturday December 16 – Photos at sunrise, then tea and breakfast with Rollie.
Photos at sunrise
Today is reorganization day, which always happens right after a move. Then a campfire and more music.
Clifford has been getting his ham radios set up, including a 35 foot vertical antenna attached to the end of the camper. I make a spaghetti dinner for us all tonight, then read until midnight.
Sunday December 17 – It is cooler and windy today, so activities are mostly inside, including music, which is quite a feat, as both Rollie’s camper and ours are on the small side when it comes to anything extra, like instruments and extra seating. I edit for a couple of hours in the afternoon; would like to do more, but with all the demands on our solar system, we can only charge my laptop for that long each day. Rollie donates some ribs for dinner and I fix a red sauce and honey topping for them. Tasty!
Evening walkabout and photos of the setting sun
Read before bed, but not so late as last night.
Monday December 18 – It is clear and breezy today. I have tea with Rollie while Clifford is still sleeping.
View to the west from our campsite
Our cousin Bill and his wife Sally arrive to join us for a few days of camping, coming down from Dillon, Montana, in their 5th wheel. They get set up in between Rollie and Clifford and me. Nice big fire ring at their spot, so that becomes our center of operation. Bill is a great cook and makes fancy burgers for us for dinner. Rollie and I do some music, in spite of my sore fingers – hard to resist playing music with someone.
Evening walkabout and photos at sunset
Tuesday December 19 – Today’s temperature: 33/70. I join Rollie at a small campfire at his place this morning for tea, writing in my journal while he plays mandolin. Edit Dragons as long as the laptop has power and then finish reading the book I started a couple of days ago. We have a campfire at Bill and Sally’s spot in the afternoon and more music.
Rollie, Ninja, and Sally at the fire ring, getting set for more music
Clifford is focused on his ham radio, but always joins us for music.
So much fun to have family on the journey. We have plans for an outing tomorrow and we are all looking forward to seeing Palm Canyon.
We were not sure that today would actually be our leaving day, but in checking the weather, we see a high wind warning for tomorrow. That means we either leave today, or we will have to wait until Friday. So, we begin the final preparations of getting the house for us to be gone and finishing packing. Almost everything is checked off the master list, which has been on the fridge for weeks.
It is almost 4:00 by time we are ready to leave, rather a late start, but we are on our way.
Leaving Monticello, heading southOur route is not far from the Monument Valley region, so a few of the formations can be seen.A formation like a giant prehistoric creature
We are aiming for a place called Elephant Feet near Tuba City, Arizona, which appears to be a roadside stop where we can spend the night. As we approach Tuba City, we see a formation that looks like it could be the right place, but there is no sign, no other campers, and nothing to indicate that it is the right place. We go on, thinking that there may be something beyond, but there is not.
So we continue driving, keeping a watchful eye for a truck stop at Tuba City, and finding none we keep going, reaching highway 89, where we turn south. It is dark by time we reach Cameron where there is a truck stop with a convenience store. We park in the back parking lot along with a few semi’s and a couple other RV travelers. We are grateful for finding a safe place to spend the night and the use of the convenience store. Although not very scenic, we do have a peaceful night.
Thursday December 14, 2017
We take our time getting ready to go this morning. I browse the gift shop which features Native American crafts, beautiful fabrics and pottery. When we arrive at Flagstaff, we pick up supplies before heading south on state highway 89 toward Prescott. Arriving there, it is too early in the day to look for the campground we saw indicated on the map. We have time to make it closer to our destination – the LaPaz Valley just south of Quartzsite.
Leaving Prescott, we wind our way over a mountain range, the Juniper Mountains, which looks relatively small on the map. Maps are great, but sometimes features are deceiving. Curve after curve after curve; slow, but very scenic.
The winding road over the mountain south of Prescott, Arizona
After I thought we were out of it, there was another section of narrow twisting roads near Yarnell and a state park dedicated to the 30 firefighters who lost their lives there in a forest fire just a few years ago.
Winding down the mountain toward the valley floor
We thought we would have access to BLM land just a ways beyond – a place to spend the night. However, when we got there, the road seemed to lead to a ranch. This was not what I was seeing on the map, so we decide to keep going on to Quartzsite.
Arizona landscape as we continue on
We drive into the sunset and arrive at Quartzsite while there is still twilight.
Sunset as we approach Quartzsite
The BLM land is only a few miles further on, south on highway 95. Luckily, we are familiar with the Roadrunner camping area just off the LaPaz Valley Road and are able to find a spot alongside a small wash with a good size mesquite tree to provide a homey spot where we can be faced the right direction to handle the wind. It is dark by time we are set up; we only plan to be here a couple of days, but it is a nice spot and no one close by.
We are glad to be here. Hard to believe we only left home yesterday afternoon.
Monday May 22nd– It is early, but I am awake when Ang and Oden stop at the lot by the Alberton Town Park where we had parked for the night.
Raindrops on shrubs in the park
Oden is just finishing up his Drivers’ Ed class for today. It is great fun to see them; I make French press coffee and we chat for a few minutes until Ang has to leave for a meeting in connection with organizing the Alberton Railroad Days coming up in July.
Ang and OdenAng and Oden
We arrive in Wallace in mid-afternoon and have a little time to visit with Katie and Jeremy before beginning the huge unloading process, bringing in only the perishable food and most needed items to begin with. Later we have dinner with Katie, Jeremy, and family. So nice to see them all again.
The house and family in Wallace: Becka, Katie, Justice; Finley in frontWallace Walkabout: Jeremy and Jude with newest family member – Scarlet
Wallace: power, internet, and hot showers! Family and friends.
Jude and friend JDJustice and FinleyFinley, JD, and Jude at the pizza joint
Flowers and the beautiful Coeur d Alene River.
Our poppy is really putting out the blossoms this yearVolunteer pansies in our flower/vege bedPhlox after a rain shower
Coeur d Alene on the west end of Wallace
And for the first time in months, I play my good cello… and what a pleasure that is! Traveling is quite the adventure, but there are some great things to enjoy while we are here in Wallace.
Sunrise on our last day at Divide Bridge Campground
Saturday May 20th– I feel better than I did yesterday, but still kind of low energy. However, I go off for a walk to gather mountain sage to hang on our clothesline with the intention of making sage bundles for smudging.
Really cool big rocks here, along with the mountain sage
Then we get the back of the Suburban cleaned out and repacked in preparation for our leaving tomorrow.
After dinner and cleanup, I do some editing while Clifford studies.
Sunday May 21st – It is so pretty here this morning, I am sorry that we are leaving. This has been a great place and we wouldn’t mind staying longer if we could, but we have obligations in Idaho.
Our destination today is Alberton, about 30 miles west of Missoula, 80 miles from home.
Nice to see blue sky and great puffy cloudsOn the road again- southwestern MontanaSnow-covered hills in May – more moisture for the earthBearmouth Rest Area stop before Missoula
We stop in Missoula on our way through for a Barnes & Nobles fix and supplies at Costco. Then on to Alberton and set up in the lot adjacent to the park.
We have a picnic dinner in the park on the back deck of the historic train museum with my daughter Merri and her little grandson, my great grand-son, Jack, who is a very intense, almost-two-year-old.
Jack
This is a lovely spot with a huge expanse of lawn and trees in bloom.
Trees in bloom in the Alberton town park
Last moment of light
After our picnic, we walk up to Merri’s place to visit awhile, then back to Terry (our camper) for the night.
Thursday May 18th – I decide on a campfire this morning while Clifford runs to Divide to get hold of my cousin Bill in Dillon. Bill had helped us with the Suburban, tightening loose battery cables and such, hoping that would solve the problem of it not starting. But no such luck, so now onto the next plan, which is to go to Dillon again and have the alternator checked. So, I put out the campfire and we head off to Dillon, the snow still pretty on the hillsides.
Heading to DillonSnow on the hillsides as we travel to Dillon
In Dillon, the alternator checks out as being fine, but a coolant sensor is purchased and Bill installs it for us. Then he makes us another yummy dinner. Nice to have someone else cook and fun visiting with my cousin and his wife Sally.
Back at camp, after walking down to the road to take photos, I make another campfire and hang outside until it is too dark to write in my journal.
Bighole River with snowy hills in the backgroundThe turnoff to the campground
After I go in, I finish a blog and do some editing, staying up later than intended. Always so many good things to do in a day.
Friday May 19th – It is partly cloudy today with puffy little cumulus clouds floating across a blue sky and up to 74 degrees. Although snow remains on the hillsides, it is hard to believe all the snow in the valley bottom just a couple of days ago.
Cumulus clouds against a blue sky
I’m feeling a little under-the-weather, so not a very productive day, but I take a few photos and we go out to Divide to make calls and check email and such.
More photos of the Bighole River and snowy backdropMore photos of the Bighole River and snowy backdropThe trees have started putting out their leaves during our time here
I take a nap in the afternoon, get a few shots of the pretty evening light and go to bed early, leaving Clifford to do his own dinner and cleanup.
Capturing the evening lightCapturing the evening light on the rocky outcropping above the campgroundCapturing the evening lightThe sun has set
We are going to stay a couple more days, so no need to start packing up this evening or tomorrow. Sweet.
Wednesday May 17th – During the night, the rain turned to snow and we are blessed with with a couple inches of the fresh white stuff. I go out to take photos right away, quite enchanted with the beautiful stillness.
New fallen snow at Divide Bridge Campground in mid-May
Home Sweet Home at Divide Bridge Campground in mid-May
After tea, journal, and breakfast, I go out again.
The Bighole River as seen from our campsiteSnow at Divide Bridge CampgroundWhile the snow still clings to the branches, the effect makes one think of delicate lace.The Bighole River is rising a bit moreSnow emphasizes the textures of the trees
My laptop is dead and journal is current, so I read some photography and Aarp magazines that I haven’t yet gotten to on this journey. The snow turns to sleet, and I go for another walkabout, enjoying the crisp freshness of the day while snow remains on the trees.
More of the lacy look…….Looking toward the mountainLooking toward the riverSage that I was going to harvest is covered in snowAspen, or maybe they are alders, still hold snow, but soon it will be gone
The new neighbor is there celebrating his birthday and has a campfire going, in spite of the light drizzle that continues into the evening. Since the host is there, I go join them at the campfire, rather than try making one of my own. It is nice to have someone to chat with for a bit while Clifford continues with his research and studies.
A snowman built by the maintenance man – too snowy to mow the grass, he said
After dinner, with no solar power to charge any of our devices, Clifford and I both go to bed somewhat earlier than usual – kind of nice, for a change.
Tuesday May 16th– Although there are winter storm warnings for western Montana, it looks like a good day for hiking. We meet Bill and Sally and their big German Shepherds at the village of Glen before following them out to rugged BLM land that reminds me of the buttes of lower Sun River valley where I lived as my kids were growing up.
My cousin Bill, whom I hadn’t seen for 50 years (we are all grown up now,) and his wife, SallyHeading out to BLM land to go hiking with Bill and Sally
The road gets a bit rough and when we stop, we discover that our 5-gallon water jug has tipped and broken, spilling five gallons of water in the back of the Suburban. Not a good thing, but we park on a slope and let as much run out as possible.
Here’s where the road endsReady to head up
Then Clifford and I follow Bill and Sally up a draw and around to the backside of a large mesa, eventually climbing all the way to the top.
We follow Bill up the drawWe will be hiking around to the backside of the mesa before beginning the climb to the summit
A massive and impressive rock wall comes into viewWe pause at the base of the rock wallBill, Clifford, and Sally at the base of the rock wallHere’s where the real climb starts, staircase courtesy of Mother Nature
It is a bit strenuous, particularly on my knees, but the views are quite spectacular.
Scenic view from the top of the mesaThe dots just left of center at the end of the road are our vehiclesClouds over the mountains become denser
We can see the clouds on the mountain across the valley becoming dense and dark, the harbinger of the storm to come. We make good time going back down, not wanting to get caught in the rain on the rocky slopes and draws. Between ticks and rattlesnakes, we have to be on the alert the whole time, but it is a good hike.
The rocks on the mesa are quite interesting — so rough and lichen-coveredPink paintbrush on the slopeWe were at the top of this mesa and this is only the base of the backside – there is still the Mother Nature staircase to descend, which will take us back to the draw and down to the vehiclesBill reaches the rock wall and begins the descent down the rock staircase
Back at the vehicles, we follow Bill and Sally to their place in Dillon, where they show us their pretty flower-filled yard, rock collections, and car restoration projects, followed by a very tasty meal of steak, rice, and the best corn-on-the-cob I’ve ever had.
Back at camp, as we nap, tired out from the hike, it begins to rain, and the rain becomes heavier as the evening progresses. Looks like the winter storm that was forecast is moving in.
Sunday May 14thSkiff of snow this morning here at Divide Bridge Campground. By time I go for a walk, only the snow on the hills remains.
Snow on the hills around Divide Bridge CampgroundSnow on the hills near Divide Bridge CampgroundSnow on the hills near Divide Bridge CampgroundThe Bighole River running high at Divide Bridge Campground
After breakfast there is a knock on the door and some grizzled fellow is there. I ask him if I can help him and it turns out he is my cousin Bill, whom I have not seen in at least 50 years! I have been in recent contact with him through FB and he lives in nearby Dillon, Montana. I told him where we were camping for the night, but it just didn’t dawn on me that he might actually show up on my doorstep! What a fun surprise! He will come again tomorrow with his wife, Sally.
Lots of book editing and photo editing today for me, while Clifford spends the day working on electrochemistry.
Today is Mother’s Day and it is quite wonderful to hear from all of my kids, either calls or texts… well worth the drive to Divide to get cell service.
Monday May 15th– Today is a day of variable weather from sunny with little puffy cumulus clouds, to overcast and rain flurries, and back to sunny.
Sunlight on the river
My cousin Bill arrives with his wife, Sally, and their two very large German shepherds. We sit out at the picnic table to chat for a bit, warm enough when the sun comes through, not quite cool enough to bother with a campfire, and make plans to meet tomorrow for a hike.
In the afternoon Clifford and I go out to Divide to send emails and make phone calls. Back at camp, I explore the other side of the campground, listen to music, and do more editing, journaling, and blog writing, while Clifford continues with electrochemical work.
The passing of a brief rain storm leaves a gorgeous rainbow in its wake, a very nice way to close out the afternoon.
Saturday May 13th – It is 33 degrees and snowing when I wake up and I am excited to go take photos immediately!
Snow on the hillsideand on the shrubs around the campground
After breakfast, I work on various indoor activities while Clifford continues with his studies.
After tea and journal writing, I go out for a longer walkabout taking more photos of the newly fallen snow – not a lot of it, but enough to make the landscape pretty.
Later, I go for a run/walk down to the day use area and back. Back at camp, since it has stopped snowing and sleeting, I decide to build a campfire and enjoy a bit more time outdoors.
Our campsite at Divide Bridge CampgroundNot much snow left along the river; but colors are rich and dark with the dampness
Although there is not a lot of snow left along the river and in the campsite, snow remains on the hillsides.
Snow remains on the hillside
I have enjoyed the fresh crisp air all day and it is with some reluctance that I finally go inside to begin the evening routine.
