Organ Pipe Cactus

5 03 2020

Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

After a relatively short drive to just north of the Mexican boarder, we’re parked in site #63 at Twin Peaks campground in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.  This is our second visit to Organ Pipe – we love it here, with no electricity in the campground, there are no A/C’s running, and quiet, dark nights for optimum star viewing.  The campground is available by reservation or walk-up.  With nearly 80 of the 400 sites showing available, we forgot that many of the sites are short and about half don’t allow the use of generators.  Next time, we’ll reserve this site or #77, another favorite site complete with a towering sequoia and a large organ pipe cactus.

Organ Pipe Cactus, Site #63

There is no campground WiFi, although they say it’s available at the Visitor Center.  We didn’t try that and instead used our cellular data via a Hot Spot.  By default our T-Mobile phones seemed to roam to very slow AT&T service.  However, by manually selecting the network as the Mexican operator Telcel – we were able to achieve very good 4G speeds.  We’re not sure why we were allowed to roam internationally at 4G, but it worked great.

The campground also provides a dump station along with a threaded fresh water fill.  Scattered through out the campsites are water spigots, not threaded, but could probably be used with a water bandit type adapter. There are also flush toilets and solar heated showers (warning “cold in the mornings”) available at a couple of shower houses scattered throughout the campground.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Moument, Site #63

This was our first experience with the solar configuration on the new Montana.  Overall, the experience was good.  We have a better feel for what the panel and controller can do with dual AGM batteries, and even managed to watch a couple of hours of DISH TV using the inverter.  We did end up running the generator 2 hours one morning, just to make sure we were topped-up after a cloudy afternoon.

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Site #77


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Back to Gold Canyon

2 03 2020

Gambel’s Quail

Having found no other suitable options around the Apache Junction area, we’re once again parked at Canyon Vistas RV Resort in Gold Canyon, AZ.   We’re very near the infamous “dumpster site”, but this time around the corner in site #15.  Instead of the view blocking wall of our last stay, this site looks across the desert toward beautiful sunsets and the lights of Apache Junction and Mesa.  And, there’s even a tree!  However, as is far too common, tons of activities and amenities, and virtually no internet access at all. There are access point towers, but no connectivity that we can find.  Weekly rates for 2021 will be $425 for this site. And, even with a long stay, only the weekly rate is available.  We’re hopeful we can find a new park next year.

Canyon Vista’s at Gold Canyon

With that in mind,  we spent a couple of hours touring other parks in the Apache Junction area.  We looked at Superstition Lookout, Weavers Needle, La Siesta RV Park, Sundance Resort, Santa Fe RV, Ship Rock RV, Sunrise RV Resort (a Roberts Resort) and Golden Sun.  Overall we liked Sunrise RV and Ship Rock the best.  We ran out of time to look at Roadhaven Resort, but this is a park with sold sites, so each site is rented by individual owners.  Some of these sites look nice – of course depending on availability.

During our stay on the east side, we attended two more spring training ball games. On Saturday the 29th we saw the Giants and the Angels at Scottsdale Stadium after starting our day at the wonderful Breakfast Club in Scottsdale.  After the game we hopped around through a few of the famous (or maybe infamous) watering holes in Old Scottsdale including the Rusty Spur Saloon and the Old Town Tavern.  Dinner was at Los Dos Molinos,  a terrific New Mexican restaurant in Mesa.  Perhaps some of the finest New Mexican food, even including many restaurants we’ve enjoyed in New Mexico!

Scottsdale Stadium

Then on Sunday the 1st we were at Salt River Fields, home of the Colorado Rockies playing the LA Angels.  We started our day at Toca Medera, a unique Mexican eatery that just began serving brunch.  The food, service and ambiance were all a hit!  As was Salt River Fields – again this year we had an excellent time.  For now, the home of the Rockies and Diamondbacks is our favorite stadium of the Cactus League.

Salt River Fields

After spending great times with friends in the Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler & Apache Junction areas, we’re packing up and headed south.  It’s time for some quiet, dark nights down near the Mexican border.  We’re headed to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument – more from there…


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Cave Creek & El Mirage

20 02 2020

Hiking near Cave Creek

For two nights between Lake Pleasant and El Mirage, we’re parked in the driveway of good friends and former Coloradans now living in Cave Creek, AZ.  In the north eastern foothills, Cave Creek is nothing like it’s snooty, sprawling neighbor of Scottsdale to the south.  The streets of Cave Creek are filled with galleries, eateries and unique bars, many made to look like the old Western town that Cave Creek came from.  Settled in the 1800’s as a military installation, once gold was discovered the town continued to grow.  Today, with just over 5600 residents, Cave Creek is a unique residential community within the broader Phoenix metro area.

Our driveway “site” was perfect – the rate was right and the accompanying beautifully landscaped grounds, the pool and guest room was awesome!  Thanks Dana & Suz – we’d like to reserve for next year!

From Cave Creek we’ve made the relatively short trip to El Mirage in the far western Phoenix metro area.  El Mirage is sandwiched between Sun City, AZ to the east and Surprise, AZ to the west.  To the south is Luke Air Force base, one of the largest jet training bases in the world.  Unknown to us, Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort is exactly parallel to the Luke runways.  Overhead training started promptly at 7AM, and went on until nearly sunset.  Every 15 minutes or so the F-35 jets screamed overhead stopping conversations and even the spring baseball game at Surprise Stadium.

Speaking of spring baseball, the main reason we’ve left the east side where we’ve stayed on previous trips is to check out a few more stadiums/teams.  The nearest here is Surprise Stadium, home to the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers.  And, just a bit further away is Camelback Ranch in Glendale, home of the Chicago White Sox and the LA Dodgers.  Saturday February 22nd is the opening day to many teams around the Cactus League.  Unfortunately, Mother Nature must not be a baseball fan as a recording setting ½ inch of rain soaked playing fields all across the metro area.  Most games were cancelled, but stadiums were happy to exchange tickets for later in the week and we ended up seeing the two “home” teams matched up with KC taking the 5 to 4 win on Tuesday.

Surprise Stadium, Rangers & Royals

Back at Pueblo El Mirage RV Resort, a Roberts Resort, we’re parked in site #1170.  As is common, this is a transient site, generally designated for those staying less than 30 days.  This portion of the park has never been finished and they are just converting these very long pull-through sites into what will be come 2 rows of back-in sites.  On the map, this second line of unfinished sites is already shown as 1195-1227.  Also, the row of sites 1250-1282 is in development and appears to be designated for park models.

As with many of the large parks, facilities abound – pools, hot tubs, workout rooms, pickle ball courts, as well as numerous craft shops, woodworking, embroidery, ceramics, etc.  These amenities come at a price –  for weekly bookings the current rate is almost $65/day with all taxes and fees.  And, as is way too common in these large parks, the internet is basically non-existent.  On the first day of arrival, the WiFi extender will connect, but there’s no internet access available.  On subsequent days, the extender connects, and provides very fast connectivity – up until about noon when Internet access disappears.  We might decide to stay on the west side again next year, but it likely won’t be at Pueblo El Mirage.  From here, we’re headed to the far east side of the valley.  More from Gold Canyon…


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Lake Pleasant Region Park

15 02 2020

Lake Pleasant, Roadrunner Campground

From Camp Verde, we’ve continued south along I-17 to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, a Maricopa County Park.

Incorporated into this recreation area is 10,000 acre Lake Pleasant, the last major water reservoir of the Central Arizona Project before the water is distributed to the Phoenix and Tucson areas.  The Central Arizona Project (CAP) Aqueduct delivers Colorado River water across 330 miles of Arizona from Lake Havasu to Lake Pleasant.  Initially controversial, the first construction of California infrastructure saw Arizona calling out the National Guard and even commissioning a 2-boat “navy”.  With long-term decreases of precipitation within the Colorado River Basin, the Compact remains controversial and is back in the news nearly every year.

The camping facilities are Lake Pleasant include nearly 150 campsites spread across two areas: Desert Tortoise with 76 total sites, 25 developed (water, electric, covered picnic table & fire ring), 41 semi-developed sites (covered picnic table & fire ring) and 10 tent sites.  Roadrunner Campground provides 72 developed sites. There are two large marinas on the lake, Scorpion Bay Marina is within the park boundaries with an on-water bar & grill that serves up good all-day breakfast tacos plus salads and sandwiches and a few hot entrees.  They also provide an ever-changing dinner menu.

We’re parked in site #47 at the Roadrunner Campground.  Most of the sites at both campgrounds offer some type lake view.  The best views are in the lower numbered sites at Roadrunner, and the 134-140 loop at Desert Tortoise.  Use caution when selecting Roadrunner sites from about 6 to 13.  These have very steep driveways that might drag bumpers or jacks.

Lake Pleasant Park Map, Roadrunner Campground Map & Desert Tortoise Map

From here we’re headed into the Phoenix metro- area, first stop at Cave Creek, then El Mirage.  More from there…

 

Roadrunner Campground, Site #20

Lake Pleasant Sunset from Site #47

Roadrunner Campground, Site #18

Desert Tortoise Campground, Site #135

Desert Tortoise Campground #140


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

On to Camp Verde

11 02 2020

Welcome to Arizona!

In the past we’ve talked about the rough, crumbling roads in Colorado and Texas.  Today we learned that Arizona highways (at least I-40 & I-17) are even worse.  After 2 nights parked within sight of I-40, we can vouch for the extremely heavy truck traffic on the route between Albuquerque & Flagstaff.  In the 10 mile corridor that we could see from the campground, there always seemed to be at least 40 or 50 trucks traveling east and west.  Obviously all of this heavy traffic is causing our already old, crumbling infrastructure to fail even faster.  Huge pot holes (some poorly patched, some just gaping holes) are encountered at nearly every bridge crossing and turn in the road.  Sometimes long stretches of washboard concrete patches shake everything inside the truck, and undoubtedly rearrange things inside the RV too.

We last visited Camp Verde in mid-February 2018 when we stayed at Rancho Verde RV Park and Dead Horse Ranch State Park.  This time we’re parked at a relatively new park (Aug’2019), Verde Ranch RV Resort.  The new facilities at Verde Ranch are beautiful – from the manicured doggie “rest-areas” to the modern club house, outdoor pool and hot tubs – and even the laundry rooms.  Set along the Verde River at the junction of I-17 and AZ 260, it’s very convenient to Camp Verde, Sedona and Cottonwood.  Even Prescott is less than an hour away.  Some of the best river-side sites suffer from some highway noise, but the majority of the sites are far enough away, or behind a noise blocking hill.  The resort offers premium & standard pull-throughs, deluxe end/back-ins and standard back-in sites and even covered sites for use in the hot Arizona summer.  Along the river are 3 pickle ball courts as well as a couple shuffle board courts and a children’s play area.  With leaves, this lush green river valley will be a beautiful backdrop to the resort.

We’re parked in site 127, a standard pull-through site on the far North end of the property.  Sites provide 20/30/50 Amp electrical, water, sewer and cable TV.  Most of the sites are level gravel, but a few are still dirt, awaiting the daily loads of gravel that arrive at the resort. In early February, temperatures during our 4 night visit ranged from downright chilly 25 (snow on the higher peaks around town) to fairly pleasant 65.

After a fun evening out in Prescott (thanks Janice & Steve) and a quick exploration of the local brewery, we’re once again headed south to Lake Pleasant Regional Park & Campground – just on the northwest corner of the Phoenix metro area.  More from Lake Pleasant…

 


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Meteor Crater & RV Park

9 02 2020

Meteor Crater

Somehow we’ve managed to bypass Meteor Crater Natural Landmark on two other trips through northern Arizona.  But, with routing directly from Albuquerque to Flagstaff, we opt to spend 2 nights at what will probably be just a tourist trap.

Meteor Crater is at I-40 exit 233, about 20 miles west of Winslow, AZ, 5 hours west of Albuquerque and 1 hour east of Flagstaff.

Arriving at the Meteor Crater RV Park, we’re pleasantly surprised.  Located just south of I-40, without the nearly constant SW wind, the park would probably suffer from the relentless interstate noise.  The park offers about 70 mostly pull-through level, graveled sites, full hookup as well as water/electric only.  Sites are nicely separated by islands of pine and tall poplar trees  (still without leaves), but not to the detriment of easy satellite placement.  Water faucets are heated, and along with a heated hose, we’re ready for any potential cold weather.  As it turns out, it is chilly, falling just below freezing both nights.  And, on the morning of our departure, even a trace of snow in the campground.

Other facilities at the park include a nicely stocked convenience store, a laundry room and free WiFi – which for the most part was OK, running along at about 5Mb – but at other times refusing to connect at all. There’s also a gas/diesel station where you receive a $.05/gallon park guest discount.

At the Meteor Crater Visitors Center, we receive a 10% discount as an RV park guest on the $20 entrance fees.  The facility includes a 4D “crater experience”, an 80 seat auditorium with a movie about the creation of the crater, many interactive exhibits, and of course a gift shop.  At the upper level of the center are both inside and outside viewing decks at the edge of the massive crater.  Estimated to have been created 50,000 years ago by a 150 foot wide meteor, the crater is 4000 feet wide, nearly 2.5 miles in circumference and initially over 550 or about 60 stories deep.

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater

After being discovered in late 1800’s the initial assumption was that the crater was volcanic.  It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that the crater’s origin was discovered as an impact caused by a meteor.  This knowledge, couple with the craters extremely good preservation led NASA to train early moon astronauts here, acquainting them with soil collection methods at the moon’s very similar impact fields.

All in all, both the RV park and the Creator exhibits were enjoyable – we’d recommend to anyone with an interest in natural history.  From here we’re headed across to Flagstaff before turning south to Camp Verde.  More from there…


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Across New Mexico

3 02 2020

Welcome to the 2020 Spring Road Trip!

Following the warmest temperatures of 2020 (62 on Feb 2nd) in Southern Colorado, we’re on the road just before a cold front reverses the trend and drops temperatures 70 degrees (-8 on Feb 5th) and delivers about 2 inches of snow.  Our first stop is at the Stagecoach Stop RV park in Rio Rancho, NM.  Even the Albuquerque area experiences a few cold days and snow flurries from the front that passes mostly to the north.  After 5 nights, and temperatures pushing back in the 60’s, we pack-up and head west to Gallup, NM.

Flurries in Rio Rancho

Stagecoach Stop RV Park, Rio Rancho, NM

After a quick overnight at USA RV Park in Gallup, where we last visited in 2016, we continue west to Meteor Crater RV Park a few miles outside of Winslow, AZ  The park is just off of I-40 and about 5 miles north of Meteor Crater Natural Landmark.  More from there…


Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

The Next RV – Montana or Solitude?

10 01 2020

After lots of website browsing and several trips to local RV dealers, we’ve narrowed “next-RV” choices down to the Solitude 310GK and the Montana 3120RL.  Both fifth wheels are about 35 feet long and feature a nearly identical floor plan.  There’s a Solitude in stock at Cousin’s RV in Colorado Springs, the dealership we’d most like to work with.  And, there’s a Montana in stock at Windish in Fountain, CO (but without the newest decor option)

Grand Design is known for excellent build quality and their great customer service.  On the other hand, Keystone’s Montana is the #1 RV sold in America.  In 2020, Montana introduced their Modern Maple Edition, which adds two street side windows, dual window shades, back-lit crown molding and other unique lighting options. While both companies have introduced lighter interior decors, we believe Montana has done a more complete job with changes to wall coverings, oak plank-like flooring,  wood trim, back splash tile and hand stained cabinetry. There are also a few technical options we like such as slide selectors, suspension upgrades and a higher cargo capacity.

With RV shows beginning in January, we’re worried that production issues might preclude an early February departure on the Spring Road trip.  Fortunately, Windish found an “un-allocated” unit available prior to the holiday factory shut-down.  Rolling off the line in mid-December, our new fifth wheel was delivered to the dealership the day after Christmas.  On January 2nd we took delivery and then spent 5 nights at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on a “shake-down” trip.

Currently we’re planning to depart for New Mexico and Arizona around the 8th of February – more after we hit the road…

 


Comments : 1 Comment »
Tags: , , ,
Categories : Spring Road Trip 2020

Next Entries »