Monday, December 15
Bridget and I look for boondocks!
We take Route 60 west through Superior and turn onto a dirt road that goes over a cattle guard. This is forest road #357. We pass two spur roads, and I notice a camper partially obscured by creosote, mesquite and palo verde trees.
This is the west side of Picketpost Mountain.
The road is wide and in good shape.
Beyond the two spur roads near Route 60 I don’t discover any more campsites. This strikes me as odd because this is national forest, the ground is firm, and the vegetation is healthy. Yet no campsites. (One is not allowed to make a new campsite on public lands. Only established campsites can be used.)
I drive about five miles, crossing two wide washes. A few more miles and still no campsites. Hmm . . . .
Then I discover why.
A sign comes into view “Rod and Gun Club.” Whenever I’ve come across a gun club sign, I haven’t found campsites anywhere near. Makes sense.
I turn around and about halfway back to the highway, I park alongside the road to take photos. I let Bridget out and we walk a short distance down a wash, enough to make her happy.
I’m not seriously looking for our next camp. This little excursion is an excuse to get away from Oak Flat where we’ve spent too much time due to rainy, cold weather.
If we come this way again — going to or from Globe and Roosevelt Lake — I’d like to have an alternative to Oak Flat. The boondocks on the two spur roads not far from Route 60 will serve that purpose. There’s evidence of four-wheeler traffic so a camp here may be good for weekdays only.
Bridget and I return to Superior.
We go through Queen River Tunnel.
People blow their horns in the tunnel. The sudden noise startles me. Fortunately my heart resumes beating.
Beyond the tunnel I pull over to take these photos.
Most of the photos I take are a disappointment. The cliffs are massive when seen in person. In a photo they look like a rock pile one could knock over with one’s foot.
Tuesday, December 16
The camp host lady comes by while I’m outside doing dishes. She’s chasing one of her dogs that has escaped its pen. We say hello and in the course of conversation she reminds me that I’m reaching the time limit for camping here. (I hate to call her “she.” I forgot her name!).
“I plan on leaving in the morning. I need to dump tanks anyway.”
She tells me it’s supposed to rain again tomorrow and the next day. I almost never drive in the rain and I don’t think I’ve ever set up camp in the rain.
Since it’s time to leave Oak Flat and to dump tanks, I decide not to wait until tomorrow when it might be rainy.
I hitch up and hit the road today!
More about our new camp in the next post.
At last! I received an email from the body shop. The door is painted and ready for installation. Bridget and I will take the Imperfect Tow Vehicle to Globe first thing tomorrow morning.
rvsue
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Ha!!! Number one!!!
Wow! That was fast, Janis! Congratulations!
After our cruise it’s good to be on the road again. But we take you with us when we go.
Good! 🙂
I can’t wait to see where you’ll find to camp next. The vibe at Oak Flat seemed a little, uhmm . . . flat.
Yeah… I stayed there only because of the door. Not my usual camp standard!
When I see things like that tunnel and road cut thru the rock to get there I am reminded by the amount of effort, the amount of sweat that road took to put in.
Very true, Rob. The amount of work and engineering it takes to create a safe tunnel like that is beyond my scope. BTW, the Queen Tunnel was completed in 1952.
These photos show stunning rugged beauty,if you’re seeing so much more that you’re disappointed by not being able to capture it,it must indeed be grand.The fourth one is my favorite,because it’s a great shot and because it’s always nice to know there’s a curve in the road ahead .I’d have pulled over after being in a horn blasting tunnel-to steady my nerves -not snap pics.Must be a local tradition for entertaining themselves on a drive?
Glad you moved right away instead of during rain,you must feel good- about being in motion,a new camp, with more progress lined up soon,clean tanks,new sleepwear.Hope you both sleep well and find nice places in town to wait for the repair’s completion.
My father… born in ND and spent most of his life there… always blew his horn going through a tunnel. Who knows why…
Hi, weather and Connie,
I remember when I was a child the covered bridges in the area where I lived had a sign at both entrances that read, “Blow horn.” The bridges were one lane and I suppose one couldn’t depend upon headlights to know someone was coming — if that someone was in a horse-drawn wagon and it was dark. Don’t know if there’s a connection to tunnels… Lord knows people like to make noise for little or no reason.
Here at the 3rd layer. It is Csx railroad territory. There are many tunnels here that take the road under the train tracks. Tale has it. It’s bad luck to not blow horn inside tunnels, and also.. If a train is crossing above you while you go under you must lift both your feet up off the floor of vehicle. Even if driving. :/ Strange, I know 🙂
Interesting. The part about lifting both feet is a bit weird.
Hi, weather,
Fences and roads make for easy composition, pulling the viewer into the photo. Thanks for the compliment.
I do feel good this morning. I have a few minutes to reply to comments and then Bridget and I are off to the body shop. I wrote in this post, “I almost never drive in the rain.” Well, once I said that… guess what? I’m driving in the rain this morning. Haha!
Hope your day goes well at your home where eagles fly, geese gather, and squirrels celebrate the harvest. 🙂
Thank you for the cheery hope for my day,we’re being rained on,too,with an umbrella, towel and high hopes we’re both bound to fare well 🙂
Many making noise loud enough to damage hearing,wreck nerves or cause accidents not only have little or no reason,they have no reasoning at all…
Praying that each part of your day turns out wonderfully !
Loved the third photo! So much variety in just green plants and beige rocks – the textures, colors and shapes complimented and contrasted with each other. Couldn’t take my eyes off it! Bingo – new desktop!
Thanks, Susan. One thing I enjoy about the desert is coming upon beautifully arranged (by nature) rock gardens. There are areas of the desert that are like an ar-bore-EE-tum. 🙂
The third photo is my favorite too!
Yay!!! The door is finally ready!
Hi, Cinandjules… It takes longer to get a new door than to get a new heart. Golly!
Well, I for one, LOVE your photos, especially ones of Arizona!! Hello, Sue, been a while . I am finally out in my RV again and I don’t ever want to go home, haha! I have Izzy with me but Curley Joe is back in PA at my daughter’s. I am near Houston TX right now spending a couple days with Tex-Cyn, then on to Port Aransas. I’ll be heading west after Christmas. Can’t wait to see Arizona again!
I am searching your blog for that gadget (Wilson something??) to enhance the internet signal. I plan to order it through your Amazon link if available. Take care , Maybe our paths will cross again. Glad your door is fixed!
Hi, Sunny,
Again … I think of a blogorino and they appear! I thought about Ajo last night and remembered meeting you and another blogorino, Pat. It’s been a long time! Good to hear from you again. I’m happy to know you’re enjoying your RV again.
What is Tex-Cyn?
The Wilson antenna for boosting internet signal can be found from the header, “Internet antenna.” You’ll find a link to Amazon there, both for the antenna and cable.
Thank you in advance for ordering the antenna through my blog. Safe travels!
Blog writer of Tex-Cyn Life. She, like us, on her own, mainly stays in Texas, and has a lot of knowledge of how to fix things. I met her in person a couple yrs ago when she RV’ed to PA to see her mom. Great gal.
good move! Pun intended…lol
You know what occurred to me today? You NEVER have to clean an oven…wow, mind boggling…..guess what I was doing when that random thought popped into my mind…
Can’t wait to see the PTV restored to her previous perfection, have a good time in town, spoken with tongue tucked firmly in my cheek.
Another thing you never have to deal with, your farrier moving away! My dear farrier started shoeing horses for me when he was nineteen years old…he became a police officer, retired after twenty five years, all the while continuing to care for my horses hooves… Now I just found out he is moving to Montana, to be near his father and to start a new career working for the railroad! Akk!!..when asked what his daughters thought about the move, they are grown..they told him..”buy land!”. So he will be here one more time in early February, sigh. I want to get him a gift..any ideas? Does Amazon have gift cards?
Hi, Lee J.,
I imagine losing a good farrier is akin to losing a good mechanic, especially if you’ve trusted him/her for many years. Sounds like the farrier is a friend as well.
Yes, Amazon has gift cards. Click on the first link in the list of items purchased by readers recently and you’ll see the selection. Thank you for asking!
Glad to hear you door is finally getting fixed.
I seem to have very limited internet use here, but I wanted to tell you that my first tow was a success – 1600 miles without a problem – unless you call getting stuck in a snow pile the first night – or hitting a bump on the highway and bending the jack stand a problem – the actual towing, including dancing around in gas stations was actually relaxing. Thanks to all for the encouragement.
Wow, Boots! 1,600 miles on your first tow? Quite ambitious of you… I share your pride in accomplishing that! 🙂
Towing is a big bugaboo for many… Your comment “the actual towing, including dancing around in gas stations was actually relaxing” gives encouragement to those reluctant to tow.
Thanks for sharing that!
hello sue;
been a while since I last got on your site…spent the last 6 months in Texas, at my ex-husbands place…am finally back on the road and in AZ…
headed down to organ pipe cactus national monument in the morning.
spent a few days in the Phoenix area…the dovemobile is working out pretty good
as it has a lot more room inside for the camping gear…still camping in a 9×12 canvas tent, but now I we can sleep in the van as well if necessary…
love ALL the photos and Bridges narration of the arboretum was quite entertaining.
maybe we’ll see each other along the way! Happy trails…
Hi, Bonnie,
Great to hear from you! I’m glad the dovemobile is serving you well. Enjoy Organ Pipe — I hope it doesn’t rain on you today.
Gotta’ go… Time to get dressed and head out in the PTV for the new door!
Happy trails to you, too, Bonnie. . .
Hello, RV Sue! I have been lurking on your site for a couple months, went back to the beginning and read all your posts (but only some of the comments). My hubby and I have a 17-ft. Casita Spirit and have been on the road with it as long as 58 days at a time but still have a home to come back to in Missouri. I have enjoyed following your adventures and hope you actually get your door replaced this week on your PTV!
Sharon
Hi, Sharon,
It always pleases me to learn that a reader has gone to the beginning of my blog and read all my posts. Thank you for the compliment.
I’m glad you and your husband are enjoying your Casita!
My fingers are still crossed. Here’s hoping for the best PTV once again.
Hi, Ed H.,
I hope that soon you will be able to uncross your fingers. I’m in the office of the body shop as I type this and they’re working on the Imperfect Tow Vehicle right now!
Hi Sue,
What a bunch of great photo’s. Thanks for taking us with you on your drive. I get the feeling like I’m there with you. You make me giggle with your words. Glad your heart is strong. lol
Thank goodness your door is ready! Let’s move on 🙂
Hi, Deb,
And I have the feeling you are right here with me! Yes, I’m ready to move on from the door episode. . .
Hi, Sue! Long time no write, but have been following you and crew every step along the way. It’s been fun reading about the places you’ve been camping at that we’ve stayed at in the recent past. We camped out at Cholla for a month last March; what a beautiful place. Just wanted you to know that it’s been a real pleasure being able to regularly contribute in a small way towards you living expenses through our Amazon purchases . Perhaps a few ounces of new white paint or a gallon of fuel can be attributed to our help. 🙂
Hi, Bruce,
A month at Cholla — that’s a great testimony for the place. I’m glad you’re having fun reading about our travels and camps. I do appreciate you making a habit out of accessing Amazon through my blog. Every bit helps smooth the bumps in the road . . . . Thanks!
A pleasure! Funny; I just found out that my friend Reina has been following you all this time (she bought her new Casita on my recommendation, which was based on your experiences). I happened to read her comments and figured out that it’s her. Small world!
HONK! HONK! just had to do it, sorry, mind must have been in a tunnel or something. –Dave (Skruffy actually made me do it….)
Hi, Dave. . . Honk! Honk!
GOOD news that the door is ready now!! Hope you are pleased with it!! Will be interesting to see where you camp next!!
Hi, Elizabeth . . . . I’ll be reporting on our present camp soon. 🙂
Is anyone else other than me receiving double postings of RVSue’s Blog? For instance, for this posting, I received one into my email account at 8:29 PM Dec 16 and another 12:36 AM Dec 17, slightly over four hours apart. This has been happening for a number of weeks now. So, I wonder if it is just me? “Double the pleasure”, to paraphrase an old commercial.
I also get double. But it’s way better than none!
I only get one so I guess it’s a bit or miss thing. Very curious…
I get two too.
Try unsubscribing to one of them.
Hi, John…. and anyone else receiving double notifications…
I’m curious why that is happening. The only thing I can think of that might cause that is . … A while back I had some problems making the notifications widget work. When I thought I had it fixed I asked readers to sign up again. Maybe you did that and that’s why you get two notices?
Usually with subscriptions, there’s a place to unsubscribe written at the very bottom of the email. If so, unsubscribe, but only to one of them. I don’t want to lose you, John! 🙂
I have been getting two also, I think mine is because when I signed up the first time I used one email address and when it quit working and signed up again I signed up using different email address. As for me I think this is the reason behind my getting two. Anyway, two are better than none.
I like all your pictures Sue, but my favorite from this posting is the third one.
Take care.
I honked in that tunnel but I wanted to see if it would echo and it does slightly .I love an echo LOL
Grandjan
Hi, Janis… I can report that there is no echo when my head hits the roof as we go through the tunnel…. just the sound of a few rocks rolling around.
New Door finally! You will be much more secure. Hurray! I look forward to the next adventure!
I am wondering about your Christmas holiday Sue… I am hoping you have plans…
We are the same age and I spend a lot of time alone, which most of the time does not bother me. Christmas comes and I have a lot of memories. Especially of loved ones no longer here and Christmases past. I get a little depressed. But am planning to go and see my two grand babies who live out of town. Looking forward to that visit. I know you are going to be Okay and know how much your Bloggerinos care about you. I wish you and Bridget all the Best life has to offer you. Take Care and Hugs to you guys.
Hi, Diane,
You’re very kind to wonder how Christmas affects me. I enjoy this time of year very much. The “adventures” of the other seasons are often exhilarating and I love the travel and the frequent camp changes. However, in winter I can slow down, reflect and relax, and putter around.
I don’t get the holiday blues… I guess because I’m not very sentimental, I don’t know how to be lonely, and I practice living in the present. I can get depressed any time of the year. It doesn’t have to be the holidays! Ha!
Enjoy your grandchildren and treat yourself well for Christmas. Those who are no longer with you probably would want you to do that, right?
Sue, I just love the photo’s! Wishing you and Bridget a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks, Michelle, and wishing you the same.
Hi Sue,
So glad the door will be fixed well before Christmas so you can do what you like and be where ever you want to be at that time.
Here I am at Sawtooth Canyon near Barstow, on my way south. I came and looked around while camping at Owl Canyon, and really liked site 14, since it’s off by itself. When I arrived to camp however, there was a car in that site so I ended up in another semi private site, which I ended up liking just fine. Having read back over your blog about when you were here I remembered you said you had camped by the ‘kissing stones’ and you had pictures. The next day while walking I was looking for the kissing stones. After walking quite awhile I spotted them, and as I walked toward them I realized….hey, that’s my campsite! I guess I hadn’t noticed before because you need to see them at certain angles.
Anyway so here I am, camped at the same place you were when you spent some time here. If the weather cooperates I plan to stay through Christmas, at least. Yesterday a nice couple I met at Owl Canyon joined me here. Otherwise the campground is empty.
Enjoying this life SO much! Thanks for your inspiration Sue.
Hi, Micky on the road,
That’s so funny! You found the kissing stones! 🙂
It’s fortunate that you are at Sawtooth when the campground is empty (Love when that happens!). Sawtooth can be very crowded when the climbers camp there in groups. Have a wonderful Christmas, Micky. It makes me very happy to know you are enjoying your new way of life!
Beautiful country. I love the green desert 🙂 So glad your heart restarted – I hate to be startled but have to confess to being a tunnel-honker myself. First step is to admit…..well, you know. Have a glorious day, rain or shine 🙂
You have a glorious day, too, Jodee. And honk away!
Hi Sue, and fellow blogorinos,
Amazon is running a deal on print books. Save 25% (up to $10) on any book sold by Amazon (3rd party sales are not included in this deal). To get your 25% off, enter the code BOOKDEAL25 at checkout. (This info is from Slickdeals.net) Click on Sue’s Amazon link and shop, shop, shop! 🙂
Sue…Hope the PTV is back in it’s original shape. Looking forward to seeing your new camp! 🙂
The deal is on PRINT books only, not eBooks.
Amazon notes that the code has expired – disappointing. I should have tried it before posting – sorry. 🙁
Oh well, Denise… Your heart is in the right place!
🙂
Yay, Your finely getting your new white rear Door, no more bungee cord. Those are great photos and re minds me of that tunnel. Timber is ok, I guess his voice is changing with his age, he’ll be 6 in February and give the HRH Bridget a BIG HUG from us, ,,,,me
Hi, Rusty,
I’m still here at the body shop on this gray and rainy day, enjoying the activity of the office. What a busy place!
Timber’s a big boy now! Hugs to you both from Bridgie-baby and me!
The ominous silence is killing me. Are we still worried about a IPV or are we once again PTV? *waiting for word*
Sue may be saving the “unveiling” of the new door for her next post. I am anxious, too! I hope that the PTV is whole again, and that Sue and Bridget can move on to their next adventure! 🙂
Okay, okay…. I’ll write a post! 🙂
Why can’t you do dispersed camping on public lands? I thought that was allowed?
Or by campsite do you mean you want to clear an area of all brush or something?
Hi, Roland,
This is what I wrote, “One is not allowed to make a new campsite on public lands. Only established campsites can be used.”
To answer your questions…. You can disperse camp on public lands as long as you use a campsite that’s already there. In other words, you see a bunch of rocks in a circle (fire ring) next to clear area where vehicles have parked in the past… yes, you can camp there unless it’s been specifically ruled by the forest service to be outside the camping allowed area.
Not all established campsites can be occupied. For example, I think it’s Coconino National Forest in AZ that prohibits camping more than 300 feet from the road and you have to look at the Motor Vehicle Use map, available online or at their office, to see which roads are designated for camping. Old campsites beyond 300 feet are no good. I know this because I was camped more than 300 feet from the road at a campsite the day before the new rules went into effect and I had to move. This was at Willard Creek south of Flagstaff. These rules were established to keep vehicles on roads, rather than driving all over destroying virgin land (think ATVs).
You can’t drive wherever you want or pull alongside the road and set up camp, even if you find a spot that is a natural clearing. And no, you’re not supposed to trim or cut brush or trees. If wood gathering is allowed, you pick the wood off the ground… you don’t chop off limbs. In some places you can purchase a permit to saw wood in the forest. Even then, you only cut up trees that are already down. If I’m wrong on that, someone will correct me, but I’m pretty sure that’s the way it is.
Hmmm, it seems a bit chicken and egg. Who makes the first fire ring in an area such that it is classified as a dispersed campsite? Or does the forest service randomly place fire rings in areas?
It would seem that at some point someone had to build the first fire ring…
You’re right. It does seem that way. I guess the forest service figures we have enough established campsites from the days when people were allowed to camp wherever they wanted.
No, the forest service does not place fire rings, except within their campgrounds.
Oh cant wait to see the new To you door…its been a long wait…you have handled it way better than I would have I do believe. In my latest edition of AZ highways Magazine, there is a Reynolds Creek Campground on hwy 288 (take Hwy 188 about 20 miles north of Globe, take a right on 288) and its about 28 miles up there…May be one to check out…The article was for a hike to Hell’s Hole Trail sounds like a dilly and not for the faint of heart! I know you’re glad to be out of Oak Flat, but it served its purpose.
Hi,, Sondra,
I believe there are three campgrounds on Hwy 288 as well as numerous places to boondock.
I haven’t gone up there for two reasons: Way too cold at this time of year, chance of snow and ice… and I don’t feel like taking the BLT on 288 from this end… There is a stretch on this end that is treacherous, winding, narrow road with a steep drop into a canyon, no guard rail, of course. If I get the chance to explore that road, which is beautiful around the town of Young, I’ll approach it from the north/northeast and avoid having a stroke while at the wheel.
I haven’t read all of this, but just ran into an article at Gizmodo about a Russian virus called “soaksoak’ that is infecting 3rd party blogs using the wordpress system. You better check this out. Sounds serious…
Oh, great. Thanks, Connie.
Hope you finally get that door successfully installed.
It’s been raining here in Organ Pipe NM but it’s supposed to clear up after tomorrow . I hope so! [And so does my solar]. The weather has been beautiful for the most part, though
I hope the weather clears up soon. That’s a beautiful area.
BTW, what is the clearance for that tunnel?
I don’t have any idea.
Dear Santa–Can you please wiggle your nose or something and fast forward to Friday afternoon? We had two fights today, and a bottle of vodka smuggled in and shared with four friends. And darn it–it wasn’t even the teachers! Come on Christmas break!
Oh, just another day at middle school. Be thankful it wasn’t an assault rifle.
Christmas break will be here soon! Hang on, DeAnne… You’re going to survive!
Try riding a motorcycle thru that tunnel when the car behind you decides its time to blow his horn…. I about jumped over the handlebars…. I think folks like to hear the noise echo inside, but the noise is really loud if you aren’t inside of a vehicle….
I didn’t think about that… I imagine it would lift you up off the seat.
Oh sue,
I may have to rename my city from the 3rd layer, as right now it is so blasted cold there is no way it could be that close. And it’s actually only in the 30’s right now. I hate winter, I stay cold, my skin cracks open and actually bleeds (hands, feet, elbows,ankles) I have really dry skin anyways. I imagine some type of deficiency. Plus being 3/4 Indian maybe?!? But cold weather, I crack open something awful! ( maybe I was a snake or lizard in previous life) 😉 would maybe explain my fear of snakes.
Did you get the van door fixed? And is it fabulous??
Safe travels to you and bridge.
Peace happiness and good health to You and all!
Mert and Asia Mae.