Plan on RVing to Sedona, Arizona? You will have several routes to choose from. One of those routes is Highway 89A which runs between Flagstaff and Sedona. For students, the letter "A" is a good thing. In the case of Highway 89A, the "A" stands for alternative and if you plan on RVing this route you may want to consider an alternative route! You see, at the head of Oak Creek Canyon, Highway 89A contains a series of sharp switchbacks as it negotiates the elevation change between the creek bottom and the mesa above. My Grandpa Gibson once said, "I saw the rear end of my trailer more often than the front of it coming down Oak Creek Canyon"! So the next time you see the letter "A" tagged onto a highway designation, pay attention as there is a reason for this designation. Have fun out there and keep it between the lines!

 

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In our RV travels, we don't stay in too many private RV parks. Therefore I don't buy a new private campground directory every year, saving a tree and a few bucks. On our recent adventure through Southeast Arizona, we needed a RV park in the town of Sierra Vista. We consulted the campground directory, found one that would fit our needs and called to confirm they had space for us. The man answering the phone told us they had space available. He also indicated that the office would be closed when we arrived and told us which space we should occupy. Upon arrival in the park we circled numerous times trying to locate the assigned space. After several passes, we determined the space did not exist and occupied one of the many available spaces. Before I had a chance to hook up the utilities, a lady pulled up in a mini-van and asked if she could help us. I told her we had called, spoke to a gentleman and he instructed us to park in a space which seems not to exist. She informed us she was the only person in the office and that no males should have answered the phone. Now I was puzzled. I confirmed the name of the RV Park and the phone number with her. At that time the pieces of the puzzle came together. It seems this RV park and another in Tucson were sister parks owned by the same gentlemen, both utilizing the same name and phone number. A year or so ago the park in Sierra Vista was sold to new owners who kept the name, which explains why the driving instructions in my out dated RV park directory were correct as were the name of the park. To avoid your own RV adventure of this type, be sure you are equipped with current information during your travels.

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During our recent travels through southern Idaho, we visited the City of Rocks which was a major landmark and resting place for emigrants on the California Trail. They would document their journey by recording their name and date of their visit with axle grease on the nearby rocks, which endure to this day.

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I knew a RVing couple that had no immediate family in the region. Every year for Thanksgiving they would place a turkey in the oven of their RV and start driving with no particular destination in mind. After about four hours or so of traveling (depending on the size of their bird) they would find a place to park, prepare the balance of the Thanksgiving dinner and enjoy it. That started me thinking... how else do RVers utilize their RV in celebration of Thanksgiving?

 

Do you have a unique tradition of including your love of RVing with Thanksgiving? Please share, won't you? Click on the comment link below. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

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We rolled into the rest area south of Wickenberg, Arizona well after dark. We were glad to see a fellow RVer in a motorhome already parked for the evening as we dislike being the lone RV in a rest area. As we exited the truck and headed back to our travel trailer I heard the soft purr of a generator from the motorhome across from us. As I noticed the light streaming from the open window blind, I thought to myself, I am sure they will shut it off when they go to bed. Soon my wife and I were ready to retire for the evening. As we were getting ready, I realized our neighbor's generator was still running, their lights now off and the blinds pulled. That's curious I thought to myself, maybe they are just charging up the batteries a little more before they drift off to sleep. I awoke hours later to hear the sound of their generator still running. Maybe one of the occupants has sleep apnea and they have to run their generator all night to power their breathing machine, I thought. Waking up late the next morning their generator was still running, blinds closed. Now my curiosity turned to concern. Did they have an exhaust leak and asphyxiate themselves? Taking the dog for a walk, I strode slowly past their motorhome looking for the telltale signs of movement from within. The motorhome was still, the license plates told me the owner has a disability. Were the occupants okay, had they been asphyxiated by the generator, had they fallen and injured themselves? Surely they weren't still sleeping at this late hour, negating my idea of the generator powering a breathing machine. Maybe their refrigerator is not working on propane and they have to run their generator 24/7 to keep their food cold. Unlikely, but possible, I have seen stranger things in my many years of RVing. Now I was very concerned, what should I do? Luckily, as we prepared to leave, their blinds opened revealing signs of life. Had I not known of their well being before hitting the road, I am not sure what I would have done?

What would you have done in this situation?

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The economy is in a crisis, your retirement account is in the dumpster and you are having trouble financing that new RV. "Woe is me", you are saying. Well this month we celebrate Thanksgiving and I think you will find something in your life to be thankful for after I relate this story.

In our RVing adventures across the country my wife and I like to explore ghost towns and mining camps. Many times the only visible remains are truly those of the ghosts. Such is the case in Silver City, Utah. Any signs of habitation are long gone, but many of the inhabitants still reside in the cemetery. As I walked among the headstones, I came across the following:

 After reaching the fourth headstone, I couldn't help but offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for living in the era and country that I do. I have: two healthy children employed in the profession of their choosing, a home, a caring wife and I am able to travel freely about in a RV. So next time you mutter," Woe is me", remember these children and their heart broken mother. Then give thanks for all of God's blessings in your life.

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The migration has begun! Sitting in warm sunny LasVagas with just a few days to return to Seattle, I consulted Mapquest on the shortest way home. Now you seasoned snowbirds already know the answer to this; north on Hwy 93 (using the shortcut on Nevada Hwy 318 along the way) to Interstate 84 in Idaho and to all points called home in the Northwest from there. How do I know this? My wife and I were the lone birds flying north against a torrent of RVing snowbirds soaring south. I think I saw some of them gesturing to us that we were going in the wrong direction!  From the number of RVs bearing Washington, Oregon and Idaho license plates that passed us, we wouldn't have known we were still in central Nevada if it wasn't for the highway signs telling us otherwise. So if you haven't done so yet, start flapping those wings and head to warmer climates. Flying free and proud; isn't the RVing lifestyle great!

  

 The Flyway is open and waiting for you.

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We are RVing along the southern edge of Arizona, but instead of watching out for lions and tigers and bears, we are keeping an eye out for mules and coyotes and smugglers plus those illegally immigrating to the US. This is not the land of OZ! For those of you that are not up to speed on drug trafficking lingo, mules and coyotes are not four legged animals, but two legged mammals employed in drug smuggling. Most backroads within 30 - 40 miles of the border are posted with signs warning that illegal activity is known to take place in the area and to remain vigilant. Some of our adventuring here has involved boondock camping, of which, there are some great camping spots. I don't want to discourage anyone from joining us, but encourage you to be aware of your surroundings and act accordingly. Boondock in an area with cell phone reception and know where nearby ranches and other RVers are parked in the event you need to summon help. 

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My wife and I have traveled down I-15 through Salt Lake City many times, but never stopped to see the Mormon Temple and Tabernacle. I am told it is the most visited site in the State of Utah. This time, we decided to stop and take a look. Let's just say it was bad timing on our part. As we neared Temple Square on a very cold and rainy Saturday, we encountered crowds of well dressed men and women, news trucks with their satellite dishes in the air and police lining the streets. Turns out we had decided to visit during the Mormon worldwide assembly which happens twice a year. The nice gentlemen in the visitors center informed us that 100,000 members were in attendance! The rain, parking the RV and crowds definitely qualified as an adventure in RVing. While not so fun at the time, it will be a lasting memory for the rest of our lives. Sometimes the unexpected bumps in the RV highway turn out to be the most memorable. Isn't the RV lifestyle great!

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Red sandstone, majestic mountains and deep blue skies, God blessed Utah with so much beauty when He created the earth. You can even find beauty through His wrath in the fossils that were created during the great flood. My wife and I had the opportunity to dig trilobite fossils near Delta, Utah this past week. These beautiful little fossils are plentiful and easy to dig. This is a great activity for RVers young and old. A couple hours netted us around forty keepers weighing about 15lbs. The problem now is where to store them in the RV for a successful trip home! Watch for more information on where to dig trilobites and where to camp in a future issue of the magazine.

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