Kingman AZ for Saturday and Sunday

After 5 days of boondocking, we decided we needed to pull into a campground to fill up with water and dump. 

We chose Tradewinds RV Park, just west of Kingman AZ. Really nice park, clean and well maintained. A good morning sunrise greeted me when I looked outside on Sunday. 

Later Sunday morning we took off hiking at the Monolith Gardens trail. Another great hike. There were so many different hikes from that trailhead that we could have hiked all day. 

After the hike, we took a drive down Route 66 to Oatman, a historic little tourist town with burros walking the streets looking for a handout. 

It was hard to imagine this route was the only route to Las Vegas years ago. It’s a picturesque drive but very windy. It took 23 minutes to drive 9 miles. With sheer drop offs and no guardrails, and up over a pass, I now know why it took so long to drive. 

After the drive, we had to stop in Oatman for a drink at Judy’s saloon. 

Here’s how many curves I had to drive. Glad I didn’t know how many ahead of time. 




And a Classy Ass!  Check the sign. 

Back at the TV, we cook dinner and head to Tonopah, NV, tomorrow. 

Boondocking at Pump Station Rd BLM

Thursday and Friday we stayed at the Pump Station dispersed camping BLM land in the Iron Mountain National Monument area. 

This is our third time staying here in the desert. We enjoy the quiet solitude, wide open spaces, and desert landscape. 

This was our view from the RV. 

1st night’s sunset. More clouds today than when we got there. 

We visited the Saguaro National Park and found a hike that was pet friendly. Loved hiking among the huge Saguaro and other cacti. This one dwarfs Bill. 

We are getting a little better with selfies!

Back at the RV, we hiked in the Iron Mountain National Monument area. 

Sun setting behind Iron Mountain. 

Saturday we leave for Kingman, AZ. 

Exploring Historic Tombstone

Even though I knew Tombstone was a tourist trap, I still wanted to make the trip. 

It was fun seeing the old buildings and listening to the cowboys try to sell the gun fights. 

Back at the RV, we walked along the Indian Bread Rocks, wondering how they stay balanced. Indian Bread Rocks is part of the Dos Cabezas Mountains Wilderness. Such a diverse terrain of rocks, cacti and cows. 

Great boondocking experience. On to Tucson to boondock among the Saguaro. 

Moving on to Bowie, Arizona

For the next few days, we'll be boondocking in Indian Bread Rocks. Amazing rock formations. 

From a top one of the rock mountains. 

This is our backdrop. 

Enjoyed spending some time with our “next door neighbor,” Connie and Tom and Rider. Lenny and Rider played together some. 

Went exploring to Chirachua National Monument and Bonita Canyon. These rock formations seemed to be precariously situated. Kept waiting for one to fall. 

In the exhibit we visited, I learned that Cochise lived in the Dragoon Mountains in this area and was buried here. 

Since this is a National Monument, I got a stamp for my Travel Passport book. 

On our way back to the RV, we stopped at Fort Bowie. This fort protected the Apache Pass which was traveled by immigrants and mail carriers. Another stamp for my Passport book!  

Since there isn’t any ambient light around here, the night skit lights up beautifully. 

Time in Las Cruces

Our 3 days at Siesta RV Park gave us what we needed - time to watch and listen to the BIGTEN Wrestling Championship. The Internet wasn’t as strong as we had hoped but we did get to watch Saturday’s matches. On Sunday, in between listening to Jeff Byers on Penn State radio and some watching on TV, we did mundane grocery shopping and laundry. All necessary evils!  Since it was very windy we didn’t mind staying inside and Jeff’s Byers is always so entertaining and enlightening. 

Although we came in second in the championship, it was a great tournament. Boys were talented and fought hard. 

Only pic I took all day. 

As we are leaving, we filled up with gas propane and. New tire for the car. Hope we’re good for awhile!  

Headed to Las Cruces, NM

Headed out of Marathon, TX, towards Las Cruces, NM,  the terrain is about the same dry, dusty with desert plants 

Saw this plant as we were barreling along. Don’t know what it is. Looks like cotton but haven’t seen cotton fields. 

For those of you wondering how we roll …

The Texas rest stops have interesting structures. 

Arrived at our campground for the next 3 days. Not our typical type because we prefer boondocking or COE campgrounds but we need high speed Internet to watch the Big Ten Campionships. 

Before sessions start today, we took a nice hike to the historic town of Mesilla. Our campground is only .75 miles away from the plaza. The town has beautiful Spanish architecture with some buildings dating back to the 1800s. 

The Plaza and Catholic Church. 

Took the ditch track back to the campground along a nut orchard. 

Also found a nice quilt shop with southwestern fabric. YaY!!

Now we’re are set up to watch some good wrestling. Let’s hope the Internet holds up. 

Between session 1 and 2, we took a hike along the foothills of Organ mountain. Hiked through Yucca trees, and several types of cacti. Great weather, a little breeze and 70 degrees. 

Back to the RV to watch Session 2. Go PSU.