Yesterday, we covered the top part of the park, which is where the Joshua Trees are, and most of the trails. Today, we drove all the way to the South entrance of the park (Cottonwood visitor center), which interestingly gets into a distinct desert. The western half of the desert (yesterday) is in the Mojave… Continue reading Joshua Tree National Park – day 2
Joshua Tree National Park
Today we did a loop inside Joshua Tree National Park, entering by the Joshua Tree station and exiting from the Twentynine Palms station. While the main attraction is the Joshua Trees, there is also a major component related to geology (aka rocks – once again…) We had lunch at Keys view, with a magnificent view… Continue reading Joshua Tree National Park
Driving into California through the desert
As we drove into California, we had a forced stop for agriculture control at the California state boundary but we were just waved by. We were impressed that during our drive in the desert heading north on CA-177 from I-10, and then west on CA-62, we did not encounter a single house or business for… Continue reading Driving into California through the desert
First Dispersed Camping Experience – Quartzsite AZ
This stop was an add-on because I heard and read so much about it from the RV community. A bit of research reveals that the permanent population of Quartzsite is 1000. But in January and February it hosts on average 700,000 visitors, mostly RVers staying on Bureau of Land Management dispersed camping areas. The estimated… Continue reading First Dispersed Camping Experience – Quartzsite AZ
Skyline Regional Park – Buckeye AZ
Buckeye is just slightly west of Phoenix. We recently stopped in this area on our way to Tucson. So this was just a stopover as we now head west to California. We did a nice hike at the Skyline Regional Park, which was just a few minutes’ drive from our campsite. Saguaros not as healthy… Continue reading Skyline Regional Park – Buckeye AZ
Saguaro National Park – day 2
As mentioned yesterday, Saguaro National Park is divided in two different sections. One to the east of Tucson (the Rincon district) which we visited yesterday, and one to the west (the red hills district). Yesterday, the loop drive was paved. Today’s loop drive was just a dirt road, but there were several more trails, and… Continue reading Saguaro National Park – day 2
Saguaro national Park
More unforeseen events today… we woke up to no AC power, and so Bernard spent some time to diagnose the issue, and the resolution involved driving to go to the Nearest Home Depot to buy a voltmeter (we have two perfectly good ones at home…). Problem solved – our “Energy Management System” clearly did not… Continue reading Saguaro national Park
Travel to Tucson, AZ
Today we traveled to Tucson, and to another very nice campground. The sites are very long, and we have a pull through, so no backing-in. Claudette has had a cyst in her back for 3-4 years, and the doctor had said a while back to just leave it alone. But for the last few days,… Continue reading Travel to Tucson, AZ
Scheduled maintenance and Scottsdale & taking inventory
Nothing for the memory books today… On a long trip, maintenance items need to be done. Today it was the truck oil change. We took time to explore downtown Mesa, as well as old town Scottsdale. We walked around the shops and had a coffee at a non-chain business. The weather was wonderful and we… Continue reading Scheduled maintenance and Scottsdale & taking inventory
Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix AZ
Desert Botanical Garden Today, we visited Desert Botanical Garden. Unsurprisingly, this is by far the best botanical garden we ever visited dealing with desert-condition native plants. We were literally stunned by the quantity of visitors, on a Monday… It is well organized with a short central loop that provides a quick overview, and side loops… Continue reading Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix AZ