Sitting Out the Rain - Mostly

April 9 - 11, 2016
Kingman, AZ

Although big trucks don't take the day off, Saturday is still a good day to travel the Interstate. There are very few others heading west with us. 

I love/hate this section of I-40. Beautiful views all around, with mountains in the distance and interesting canyons and vegetation along the highway. But the road itself sucks. Rather than repairs, they opt for Rough Road signs. As if one doesn't immediately know this :-(  Strong cross winds stir up about half way to Kingman, upping the rating to "somewhat challenging".

The winds are leading a three-day rain storm which we've decided to sit out here instead of paying higher rates elsewhere - and then staying inside.

Zuni Village RV Park is a Passport America park with FHUs, decent size spaces on level gravel, and a few trees that don't block our satellite. It's on the east side of town, next to a storage place, with several permanent residents, and perfect for our needs.

Bill contacts our friend Kevin who used to live here (he's on vacation in Hawaii, we have no shame), for a dinner place recommendation. El Palacio in Old Town is great. Good food, and margaritas without labels on the bottom of the glass :-) Very good margaritas.

A wonderful old building

Without any real plans to see anything in the area, we still head out Sunday morning to check out the Hualapai ("people of the tall pines") Mountains. A Mojave County Park, there is a ranger station, tent campground, cabins and teepees for rent, RV "park", trails and a small playground. This is a rugged area, narrow roads, pit toilets, minimal signage, and incredible views.

2000 ft elevation change from Kingman, AZ

The clouds move in

Seven rustic cabins and one log house among the trees

At the top of the narrow, twisting road is the RV park. Steep grades lead to uneven dry camping spaces. I would say definitely not for larger rigs, but there is a Class A pulling out of the space closest to the road. The corners are very tight and he catches a few branches along one side. As the rig uses every bit of the narrow road, I don't know what would happen if another one were coming up at the same time.

Sharp and tight

Getting down the mountain as the rain arrives

We drive around an area with large properties near the base of the mountain. Some have amazing views of the valley below and the craggy mountains above. The rain really starts coming down, and by the time we return to town the streets are flooded with a strong flow.

Difficult to see, water covers the sidewalks and is moving fast

Debbie told me back in January that the Sunday chicken at Cracker Barrel is a must-have. This is the first time we've been near one on a Sunday - gotta try it.

She's right! And enough for two meals too :-)

The rain continues off and on through Monday evening, and we enjoy it from our little home. Watched "The Big Short" (excellent, educational, and depressing), and planned our summer route. Hard to believe we're planning another summer already - the 9th is our ten-month anniversary!

We already have reservations near Zion and in Bryce, and will visit relatives in Ogden, UT. Memorial Day we'll be in Dinosaur National Monument where hopefully the National Park Centennial Celebration will draw fewer crowds than the more popular and accessible locations. 

We'll spend June in Colorado, hopefully fishing while staying somewhat cool. Wyoming and Montana will be home through mid-September. 

Of course Jello is the name of the game, so maybe we'll do something else :-)

For the next week we're at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Boulder City, NV.