April 12 - 17, 2023
Anthem, Arizona; Laughlin, Nevada; Cameron, Arizona
An uneventful driving day to just north of Phoenix is a nice start to our travels. We're back at Pioneer RV Park for a single night. A quick meal in town and then just a relaxing evening in our favorite home. Thursday's drive continuing north is beautiful with all the wildflowers still putting on an amazing show. I don't take many pics. We're listening to an Audible book which always makes the drive go by quicker.
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| The pass between Kingman and Laughlin is beautiful. Minus the bug smishes. |
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| We're greeted by a large brush fire upon arrival in Laughlin. Turns out it's on the opposite of the river and is much smaller than it was an hour ago. They have it controlled not long after. |
Our eighth time at the Riverside Casino RV Park, this year we're also one of eight rigs in our party. There's nothing formal planned for the reunion this year so everyone staying at the hotel also comes up each evening to make this the locale for the gathering.
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| This space is empty for our stay so we maintain a nice view of the strip and the river valley. |
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We all end up between our rig and Donnie and Anna's next door. Nice big sites!
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| Fluffy party girl |
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| Bill at the golf tournament with his doppleganger Kenny. |
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| Bill and a bevy. |
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| Jodee and Stacy, friends for 50+ years. |
My pal Maggie and I planned a couple day trips to give us some fun girl time over the weekend. The weather is lovely with no wind on Friday and Saturday. With all the "others" playing at the casinos we see very few people during our exploring.
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| Laughlin is the only place I've seen multiple labyrinths - each a different pattern and so well done. |
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| The precision detail is wonderful. |
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| Maggie's choice for today's walking meditation. |
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| I choose the square. |
Nearby Christmas Tree Pass is a lovely dirt drive through the mountain, and on Saturday through wonderful wildflowers. We take our time solving all the world's problems and getting caught up.
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| We stop to decorate a small tree at the top of the pass. |
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| Not as well constructed as the one in Borrego Springs, but we find a mud oven at one of the boondocking sites. |
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| My beautiful buddy Maggie. |
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| Our first flowers - their vivid color pops along the road. |
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| So much to see when we slow down. Love seeing healthy barrel cactus on the hills. |
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| Large yucca blooms. |
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| Happy ghost complete with a dimple! |
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| So many buds! |
The one place we did see a crowd was the trailhead at Grapevine Canyon to see the pictographs so we passed on by. It's on our list for next year - we'll get an earlier start :-)
We continue to count our blessings that we've remained connected to so many classmates and teachers from our high school. This was the 14th reunion Bill and I have been to as a couple - hard to believe!! Even without anything formal planned, we managed to see everyone. Our RV group fed them all each evening.
Monday morning I make an early grocery pickup, and we're packed up and on the road before 9:00. It's our longest driving day on this year's route, but the weather is nice and we continue to enjoy our Audible book. I can't believe how bad I-40 has gotten in Arizona! I thought the rig was going to break in half more than once :-(
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| Through the pines near Flagstaff. |
Cameron Trading Post RV Park is a simple stop with 30 amp FHU, first-come-first-serve dirt sites. It's our fourth attempt to see Desert View at the Grand Canyon. The trading post also has tasty Navajo Tacos which we enjoy upon arrival!
Looking forward to a day at the canyon.
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| Screen shot from a great video of Ezra with a convincing Jack Sparrow at their local Ren Faire. |
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| Elliott meeting little flowers. |
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| Penelope ready for Daddy's birthday. |
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| Oliver in his Easter duds. |
Ah, you didn't mention the audio book title!, is it worth finding?
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how well the little community of Desert Center has stayed in contact over the years. Such great life time friends!
And the grands! Good Grief they are so special.
LOL, we're listening to the latest Louise Penny book - World of Curiosities. The gang always laughs that we did not foresee our sitting around some RVs 50 years in the future!
DeleteAlso a long time audio book fan. Just finished Anne Hillerman's 'The Way of the Bear' set in Bear's Ears NM.
DeleteHi Jodee! What a fun start to your summer adventure. Love your Friday and Saturday meanderings with Maggie. Wonderful photos of two of my favorite things…flowers and rocks! And way cute pics of the grands!
ReplyDeleteI agree it was a nice kickoff for us. Like so many places along the Colorado River, that area has some beautiful mountains and diverse flora to enjoy.
DeleteThat's cool you listen to audiobooks while traveling--Mike and I used to do that, not sure how we got out of the habit. I still listen while knitting or sewing. Could those grandbabies get any cuter--they are so, so cute!! I'm always amazed that you guys still have such close contacts from school!
ReplyDeleteMy boys and I used to listen to books on tape and CD when we traveled and I'm glad Bill and I have finally given Audible a try. Every time we think those littles couldn't get any cuter we're proven wrong :-) We're just as amazed by those decades-long friendships!
DeleteThose labyrinths certainly are interesting. One has to wonder who made them. Looks like you are having fun on your adventure!
ReplyDeleteI've yet to do much research on the labyrinths but they must be locals who know what they're doing - and they're so well maintained! I love those unique finds in our travels :-)
DeleteGreat post Jodee.....it shows your joy with your old friends and the beautiful surroundings....Oh and I totally agree with Jeff - Good Grief those littles are so special!
ReplyDeleteIt's a pretty sweet combination :-)) They're all so different and all make us laugh with their silliness.
DeleteI've never found the labyrinths. You'll have to text me the location. We enjoy making a loop on warmer days and traveling Christmas Tree Pass. Glad the reunion went well again this year. So neat that you have this location with hotels and RV spots together. Ezra certainly makes a great Jack Sparrow and Penelope's are pigtails are precious! Safe travels as you move on. Sorry our timing wasn't better for a Torrey meet up. This is just the most spectacular place. All I do is grin as we drive around. Enjoy your visit.
ReplyDeleteYou'll like the labyrinths I think. That pass is so beautiful! Although it's not where we went to school, Laughlin has been a good location for us all these years. Looking forward to that red rock!
DeleteOff to a great start and gathering and fun with gal pals. Funny ghost rock. I40 around Flag has pot holes big enough to loose a Smart car, or axle. I like that funky Cameron Park and their food. Grands keep getting cuter.
ReplyDeleteThe food is definitely tasty at the trading post. I'm always impressed with how big the place is - all those buses that stop on their way to the canyon keep them hopping.
DeleteWhat a wonderful beginning to your journey...a reunion with good friends and so many wildflowers in the desert! And beautiful, unique labyrinths. Your captions are always the best...ghost rock with a dimple, LOL. Love those candid shots of your adorable grandkids. Their personalities crack me up!
ReplyDeleteThat ghost made Maggie and I laugh too :-)) Always so wonderful to see color in the desert - the poppies near Laughlin were gorgeous but no where to capture any pics.
Delete8 times in one park in a year is maybe a record?? The labyrinths definitely put Laughlin on my map. I love them and seek them out everywhere I can. What a joy to have a high school reunion every year and at such a great place this year. Your hike was fantastic. Friends for 50 years is such a blessing. What memories you can share. So what was the audible book? Bibliophiles need to know! Wonderful Grand pics as always. You sure have the cuties!
ReplyDeleteEight times in nine years 😀. We’ve had our reunions here every year since 2008. I’d love to try a different spot sometime but I think this still works best for most people. More and more of us with RVs and this park accommodates our big gatherings. The book is the last in the Gamache series by Louise Penny. I’ve read them all twice and will read them again. Bill just finished them too.
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