Each time we pass through Arizona, we always stop for a visit to Mitch’s mom.  We were here for two weeks and enjoyed the various attractions in the area. A visit to Old Scottsdale was one of the many stops.  The town was packed with people as it was several days before Easter.  The city has various shops, restaurants, and wine-tasting rooms.  Statues of cowboys and old west feel can be seen as one walks around.  When visiting, a trip to the Sugar Bowl is a must.  Be prepared to wait; it is one of the most popular spots in town, especially on a hot Phoenix Day.  The ice cream is delicious, but they serve food as well.

Of course, we can’t miss any hiking opportunities that may arise, and this time, Mitch chose a hike on Camelback Mountain.  You know it’s problematic when the Rangers ask if you’ve ever hiked this before, if you have enough water, and if you realize this is the most challenging hike in the area.  I have so many expletives for this hike, but I will leave what they were up to your imagination.  Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Tail has an elevation gain of 1,264 ft, and the trail length is 1.4 miles and is rated extremely difficult.  In many spots, you feel like you are a rock climber.  It’s tough when you are only 5 feet, and your leg stride isn’t wide enough to get to the next boulder.  We started this hike at 1 pm. (Probably not the best time to start). 

Honestly, this was the most challenging hike I had ever done, and I had every intention of making it to the top.  But this time, the mountain won, and I was done right before the last quarter of the hike, which was the steepest.  On the next visit to Mitch’s mom, I challenge myself to persevere and enjoy my victory to the top.  The mountain will not win again.

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The Hole in the Rock is a short hike that should not be ignored. Intriguing rock formations are across from the Phoenix Zoo, and one stands out among the others. One can see a hole where visitors wait to take pictures there. It’s not a strenuous hike, but once you reach the hole, it lends a view you wouldn’t want to miss. This would be a great hike to watch the sunset.

If you are a Frank Lloyd Wright fan, the Taliesen West complex would be an interesting visit. This was his winter home and desert laboratory, where apprentices learned Mr. Wright’s style. Mr. Wright’s philosophy was to incorporate architecture with the surrounding elements. One can take an audio tour stopping at each station to learn more about his reasoning for building the structure and the daily happenings of his winter stays. We have visited three of his structures, and the Fallingwater in Pennsylvania is the most impressive in my book.

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Our home base stay in Tucson was in a KOA (Campgrounds of America). It was not the usual environment we enjoyed, but this park was huge and offered several amenities. Each site had a garden table with four chairs, not the typical wooden picnic bench. Some sites had fruit trees of oranges, lemons, and grapefruit. Our neighbor was kind enough to share some of the grapefruit. It had an onsite restaurant, a library, and two pools.

We hiked in the Saguaro National Park, where—you guessed it—there were tons of saguaros. Each was different in its own way. Some were tall; others were short to the ground. Some had arms, and others just stood straight up. I was hoping the desert would be in bloom, as there had been a lot of rainfall, which was perfect for blooming desert plants. Alas, the blooms decided to wait. Desert hiking is not my favorite, and this trip left a painful memory. While hiking, I somehow was attacked by a cactus of tiny needles. I didn’t brush against one but was told a plant will adhere its’ needles just by passing near it. Mitch had the task of picking the tiny needles from my pants. Not an easy task.

Upon our return, we positioned ourselves on the truck tailgate to watch the sunset. It was a great way to end our day.

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This stop was a pleasant surprise. Our original intent was to hike the trails of Chiricahua National Monument, Land of “Standing Up Rocks,” but unbeknownst to us, Willcox is better known for its wineries. The town has tasting rooms and several vineyards along the wine trail. Being fans of red wine, we enjoyed the different varieties the vineyards offered and walked away with a few bottles of excellent red wine.

The national monument spires originated 27 million years ago when a volcano spewed ash over the terrain. It became a national monument in 1924 to protect the pinnacles. Our hike to the Echo Canyon Loop was mind-boggling. We passed several rock structures, where it seemed one rock was just perched on another and would fall with a passing wind. However, these rocks have remained solid throughout the years. Each turn delights us with stunning views. Surprisingly, we didn’t pass many hikers, and we were the only ones on the trail for most of the hike. This is a highly recommended hike in our books.

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City of Rocks State Park was unique. As we drove into the park, it felt like we were visiting Fred and Barney in Bedrock. These rock formations are in the middle of nowhere. Each campsite was nestled among the crooks and crannies of the rock formations. The rangers tried to maintain the ambiance of the formations as rock vestibules hid the trash cans.

The wind was strong on the first day there, and navigating the park was interesting. There were sites where you could barely know there were campers, as they were hidden among the rocks. We rode to Silver City at 3:00 pm but got there too late, as many of the stores were closed. It still is the off-season for them.

The Table Mountain trail was an excellent hike to the top of the mountain. We didn’t realize how high we climbed until we looked down and saw that our 5th wheel was a tiny speck among the rocks. We were fortunate to choose a day when the weather was calm, and the wind was at bay. We were glad we found this hidden gem in the middle of nowhere.

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We were able to grab a lakeside spot on BLM land. The entrance was a little tight, but Mitch managed to navigate his way through. The sunsets and star-filled nights were a welcomed sight. The next day, we visited White Sands National Park. It wasn’t as majestic as the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado, and the height of the dunes could not compare to those of the Great Sands. This park reminded me more of Florida’s dunes on Clearwater Beach. The sand was hard, unlike the Great Sands, where you immediately sunk into the sand and struggled to get to the next step.

As we rode through the park, the white sand made it necessary to wear sunglasses. In each dune we passed, people could be seen gliding down on plastic sledding saucers, having a good time. There were also several that pitched a sun canopy relaxing to spend the day. We were glad we arrived at the park early because as we departed, the line to get into the park was backed up to the entrance.

We also rode into town and visited a pistachio farm. I never knew the nut came from a tree. Of course, we couldn’t leave without having some pistachio ice cream. Yummy!

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We stopped overnight at the Rio Grande Winery. We loved it two years ago and enjoyed it even more this time as they enhanced the tasting room and added food options. They also had a new addition: pickleball courts. We enjoyed the music and sat and chatted with some other RV travelers.

We got up early the following morning to hike the Slot Canyon Trail. As you can hear in the video, I was apprehensive due to the gate and fencing around the area. I am not a rule breaker and didn’t want to get caught trespassing. On the other hand, Mitch assured me it was on Alltrails, and we would be fine, as it looked like others had visited the trail.

I was happy we continued on the trail. The rock formations were incredible. They reminded me of Antelope Canyon in Arizona; however, the rocks were not as smooth. When we reached the other side of the slots, we encountered other hikers. They pointed out a trail that would lead us to the top of the mesa. Mitch gave me the option of climbing to the top or continuing on another trail in the area. Choice made—we are going to the top.

The view was great from the top. It was a little windy at the top, but it didn’t stop Mitch from taking his 360-degree photos. Upon our return, several hikers were starting their trek. I guess it is common knowledge that all are welcome to hike the trails.

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The road to Big Bend seemed never-ending. Miles of straight highway flanked on each side by desert prairie engulfed in hardened grounds, sporadic cacti, yucca plants, and the occasional cows. It was not very interesting scenery, and often, I found myself dozing off due to the lack of stimulation.

It was a beautiful sunny day for a hike. It’s funny when starting at the bottom of a mountain hike, you notice people climbing, and I often say, “Oh no, this is going to be a killer!”. Then the ascent starts, and the realization hits that it’s not a straight-up steep climb but a steady series of switchbacks. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a piece of cake, but the switchbacks are more welcoming. When you reach the top, the sense of accomplishment is as satisfying as the incredible view once you get there.

After the hike, we toured the Ross Maxwell drive through the park. This drive should be taken when you have time since it’s a thirty-mile stretch to the end. At the end of this drive, the Rio Grande River flows and runs through the mountain, and on the other side of this is Mexico. As a side note, be prepared to stop at a few border patrol stops on the road to get there.

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We left Victoria after being there for two and a half months. We felt blessed to spend that time helping our daughter with our new granddaughter. Holding her in our arms as she slept was just heavenly. I love the baby stage, but Mitch, not so much. However, she wrapped him around her little finger, and he loved every minute spent with her. My daughter didn’t want us to leave, and part of me wished we could stay, but Mitch was ready for our new 2024 journey. We will be visiting some exciting places, so check in every Saturday for our postings.

Our first two-night stay was a stop to our next destination (posted next week) to ease our travel time. It was in San Pedro Campground in Amistad National Recreation Area in Del Rio, Texas. We have never been so close to the Mexican Border. It was boondocking for $3 a night. What a deal! Each site had a covered picnic table, however, there is no water available on site so bring your own before coming. We also took a short 2.5 hike through the desert. Alltrails stated that the Sunrise hike would take you to the reservoir; however, no water could be found. It seems water has been scarce in Texas, with many water levels dropping to low. The nights were quiet, and we were glad to break up our trip with this stay.

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The Good

• Landing a site right by the lake
• Ability to see the beauty this country has
• Making memories to last a lifetime
• Sharing experiences with the love of your life
• Seeing family and friends you haven’t visited in a while
• Sharing the beauty with those who can’t.
• Listening to nature’s orchestra – wind through the trees, the babbling brook, and the voices of the cicadas.
• Meeting new friends along the way
• Crossing items off your bucket list
• Climbing a mountain and looking at the vista on top
• Finding unexpected craft fair
• Biking on fantastic trails

The Bad

•  Spending anniversaries in remote places with no local restaurants
• Not being able to find Boar’s head meat
• Expecting to follow the 70s only to find out you landed in a heat wave.
• Being away from your immediate family
• Having to go to a laundry mat
• Figuring out where to get packages delivered
• High winds that shake the trailer, making for sleepless nights
• No room for a Christmas tree

The Ugly

• Finding a repairman on the 4^th of July
• Getting stuck in traffic and not moving an inch
• Finding out the last campground you stayed had an electrical glitch and wiped out your lithum batteries.
• Suspension repairs
• Brake calibers coming off while driving