Category: RV Adventures

Route 66 – Albuquerque to Williams

RV AdventuresLeave a comment

Route 66

Albuquerque to Williams

Albuquerque, New Mexico & the Petroglyph National Forest

After oil changes and excellent customer service at Cummins Rocky Mountain in Albuquerque, we decided to see Petroglyph National Monument before adventuring too far west on Historic Route 66.

[Show thumbnails]

Dancing Eagle Casino RV Park, about 45-miles west of the park, and almost an hour from Albuquerque, is where we parked for only $11.38 per night. Located at Exit 108, it’s level, clean, buffered from noise, no obstacles and no frills. Satellite and cellular worked great, forgot to check antenna TV. Lots of available spots, but we noticed a couple big rig RVs came in and parked across several back-in sites so they did not have to unhook their TOWEDs. There were still a few sites left after that, but we thought about how arrogant they were. Since we were there for two nights, we took a back-in. There are a few pull-throughs in the center aisle, but not many. Boondocking spots are available at the travel center or by the marketplace just outside the park walls. Calling the casino is no help, for receptionist refers one to another casino closer to Albuquerque at Exit 140. The park is one to be proud of, and the prices reflect that greatness. We just wanted a quiet, no-frills spot for nights. The Dancing Eagle had few options for vegetarians. I’m still wondering about those refried beans I had in a bean and cheese burrito. They add water and steam them, the cashier said. Okay. Gulp.. just wanted to show appreciation for the overnight parking bargain.

Pack a picnic lunch and beverages in your car for Petroglyph National Monument adventures. Photo-happy people like us tarry longer  than one might think on the short hikes. Several people passed us by on the trail, and we’re sure they managed to run through the whole park in one day. We spent too long on one trail, ate a leisurely lunch with an adult beverage, and then we enjoyed another trail. Shadows lengthened, so we decided to save the other two trails in great hopes of returning someday. If we had not been on our way to a family rendezvous, we would definitely have stayed for another full day of adventures.

Holbrook, Arizona, the Petrified Forest and Wigwam Motel
[Show thumbnails]
[Show thumbnails]

Sun Valley RV Resort, formerly Root 66 RV Park, in Holbrook is where we parked the big rig for three days. Decent price with Passport America, level site; very easy in and out; and, it was close to both the Petrified Forest and the Wigwam Motel. Very nice owners and great selection of petrified wood for sale at better prices than elsewhere. Be prepared to buy drinking water and to turn off household refer ice maker. Groceries available in town at Safeway, but prices are exorbitant. Verizon service is next to nonexistent at park, then weak to workable in other nearby areas. Satellite and antenna TV were both fine. We would return for the friendly atmosphere and sights to see!

We spent two days among petrified marvels, and at least two hours at the Wigwam Motel, where the owner was very hospitable and invited us to see the collections on display in the “museum” there. What a hoot! Photogs might like to do Blue Mesa early in the mornings. Best bets are to obtain wilderness permits and figure out how to park overnight at the park. Just sayin’ cause things definitely get interesting when the angle of the sun’s dangle is something other than straight up! We saw several RVs along the park road turnouts, so making a day trip through the park is possible, though after-hors access is another matter.

Meteor Crater and Two Guns Ghost Town
[Show thumbnails]
[Show thumbnails]

Meteor Crater RV Park. Price was more than $30 per night, but it was ok. Nice lounge with laundry, book exchange and a few movies to rent. Crater and ghost town are possible on same day, but us slowpokes split it up. We saw an airstream being towed across an old Route 66 bridge into the 1920s section of the ghost town, where the family proceeded to boondock. I bet sunset there was amazing! I don’t think we’d try to take the big rig in there…fun times!

Winslow, Arizona and Homolovi State Park
[Show thumbnails]
[Show thumbnails]

Homolovi State Park campground was a very easy in-and-out, even if the narrow entrance road made us nervous at first. Price for 50 amp electric and water site was $30. We had site 28, which was a little effort to get the big rig level on. 24 looked better. They were two of the several available sites for our stay. Verizon is strong; clear sky for satellite, not much on antenna TV, and plenty to see and do in area.  Ancient remains of Hopi pueblos and a few petroglyphs can be explored, and there are desert trails for those who wish to hike instead of drive and take short walks. We even saw RVs parked at each area, so Homolovi can also be a day trip between stopovers elsewhere. Be sure to stop in the Visitor Center for extra information, interpretive displays and to scan the QR bar code or use this link https://www.archaeologysouthwest.org/pdf/audio/homolovi-tour.mp3 for a nice 45-minute podcast to listen to while exploring the largest pueblo on site, Homolovi II. We stayed two nights and would have extended our stay, if our site had been available. We wanted to make a day trip to the Little Painted Dessert about 15 miles north on Highway 87, and to the Hopi village, about 45 minutes north of that.

Winslow is a couple of minutes from Homolovi, and we saw RVs parked on the streets there as well. There are bulb outs with plenty of parking all through town, especially within a few steps of Standing on the Corner Park where an endless stream of tourists pose for photos with the statues and the flatbed ford. We decided mornings would be a better time to get a photo here due to the strong backlight in the afternoons. We had a wonderful lunch at Relic Road Brewery across the street, but they did not brew on site, nor have any Relic Road brand brews on hand. I had a Dragoon IPA and Stu had a Dragoon Sex Panther, a double chocolate porter by SanTan Brewing. They were okay, but not as good as others we’ve sampled. We both tried one of their signature burgers, with bean burger patties instead of beef. They also offer a Portobello version. The relic chips were fantastic, if a tad on the greasy side. We were put out at the high-fructose on the Heinz Ketchup label, but then we were not at home, where ingredients are mostly organic and chosen carefully. Sometimes one just has to relax the standards a bit while enjoying the experience of dining out at such a great place. We enjoyed a window seat in the back room, where we watched that endless stream of people photographing themselves next to one of the bronze statues. We also enjoyed walking a trail between Standing on the Corner Park and the visitors center. There were some fun museum-quality displays along the trail, including one of the renowned Toth Totems, but we were saddened to see so many piles of dog poop and no poop bags in the dispensers. Maybe the local chamber should start a shame campaign? IDK It’s a crappy shitiation…

Flagstaff/Williams, Arizona and the Grand Canyon
[Show thumbnails]
[Show thumbnails]

Wow, unless one wants to boondocks in the forest while adventuring in the Grand Canyon, bring deep pockets! We stayed at the KOA Grand Canyon, in Williams, where we paid extremely high prices for a crappy park. Sites were unlevel and neighbor’s sewer drain was in the patio/picnic area. Park wifi and cellular were pretty much weak to nonexistent. The cabins for people traveling with pets had no amenities whatsoever.

We enjoyed riding the Grand Canyon Railway to and from the park. Taking first class on the way back was fantastic! We took shoes off our aching feet, stretched out and enjoyed $6 cocktails after a long day of sightseeing with thousands of other people at the rim. The squirrels were persistent, brave and opportunistic little creatures who would ruffle through an unwatched backpack or snack bag, so beware of that!

Wanting to extend our stay for more adventures in the area, we tried Kit Carson RV Park, in Flagstaff, which was also overpriced. Unlevel sites, a leaky faucet that went un-repaired. Desk person took last name and money for one night stay, then we woke to SWAT action. It ended up being an attempted suicide, which resolved with no shots fired and no body bag required.  We had to stay another night due to a broken water pump and awoke to find fire department vehicles and construction workers scrambling all over the place, blocking our exit for a while. There was a falling tree leaning on power lines, and crew members managed to fell it safely with no damage to RVs. Amazing work to watch!

Camping World had the water pump in stock, said they always do. They did not have step motor and counter person did not even know what it was. The pump ended up being faulty, so we returned it with no problem. Arizona Route 66 RVs next door was better. They not only ordered four motors to be sure they had the right one, they said to come on over the next morning, and they would help troubleshoot the water pump and install the motor. Then they allowed us to boondock so we could enjoy the Route 66 Roadhouse Bar & Grill next door, which featured amazing 1950s and antique automotive decor, a good beer selection and some baked potatoes we loaded up with fixins from the salad bar. What fun we had! The bar stools were soon taken by a Canadian biker group, and two biker couples from East Germany came and sat near us. They traveled on rental Harleys and were all outfitted in the stereotypical black leathers and souvenir T-shirts. Meat eaters must cook themselves, on a grill area set up in the corner of the dining room. A wall of spices behind the grill has seasonings for all! Interesting concept, but some people just don’t want to cook when they go out to eat. Another fun touch were the double-bowl pet feeders one serves up the free peanuts in. The bartended told us those were for her human pets. What a hoot!

Belton Lake Texas

RV AdventuresLeave a comment

Belton Lake near Temple, Texas, is a nice place to stop after escaping Dallas in a southbound direction on Highway 35. While there are several Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds to choose from, but only two are open year round, Live Oak and Cedar Ridge. In the late fall and …

Fayetteville Favorites

Good Eats / RV AdventuresLeave a comment

Fayetteville, Arkansas is one of our favorite cities to visit, especially if we can score a parking space near one of the greenway trails.  Buildings, streets and public places are remarkably clean and full of art installations and friendly people. There are also great places to find rich, dark brews and both fishy and vegan delights. Plus, Fayetteville serves as a great base for day trips to nearby attractions. Click on the pictures for more info and links, and scroll to the bottom for a map with all the points of interest.

Even dilapidated downtown Fayetteville buildings are worth of beautification. Read more about the owl and other Fayetteville murals here.
Walk the cycles across the mowed grass field at Southgate RV for access Coleman Avenue, a quiet neighborhood street, then turn left and ride on the sidewalk of Cato Springs Road and go about one-quarter mile to join the Cato Springs Branch Greenway. It joins the Town Branch, then Razorback and others. Although there are crossings to navigate, it’s a semi-easy ride to downtown and back, or in a round-about way to a Starbucks about three miles away.
At Dickson Street Bookshop, a maze of aisles awaits those in search of books, magazines, obscure texts, posters, sheet music and on-the-wall comics.
Every vertical space without bookshelves at Dickson’s is covered with something to read.
Lithuanian Artist Ernest Zacharevic creates a playful scene in one of several new murals in downtown Fayetteville. Read about the project here.
Helpful signs along the Razorback Greenway direct riders to nearby venues.
More than one mural by artist Jason Jones decorates downtown Fayetteville, this one is right on the Razorback Greenway.
Thrift shop art reborn with the addition of sometimes whimsical creatures by Fayetteville artist and muralist Jason Jones.
In the Native American room at the Fayetteville Underground hang several artworks by Leah Cowden, including Smoke and Mirrors and Bleeding Our Colors.
Cheri Bohn is one of the artists in residence at the Fayetteville Underground. One can enter her workshop full of fantastical creatures and other works made of stained glass and gnarled wood.
Saddlebock Brewery in Springdale, Arkansas is one of many excellent craft beer joints in Northwestern Arkansas. We love the porter and IPA, but hold the pizza. Our veggie pie was soggy with canned jalapeños and mushrooms hidden in a thick layer of cheese.
Have you ever been offered a sip of moonshine from a plastic jug before? Then attend the car show at the Annual Frisco Festival in late August on Main Street Rogers, AR.
Cuban fusion black beans and rice at Rolando’s in downtown Fayetteville is absolutely delicious! If you like spicy, ask for a little more of the drizzle! OMG! So good!
George’s Majestic Lounge and Cafe is fun, but way too loud for us. Earplugs would have made it more enjoyable.
The veggie burger at JJ’s is great, with the aoli on the side, but their craft beers are rather wimpy, even the IPA. They don’t bother with stouts or porters at all, ever, according to one bartender.
Well men, just step right up to this repurposed keg at JJ’s of Fayetteville.
Step right up to this repurposed keg and wash your hands in the bathrooms of JJ’s of Fayetteville.

 

Day Trips

Victorian homes are even better when painted accordingly, in at least three colors.
Exploring the Eureka Springs commercial district prior to a car show has its own benefits. This big Bertha’s driver needs more parallel parking practice, or maybe a curb alarm.
Window shopping is all part of the Eureka Springs experience, and the shop behind this display is full of funky hats in many styles, as well as accessories, gadgets and lots of steam punk items.
Cars seem like intruders in the commercial district, especially when one wants to photograph the colorful storefronts.

Eureka Springs

Ozark Mountains, Population about 2,000.

The whole city, also known as the Stair-step Town is on the National Register of Historic places. Distinctive features include Victorian architecture and paint schemes along twisted and steeply sloped roads.

The commercial district isn’t very wheelchair friendly, but unique adventures in shopping makes the effort navigating cobbled and uneven terrain worthwhile. Bring a pocketful of quarters, nickels and dimes for the parking meters, or better yet, pay to park at the top of town and take the trolley.

For good eats in Eureka Springs, try The Cookery. We found it on Yelp, and are so glad we stopped by to try it. The counter features a deli display case full of fresh, and mostly local veggies. Our kind of place!

We know the Cookery is our kind of place when we walk up to the counter and see a deli case full of fresh and mostly local fruits and vegetables.
The Cookery is the bomb, literally! Besides a menu to rock a veggie lovers soul, there are crochet bombs, an unusual doll collection and eye candy galore.
A veggie burrito topped with a little melted cheese and some flavorful salsa and crema. The simple salad features raw beets and a white peach balsamic that’s amazing!
Colorful crochet bombed chairs snuggle up to a retro table in the back bar area of the Cookery.
Crochet carnival queen holds court at the Cookery in a colorful room filled with doll collections, beaded collars, assorted heads and art prints.
Enter the Cookery foyer and discover this international doll collection.
Two Wizard of OZ dolls sit atop the glass-fronted display case.

Bentonville

Population more than 47,000

Home of Walmart, Tyson Foods and JB Hunt

The economy and lifestyle here are all about Walmart and all the benefits the Walton family brought to the region. Even broadcast network newscasters give weather and traffic reports based on the Walmart Home Office location. Walmart employees are helpful and take pride and ownership in their work, and the streets are clean and remarkably clear of graffiti. There are no panhandlers on every corner, though we did see a few hanging out by a downtown parking lot. Regionally, there is artwork in public places and fabulous greenways, all this and more is thanks, in a large part, to the Walton family via Walmart shoppers. So, don’t dis Walmart when in Northwest Arkansas. Bad Juju if you do.

One of the main Bentonville attractions is the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Sam and Helen Walton’s daughter, Alice.  Admission to the permanent collection is always free. Plan to spend at least one day here, and  eat at the café. There is always something new to see, and wonderful trails to ride and walk on. We enjoy return visits tremendously! Since it will probably be rush hour when one leaves Crystal Bridges, plan on stopping in downtown, have dinner out,  and spend an hour walking through the Walmart Museum, making sure to stop in the old-fashioned soda fountain on the way out.

Using multi-colored shoelaces, artist Nari Ward brings the first words of the U.S. Constitution out of the past and into our modern lives. Read a May 2017 article about his work.
Centerpiece of a Crystal Bridges triptych titled Elephants draws one in for closer inspection of details and metaphors, at once familiar and slightly disturbing, as if whispering a sooth. Read more about it and artist Adonna Khare here. She also illustrated this book. book illustrated by Khare on Amazon http://amzn.to/2f5qySh
Chihuly art glass is one of the new installations for 2017. The Chihuly in the Forest exhibit, not pictured, requires $10 admission.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Bachman-Wilson house is open for tours at Crystal Bridges, and tickets are required, either free or purchased for guided tours. Plan ahead for this one, and if you have a gut, suck it in – the hallways and doorways are tight. Also, if you’re really tall, you might have to duck in spots.
Upon closer inspection of the largest painting Adonna Khare’s Elephants Triptych, one sees the story she tells about her young nephew with diabetes. The lion slurps a sweet popsicle, the boy’s favorite now forbidden food, and the gorilla pokes the glucose tester which sits atop the service dog who now alerts the boy’s family of potentially dangerous blood sugar spikes. Lucky visitors will hear docents tell this story.
Thomas Hart Benton is Alicia’s favorite painter. She imagine’s a slideshow of his life’s work played to a background of Woodie Guthrie music.
The late Felix Gonzalez-Torres avoided assigning meaning to his artworks, but his candy spill at Crystal Bridges includes interpretation the spills represent a metaphor for the human body ravaged by illness. Gonzales-Torres died of AIDS the same year he finished this one. Viewers are invited to take a piece of candy, and by providing for endless replenishment, the artist symbolically grants the body everlasting life. Docents say most people who read the interpretation do not partake of the offering. Above the spill, Mark Tansy’s Landscape features the dismantled sculptures of historical figures. Interpretations vary, from leaders’ legacies preserved via art, q question about who can escape the dustbin of history, and an allusion about mass media break loose bits of information from history and combines them into something new. The one-color palette supposedly refers to sepia tones photographs, old films and television.
Mother of all spiders, Maman, is a central figure at Crystal Bridges, where three other artworks by acclaimed American artist Louise Bourgeois reside.

Smitten by Michigan!

RV AdventuresLeave a comment

From Spartan School shenanigans in Charlotte to the marvelous museums of Kalamazoo, we were smitten by Michigan!   Spartan RV Academy was great! Both of us learned a lot about our coach chassis. Knowing how our modern air brake system actually works, makes us much more comfortable. A personal driving …

Friendly Fliers

Hobbies / RV AdventuresLeave a comment

We met the friendliest RC flying enthusiasts when exploring different flying fields near Tucson this spring. While the field adjoining the Pima County Fairgrounds and the field on the southern end of Valencia are decent-sized and well taken care of, their gates are usually locked. Our new favorite field, with …

Hurry across Texas?

RV AdventuresLeave a comment

Why do we always just want to hurry across west Texas? We’ve seen many comments on RV social networks, so we know we’re not alone. As usual, we had no reservations when we entered Texas from Deming, New Mexico. Naturally, the only two big rig-friendly sites at Balmorhea State Park …