Tuba City...

Quality Inn and RV Park
Tuba City, AZ
April 2, 2019

Well, we all know the saying "the best laid plans...often go awry".  When we checked into the RV park in Tuba City, we were counting on a one night stop.  We pulled Belle as far up in the site as we could so we would not have to unhook Pearl.  Joe plugged in the electricity, we had dinner, watched a little TV and called it a day.  Saturday morning we were up early and excited about the days adventure to Moab.  But, uh-oh... some kind of valve on the air tank for the passenger side airbag did not work so that bag would not inflate.  Joe worked for an hour and a half hoping for a quick fix to get us to Moab, but didn't have any luck.  Joe called Freightliner in Flagstaff and the part was available from  Phoenix so they ordered it.  Being a Saturday morning, the part would not be at their shop until Tuesday am.  We were stuck right where we were.  The water and sewer hookups would not reach...our very first boondocking experience.  Thank goodness we had visited Sue and Dave at Catalina.  A tub was placed in the sink to collect dishwater, hand/face washing water, and toothbrush spit.  We found a Bashas' Grocery in Tuba City...thank goodness for bottled water and throw away plates !  

According to Trip Advisor, the top two things to do in Tuba City are, 1) visit the Tuba Trading Post and Museum, and 2) explore Coal Mine Canyon.  That was a no-brainer for sure !

 Information on Coal Mine Canyon stated, "It is a long way from any famous attraction and is not signposted in any way, yet it has become quite well known because of its amazingly colorful formations that line the upper end of the ravine."  
















This colorful canyon is about 15 miles from Tuba City right on Hwy 264 and borders between the Hopi and Navajo Indian Resevations.   Instructions said to look for a narrow and bumpy dirt road (fine for all vehicles) on the left side of the road.  Look for a windmill and water tank and bear right. 






 Parking is easy at an abandoned picnic area.  The flat land falls away quickly and abruptly several hundred feet to the floor of the narrow canyon about 4 miles long.  

Do you see me ?

The view is a jaw dropper...colorful, magnificent and intricately eroded spires and hoodoos.

There is a hiking trail that goes down into the canyon.  We really wanted to go, but Joe had stitches in his left arm and right leg that were less than a week old, so we couldn't.  

Can you see the trail?  Access is steep, but there is a rope to hold on to.

Tuesday,Joe drove to Flagstaff (about 75 miles south) to pick up our part.  Three hours of travel, a $22 part,

and 20 minutes of repair and we were good to go.    

Our puppies supervise everything!

Finally,  Wednesday dawned and as you can imagine, we were up early and excited.  It's not a long drive from Tuba City to Moab (about 250 miles), and it is such a beautiful ride, the time usually passes by quickly.

I haven't taken road shots in along time, but the clouds and scenery were so pretty Wednesday morning.  We experienced sunny skies, cloudy skies, rain and a few snow flakes.  It was quite chilly going through Blanding !

Finally!

Church Rock and the La Sal Mountains...wahoo!

 We have enjoyed our first sunrise at Gopher Flats for 2019 and are looking forward to many more...

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS !

Three Trails and Three W's...

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
March, 2019

If hiking is something you enjoy, the trails around Tucson definitely have a lot to offer.  But, between appointments, MOHs surgeries and winter weather in February, we didn't have much time to enjoy them.

We experienced freezing temps and snow...the first snow in ten years according to the locals.  







March roared in like a lion with strong winds and hard rains.  The weather finally turned with lots of wildflowers and mild temps.  The desert was calling !  

Here are three great trail choices with wildflowers, water, and wildlife ...

Linda Vista Loop Trail

Linda Vista Loop is a trail located in Oro Valley at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains.  The map at the trailhead shows several choices to go.  Joe and I hike the loop in the counter-clockwise direction.  It was especially pretty this year with the wildflowers blooming and as the name implies, there are vistas in all directions.

We saw our first Desert Cardinal.

Bluff Trail

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains featuring outstanding scenery, beautiful desert flora, and riparian corridors.  This day we chose to hike the Lower Sabino Creek Trail, connect to the Bluff Trail and finish the loop on the Esperero Trail. 

Just getting started on the Lower Sabino Creek Trail...

Thank goodness for rains and snowmelt...

Love the tannin-stained water...

Bluff Trail...

I love the Cactus Wrens.

A crested Saguaro on Bluff Trail...

Loma Verde and Squeeze Pen Loop Trail

We haven't hiked in Saguaro NP East in a couple of years. 

Loma Verde Trailhead starts off Cactus Drive.  It's a one-way drive and the trailhead will be on the left. 

 I don't now why because it sure is beautiful and maybe a little less congested than the west side.  At least this day, we had the trail almost to ourselves.  We had not done this trail before and the loop can be little tricky.  There are a couple of right hand turns...first on Pink Hill Trail and then on Squeeze Pen Trail...to make a loop just over 4 miles.  

So many trails...so many choices...

Curved-billed Thrasher.... and what a pretty song they have !

 We only passed a couple of hikers, but we did meet Leigh Anne and Jasmine.  Jasmine is a Jerusalem Donkey complete with the markings of a cross on her back.  Jasmine has been a park volunteer with Leigh Anne (her owner) for 13 years.  

We also thanked park workers for the great job they do.

On a different note, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from Mission San Xavier del Bac.  We have visited a couple of times including last February.  It is beautiful both inside and outside.  After visiting Ted DeGrazia's studio (see our last post) it has even more meaning.  The mission was one of the 24 missions founded by Padre Kino 

 

Fiesta at San Xavier, 1960

FYI...if you are in Tucson and need repairs on your RV, Cameron's Reliable Mobile Repairs is awesome. 

 Kenneth and his wife Rachel make a great team.

They fixed a hot water issue, installed a Gen Start (In case the land power goes off and it gets 85 degrees in the MH, the generator will start and run the AC.) to keep the puppies safe, 



and we have two new house batteries. Kenneth and Rachel are so totally knowledgeable, thorough and honest. We are very fortunate to have them as our primary MH repair providers !

Joe had his last two MOHs surgeries...one Monday above his elbow and one Tuesday on his shin.  Instead of sitting here three more weeks, we will have the stitches taken out in Moab.    

So, that's a wrap on Tucson for this winter.  Today we will pack and Friday we pull out bright and early...both of us healthy, happy, and thankful for the good doctors and care we have been given.  

Up next Moab.  Until then, 

  HAPPY TRAILS !