So many of our friends, family and even strange acquaintances (you know who you are) questioned our state of mind when 3 years ago we bought an RV, packed everything we could into it, sold or gave away EVERYTHING that would not fit (including our sticks-n-bricks home), and drove off for adventures unknown.
This year our friends (from left to right) Suzanne and Paul, and Andy and Candy, took to the road in their own rigs. They thought, well if we can do it, so can they.
Paul and Suzanne went South then West through New Mexico, North up through Colorado and back East across the Northern states to PA. Andy and Candy did basically the same trip but counter clockwise.
Their timing couldn’t have been better. They crossed paths with us, and each other, in the fine state of AZ. We met all of them in Flagstaff at the Black Bart RV park.
Look at us all lined up like for school pictures: small (far left, Paul and Suzanne), medium (middle, Andy and Candy) and large (far right, John and me).
If you are ever traveling through the Flagstaff, AZ in your own RV be sure to stop here for a night or just for dinner. The wait-staff are all musicians and put on musical skits all through dinner. They will take your order and the next thing you know they will break out in song or do a little skit. It was cool. We were concerned that dinner might take a while or be slow to arrive. Nope, service was top notch.
Since we only had a day or so with our friends, we wanted to make sure we took them on at least one site-seeing tour. Off to Sadona!
So many Easterners ask us what do you like about the Southwest? Isn’t it all dry sandy deserts? What about trees, do they have any? Sure they do, their “mountains” just happen to be real mountains. Bigness!
Because of the lack of rainfall, the mountains are not covered in trees, grass, and heavy underbrush like the coastal areas. Actually makes for much nicer hiking.
Both couples did make the observation that though there are trees, the variety of types is small, and the trees do not get terribly tall. But, that makes for some fantastic views.
As we explored the Sadona area, the beauty of the desert in spring was evident all around us. The cacti were blooming.
Most bushes in the desert flower as well. This flower matches the gorgeous “red rocks” of this area as well.
One thing about desert plants that still amazes me is how tough they are. Any little crack, crevice, or divot that can collect a few grains of dirt and a drop of water or two can support a plant.
At the end of the day, while we were enjoying dinner and a spectacular view out the restaurant’s many windows, our friends admitted, finally, to thinking we were crazy when we hit the road 3 years ago.
Now, after spending weeks and months on the road, traveling the USA themselves, seeing the country, meeting new people….they get it…they get us.
Good to see you back. We are still out there. Right now in the Rio Grande Valley.