We have some time until John has to be in Atlanta, Georgia so we are going to do some sightseeing and touristing as we make our way across the country. Our first order of business is to wash the rig because after two months in storage and a month in the dusty desert she is in need of a bath.
Before leaving the Quartzsite area we stay a couple of days at 88 Shades. Eighty-eight shades of what we are not sure of but we’re hoping it’s not like 50 Shades. Hmm.
They have full hook up sites, great for washing the inside of our holding tanks, and an RV wash for the outside.
While getting drinking water at one of the water-filling stations we saw this homemade rig.
This is part of the fun of living on the road. Seeing what kind of creations people come up with to live in.
Before heading south down to Bizbee and Tombstone we take a little detour North to see our friends Jim and Beck who are camp hosting at Black Canyon Ranch RV resort in Black Canyon City. For something to do while they are working, Jim tells us about a place called Castle Hot Springs that is currently under renovation. It is a historic site that is worth visiting, if nothing else than for the Jeep ride.
Originally, the hot springs were used by the Yavapai and Apache people as a place of healing and for medicinal purposes. In the 1800s, it was purchased and turned into a spa of sorts. It is not easy to get too and in the 1800s you needed to take a five-hour stagecoach ride to get near the Hot Springs and then trek into them. Today, you can arrive by vehicle or by helicopter. Well, we aren’t going to be renting a helicopter so I guess we are Jeeping it to the resort.
For those of us non-helicoptering folks, it is miles and miles and miles of dirt road.
We are very used to seeing flooding signs in the desert. Flash flooding is a big problem especially in the monsoon season or when heavy rains fall in the high elevations and the water rushes down to the desert.
This is interesting, the road dumps you into a dry wash on your final approach to the camp from the direction we have travelled.
This place has been an oasis for many famous people as well as a rehabilitation site for World War II Veterans in the 1940s. Apparently, John F. Kennedy spent three months here recovering from his war wounds. Some of the other more prominent guests include western writer Zane Grey, the Vanderbilt’s, Astor’s, Roosevelts, and Wrigley’s.
Several fires at the complex over the years destroyed the buildings and the structures were torn down. Well, based on our trip out here, there’d be no way a fire truck was making it back these roads let alone be able to get here in a reasonable time.
Recently the property was bought by Mike and Cindy Watts and they are working to restore the resort and bring it back to its original grandeur. Lets hope they have the whole fire thing worked out.
The resort doesn’t seem open yet but it looks to be soon. For anywhere from $1,400 to $2,200 a night you can immerse yourself in luxury. Here’s the web address if you want a more in-depth look at and history lesson about the hot springs. https://www.castlehotsprings.com/
Wow, that is some green grass for the desert. This place looks pretty fancy.
On our way back out we saw some wild burros along the road. There are quite a few in Arizona, turned loose after the mining rush years ago.
On our way out we came upon a motorist in distress. They had a flat tire and called someone from their company to bring them a new one. In the meantime they were trying to get the flat one off but couldn’t get the lugnuts loose. John to the rescue. He has a few tools for the Jeep that worked for them and they were quite grateful for the help.
After our adventures, Jim and Becky took us to Chilleen’s on 17.
I didn’t realize what it was until we got there. We saw this episode on Bar Rescue!
The food was great and the staff wonderful. Even got my picture taken with a Jon Taffer cutout!
How fun was this!?
It seems like every time we get together with Jim, Becky and their two Australian Shepherds, Lucy and Sadie, we are always so busy I forget to take a picture of all of us together. Next time.
Always enjoy reading your blog and love it when our paths cross. Pictures for sure next time we see you. Until then many hugs….jim and Becky😎