After the chaos of January in Quartzsite, Arizona (about which I did not post), camping in the quiet of Palm Canyon about 20 miles south was very welcome. Miscellaneous photos follow.
ARIZONA. JANUARY-FEBRUARY.
Although I am not a desert person, since I have to spend each winter in its warmth, I try to look at the positives. Among those are the beautiful light and the clear night skies, illustrated in this photo set.
There is a great deal of dispersed camping in southern California (“Big River” community) just across the Colorado river from Parker, Arizona. Parker is a small town but has most all needed amenities. After I stayed in this area, I headed to Bouse, Arizona, with folks I met at Big River. I had been by Bouse a couple times but had never camped there. One must go there already well-supplied since amenities are few, but the area is beautiful and the hiking opportunities abundant and interesting.
More info in captions.
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA. DECEMBER/JANUARY.
These days included some rare rainy travel in the desert and ended with the discovery of a new camping area with new campmates.
More info in captions.
NEVADA/ARIZONA. NOVEMBER.
***
Of the four corners, Arizona was my choice for my next stops.
A couple friends camphost in the Flagstaff area so I spent some time there. Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet so this is a good area for cooler temperatures during the summer months. Also, there is quite a bit of public land available for camping all around Flagstaff and, that city is large enough that it includes any kind of needed amenity.
After my time here, I went south to a pretty area not far from Sedona at which I’ve camped in the past. Oddly, I have still not actually visited Sedona but will get there at some point.
See photo captions (i) for more info.
ARIZONA. OCTOBER-NOVEMBER.
My route next took me thru Colorado to Pueblo where I was supposed to complete a previously arranged trade of my truck tonneau cover for a camper shell. Unfortunately, the other party welched on the deal, and I was ultimately cheated out of considerable funds. (It’s a long, unhappy story that I will not relate here). I am still looking for a suitable shell/cap/topper for my truck.
At least, on this ill-fated trip, I once again was able to see some beautiful country–and this time it was adorned in autumn splendor. After my disappointing stop in the Pueblo area, I hurried south through Colorado.
Oddly enough, I actually stumbled upon the turn to Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (featuring the tallest dunes in the U.S.). I usually carefully plan National Park visits, but I guess I was preoccupied by recent events and didn’t notice it was along my route. It was a stunning day and turned out to be a good visit, even though the Visitor Center was unfortunately closed due to the government shutdown occurring at the time. I had a ball taking photographs. Sometimes the surprises in my travels turn out to be among the most enjoyable experiences.
After the Park, more beautiful scenery along the road and a short visit to the Four Corners Monument. I’m glad I finally stopped here but I found this Navajo Nation site to be rather sad. No disrespect intended at all. I know funding, for one thing, is often a challenge, but I wish this unique location could feature cultural information, art, relics, or history about this mighty nation so visitors could be properly educated. I’m probably naive about the difficulties involved in providing something like this or maybe the Navajo don’t even want this for some reason, but I still wish something more could be done here to take advantage of the tourism and benefit the Navajo Nation.
(see captions (i) for more info)
COLORADO/ARIZONA. OCTOBER.
CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA/NEVADA/UTAH. DECEMBER-APRIL.
After my stay in Tucson, I headed back to the Yuma area and then up to Quartzsite to volunteer for a charity I support, Homes on Wheels Alliance. After that, another stay in Southern California to rest up from the busy volunteer days. Friends invited me to stay at their Nevada home for a while and then it was off to Apple Valley, Utah, to camp with a friend’s group.
My photos from these stays ended up being mostly of weather and celestial events–at least until I got to Utah. It was a pretty part of the state that I had not visited before. After that, I decided to head to Texas for an event I’d been wanting to attend for some years.
(more info in captions)
ARIZONA. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER.
I started heading even further south toward some friends’ house in Tucson with a camping stop in Southern California near Yuma. While getting vehicle repairs in Tucson, I visited a couple NPS sites, Fort Bowie National Historic Site and Chiricahua National Monument.
(much more info in photo captions)
ARIZONA. OCTOBER/NOVEMBER.
Travel through a southwestern state (and lower elevations) for warmer temperatures.
(more info in captions)
ARIZONA. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER.
A number of special events in Arizona – mostly in and from the sky.
(more info in photo captions)
ARIZONA. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER.
This is my third or fourth stay in the White Mountains. I always love coming because the light here is extraordinary.
A strange thing happened as I neared the area. I was driving along a remote two-lane when I came upon a vehicle upside down on the shoulder. A guy had stopped, and I slowed to ask if anyone was inside. He said he hadn’t found anyone. There wasn’t a signal at that location, so he said someone had driven one way to get a signal to call 911. I said I would drive in the opposite direction to try the same. After driving some distance, I was able to call emergency services. I went back to the accident site where by now more people had gathered; I let them know I had been able to get a call through. They still had found no victims. Since it was getting late, I decided to leave and, several miles down the road, met the responders on their way to the scene. I checked the local news for the next few days but never did see anything about the accident. Both a bizarre and sobering event.
I drove all the way to the area in which I planned to camp, arriving after dark – something I almost never do. I simply pulled off the dirt road for the night and the next day, scouted out a camping site for myself and friends I was meeting.
This is a beautiful area that I highly recommend.
(see photo captions for more info)
