Back to the Arizonian

Just as on our way to Death Valley, we took two days to make the trip back to Arizona, stopping in Kingman again overnight. 

I drove out of the park to the Amargosa Opera House junction where my bus driver took over the wheel, and we continued on to Pahrump and into Las Vegas along route 160. 
This is the scenic route, part of which winds through the Spring Mountains Recreation Area with pretty dramatic scenery, a 7% downgrade past multiple peaks, red rocks and Joshua trees.  The views on this blue-sky day were eye candy, and driving in the opposite direction the scenery was just a little different. My clicking finger was busy. 

Outside Kingman we pulled into the Blue Beacon Truck Wash to spruce up Alpine and Jeep after the dust storm in Death Valley. Unfortunately it must have been a popular day for trucks because we had a long line ahead of us. Michael noticed another Alpine the same color as ours pulling in and eventually the owner wandered over to chat with us. By the time we went through the wash, it was already dark when we pulled in to Blake Ranch RV Park. It was chilly overnight, temperatures dipping down below 30 degrees. The elevation in Kingman is 3,333 feet so no wonder it was cold overnight under clear skies, and no wonder the mouthwash bottle was bulging and spewed out in a gush. We had climbed from below sea level in Death Valley all the way to over 3,000 feet.

From Kingman to the Arizonian was another 218 miles. We filled up at the convenient Shell Truck Stop literally down the hill from Blake Ranch RV, then entered highway 40 until we connected with route 93 to Wickenburg.
The desert landscape became more lush. Ocotillo appeared and closer to Wickenburg we began to see saguaro. We drove through a short stretch of Joshua trees and then were back to the saguaro landscape. There are obviously springs or creeks along this stretch thick with vegetation. We crossed the Big Sandy river,  several more streams, crossed Box Canyon wash, and Burro Creek with its bridge spanning the wide gash.  The scenery is dramatic with its many ravines and cactus-scattered terrain. 

Another Alpine passed us northbound and we wondered where they were heading.
We passed through busy sprawling Phoenix, arriving at the Arizonian early afternoon. It felt good to be back and to see the Superstition Mountains backdrop rising above the cactus-filled desert. 

along route 60, Superstition Mountains ahead,
 Arizonian RV Park not far beyond

We stayed here through the end of January.  The days sped by, filled with various activities and catching up with household chores. 
We went on a couple of hikes. This area is full of hiking trails, all of them scenic. One was the Silly Mountain hike.

Views across the valley were pretty. 




The other was to see the hieroglyphs and rock pools in the Tonto National Forest. 

starting out on the trail

view from the top of the trail, Phoenix and outlying suburbs in the distance below

along the trail

rock pool at the top

king of the mountain

these rock drawings were mistaken by early settlers for Egyptian
hieroglyphics but are in fact petroglyphs left by the Hohokam Indians. 

We hiked in the desert that was our back yard for a week.

hike around Flat Top in our desert back yard 

forests of cholla

The Spragues joined us at the Arizonian in their Alpine for a few days, just in time to join our NoWACA Alpine group for dinner at Olive Garden at the end of the month.  There were 18 of us at dinner, enjoying the evening, rekindling friendships and catching up with folks we have not seen in a long while.  It was surprising to learn how many of us gather in the Mesa area for the winter. There must be something that attracts so many from the Northwest area!

booths jam-packed with ideas and temptations

I went with a group of quilting ladies to the Phoenix Sewing and Quilt Expo. We walked up and down the many aisles, stopped at various booths, checked out all the new ideas, and found treasures and tools that were on our lists. I bought a new pair of applique scissors that will come in very handy, and a tiny iron perfect for pressing block seams open. Then there was the magic Roxanne basting glue that comes recommended for applique work and also has many other uses. I had my Martelli rotary cutter serviced and ordered new blades. I restrained my instinct to pick up more scrumptious fabrics and came home with only one small fat quarter bundle with Star Wars motifs which will come in handy some day for a project for my Star Wars crazy son-in-law. Oh, and the hard to find embroidery stabilizer was available from one vendor so I took the opportunity while I could.  One of the best reasons for attending these vendor shows is that it's a treat to see the variety of quilt ideas and lines of fabrics. I know that it helps ignite my muse back into service! Of course, there are vendors who also show their new lines of sewing, quilting, and embroidery machines which are a treat to see. There are always improvements. However not all improvements and innovations are enticing enough for me to consider giving up my trusty Bernina Aurora, an older now retired machine but a steadfast friend still. 

patchwork animals and objects seemed to be popular

lady with a sense of humor - she has a pair of scissors poking through her head

Back at home, I set up my sewing machine and completed a few more projects - in this case, a few more bags that neighbors requested.  These particular bags seem to have struck a chord and became a popular item. 

For show-and-tell with my quilting room buddies, I shared the bags I had made and our African Animals embroidered bed cover. 

the Arizonian quilters

Michael did some maintenance work on our home and also investigated a wet patch that suddenly appeared under the washing machine. Pulling the 150-pound appliance out of its tight space into an even tighter space was no easy feat. We are crossing fingers that replacing old faucet hoses and adding a tray under the washer will solve the issue.  We had to deal with a washing machine in the dining area for a few days, but there was no damage done to the floor surface and thankfully the wet area dried quickly in the Arizona warmth helped by our space heater.







We enjoyed several stunning sunsets. 


And the most memorable event while we were at the Arizonian was going outside in the wee hours to watch the solar trifecta: a blue moon, lunar eclipse, and supermoon. From the desert vantage point, we were able to watch the shadow slowly cover the moon. 

We would like to have stayed here for the month of February. However, as we discovered, those reservations need to be made well in advance. The way it works is that you get a far better price break when you reserve for a month. And as we also discovered, much of the Mesa/Apache Junction/Gold Canyon area is a popular snowbird roost. Now we know! We would like to return to the Arizonian next winter and will plan to reserve well in advance this time. 
Luckily we were able to find a spot at late notice in the same resort where Alpine friends, the Gaileys, stay. Tomorrow being the first of the month, we will move over to Tower Point Resort in Mesa which will be our home for the month of February.