Tue, 25 May 2021 DAY #11
Camping at Meteor Crater RV Park
I never did a Blog before and there’s so much to tell, so I had no idea where to start! So I think I’ll just start in the middle and work forward, putting the beginning in maybe every so often along the way. Hope that works!
It was really cold again this morning waking up to 43 degrees in my camper! It’s OK, sleep is better when it’s cold, and my 1981 North Face sleeping bag still works to keep me snug as a Pug in a rug. I also had an automatic shut-off heating pad to make getting into bed bearable. But getting out of bed was another story! Luckily, I borrowed Lindsey’s little space heater last night and that soon made rising and shining quite toasty in the Road Abode. 🙂
I love puttering around in here, organizing my stuff, catching up on postcards, receipts, French, Bible study, notes, and… making the 1st cup of TEA of the day!
After a bit I remembered I was supposed to be getting back to being FIT again on this trip (those rainy days plus travel/driving days put it out of my mind) so I texted a “Good Morning!” to Lindsey next door and we decided to all go for a walk together along the route she and Mike took last night. Me, Lindsey, Alex, and Felicity. Mike of course was already working (since 6 a.m. (!) because of the time change). I think we’re in Mountain Time, 3 hours behind home time. But it’s good for all of us to be up early because as soon as the sun comes up at 5 a.m. it is already blindingly bright and warming up fast!
I LOVE Arizona, but I remembered why I could never live here – I can’t keep my skin from drying out every few minutes! Lindsey got me some super lotion today at the Safeway in Flagstaff and it’s helping already. I only have to apply it, say, every 15 minutes!
Wow is this land amazing! We Michiganders can’t believe how much open space there is! It’s everywhere! All around in every direction, basically… nothing! We love it because it is SO different from Michigan, or Pennsylvania where I grew up. And there’s SNOW on the local mountain. In May! It actually snowed the day before we got here. But today the real feel daytime temp is 94. Funny, but it sure doesn’t feel that hot. They say it’s because there’s no humidity but it’s still surprising. And soo nice and cool in the shade under the irrigation-watered trees in the campground. The campground is also a bird sanctuary because it’s the only place around with trees!
We’re in Meteor Crater RV Park. We called a few hours in advance while driving and got a reservation no problem. It’s only a ½ hr from Flagstaff. We wish we could stay here next week too and it could be our basecamp for the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Walnut Creek, and more. BUT… this weekend is Memorial Day w.e. so… no-go. Or yes-go. Yes we have to go somewhere else because they’re full here for the weekend. We’ll probably camp at a BLM site near Flagstaff Sat, Sun, + Mon nights. We won’t have electricity or water so it won’t be easy, but we do have a generator and it’s cooler in the Flagstaff area. It will be another ADVENTURE!
More about BLM sites once we’ve experienced one. We almost did on the way here but the narrow gravel road hills + turns going on forever to nowhere scared us with the Behemoth along (we’re still very new at this!). Plus there was a tornado watch on for the area so we high-tailed it (at Behemoth speed) back to the highway to camp here right off the highway with civilized amenities!
It’s very nice here. The restrooms have ~8 separate bathrooms each with everything in each room like your bathrooms at home. Lots of washers + dryers too but $$. We have full electric + water and our own little patio area with picnic table. No fire pits, probably because it’s too dry. There’s a store, laundry, lounge, and most important of all – a playground! With other children! Something new for our kids since the pandemic started! They wear masks on the playground (me too) if others are there too, since little kids can’t be vaccinated yet and there are all those extra-transmissible variants around… and when with friends in hammocks!
Felicity + her 1st new friend since the pandemic and 1st and best on our trip!
Today is for catching up on relaxing and things that need doing. Tomorrow… the Meteor Crater!!
