Helen and I planned an RV trip to Southern California, arriving in time to celebrate our oldest son’s 50th birthday. We made all the reservations in advance and scheduled a departure date of January 10. If all went well, we would arrive in Seal Beach, California, in two and a half weeks.
The closer we got to January 10, the more ominous the weather reports became, and Knoxville was square in the path of a snowstorm that would blanket the South. Helen and I scurried about, and the January 10 departure suddenly became January 9. We beat the snowstorm by 24 hours. A neighbor and dear friend sent us a picture of our home dressed in white stuff.
Our original route was Interstate 40 West, but Memphis had seven inches of snow, so that was no longer an option. We took the Southern route to Montgomery, AL, Gulfport, MS, Lake Charles, LA, and beyond. Except for Gulfport, most of the stops were one-nighters, which were hard on this old body, but we managed to stay ahead of the snow. Once we reached Las Cruces, NM, we were out of trouble and could slow the pace.
We arrived in Cottonwood, AZ, and Dead Horse Ranch State Park with three-day reservations. The weather was cool, but the skies were bright and sunny. Cottonwood is about 12 miles southwest of the charming town of Sedona, AZ, and Red Rock State Park. Helen and I were game for hiking and took off for Red Rock to get the kinks out of our legs.
The elevation for Sedona, AZ, is about 4000 feet above sea level, and, with the wind chill, the “feels like” temperature was probably in the low 40s for our hike, but we pressed ahead. In the distance, we could see The House of Apache Fire, a home built for Helen and Jack Frye in the late 1940s. Helen was an artist, and Jack, an aviator, was President of TWA at the time.
We hiked along a winding hillside trail for over a mile and reached the home. From here, we had a 360-degree view of sentinels of red rock mountains and a commanding view of Oak Creek below. The home is closed to tourists, but information, including interior pictures, is posted on a significant marker next to a locked gate at the front.
After spending some time at the home and enjoying the view of the magnificent red mountains, we hiked back to the visitor center and then drove into Sedona for some sightseeing. We left Dead Horse Ranch grateful for the break.
Our next stop, which also lasted three days, was Lake Havasu, AZ, at Lake Havasu State Park. Understandably, Southern Arizona is a hot spot for snowbirds from northern climes seeking refuge from cold weather. We secured the last reservation available for the days we were there. Moreover, we had to spend one night in one campsite, then move to another for the following two nights. The second site was a little tight for our rig, but I landed on the pavement after some patient maneuvering. I bowed for about two minutes when I climbed out of the truck.
Helen and I drove into Lake Havasu City on our second day to do “touristy” things. We walked along the waterfront and peeked into a few shops, but nothing caught our eye for purchase. There were few people out and about on this delightful day.
Lake Havasu City is known for the London Bridge, which spans a portion of the lake downtown. After it failed, the London Bridge was torn down and replaced in the 1960s. Robert McCulloch, the developer of Lake Havasu City, bought the original bridge in 1968 and had it shipped to Lake Havasu with each stone marked for reassembly. McCulloch paid the city of London $2.5 million for the bridge and spent another $7 million on the reassembly. The London Bridge is the second largest draw for tourists in Arizona after the Grand Canyon.
We spent our last day gazing at beautiful Lake Havasu and the evening sunsets at the campground. Having traveled much of our country, I firmly believe Arizona has the best sunsets.
Six days in Arizona helped immensely to re-energize us for the trip’s final leg. We experienced some issues with our trailer but resolved most of them. I’ll provide details later. Helen and I arrived in Seal Beach, CA, on January 25 to celebrate Justin’s birthday on the 27th. Cheryl, Justin’s Mother-In-Law, had a splendid celebration planned for the occasion, and all of Wendy’s family joined the party. We had a grand time.
We will be in Seal Beach for two weeks, then head down the coast. We plan to return home in late March, but we have not yet mapped that portion of our journey. Please stay with us; we love having you along for the ride.
We’re Easin’ Along.
