Learning to Adjust

SUNDAY, APRIL 19

After sleeping through three cold nights, despite flannel sheets, two blankets, and warm clothes/socks, I finally turned on the heat last night.  I’m sure Navidad appreciated it, too. 

Lounging in bed with the TV on this morning, Navi slept next to me.  It was a deep sleep, I could tell.

Sleeping...

Soon, with apologies to Navi, I got up and moved about, getting ready to leave.  Navidad has quickly learned the “moving on” signs and, to avoid the inevitable, he tried to hide under my small “Redskins” pillow.  It was so cute, the way his white backside was exposed and tail tucked in, I had to take a picture –

Hiding...

In his carrier...

 We left, got fuel, and were on I-40 E by 10:45 a.m.  At Exit 71 we connected to Rt. 93 S.  This was one very nice drive – for me anyway – through the desert, surrounded by mountains, and topped off by a blue sky with fluffy white clouds here and there.  The landscape, for as far as I could see, was “Springtime Green” with lots of yellow and pink wildflowers and dotted with cacti, including saguaros, my favorite.  One section along the way displayed gorgeous Yucca, or Joshua, Trees – I can’t tell the difference.  Driving along, I thought to myself – “Gee, Arizona sure is beautiful.  The deserts of southern California don’t hold a candle to the deserts here.”

Merging onto Rt. 60 E, we soon arrived at the Horspitality RV Resort and Boarding Stable in Wickenburg.  No, that is not a misspelling.  It does look like “horse country” around here – I passed an area that was bustling with people, horses, and cattle.  I think an auction was going on.  Must be a Sunday thing around these here parts. 

It looks like the majority of the folks here at Horspitality are “extended stay” residents, but luckily, they did have a small site available for me.  After letting Navidad out of his carrier inside the camper, he looked around and acted like this was familiar territory and “home” for now.  I think he’s becoming used to the camper.  It’s the riding in the truck he obviously doesn’t like.  He goes into a trance of sorts, but maybe that’s a great mechanism that helps him muster through that “dreaded travel” part of a trip like this.

The sounds and smells are different here because there are horses close by.  Matter of fact, the pens are directly behind my camper!  I get a whiff now and then (love it!) but I can’t see them because of this thick flowery foliage right outside my camper.  I took a stroll back there and saw a lot of covered and uncovered pens and a large riding/exercise arena.  I counted about 12 horses, and one burro, in their pens, flicking their tails, eating their hay.  They noticed me, too, and probably snickered a greeting.  I didn't try to pet any of them.  Their owners might not have approved.   

Coming back to the camper after taking a shower in the Park’s “Cowgirl” restroom, I noticed that Navidad was panting a little bit.  It did feel quite warm inside the camper – the sun was directly behind us – so I closed all the windows and turned on the air conditioning.  Jeez…heat last night and AC this afternoon!  If the pattern holds around here, we might need the heat again tonight!    

MONDAY, APRIL 20

We were on our way by 10:00 a.m. and arrived at the Willow Lake RV & Camping Resort in Prescott, AZ around noon.  We took the route back to Rt. 93, going north, and then got on Rt. 89 N.  It was a 50-mile or so scenic drive to Prescott.

As I pulled out of our site this morning, I spotted the fellow who registered me yesterday and called him over.  I asked him if the nearby Stanton Ghost Town, just off Rt. 89, was worth a visit.  He made a small grimace and said no, making an up-and-down gesture with his hand.  The map showed a dirt road loop but now I understood it to be a hilly dirt road loop.  So, nope, I’m not going to chance it with the truck camper.  If I had a tow vehicle – something like a jeep – I probably would.  There will be other ghost towns I could visit…maybe…

Rt. 89 was a curvy two-lane drive up to the higher elevations.  Vehicles over 40 ft. long are prohibited, obviously because those curves are tight.  At one point, as I rounded a blind curve, a truck pulling a trailer came roaring my way.  We might have had inches to spare as we passed each other on those narrow lanes.  That was freakin’ close!

There are pine trees up at this elevation and we’re shaded by one.  Although I did see Willow Lake on the way to this RV Park, I don’t know where it is from my site.  I’ll take a walk later.  The temps are pleasant up here and I can see clouds forming.  I have WiFi and cable – watching a little of “Judge Judy” as I type this.  Will switch to CNN next.

Navidad’s behavior, now that I have tried to establish some sort of routine, has become steady and stable.  He seems more relaxed – until he hears something loud or strange outside, in which case he heads for the bathroom – and he stays close to me when I go to bed.  I did clip his claws the other day so his kneading is bearable…and very comforting for him.  He’s not happy when he sees me get the carrier, but he goes in like the good boy he is.  Once we start driving, he slips into that “trance.”  Back inside the camper, the environment is familiar but, once again, he’s confronted by new sounds, smells, etc.

I took my walk at 3:00 p.m. – on a path from the RV Park to a section of Willow Lake.  The lake is surrounded by the Granite Dells, a “…geological feature north of Prescott, Arizona. The Dells consist of exposed bedrock and large boulders of granite that have eroded into an unusual lumpy, rippled appearance.” (Wikipedia)  They look like a lot of fun to hop up around…but I’ll pass.

Yeah, Navidad, let's go places!!

TUESDAY, APRIL 21

I decided to stay here at this RV Park another day.  Navidad and I could use the rest – him more than me – and I wanted to do some tasks on the computer while I have an excellent internet connection here.  I also wanted to study the Arizona map and make more concrete plans on where to go from here over the next few days. 

Other than admiring the scenery while driving, I haven’t made stops anywhere to look around or walk around.  Having Navidad with me is the main reason for that – I can’t just leave this sweet boy cooped up inside his carrier in the truck.  And especially not when a very warm day guarantees dangerously higher temps inside the truck.  To see more of Arizona’s nature, I think I should stay at state parks and national forest campgrounds more than at the private RV Parks.

I was on the computer for many hours today, glancing up now and then to check on Navidad and see what CNN was talking about on TV.  Jeez, I’m supposed to leave “civilization” behind!  At 3:00 p.m., I put on my sandals, grabbed my camera, told Navi I’ll be back soon, and stepped out of the camper to go take a walk.  There were several paths that gave me great overviews of the Granite Dells and Willow Lake. 

On my walk I encountered an older man who was taking a walk, too, in his motorized scooter.  Coming closer I noticed first the cute dog on his lap, and then I noticed his oxygen tank.  I made a comment on how cute the dog was and he said it was his service dog – an 8-year-old part Chihuahua and part Papillon.  I mentioned the orange vest some of my deaf friends have for their service dogs and he said he has one for her too, but “she’s off duty now!”

After taking a bunch of pictures I returned to the camper and said “hello” to the visiting cat that apparently lives behind me.  The ground around here is mostly dirt, a massive “litter box,” and since there’s nobody right next to me, I had the pleasure of observing this cat dig the dirt and do her business there.  I’m pretty sure cat and Navidad are aware of each other.

Photos of Granite Dells --

Photos of Willow Lake –

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22

We left Prescott – actually the RV Park – at around 10:00 a.m.  It took longer to leave Prescott itself because I was looking for Rt. 169 E [from Rt. 89 N] when I was supposed to look for and get on Rt. 69 E.  Dang the Triple-A map -- Arizona’s own state map might be more detailed! 

I was in a road construction zone when that “Mappy, you missed your turn again…” feeling came upon me.  A sign pointed to a business access road and I turned there, jostling about on the rough dirt road, turned around and jostled across again to get back towards Prescott.  There was Rt. 69, but then it had been there all along.  Some fifteen miles later I saw the sign for Rt. 169 but I passed that one too because it said “north” when I was expecting “east.”  Long story short, I made my second driving correction of the day.  CAMPER ADVENTURES is the appropriate title for my blog – it’s all about the adventure, mistakes and all!

Rt. 169 was another short drive and we were then on I-17 N, also for just a few miles, and finally connected to Rt. 260 E, heading through the Prescott National Forest towards Payson, AZ.  I admired the pine and other trees that lined both sides of the two-lane highway and Navidad was next to me in “trance” mode.  Per the directions to tonight’s RV Park, “From Jct. AZ-87 & AZ-260…” the Park will be on the left about 0.7 miles from that junction.  I reached said junction and, eyes peeled for the Park’s entrance, saw nothing but trees and more trees.  Now what?  Did I make another mistake?

Pulling over onto this nice, wide, and paved shoulder, I activated the flashers, got out of the truck, walked over to the passenger side, retrieved my Good Sam directory, and studied the directions again.  “That’s what I just did!” I mumbled to myself.  Then I retrieved the map (still Triple-A) and as I studied it I noticed how alert Navidad was in his carrier.  He was looking at me, all wide-eyed, he must have thought we had “arrived.”  Then it dawned on me – no, we haven’t even “arrived” in Payson yet!  There’s another AZ-87 & AZ-260 junction…in Payson!  Thank you, Navidad, for the brilliant revelation!

On our way again, this time Navidad noticed the open flap on top of his carrier.  He stuck his head out a little bit, looked around, looked at me, but didn’t make moves to come out.  He relaxed and started licking his paws, momentarily out of his trance.  That’s a good sign, huh?!

Thirty miles later, and 2:00 p.m. by my watch, we were set up at the Payson Campground & RV Resort.  It was such a nice warm afternoon I decided to sit outside, for the first time since we started this trip one week ago today, and write my notes and stats.  The rest of the evening was quiet – we seem to have a comfortable routine established. 

THURSDAY, APRIL 23

Last night, I thought about this past week and what I've experienced and learned thus far, traveling with Navidad.  Navi is much more relaxed now and seems to have adjusted to “camper living” pretty well.  He recognizes that he has his food, water, catnip, brush/comb, litter box…and me to shower attention on him – same as back home.  The truck he doesn't like and probably never will.

And as for me, I do find myself making decisions based on him.  For example, I have not yet made any stops, for any length of time, to visit a site of historical significance or whatever. I've been going from one RV Park to the next, just to make sure I get there…all for Navidad’s comfort.  The Arizona I've been seeing has been entirely from the road.  Which is why I’m very happy with where we are today.  But I’ll get to that momentarily.

Since I had excellent internet access last night I decided to send an email to Angela White, someone I've never met but with whom I feel a kinship of sorts right now because she and her husband, Gordon, travel extensively in their truck camper with Harley, their 10-year-old cat.  The Whites are founders-writers-editors of Truck Camper Magazine (www.truckcampermagazine.com) and Angela interviewed me some years back for a story in their magazine.  I asked her what she and Gordon do with Harley when they stop to visit sites…and they have visited many!  Angela, bless her heart, replied immediately, which I read this morning.  She said that the weather and the outside/inside temperatures always dictate what they will or will not do at that particular moment.  When conditions are suitable and Harley will not be in any discomfort, they always put him inside the camper when they want to spend time exploring the area by foot.  He has everything he needs in the camper and, if necessary, they’ll open a window and activate the Fantastic Fan [located on the camper’s ceiling].  She made some suggestions and described how they resolved an incident or two with Harley while traveling.

Angela’s response makes me feel a lot more encouraged, so, when it feels right to me, I will try that.  I don’t know when or where, but I will certainly [endeavor to, try to, muster up the courage to] attempt an experiment and see how it goes, letting Navidad loose inside the camper while I walk around for an hour or two.  Toting Navi in his carrier back and forth from truck to camper to truck will be a great workout for me – he’s a stocky boy, all 20 pounds of him!

Today we continued on Rt. 260 E, through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, to Show Low, AZ.  I made online reservations a couple of days ago and am very pleased with the site I selected at the Fool Hollow Lake State Park.  Pine trees surround the camper and I have a great view of rocky cliffs and the Fool Hollow Lake.  It is wonderful to be surrounded by such nature.  I think Navidad likes it here, too.  Compared to the private RV Parks, the sounds outside around here definitely must be much more peaceful and natural.  We will stay here until Saturday.

Our site.  Fool Hollow Lake in background.

Fool Hollow Lake.  And my chair.

Navidad, liking it here, too!

FRIDAY, APRIL 24

It was a tad chilly yesterday evening so I turned on the heat before going to bed.  It wasn't quite 9:00 p.m. but it was dark outside and, much to my delight, there were no artificial lights anywhere close.  I left all three window shades up around the bed and, with Navidad next to me kneading away, I could see the moon directly above through the cabover window.  There was enough moonlight coming through the contrast between Navi’s white fur against the black bedsheet was quite vivid.  I could even see his pink nose!

We woke up to a quiet and peaceful morning.  After feeding him I proceeded to finish some stuff on the computer.  Clouds have come in and the sun comes and goes.  Sometime after noon, Navidad became aware of activity outside and, peering out the window, spotted two squirrels, one of which was on a tree just outside the camper.  Navidad’s first truck camper wildlife sighting!     

I finally ventured outside at 3:00 p.m., ready to walk around a bit.  It was cool and breezy, probably in the mid-60s.  I walked to the boat ramp and to the fishing platforms.  It was just me and a few ducks.  I found a trail and took that back to the camper.  We’re in for another cold night tonight, I’m sure.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25

I was sorry to leave the state park – I had such a wonderful site.  For someone who likes to gaze upon water, any water, I daresay I had the best spot!  During our stay, Navidad would look out different windows, including the rear screen door.  I took that to mean he enjoyed the more peaceful sounds and scenery that surrounded us.  Can’t say I blame him! 

But leave we did and traveled north on Rt. 77 to Holbrook, AZ.  We left the forests behind and drove through an open range of green desert grasses.  The two-lane highway was a straight ribbon of a road and I could see gentle dips in the distance.  Are they here?  Will I see them? It’s the perfect habitat for them.  And then I saw them – four pronghorns!  A beautiful animal this, always thrills me to see one.

I was here before, during my Rt. 66 journey and another later trip some years ago, and for the third time, I’m staying at the OK RV Park.  We move on tomorrow…or maybe we’ll stay here another day…