Santa Rosa, NM - 04/30/19

Santa Rosa is a city in and the county seat of Guadalupe County, New Mexico.
The population was 2,848 at the 2010 census.
It lies between Albuquerque and Tucumcari, situated on the Pecos River at the intersection of Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 54 and 84.

Travel Itinerary:
04/30/19 - Tuesday
Depart From: Holbrook, AZ
Depart: 8:05 am
Odometer: 118,393
Arrive: 4:15 pm
Odometer: 118,776
Trip Mileage: 383
Trip Time: 8 hr 10 min

Destination:
Santa Rosa Lake State Park
Rocky Point Campground
Santa Rosa, NM
GPS: 35.035777, -104.691857
Google Maps: 373 miles - 5 hr 43 min
Campsite:
04/30: B10 dry camping site. Water spigot nearby.
05/01: A3 electric and water hookup site.
Cost:
B10 site: $10.00
A3 site: $14.00

Gas Expense:
NKS Royal Truck Stop
Gallup, NM
Price/Gal: $2.769
Gallons: 19.391
Amount: $53.69
Odometer: 118,510

Comments:
Wonderful, scenic state park to spend a few days.
Campground has dry camp sites as well as electric & water hookup sites.
Campground has a  dump station.
Well maintained restrooms with free showers.
Will spend 2 nights here while en-route home to Chicago.

Holbrook, AZ - 04/29/19

Holbrook is a city and is the county seat in Navajo County, Arizona. The population of the city was 5,053 at the 2010 census. Holbrook was founded in 1882 when the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad arrived and named the town after the chief engineer, Henry R. Holbrook. Cowboys, cattle ranchers, and railroaders made Holbrook the center of ranch country during the 1880s. The 1898 courthouse is the centerpiece of the town and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The local sheriff, Commodore Perry Owens, is credited with bringing law to the town in 1887 when a shootout with cattle rustlers took place at the Blevins House. That historic house still stands, as does the Bucket of Blood Saloon, where cowboys went to quench their thirst.

Nostalgia buffs are drawn to the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, which was built in 1950. The motel stands adjacent to what was once Route 66.

Holbrook serves as the gateway to Petrified Forest National Park and is near a number of Indian reservations.

Travel Itinerary:
04/29/19 - Monday
Depart From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Depart: 7:00 am
Odometer: 117,836
Arrive: 7:05 pm
Odometer: 118,393
Trip Mileage: 557
Trip Time: 12 hr 5 min

Destination:
Petrified Forest Gift Shop
Holbrook, AZ
GPS: 34.792559, -109.890730
Google Maps: 529 miles - 7 hr 57 min
Campsite: 10
Cost: $10.65

Gas Expense:
Flying J #614
Barstow, CA
Price/Gal: $3.749
Gallons: 15.811
Amount: $59.28
Odometer: 117,922

Love's #553
Williams, AZ
Price/Gal: $3.159
Gallons: 28.174
Amount: $89.00
Odometer: 118,249

Comments:
Campgrounds close to entrance to Petrified Forest National Park.

Low cost, Petrified Forest Gift Shop campground. Campground has electric sites only, no water, no dump station.

There was free dry camping across the road at the Crystal Forest Museum & Gifts campground.

Will spend one night at the Petrified Forest Gift Shop campground while en-route home to Chicago.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA - 04/26/19

Rancho Cucamonga is a city located just south of the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and Angeles National Forest in San Bernardino County, California. About 37 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga is the 26th most populous city in California.

The city had a population of 165,269[17] according to the 2010 United States Census and the Census Bureau estimated the population to be 177,603 in 2019. The city experiences an average of 287 sunny days per year, compared to a national average of 205 days. Its climate is classified as warm Mediterranean

Travel Itinerary:
04/26/19 - Friday
Depart From: Boulder City, NV
Depart: 12:45 pm
Odometer: 117,635
Arrive: 7:40 pm
Odometer: 117,813
Trip Mileage: 278
Trip Time: 6 hr 55 min

Destination:
Bass Pro Shops
7777 Victoria Gardens Blvd
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
GPS: 34.112685, -117.526530
Google Maps: 247 miles - 3 hr 54 min
Campsite: Parking Lot
Cost: Free

Gas Expense:
Flying J #614
Barstow, CA
Price/Gal: $3.3749
Gallons: 23.638
Amount: $88.62
Odometer: 117,740

Comments:
Bass Pro Shops allowed us to park our trailer in their parking lot for 2 nights.
There was a camper-top pickup truck there when we arrived.
Will spend the weekend visiting with relatives in the Rancho Cucamonga area.

Boulder City, NV - 04/17/19

Boulder City is a town in Clark County, Nevada.
It is approximately 26 miles southeast of Las Vegas.
The population of Boulder City was 14,885 at the 2020 census.
It took its name from Boulder Canyon.
It has a quaint Historic Downtown District.
It is located just minutes away from the Hoover Dam.

Travel Itinerary:
04/17/19 - Wednesday
Depart From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Depart: 9:15 am
Odometer: 117,052
Arrive: 12:50 pm
Odometer: 117,219
Trip Mileage: 167
Trip Time: 3 hr 35 min

Destination:
Boulder Beach Campground
Boulder City, NV
GPS: 36.037350, -114.801690
Google Maps: 151 miles - 2 hr 38 min
Campsite: 27
Cost: $10.00

Gas Expense:
Mobil
Kingman, AZ
Price/Gal: $3.399
Gallons: 21.579
Amount: $73.35
Odometer: 117,126

Comments:
Lake Meade National Recreation Area.
Very popular and scenic area close to Las Vegas, NV.
Will spend 9 days here while we visit Las Vegas and surrounding area.

Lake Havasu City, AZ - 04/16/19

Lake Havasu City is in western Arizona. The population of the city was 52,527 people at the 2010 census. It’s known as a base for trails in the nearby desert and water sports on Lake Havasu.

London Bridge, relocated from England, links the mainland to marinas and a looped path in an area known as the Island.

The Lake Havasu Museum of History documents Native American and steamboat history.

Lake Havasu State Park has beaches with mountain views, plus picnic spots and birdlife. The park offers three boat ramps and 47 campsites.

Cattail Cove State Park is located on the shore of Lake Havasu. The park is about 19 miles from Lake Havasu City.

Travel Itinerary:
04/16/19 - Tuesday
Depart From: Imperial Dam LTVA - Yuma, AZ
Depart: 9:05 am
Odometer: 116,918
Arrive: 12:20 pm
Odometer: 117,052
Trip Mileage: 134
Trip Time: 3 hr 15 min

Destination:
Cattail Cove State Park
Lake Havasu City, AZ
GPS:
Google Maps: 130 miles - 2 hr 16 min
Campsite: 14
Cost: $30.00

Gas Expense:
None

Comments:
Cattail Cove State Park is a very popular and scenic state park campground.
Will spend one night here while in route to Las Vegas, NV.

Another Season Ends - 04/15/19

Monday – April 15, 2019
Another Snowbird Season Ends
Imperial Dam LTVA
Yuma, Arizona

Attention all Snowbirds! The Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) is officially closed. Hope to see you all back here when it reopens for the winter season on September 15, 2019.

This winter season we arrived at the Imperial Dam LTVA on November 11, 2018. As we did during our last winter season visit here (2015 / 2016), we will join several other snowbirds who adhere to the philosophy of stay-till-it-closes, and depart in the morning on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

We spent 156 days at the Imperial Dam LTVA. The flat-rate camping fee of $180.00 covers the period September 15 through April 15. Therefore, our cost to camp here was $1.15 per day. With amenities that include flush toilet restrooms, pay showers, water spigots, dump stations and trash dumpsters it is no wonder that thousands of snowbirds flock to this area in the winter.

We prefer to stay at the Imperial Dam LTVA, for the amenities offered here and its close proxcimity to Yuma (about 25 miles). Of course mild, sunny, rain-free weather is definitely a deciding factor in selecting this location in the southwest region of the U.S.

It is always interesting to see the many different types of camping units used by other campers to accommodate their mobile lifestyle. As in our past visits, we observed self-made utility trailer units, pickup truck campers, camper vans, pop-up campers, travel trailers, 5th wheel trailers and motorhomes. Once again, there were the more unusual campers:

1970’s Vintage GM Motorhome
Conventional Semi-Truck Motorhome
Semi-Truck with Attached Living Unit
Fire Truck Converted into a Camper

During this visit there was a large contingent of ham radio operators that set up their campsites in the Hermans Horse Path section at Imperial Dam LTVA. It was interesting to watch them as they set up their radio antennas (probably 30 to 40 foot high). We subsequently learned there is a ham radio convention that takes place in Quartzsite, AZ in January that quite a few of them attend.

When we arrived in early November 2018, there were a lot of open campsites to choose from. By late December and early January a majority of the campsites were occupied.

According to local weather reports, this was the coldest winter season recorded in Yuma in the past 100 years. We can attest to that report! It was cold, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the 30s, but compared to the frigid weather back home in Illinois, we were'nt about to complain. The wind became another factor. We experienced several days each month with wind gusts of 20 plus miles per hour. With low daytime temperatures plus the windy days, we spent more days inside than we did during our last stay here. Such is life in the desert... just go with the flow!

We made new friends and enjoyed visiting with friends from our previous visits. Sadly, we had two campers that passed, but we reside in the belief their spirit lives on with those that knew them.

We depart this desert environment with a feeling of nostalgia. Save us a spot... we wil be back!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

The Windy Desert - 04/09/19

Tuesday – April 9, 2019
The Windy Desert
Imperial Dam LTVA
Yuma, Arizona

Today was one of those less than pleasnat days camping in the desert.

It was hot... 97º!
It was windy... 22 mph with gusts up to 39 mph!

On Wednesday, milder temperatures will be in the low 80s with strong winds coming out of the northwest at 15 mpg with gusts up to 20 mph.

By Thursday, milder temperatures will continue in the low 80s with milder winds coming out of the north at 8 mph with gusts up to 10 mph.

Fortunately, our small fiberglass trailer is quickly cooled during hot weather with a roof-mounted air conditioner, powered by a EU2000i Honda generator. Yep, you betcha... we had the air conditioner on this afternoon!

Such is life living in the desert!

Now consider this; just 205 miles north of us is Prescott, AZ, residing at a elevation of 5,400 feet. The temperature there was 77º.

The moral to this story is: too hot in the lower elevations, go to the higher elevations, too cold in the higher elevations, go to the lower elevations. This is a wonderful option to have here in Arizona.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Weather - Yuma, AZ - Mar 2019

Daily Weather Observations for March 2019
Yuma, Arizona

Click here to see more details of the weather.