Mohave Desert National Preserve

The longest drive EVER!  We had to stop for gas and groceries.  So, while we left the Grand Canyon at around 10:00, we didn't arrive at the Mohave National Preserve until after 5:00.   There as also a side trip to the Mohave Desert BLM Office for information.  Super nice guy on duty who hooked Coco up with some Junior Explorer books.  We then took the wrong exit off the interstate.... but eventually we made it.

And wow, is it springtime in the desert!  The whole area is teaming with life. We have yet to see a rattlesnake... not that I'm too keen on seeing one, but we did see cattle crossing, sheep, a desert tortoise, prairie dogs and a few jack rabbits.  We could hear the coyotes too, though they also remain unseen. 

We got up early the next day, knocked out a little math and language arts with Coco and then hiked the "Hole in the Wall" trail.  Such a beautiful hike and we saw more petroglyphs (these were the real deal).  Depending on which direction you approach the trail from you either have to climb two sets of rings to get into or out of the canyon.  We climbed up.  It was an interesting process hauling Ms Willow up... but she made it too.  We should have named her Billy, as in billy goat because she loved jumping up and down the rocks. 

Coco picked up another Junior Ranger workbook the day we left (the visitor center was closed the two days we were there).  She is going to work though it and mail this one in. 

 



The Mohave is home to the Joshua Tree, and while there is a Joshua Tree National Forest, this site is home to the oldest and biggest of the majestic yucca.  They grow only a foot every tens years (according to the park ranger).  So, the big grandaddy 40 footers are around 400 hundred years old!  

Unfortunately, because we are in a single unit motor home... the road that leads to that part of the Mohave was inaccessible this time.  We could have gone around (about a 100 miles out of the way), but decided it would be worth it to try again another time.  We were also itching to get going.  There was another place we wanted to see before we were to meet up with our friends. 

The Grand Canyon

Another longish drive to our destination. We said when we started this whole thing that we were going to keep the time down to a minimum. Well... That can't always be the case... Especially out west. This was also way out of the way. But you can't take a cross country road trip without hitting up one of the natural wonders of the world. 

When we left Nevada the temperature was already pushing 90. When we pulled into the park there was snow on the ground. It was melting... But snow. 

The weather was actually perfect while we were there, upper 60's/ lower 70's during the day and 30-40's at night. 

We arrived kind of late in the day, so after we found our campsite we made our way to the rim. There were a few snowballs flying a long the way. And it turned out that it was more of a hike than we thought to the Visitors Center. It was closing as we walked up. So, we did what all the other 5 million visitors a year do and went to Mather Point for our first glimpse. 

Nothing can really prepare you for your first look at something so incredibly immense. The scale is unfathomable. There were several times I heard children ask if it wasn't really just a picture. I thought it myself. It's just so very vast. And spectacular. We are so lucky too because while we were there the sky was clear. A lot of the time there is a haze the hangs in between the rims. 

We walked along the rim and stopped at the geology museum where we learned about the Canyon's formation. There was so much information; 3-D models, lookout points with reference markers, hands on activities. 

I was surprised by how 'Disney' the place was. Between shuttle buses and gift shops and restaurants our little family was overwhelmed. It wasn't until the next day when we left the bus drop off point and hiked the rim trail did we really get somewhat of the experience we were expecting. A huge portion of the Canyon's visitors use the shuttle system to go from stop to stop and never wander down the trail. Some can't, for others it's just not their thing. I feel like if you can, you should because then you can really feel what the Canyon has to offer. You can just be. 

But I digress...

On day 2 we were able to get to the visitor's center and Coco picked up her Junior Ranger book. 

After an awesome picnic on the rim we went back to the campsite where she got to work. Homeschooling at its finest I tell you. She is completely immersed in the environment. You can not get that in a classroom.  

Our last day we took the Desert View Drive. We stopped at the Tusayan Museum and Ruin and then the Desert View Tower. 

As a side note, most of the architecture from the 1920's was designed by a woman architect. Unheard of at the time. 

Coco earned her Junior Ranger Badge.  And I mean earned. They don't just give those things out. Which I think is great. 

We had to change campsites, and when we pulled up to our new site we had neighbors, of the wildlife variety. Five elk were taking their own respite not 25 feet away while we had an afternoon cup of coffee. A herd of deer wanted to join the party, but were denied by one of the elk. Pretty damn cool. 

We weren't able to hike down inside the canyon this time, so when it was time to check out we were ready. 

Still amazed by the number of people that were there. And if/when we do it again, we will approach the Canyon from a different location while looking up at the rim. 

I'm so glad we took the time and went out of our way. Everyone should see it for themselves. 

Making It Up as We Go Along

We had a plan. We always have 'a plan'. We also have learned that 50 percent of the time our plans change. 

So, the plan was to go to Blythe, California and stay for a week(ish). We had to take care of some responsibilities and it was on the way to where we were going to meet up with friends (a couple of weeks later). 

We pulled into Mayflower Park and immediately knew we did not want to be there for the week. It was an RV park style camp area (not our thing) and there wasn't anything to do. Since we hadn't made any commitments we decided to just stay for the night. 

We did get to stick our toes in the Colorado River, and we had somewhat functioning wifi for the first time in ages. 

The new plan~ the Grand Canyon. 

So, the next day we left Cali and stopped  in Nevada. It was, hands down, the WORST driving conditions we'd  had so far. While the scenery was gorgeous no one could appreciate it because it was super windy, dry, rough, and the rolly roads left us all with a little motion sickness.  

We stayed the night at Big Bend on the Colorado Park. Because we knew the camping at the Grand Canyon was dry camping, we had to fill up our water tanks and dump out our holding tanks. Also, after such a shit drive we needed the reprieve. 

New Mexico

I had written an entire post about our stay in New Mexico. Unfortunately, it got lost in cyberspace when I went to publish it. 

Following is an abbreviated version:

Rock Hound State Park was our home for 2 solid weeks. That's the longest we have stayed put on this adventure. The reason for it was really simple... It was snowing everywhere else. 

The town of Demming, NM is situated in the corner southwestern pocket of the state and was the warmest place we could find at the time. 

So, we hiked and biked.  We played games and did a bit of extra school. We collected our own rock samples (one of the only parks in the country that encourages taking a keepsake). We also went a little stir crazy. But, we made the most of it. 

And oh my goodness, the sunsets!  Not only are they magnificent, they are also never ending. You have to commit to watching them to fruition. 

I've seen my fare share of spectacular sunsets, most while living aboard S/V Airabess.  I have to say though that the ones over the mountains and desert are my favorite. 

Painted Rock Petroglyph Site

Our first dry camp in awhile. 

After a gorgeous drive to the middle of nowhere... Aka The Painted Petroglyph Site. We had to skip petroglyphs earlier in our trip because of weather, so we made it a point to head there. 

First, it was really stinkin hot. I think we are finally acclimating to the cooler temperatures and so once we finally did have warmer (hot, dry) weather we didn't remember how to deal with it. 

Did I mention it was dry? I know, I know the desert.  But we are from Florida where humidity is king. 

The rocks and site itself were pretty cool. Unfortunately not everyone respects them as  12,000 year old artifacts. There was some that were obviously not originals. And a few that were. While we were there we saw a couple walking up into the site... where it clearly says to stay off. Makes me sad to think that a generation from now might not get to see such amazing history because of a handful of thoughtless people. 

We are still glad we saw them though. We've seen a few more petroglyphs and pictographs since then and it's nice to have a comparison. And it's definitely not something Coco wouldn't get in a classroom.