Oatman

Where Are We Today

Bullhead City Arizona

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 We have been here at Ridge View RV Resort in Bullhead City Arizona since Nov. 22nd. The days have been mostly lazy and relaxing with a couple trips into town for groceries and a trip across the Colorado River into Laughlin for a drive pass all the casinos, no gambling , yet.

Today's post is not about any of that, check out Pat's for details on our time here so far.

Today I would like to tell of the drive to Oatman, Arizona, recommended by several fellow RVers. Oatman is an old mining town born in 1906, as a tent camp,  it flourished as a gold mining center until 1942, when Congress declared that mining was no longer essential to the war effort. It got its name in honor of Olive Oatman, who at the age of 14, was captured along with her sister by Indians. Google her name to read more of her story. The ghost town was revived and receives over 500,000 visitors each year, drawn by its history as a gold mining center which produced over 36 million dollars in gold at 1930 prices. Film makers use the area for making feature films such as " How the West was Won," " Edge of Eternity," "Universal Soldier," "Foxfire," as well as commercials, calendars and historical documentaries. The info above was taken from a pamphlet put out by the Oatman Chamber of Commerce.

Along with its history, it is on the "Mother Road" better known as Route 66, the historic route taken by people who migrated from the Midwest. Starting in Chicago Illinois to Los Angles California. It is the last stop in Arizona before entering the dreaded Mojave Desert in Southern California. Along with its shops, gunfights you will find wild burros that roam the street. They will walk right up to you looking for a hand out of food, which can be bought in one of the shops. A must visit when you are in the area.

Entering Oatman

wild burros

more burros

 The real reason for this post today is what we did when we left Oatman. One of the vendors suggested that when we leave, that we drive thru Oatman up the mountain and down the other side to at least the Cool Springs Museum and turn around and come back the same way. What a tip!! This old two lane narrow, barely enough room to pass by someone when you meet them,  Route 66, twists and turns and climbs to an elevation of 3550 ft, at the Sitgreaves Pass, and then down the other side. At speeds of no more than 30 MPH, mostly down in the 15 to 20 MPH range, you crept along this highway taking in the awe of the mountains splendor. Stopping at pull over's and lookout spots to take in the beauty and breath taking views,  we made our way over and back to Oatman. At one look out there is a cemetery,  so to speak, where crosses mark where one's ashes have been strewn to the wind. 

Route 66

A switch back warning sign

What a view!

Turn around at Cool Springs

Mining around half way

Can you see the road

Through ashes to the wind

The route of twists and turns

We oohed and awed and laughed like a couple of kids in a candy store, loving every twist and turn and  moment of this adventure. On the way over we were on the inside of the road and on the outside coming back. Pat wasn't sure how she would handle being on the outside of the road, where there was not much more then a foot until you drop off the edge, she loved it. This was a great drive and one we will do again.

The pictures here don't do it justice, but I hope you can see what we saw in the beauty of the mountains and what excitement the road was.

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.

Alamo Lake State Park

Where Are We Not Today

Alamo Lake State Park

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We were on our way here last Saturday, when we stopped to meet/visit Al, Kelly and Pheebs, from The Bayfield Bunch, as reported in my last post.

Alamo Lake State Park is 38 miles down a two lane paved road, off of Hwy 60, at Wenden, Arizona. There is a Hay farm just outside of Wenden, but after that, there is nothing else on this road until you get to the park. It is an easy drive with a couple of small ups and downs and S curves and hardly any  traffic, so light was the traffic, that when we left, I had Pat drive the 38 miles pulling the trailer, until we got to Wenden. 

 It brings to mind the old western movies with the cowboy riding his horse or horse and wagon across the open desert or plain, the mountains ridges all around off in the distance.

Sign at Wenden 

This plaque up at the lookout

Our Site B1

Looking towards the lake

 Descending into the campground, you see the lake in the distance and can immediately tell that the water level is low. Alamo Lake was formed by building a earthen dam on the Bob Williams River, it's purpose is to provide flood control into Lake Havasu. The lake is known for its fishing and recreational uses. At the time we were there, all water skiing and any towable sport behind boats was prohibited because of the low water levels.

The park has three sections with either full hook ups, water and electric or no hook ups at all, there are also some cabins to rent and all at reasonable rates, paved roads with gravel sites, which all have picnic tables and fire pits. Our only drawback was, no internet or phone service in the area we were in, which was "B", they told that area "C" had it, but we found driving just outside the park we could find service also.

You can find wild burros throughout Arizona and the park is no exception, there is a estimated 400 burros in the park, along with bobcats, coyote, fox and of course rattle snakes, scorpions and tarantulas. We were fortunate to see burros and a coyote.

Wild Burro, protected under Federal Law

Although not in the park, you can't go to Alamo Lake State Park without going to Wayside. An oasis out in the desert where three dirt roads meet, it has a bar/restaurant and RV park. Everything there runs on a big generator as there is no electric power, and it is also the closest place to get propane. Oh, the food is pretty good to. The dirt roads are passable with a car or truck, just take your time. On Sunday night  we had some rain, while returning from town Monday we decided to go to Wayside for a second time, the first was for propane and to have some lunch. We took the longest dirt road, as we hadn't traveled it yet, and it wasn't long before we came to water rushing across the road from the rain the night before. Not being deep and following vehicles in front us, we crossed the flowing waters in three different areas where the water was flowing down the washes towards the lake. While sitting in the restaurant, another couple from the park came in and they had traveled the other dirt road to get here and commented that the road they traveled had no water crossing it. By the time we both left about 45 minutes later, the water was also following across that road.

Sign says it all

Water crossing the road

road maintenance

Wayside Sign

Huge Saguaro Cactus

For you Al

Beautiful full arch double rainbow 

Wayside Oasis

We spent three nights at this park and will go back to it again. It is a busy park for being way out in nowhere and can booked up quickly. There is no limit on how long you stay and reservations can be made up a year in advance. The feeling of  crossing the desert in the old west is what I get, the desert foliage especially the saguaro cactus of which most are a hundred + years old, the quiet and beauty of the desert will bring us back here and other areas of the southwest.  

We have moved on up to Bull Head City Az. more on that later.

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.

Alamo Lake State Park

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Not sure when this will get posted, for as I write it here in Alamo Lake State Park Arizona, we have no internet or phone. So today is Saturday Nov.19th, 2016.

We started our day at the Sam's Club parking lot in Surprise Az., where we had spent the night. On the road by 8:30 and on our way to Congress Az. to meet fellow bloggers Al, Kelly and Pheebs, from The Bayfield Bunch

Kelly & Pat

Pheebs

Al

Beautiful Home

 We have wanted to meet them for some time now and are so happy that we finally did. They are such a lovely great down to earth couple. Our visit of a couple of hours was filled with tips, great conversation and a tour of their amazing home and property. Even Clemson and Pheebs got along. Thank you so much Al and Kelly for your hospitality and look forward to seeing you both again.

After our visit we were off to Alamo Lake State Park, having made online reservations yesterday, they were already for our arrival when we got here at 2:30 p.m. Setting up in no time under the mostly cloudy sky, it was time for a snooze. Haven't set the satellite dish up yet, a job for tomorrow morning  and then some exploring around the park. We will be here until the 22nd when we will be heading to Bull Head City.

Our site B1

The water level is really low

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.

Surprise Cruise Night

Where Are We Today

Surprise Arizona

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Today was a travel day, leaving Quail Ridge RV Resort in Huachuca City Az. just after 10 a.m. we headed for Surprise Az. Arriving at the Sam's Club parking lot where we will spend the night at 2:30 p.m.

Our Site

Entrance to the Park

After having an afternoon snooze, we check emails had some supper and then took a stroll across the parking lot to see the Classic Car Cruise Night that was taking place. By this time, 6:30 p.m. it is dark and this show is just getting under way. There are some beautiful cars and trucks on display.

Fords

56 Cadillac 

57 Chev

57 from the back

It was soon back to the trailer to write this blog and do some reading. Tomorrow we are headed first to Congress Az. to meet fellow bloggers and Ontarian s Al and Kelly from  The Bayfield Bunch. After that we are headed to Alamo Lake State Park for three nights before we check into Ridgeview RV park in Bull Head City.

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.

Where Are We Today

Huachuca City, Az

(wa-choo-ca)

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Since my last post, our days have been spent mostly relaxing, with a couple of trips into Sierra Vista for supplies and to get Clemson's haircut.

Entrance to the Museum

Yesterday we went to Tucson Az. to visit the Pima Air and Space Museum. There are five hangars of different aircraft and one hangar on space. Also there is a narrated tram tour of the aircraft on the grounds of the museum and a bus tour of the aircraft bone yard at the Davis - Monthan Air Force Base. There is also a silo launch site about 60 miles to the south that is part of this museum that you can visit, we haven't been there yet.

Admission to this museum and both the tram and bus tours for the two of us was $57.00, well worth it.

I took lots of pics of airplanes, many I don't remember the names of. The pics taken from the bus have some window glare, so not the best. All the aircraft, at both locations are sitting on the grass, 8 to 10 inches below is hard rock, so no need to pour concrete for them to sit on. The aircraft are sprayed with a two coating process to preserve the instruments inside them. During the summer when temperatures soar above the 100* F mark, the inside of the aircraft soar above 200* F and that would destroy the instruments.

F4-C

F15-E

Various Heloicopters

C - 130

C 5 Galaxy

There are two sections to the bone yard, the first is aircraft that can be rotated/put back into service or be used for parts. The second section is for aircraft that are beyond use and are taken apart for scrap.

If you have any interest in military aircraft, this is well worth the tour at a cost of $7.00. You get your ticket at the museum, you don't have to pay for the museum admission if it is just the bone yard you want to see.

The five hangars at the museum are well laid out with aircraft and information on each, also there are many men who are all volunteers, some retired pilots, with loads of information  on the aircraft.

F 4

Canadian Sabre

SR-71

Says it all

One hangar dedicated to this B17
This fellow was a B17 pilot.

It's History

F4U Corsair

Crane Helicopter

NASA

B52

For more on the Museum, click HERE &Here

Thanks for following along, until the next time, take care and be safe.