Blowing Around like Dust in the Wind

We ended up having a shorter time with our friend Micheal than we had anticipated but it was great having him in our 'home' and to have everybody hang out together. We threw a little "See ya later" dinner where everyone came over, ate burgers, beans & taters and enjoyed some fun conversations.

Safe travels to him and hope we see you soon buddy.

We had gone to bed the night before with the intention of leaving Sedona, so when we woke up this morning we started packing it up...this was going to take a 'few' minutes! We had our morning cafe' convo's (conversations over coffee) with Kevin and Mike and little by little Joon was packed stuffed and we were ready to roll. We figured we would just organize everything at the next place, so this is what you get when you roll like that...

[caption id="attachment_4705" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Yikes![/caption]

Where were we off to, you ask? Flagstaff. The first day J' & Micheal went riding they drove up toward the Flagstaff area and found some areas with National Forest land and some possible great spots. I wasn't really ready to leave this area just yet but sometimes you just gotta go along with it. The main reason for us leaving was the wind gets pretty strong around 12:30 p.m. until about 5-6 p.m... that's a lot of van time... with the doors and windows closed, due to the 'dust in the wind'. When we left we drove through a part of Sedona we hadn't been through yet, so that was a treat! I love seeing new views and new things!

As you drive North the landscape changes drastically. We drove from the big and beautiful red rocks into 40 ft. tall pine trees. I almost felt like we were in Montana (I've never been to Montana, it's just what I felt like). We popped over this hill and there was this HUGE mountain in front of us... with snow on it! What the heck, where did that come from? It was a pretty drastic scenery change!

We drove around and looked at spots, checking the wifi and some open air for the solar panels. We were sitting pretty high on a 3g signal but that's because the towers are back in the forest, we don't think they have 4g towers out here. As for the solar, we weren't having any luck with too much open air. The panels would probably only end up getting a few hours of sun instead of a whole day... which we need. After checking out a few different areas and many spots within those areas, we stopped and had lunch at Subway (getting to use our awesome Subway coupons!) and talked over our options of staying here or going back to Sedona and checking out other campsites around the area. After filling our bellies we decided to head back to Sedona and check out areas around where we were just camping.

We drive back to Sedona!

I was actually pretty stoked about this because, like I said before, I was not ready to leave yet...GRIN! 

[caption id="attachment_4709" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Over it![/caption]

Believe it or not, we drove to about 5 or 6 different camping areas and spots within the area and after about an hour of that, ended up right back in the same exact spot we left this morning! We now truly know that we have the best spot in town. What a great feeling!

We are tired but happy we are back. Sometimes you just have to satisfy that curiosity bug, ya know! We'll probably go back up to Flagstaff, during the Summer R.T.R. that Bob is holding in June, but until then we'll deal with the wind when it comes and be happy little campers at the best camp spot in Sedona!

[caption id="attachment_4710" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Pleasantly Pooped![/caption]

Have you fed your curiosity bug today?

PEACE

 

 

 

So...we drove

First things first this morning...we had to take Joon to get one of her tires patched...man, what's up with our tires!? Ends up we had sprung a leak in one of the rear tires. *Thanks to Mr. Bicycle Man who rode by and yelled, "flat tire" to us yesterday. I'm sure J' would have seen it sooner rather than later but it's always nice to have people looking out for ya, even if you are strangers. To a Wal-mart we went, we had shopping to do anyway and it's nice to know that Savannah is in a cool, shady spot and she's not alone.

[caption id="attachment_4377" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Fixing, yet another tire[/caption]

Our plans were to disperse camp in the San Bernardino National Forest. We had done tons of research and for what we wanted...free camping still close enough to the beach...it seemed like a no-brainer. That was, until we got there! The National Forest is beautiful and there is some vast open land intertwined between the mountains, and there are roads...where the roads lead was another thing. We drove the roads, they were rocky but we've done much rougher roads so it wasn't a big deal and we could tell that these roads are used.

[caption id="attachment_4379" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Pretty drive[/caption]

At the same time, all of the roads (not many) that turned into a place to camp (or what other people would see as just open land), were 'blocked' off with "No Parking" signs and "No Trespassing" signs, even signs with fines on them due to parking in a wash. When we got to one of the numbered dispersed camping signs, that we had written down from our research, we couldn't do anything but laugh...

[caption id="attachment_4380" align="aligncenter" width="350"] No wonder it's free[/caption]

 Ummm, that's the side of a mountain!?! haha Now we were wondering if all of the "dispersed camping" areas were going to be signs, with the camp site number on them, stuck into the side of a mountain. And plan #B would be?? We drove on up the road a few more miles, only to see more of the same. We stopped to take a break, we had been driving and doing for quite some time now. We stopped to take in the scenery and some fresh air...and couldn't help ourselves but to admire our less depressed Joon!

[caption id="attachment_4381" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Admiration[/caption]

Away, we drive...back, the way we came.

Quite beautiful to drive through. No where really to park and camp.

[caption id="attachment_4383" align="aligncenter" width="350"] Cool as a cucumber[/caption]

 Driving along a few miles down the road we see a side gravel street, turn off and almost immediately start climbing the side of this mountain. The road was definitely maintained but at the same time was mostly made for one vehicle to be on at any time...no passing, period.

I was not having as 'great of a time' as I would have liked to, due to the high altitude we were gaining driving up this road. Not a huge fan of the heights! Most of my pics were just sticking my camera out of the window, still looking forward, white-knuckling the arm of my chair and holding my breath. Appealing, huh!

(I actually got a couple of good shots though...to enjoy for the first time later! haha)

[gallery ids="4384,4385,4386,4387,4388,4389"]

As beautiful as it was at the top, there is no place to camp no matter how ya slice it...so we drove back down. We thought Big Bear Lake may prove to have a solution for us, so we drove. Another totally rad scenic drive, lush and green mountains...a very cool change.

[caption id="attachment_4392" align="aligncenter" width="350"] We're not in Kansas anymore![/caption]

We are quite the funny pair now aren't we?

When we drove into Big Bear, J' started laughing, pointing out my window...I turned to look, there are people dressed in Winter clothes, sledding down a snowy hill! There are inches of snow on the sides of the road and down by the lake in the parking lot (now kicking ourselves for not sticking some in the cooler while we drive). We got out to throw some trash away and we have come to the conclusion that it was probably about 40 degrees outside. I don't think we left the coast to camp in snow...so, you guessed...

we drove...

actually we are driving. 

[caption id="attachment_4394" align="aligncenter" width="350"] ♥[/caption]

I think Victorville will be our resting place for the night. In the morning , we'll either choose to stay or choose to mush on.

PEACE