Camp Verde Arrival

September 21 – Happy Birthday Carole!  We managed to leave before 9 so did not make it to the post office since they open at 9.  Every one along the route today was not open, so will have to mail Mike’s package on Monday from Camp Verde.  Today’s drive was 245

Leaving Monument Valley - where Forest Gump
was running  big tourist stop

miles.  We only stopped once at a closed trading post and had a break and lunch.  Traffic was not fun!  There is a mix of slow drivers and butt head drivers that ride their tales and barely make it back in from passing.  I slowed up many times to keep from being part of an accident waiting to happen!

There was some nice scenery as expected and some run down areas as well.  Lots of small native communities.  We passed the roads to cut off to Grand Canyon north and south, Canyon de Chelly, Sunset Crater Volcano NM, Wupatki NM, Walnut Canyon NM and Dinosaur Tracks.  Places we’ve been to but will plan to see again!

We arrived in Camp Verde about 2 (mountain time)and forgot they have 30 amp only!  Ugh!  I wanted to do a load of laundry and a load of Bill’s cleaning rags.  He left to go see his siblings up the hill from us while I did 2 loads of laundry, ironed my stack of clean laundry, and typed of up some my journal.  He got back around 3 (mountain time) and we needed to be at his brother’s by 5:15 pacific time to go to dinner.  I had turned on the generator so I could run the AC and the dryer at the same time and turn it off before we left. 

Elephant legs we saw along the road

Since today was Carole’s birthday, Bryan and Janet drove down to Tucson to get her yesterday.  She turned 86.  It was so good to see her!  It’s been 2 years and we don’t talk on the phone like we used to all the time.  She seems to be doing well after Herb’s death and has adjusted OK as he hadn’t lived at home for about a year before his death.  She’s slowing down but aren’t we all as we get older.

We gave Carole a nice card and I put together some of my crocheting projects for her.  I know she will use my newest one to make for her lady friends and her kids as they come to visit.  She and I both don’t watch TV without a project in our hands!  She loved the new stuff and the nylon scrubby as she can’t do them anymore with her arthritis. 

Bryan picked a steak place in town and we had a great dinner!  Bill and I both had sirloins that were so flavorful and tender.  The salad could have been fresher but the meat made up for it.  We sat and just visited quite a while before they started getting busy and we went back to Bryan’s for a while.  They were all ready to go to bed at 8:30 their time.  So we said our good-nights and headed back down the hill to our RV.

We decided to make a run into Prescott tomorrow so I can get some yarn and a few groceries.  Carole is going with us but Janet can’t get into the truck and Bryan had no interest so it will be just the 3 of us.