Boise Idaho

Hello everyone!

It seems we can't stray too far from Phoenix, but we have left again for several weeks.

We returned from the Sedona area to Phoenix, running from a major snow storm. Since it was in the 70's in Phoenix we returned to wait out the storm. Flagstaff got 2 feet - glad we missed it!

A week later we headed off again - but not with the bus. Our friend Dave in Phoenix [our base there] has an extra car that needs to be delivered to New Hampshire by the middle of May. So we are headed there by car. But a few stops on the way. First stop was Corona, CA. to visit with John's niece again for a family gathering. Then on to Death Valley where we spent 3-4 days. Without the bus we are camping in a small tent [thanks to Steve and Heidi!]. We do have sleeping pads, but it is not our bed. Sometimes I really miss our home. Anyway, Death Valley is much more beautiful than we thought, and the terrain is quite varied. Mountains, barren desert, salt flats, and incredibily high gas prices! 6.12 a gallon!

We could of stayed much longer, but it was time to move on. We headed to Lake Tahoe to see friends from Boston, who were there skiing for the week. We had two days sleeping in a real bed, going out to the casinos and generally sampling what Tahoe has to offer. We didn't go skiing though...

From there we headed for Harbin Hot Springs, a retreat center just north of Napa, Ca., set high in the mountains. 24 hours of hot springs, cold pools, meditation, and Watsu. There was also a concert that evening: a guitarist who played the banjo and mandalin along with 6 string and 12 string guitars.

The next day we finally hit the Pacific Ocean. Our first night was in Bodega Bay, just north of 'Frisco. And we meet a couple from Maine!

The next several days were spent winding our way north along the coast. Never have I encountered such winding roads - days and days of them. But the beauty around us was amazing. At the north end of California we enter the redwoods. WOW!! Big trees! And pretty cool touching a living thing that was at least 2,000 years old! We spent several days there but the rain was getting to us. It had been raining for days now. So off we went to Boise, Idaho.

12 hours later we arrived at John's sister's house. How nice to dry out, visit with John's sister, and his niece and family next door. We have been to a soccor game with Kai [6 years old], many fabulous dinners with them, and a babysitting eve with Mia [3.5 years old] John's sister Sue is off in Europe right now so we have dog duties also. Nice to have a dog back in our lives for a bit!

We have also managed to find two of the many hot springs in the area.

So we will be here till the end of the month before heading east. Hope to be in Maine around the second week of May for a quick visit, drop off the car then fly back to Phoenix to get the bus on the 19th of May. We won't have much time but hope to see as many friends as we can.

Be well!

Scott and Johnney

Hello again!
Our stay in Phoenix was wonderful. Reconnecting with old friends - Sam, Fran, Steve, Heidi, and Dave of course! Sorry to leave but we will be back. More on that another time. One of the places we went to several times was Sycamore Creek. A beautiful canyon with a sream running through it, little waterfalls. Nice to have water in the desert. After a short hike farther up the canyon from the parking area, there is an area where the stream forms several small ( ice cold ) pools surrounded by large rock formations and straight up cliffs. This where we would often hang out for the afternoon enjoying the sun and chatting with some locals. With the temps climbing into the 80's it was the perfect spot for an afternoon.

Saturday mornings are Heidi's morning to sleep in so Steve took us to some nearby Indian ruins and some hiking. Thank you Steve...(pic of Steve at ruins on previous post!) He grew up in the area and is a wealth of info.

If any one gets to downtown Phoenix, have a meal at a place called "Fez". Really good food!
Our last trip to Bisbee was with Dave this time. We took a tour of the old Copper Queen Mine. Very interesting. The museum is also a not to miss. It is in cahoots with the Smithsonian. Very well done. Of course Bisbee have a large collection of cars...

After we left Phoenix we got as far as Cottonwood, which is just south of Sedona. Camped in the National Forest there as it is free. Friends from Phoenix called and happen to be in the area so we spent the day with them. Hit a few sights with Jerome being the most memorable. Another old mining town that the artists of the world have revived. A very cool place. Lots of climbing as the town is on the surrounding hills, much like Bisbee is. A definte must see if your in the area.
After bidding farewell to our friends, we headed back to Sedona to an RV park so we could have internet service as we are headed back to the desert tomorrow outside of Sedona. Sedona is a very nice and interesting town if you have lots of money to spend. Very different from when I was here back in '96. But the surrounding mountains of red rock are incredibly beautiful. It's no wonder this place is so popular.

We hope you are all doing well! Miss you!

Scott and johnney

Hello everyone!

We are now leaving Phoenix to head north, weather permitting! We don't want to get too cold... We will be in Sedona tonight, evenutally headed up towards Antelope Canyon.

We had a bit of a going away party last night giving Johnney and I a chance to say our goodbye's and to thank everyone for all they have done. Steve for his Indian ruin tour and shop vac, his wife Heida for her sense of humor, butter, and stepping in to help Dave. Sam and Fran for their dinners, water, electricity and allowing us a safe place to park the bus.Gwennie for her morning hello's, and to Dave for his endless generosity. [too much to list here...] Thank you ALL for everything, and for your friendship.

More later when we will let you know more on our stay in Phoenix. Some wonderful food, canyons for hiking, and more from Bisbee!

Scott and johnney

Phoenix to LA and Back!

We are alive and well in Phoenix again. Our January loop took us from (too close to) Los Angeles, CA, recovering from our solar tragedy through the wonderful hospitality of Marie, John's niece, who lives in Corona with her family.

We left Corona and braved the wind tunnel of the desert of Palm Springs again, this time with the wind at our backs. Surviving the LA freeways, without getting killed, we arrived at Sultan Sea just in time for a wonderful sunset.

After dinner we decided a walk on the sea shore was a nice way to end a day of driving. The crunch of the crusty sand began to feel just too crunchy. It was just weird. Getting very close to the sand to investigate in the dark we saw it was thousands of dried fish! We quickly found a nice walk around the paved roads of the campground to be much more enjoyable. The Sultan Sea is drying up, hence all the dead fish. And the stench the next morning in the heat was awful. Although we met some really nice people there, we couldn't stand the smell so off we went.

We arrived at Highline Hot Springs east of El Centro, CA the next evening to a nice hot soak and cheap camping at a primitive BLM area. The spring's facilities were volunteer created and maintain primarily by British Columbian snow birds. They have done an immense amount of work, pouring cement pools, trimming and cleaning with no help from the government. Thanks to all the volunteers.

The downside is the spring is 30 yards from I-8, within 1/4 mile of a geothermal generating plant and next to the air force training grounds. So, the noise kept the area from being truly ideal.

From there we wandered east to Yuma, AZ. With the recommendation from some folks at the springs found the good deals for fuel, food and free camping for one night.

We made it to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument the next night. What a beautiful part of the Sonoran Desert! A wide variety of cactus and thanks to the rain in early January, a lot of wild flowers were blooming! And everything was so green. We stayed an extra few days touring and biking throughout the area. And we finally found a hood ornament for the bus!

As Mark Twain said, "Apparently there is nothing that cannot happen today".

We headed off to Palm Springs to meet with John's niece, Marie, for lunch. We were coming down Rt. 62, a nice day ahead of us with lunch, and off to the southern desert. That all changed. Ran into a windy spot which ripped the whole solar system off the roof off the bus... there one second and then gone! Picked up the salvagable pieces and off to lunch. Marie lured us into coming to Corona, with promises of good wine, hot tub, and a day at the spa with mineral pools, mud baths and sauna. Needing to sooth ourselves after losing the solar panels, we readily accepted. So, here we are in California outside of LA. in the lap of luxury.
Off to check out the solar panels and see what we can do.

Til the next time,
Scott and johnney

Joshia Tree National Park

Hello again!

The last post I was so grateful for having phone and internet for awhile but was wishing for a hot shower. Well, Johnney found one while I was writing this blog. And it was WONDERFUL!!! After that marvelous experience we headed back into the canyons for another few nights in Joshia Tree National Park. Had a wonderful neighbor who joined us for fires at night and shared many great camping stories from his many travels. A wealth of info! Joshia Tree is a beautiful place.

After several days in the canyons we headed west. And got 30 miles down the road! Staying one [?] night at a campground in Flamigo Heights.

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the cold Maine winter!

Scott and johnney

Back in civilization!!!!! Phone! Internet!

But, I am ahead of myself.

We stayed in Phoenix with Dave until Jan. 1, and took the car back to Bisbee for a few days to

catch some rays and hang out. The previous weeks were spent working on the bus. That is, when Dave didn't have something planned for us. The bus is now sporting an insulated ceiling covered in split bamboo. Looking good! 'Course, the rest of the bus was a mess...

After we got back from Bisbee we through everything in the bus and headed off to Eldorado Hot Springs. Wonderful evening soaking! John even met someone who grew up only a few blocks from him! He and his girlfriend had idea's for the bus as he had done his own bus conversion years before. They have invited us to Oregon if we get up that way! Trade massage for room and board on their organic farm.

From Eldorado we headed off toward California since going north is too cold. Next stop was Quartzite, AZ. which is a bizare town. It's the RV center of the world, with the pop. swelling to 300,000 in the winter [normally 3600]. EVERYONE lives in an RV or trailer of some sort. And I mean everyone. The only buildings are some of the business's Main St. It is also the largest flea market in the world. It covers serveral square miles. We stayed about 7 miles out of town to get away from the noise of the highway, and "town" on BLM land. Beautiful area, without any hookups for electric or water. So Johnney got the rest of the solar panels online and now the lights and sound system are all solar powered! Buy some water and we can camp anywhere. Full moon while we were there. Really beautiful.

After Quartzite we landed in Joshia Tree National Park. What a beautiful place!

Time to go but I can't wait to show you pic's.

Til the next time we come out of the canyons,

Scott and johhney