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Mark and I had a fantastic trip to Arizona for Christmas - no family, just interesting places to see - and we did get to meet Beth! What a delightful lady!

First day out we both had on shorts - and that was the last time the whole trip!!! What's this about AZ being warm in the winter - NOT!!! Well, maybe to someone from Saskatchewan or British Columbia (we saw those license plates). But the Land Dinghy held up well and we stayed warm and toasty, even through some brutal windstorms and frigid temps at the Grand Canyon.

We spent a few days in the Tucson area, then up to the Hualapai Indian Reservation about 150 miles west of Grand Canyon NP, where we got to drive down into the canyon - that was the highlight of the trip (sorry, Beth - it even eclipsed meeting you ). Then we were off to the Grand Canyon NP for 2 nights. Finally we ended up in Cottonwood, where we explored that area, including Oak Creek Canyon, Mingus Mountain, Jerome, and Sedona.

I'm still sorting through over 2500 pics (I use the shotgun approach where I shoot everything hoping to get a few keepers) plus back into that thing called work. And I'm fighting computer issues - in fact, while fighting through it all, I managed to corrupt one of my camera cards while trying to download pictures. It was only part of one day in Tucson but it also had Thanksgiving pictures that I hadn't previously downloaded. I hope that I'm able to save at least some of the pics that I didn't get downloaded. We'll see.

Glad you had a good time you really covered a lot of ground. Hope you can save your pictures.

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Maggie, is Oak Creek Canyon where Slide Rock is?

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Glad you are home safe and sound. You missed a lot of nasty weather here in Houston!! Now you're home for the sunshine, albeit, cooler temps Can't wait to see the pix Would you please post the camp grounds and any RV parks you stayed?? DH and I leave in about a week with no specific itinerary except to be in Quartzsite on the 19th to gtg with the gang out west So looking forward to that.

mitch5252 wrote:.

Maggie, is Oak Creek Canyon where Slide Rock is?

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Yes, it is - but it was closed Christmas Day so we didn't get to see the park.

Redwahine wrote:Glad you are home safe and sound. You missed a lot of nasty weather here in Houston!! Now you're home for the sunshine, albeit, cooler temps Can't wait to see the pix Would you please post the camp grounds and any RV parks you stayed?? DH and I leave in about a week with no specific itinerary except to be in Quartzsite on the 19th to gtg with the gang out west So looking forward to that.

I'm planning on posting more information about them, Red, but it will take me a few days. Let me list the ones we stayed at and if you have any questions, you know how to get a hold of me.

Sonora, TX - Caverns of Sonora Campground - basically a gravel pull through parking lot with W/E - no sewer, no dump. A so-so place to spend the night (unless you want to go through the caverns) $20

Las Cruces, NM - Hacienda RV resort - the name ought to tell you. Again, gravel pull-throughs but with full-hookups. $44. Nice shower and laundry facilities and an actual dog run (off-leash even).

Tucson, AZ - Gilbert Ray Campground in Tucson Mountain Park - $25 for electric - water spigots available, but not at each site. Dump station. This is a Pima County park that Beth told me about. Really close to Desert Museum, Saguaro National Park (west) and Old Tucson. Some really good sites and some really small sites - our site curved slightly backing in but was plenty roomy once we were in.

Grand Canyon - Trailer Village - $35/night for full-hookups although we couldn't use the sewer connection. It would have flowed uphill from the Land Dinghy. Mather campground (next-door) has a dump station and has laundry/pay showers ($2 for 8 minutes - enough to shower quickly, I even washed my hair).

Cottonwood, AZ - Dead Horse Ranch State Park - $25 for W/E with a well-landscaped dump station (wish I thought to take pics). Great location for exploring the area and the campground is really close to a city dog park.

Lordsburg, NM - Lordsburg KOA - It was a KOA - need I say more? $32 for W/E - I think FHU were $2 more but we were strictly overnighting. Gravel pull-through. Did have a small fenced dog run.

Balmorhea, TX - Balmorhea State Park - $14 or 17/night (darn that memory) plus $7/person entrance fee (waived with annual pass) for W/E plus dump station.

Sounds like a good time even with the
cool weather...

Glad it was a good trip - looking forward to the photos. I love the Cottonwood area, but because of the Thousand Trails parks there, I have yet to visit Dead Horse SP!! Haven't made it all the way up Oak Creek Canyon either. Hmmm. And we are still too cold in Arizona!

Sounds like a fabulous time! Glad you enjoyed my part of the country! Well, close to my part! Anxious to see pictures! Did you go in the springs at Balmoreah? Were the sites pull thru or back in? Did you like it? I was gonna stay there on the way home but didn't make it.

sharon wrote:Sounds like a fabulous time! Glad you enjoyed my part of the country! Well, close to my part! Anxious to see pictures! Did you go in the springs at Balmoreah? Were the sites pull thru or back in? Did you like it? I was gonna stay there on the way home but didn't make it.

The springs are supposed to be around 74° year round, so I could probably have - but no swimsuit!!! And they have both pull-through and back in sites. We had a back-in. The tables were covered with really cute ramada-type shelters and the sites were really big, but of course there weren't many trees.

[quote="Sandersmr"] What's this about AZ being warm in the winter - NOT!!! Well, maybe to someone from Saskatchewan or British Columbia (we saw those license plates).
It's been so cold my kids remind me that it's not as cold as they are yes but for AZ it's been cold looking forward to being warmer sooner than later
you come prepared I guess this is the first year that I've really wished I had a coat to wear not just a jacket
it looked like you had a really nice time we never did make it to the Grand Canyon I've been there but Larry never made it think he would have been in awe
sheila

Just a warning about the pull-through sites at Balmorhea. (I was there just before the Texas GTG.) They are very shallow and if you have a long vehicle or a toad, you will be almost hanging over. Plus, people will be driving past VERY close to your vehicle and slide if you have one.

I had reserved a pull-through with cable TV, but ended up going back to the ranger station and asking for a back-in site. I got one toward the back, and it was much more private and quiet.

Cannot wait to see all the pictures. I am glad you guys are home safe and sound.