Now I’m going to tell on myself. I have a VERY difficult time backing up my 5th-wheel. In my mind I can back the darn thing right out of the driveway, but when I get behind the wheel there’s no sync. So therefore, every time I leave Yarnell I find someone to back it out for me. My usual guy was out of town, so I found someone else. He wouldn’t be available on Sunday morning when I wanted to leave so I suggested he back it out Saturday and then back it back in so I could spend the night and be ready to pull right out in the morning. OK.
.jpg "Truck and 5th-wheel Yarnell AZ")
I had everything ready and the truck hooked up when He arrived. I saw Him assessing the situation. I pointed out where the water and sewer are as I’ve seen that cause difficulties before. OK. He gets in my truck, backs up almost to the fence and makes a BIG U-turn, pulling right out of the drive and then back in. Me, I stood in the middle of that U and laughed till I cried. Why didn’t I think of that?
.jpg "Red Butte near SR GRCA NP AZ")
Red Butte near South Rim Grand Canyon
I left Yarnell Sun morning around 9:30 after hugs and goodbyes. I had to drive to the South Rim first to drop off the stuff I’d need there after the hike across this weekend.
.jpg "San Francisco Peaks AZ")
San Francisco Peaks
On the way out of the park east I was within a few miles of Hwy 89 when I smelled hot rubber and the battery light went on. So I pulled over on the shoulder and shut it down. I’d blown a belt. No problem, I called Good Sam on my prepaid tracfone at 3:30pm. Then I waited on hold for 30 of my remaining 60 minutes before telling Marie where I was, what I’m driving and towing and recommending Flagstaff as the nearest city, even though I’d wanted to camp in Cameron. She’ll call me back. Two hours later, I call Berta and ask her to call Them back due to my limited minutes. Over an hour later they call to say someone is on the way from Flagstaff to tow me to Cameron, where there are no repair shops, and then in the morning I can have the truck towed to Flagstaff. Pretty stupid huh?
Two and a half hours later Johnsons Heavy Towing arrives and we decide I’m going to Flagstaff. Good Sam told him I was on Hwy 64 east of Tuba City headed to Cameron. That doesn’t even exist. By the time he unhooked me in the JC Penny parking lot, less than a block from repairs, it’s midnight and too late for photos.
At 8am I’m waiting for FlagRV to open. And by 12:30 I was on the road again, granted a little poorer because the alternator was replaced also.
.jpg "Painted Desert Hwy 89 N AZ")
Painted Desert
From there a beautiful drive, once again through the Painted Desert, past Vermillion Cliffs and up onto the Kaibab Plateau. Back to my wonderful space under the Ponderosa Pines at the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
.jpg "Snow on the meadows SR67 S Kaibab NF AZ")
State Route 67 through the meadows
And tonight I got lucky and connected to my neighbors WIFI.
.jpg "Unlocking the gate at entrance station NR GRCA NP AZ")
Park entrance
Tomorrow I’ll unhook the truck and level out the house. Then I can go look in the canyon.
.jpg "Snow along SR67 NR GRCA NP AZ")
State Route 67 to North Rim
.jpg "Spring snow on Mt St Helens Gifford Pinchot NF WA")
.jpg "RV in Eagles Cliff campground WA")
.jpg "Carson ready to hike WA")
.jpg "Gaelyn by Lewis River Gifford Pinchot NF WA")
