December 27, 2016
Woke up Tuesday morning to sparkles of white and 17°F at the Flagstaff KOA. In less than a three hour drive I’d be home sweet home after three weeks living in the truck camper.
The semi-plowed and almost level site was a stretch to the electric box. Surprising how many RVers were out in the winter white. Doesn’t seem to be a winter rate at Flag KOA.
Thankfully roads were clear and dry as I headed west on I40 at 11am and 35°F. Unbeknownst to me a section of the freeway had been closed during the Christmas Eve snow storm. And after I got home I learned that SR89A South of Flagstaff closed that afternoon because of a rock slide. Dodged those bullets.
Humphreys Peak behind me
As I headed over the snowy pass Ponderosa Pines draped in white lined the uncrowded highway.
Good thing because at 75+mph on a potholed obstacle course I found myself dodging holes in the pavement 6-10 inches deep. As a road warrior I can say the transportation system in this country sucks. You could loose a Smart car in some of these potholes. Hate to think what that does to our tires and suspension. Actually saw a road crew out just before the Devil Dog Rd throwing hot asphalt into deep holes. I would think it would freeze almost immediately. Then right after that a car off the road changing a tire. And not far down the road another. Can you sue the Feds for these lousy roads?
Finally after another pass west of Williams the road drops to Ash Fork and beyond.
High noon and 44°F I turn south on SR89 right into the glaring sun. And even though that road is lumpy and bumpy it isn’t as full of potholes as I40. Small patches of snow left in the shadows of the Juniper/Pinyon woodlands yet I could see white on the Bradshaw Mountains ahead.
Only a light dusting of snow on the hills around Paulden increasing in Chino Valley.
Pioneer Parkway Prescott Arizona
Williamson Valley Road Prescott Arizona
And continued to increase to the outskirts of Prescott where I turned onto Deep Well Ranch Road, Pioneer Parkway, and Williamson Valley Road to bypass town.
Then Iron Springs Road weaves over the Bradshaw Mountains with their mantles of sparkly white.
And before I knew it Skull Valley only seven miles from home sweet home.
I pull in to the Kirkland RV park at 1:30 and a sunny 53°F with damp ground but only a few patches of snow in the shadows.
Many loads later I am back in my 5th-wheel home after three weeks in the truck camper. And there are still leaves on the cottonwood by my home sweet home.