AZ -- Camp Verde, 29 Dec 2019-22 Jan 2020

Three weeks in Camp Verde, Arizona…

Why We Came…

To hike in the dramatic Red Rock and Sedona area.

The Campground…

Photo Credit: Distant Drums RV Resort

The Distant Drums RV Resort is conveniently located along I-17 an hour north of Phoenix and just 20 minutes south of Sedona.  It is about 4 miles north of the town of Camp Verde and across I-17 from the Cliff Castle Casino.

Our site was on the other side of the RV park’s sound barrier but we could still hear the hum of traffic and the roar of trucks on I-17.  We played some white noise each night to drown out the highway traffic.  The Casino has a HUGE lighted billboard near the RV Resort that shined through our bedroom shade at night with flashes similar to lightning.  After waking us up several times the first night, we covered the window with a thick towel.

Distant Drums is a large park with 157 sites, with paved roads and concrete pads.  It is a full service RV Park with full hookups, a dump station and propane.

They have spotless private showers, exercise room, heated pool, jacuzzi and a Country Store.  They have a large Community Room where it would be easy to play some cards and enjoy the company of fellow travelers.   They also have a laundry room with 10 sets of fairly new machines and nice folding counters.  Even so, it was often fairly crowded.

They offer Cable TV but we were able to get a satellite signal without a problem.  They offer free Wi-Fi but it is very slow and limited so we purchased a Tengonet weekly plan for $15 that was good on 3 devices. We had a reliable phone signal but weak 4G data signal.

Nearby towns

Camp Verde: The town is four miles to the south of the RV Resort.  It has a population of about 11,000 and sits at 3,147 feet.

It is a quiet small town with the Verde River running through.  Their claim to fame is corn fest in July.

The Bashas’ Grocery store is very nice and had everything we needed.

Cottonwood: This small city also has a population of around 11,000 but feels more robust and boasts a Walmart and Safeway.  It sits around the same elevation at 3,314.  The city is the epicenter of the renowned Verde Valley wine region of Arizona.

Phoenix: 92 miles to the south and a few thousand feet lower in elevation is Arizona’s state capitol and largest city.  Phoenix has over a million and a half people.  You can find any services or shopping you need there.

Flagstaff: This major city with a population over 65,000 is only 50 miles to the north and would have any services or shopping you need.  But this is a mountain town and sits at an elevation of 6,910 feet, 4,000 feet higher than Camp Verde!  You have to watch road conditions during the winter.

Move Day: On move day from Boulder City, Nevada to Camp Verde, Arizona, we took the long way around through Prescott to avoid the snowpacked  I-40 near Flagstaff.

Adventures

Montezuma Castle National Monument: The monument was only a few short miles from the RV Resort.  We were shocked at how packed the parking lot was on a Thursday afternoon.  Being that is was just the second of January it was still in the holiday window.

We stopped in at the visitor center to get a stamp and to learn at the interpretive center.  Montezuma Castle is 800 years old and one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America.  “This 20 room high-rise apartment, nestled into a towering limestone cliff, tells a story of ingenuity, survival and ultimately, prosperity in an unforgiving desert landscape.”

We wandered around the half mile of paved trails marveling at the old lodgings.  The Southern Sinagua people found plenty of water in the nearby Verde River.  They were farmers and raised corn, beans, squash, and cotton on the nearby natural terrace.

Red Rock State Park:  On the drive from Camp Verde to Red Rock State Park we drove by Doe Mountain and Bear Mountain.  We hiked both of these features during our first year on the road.  This time Shawn’s back was still bothering him so we settled for an easy hike at Red Rock State Park.  Link to 2012 Sedona Blog.

  

“Red Rock Park is a 286 acre nature preserve and environmental education center with stunning scenery. Trails throughout the park wind through manzanita and juniper to reach the rich banks of Oak Creek. Green meadows are framed by native vegetation and hills of red rock. The creek meanders through the park, creating a diverse riparian habitat abounding with plants and wildlife.”

We did a two and half mile loop up Javalina Trail.  The 350 foot gentle ascent was perfect.  We had decent views of other red rock formations through the pinon and juniper at a few of the overlook areas.

The trails are nice but the entrance fee is a little steep at $7 per person!

Copper Canyon Trail: The trailhead was only a quick six miles from the RV Resort.  Shawn’s back was feeling better so we set out to do a longer hike to test it.  The four mile Copper Canyon Loop sounded ideal.

“Originally conceived by Verde Valley trails enthusiasts and community leaders in 1997.  The trailhead officially opened in February of 2012 thanks to countless hours of volunteer labor, donated materials, a grant, and extensive planning and collaboration between various government agencies, private businesses, and members of the public over a 15-year span of time. This multiple-use trailhead serves as a jumping-off point for adventurers of all stripes: hikers, cyclists, horse riders, off-highway enthusiasts, and travelers in high-clearance vehicles.”

There were a number of horse trailers in the parking area.  We set off through a gate to the north.  After walking about a hundred yards, I realized we should have been walking west…  It was going to be a longer hike for Shawn…

After finding the correct trail, we started climbing a ridge and out of Copper Canyon.  The trail followed the ridge around for a few miles and we had some nice views towards Sedona.

As the trail dropped back into the canyon, there were a few muddy areas.  The recent rains had also helped the grass grow.  We had to shoo some cows out of the way who were snacking on the lush vegetation.  Overall, the trail was in good condition and easy to follow.

We’ll have to return another day to hike the Sedona area again.  Our time in Camp Verde was cut short due to a family emergency.

Colorado

My Mother was transferred to hospice care in October.  Her condition continued to decline.  For months I had been praying that God would heal her, but when it became clear that she wasn’t going to heal, it was very difficult to pray that God would end her suffering.

After the 1^st, I knew she was in the last few days of her life and I wanted to be with her at the end.  Shawn and I made plans to rent a car and drive back to Colorado.

When we were about halfway there, my sister called to say my Mom had passed away.  Fortunately, both my sisters, all of the grandchildren, and even my nephew who is studying at the Vatican, were able to attend the funeral a week later.

Erin flew home from Italy and led the funeral Mass.  My Mom would have been very happy about that.  We had an ice cream social afterwards to celebrate her life.

I feel at peace knowing she is in a better place. I’ll always treasure the memories she provided from my childhood and the fun adventures we had together when I was an adult.

I made a few collages capturing my Mom's life

Family: 

Back Row - Stephen, Fr Erin, Shawn, Kevin, Larry, Kendal,

Middle Row - Arleen, Kathy,  Heather, Liam, Amy, Mary, Terry

Front Row -  Andrea, Mason, Breahna, Markie 

During the number of errands that Mary, my sister, and I had to take care of, we took the time to donate blood at Vitalant.  Heather, my niece, is a phlebotomist and withdrew our blood.  She hit my tiny vein with no problem and even made it fun! I hope to donate each time I return to Colorado Springs.

House

After a week visiting family and friends along Colorado’s Front Range, we drove to Pagosa Springs.  We invited Shawn’s Mother to go with us.  It was a perfect opportunity to show her the progress on our future home.  She really enjoyed that and is just as excited as we are.

Floor tile has been laid and the cabinets have been installed.  We are finally seeing progress on the outside of the house too. It won’t be long until we’re moving in!

December 7th 2019 - Tape & Texture

December 17 2019 – Paint

December 28^th 2019 – Underlayment for tiles

January 4^th 2020 – Full winter view

January 12^th 2020 – Clearing snow away from the house

January 16^th 2020 – Tile complete & kitchen cabinets installed

January 16^th 2020 – Our home in a blizzard

February 1^st 2020 – Siding is complete on back of house

Adventure

We made time for an adventure with Keena and Todd while we in Pagosa. Shawn and I have imagined snowshoeing Ice Cave Ridge since we first hiked it three years ago.

It was like being in a different world with three feet of snow everywhere.  We were relieved to verify that you can see where the fissures are even in snow.  They are so deep, the snow just falls in.  However, we took care near the edge of the bluff in the event there were any cornices.

It was a fantastic day and all the better because it was shared with our friends Keena and Todd.

Albuquerque

Shawn’s Grandma Sue was recently moved to an assisted living facility.  We took a day and stopped in Albuquerque to visit her.

We visited Grandma and had dinner and breakfast with Sandi, Uncle Skip and cousins.  We were able to visit Grandma as a group together and she thoroughly enjoyed that!

Standing: Sandi & Arleen  
Sitting: Grandma Sue & Shawn

Family! Standing: DJ, Ash, Heather, Kyllian, Arleen

 Sitting: Skip, Grandma Sue, Shawn

Sandi wanted to help her Mother finish getting settled in. So we left her with her brother, Skip, and returned to Camp Verde. We left for Tucson a few days later.

Next…

Since leaving Camp Verde, we spent two weeks in Tucson, Arizona and are now in Tombstone, Arizona.

Next, we travel to City of Rocks and Oliver Lee Memorial State Parks in New Mexico, and then another short stop in Albuquerque.

Finally, we will end up in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Our nine year traveling odyssey will end as we settle into a real house.

Parting shots

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