April Trip to Arizona 2026
Monday April 6 2026 Day 1
We left home about 9:30. All went well. Stopped at the casino for gas and there was a big line up. Oh well, cheapest gas. Drove to I-5 South. Traffic was heavy all day. Stopped for lunch just before the 205 Portland by-pass. We took I-84 East and drove to Rufus RV Park getting spot No 1. Sunny and great. Columbia R and the gorge were beautiful. Very peaceful drive.
Tuesday April 7 2026 Day 2
Left Rufus about 9:30 and continued east on I-84. At Exit 137 stopped for fuel (only $4:38 a gallon). After driving, the loose fuel cap light came on so I stopped along the highway and took it off and put it on again. Light still on and then the engine light came on. We drove to Boardman and went to an O’Riley’s auto parts. They checked and canceled the code. The light did not come on for the rest of the day. We drove to exit 17 in Idaho and spent the night at Country Corners RV park space 17. Homemade hamburgers for dinner.
Wednesday April 8 2026 Day 3
Beautiful sunny morning but a little cool. I went to open the black tank valve and nothing came out. Tried several times but no luck. It is hard to pull out, always has been. I assumed the rod came off the flapper valve. Found someone to fix it but only if the tank was empty. Rats. Spent several hours trying to find someone to suck the tank. Found a sanican guy who finally came out. He hooked up his suction at the outside drain and low and behold the tank emptied. Something appeared to be plugging the outlet and the valve is fine. However, I decided to replace the valve as I was tired of working hard to pull it out. Real bummer not being able to use the toilet for the rest of the day and night.
We drove from West of Caldwell exit 17 to Wendell, exit 155, and Wilson’s RV and Campground. Got space 19. They will replace the valve in the morning. Hope there are no problems installing the new one. It is suppose to be simple.
Thursday April 9 2026 Day 4
We got the motor home over to the shop to get the black liquor drain valve replaced. Judy and I went to Jerome about 9 miles away for breakfast. We ate at the Western Cafe and the food was good. The floor was a mosaic of big brown tiles and 6 x 6 fancy tiles like we have in our Mexican bathroom. Also around the wall were 4 x 4 Mexican tiles and very few were alike.
When we got back the RV was finished. We hooked up Goldie and headed east on I-84. For lunch we stopped and ate lunch at the bottom of lake Bonneville. Well it was a lake 20,000 years ago and was at the time the largest lake on the continent. It drained into the Snake R. and over the years slowly dried up. The great Salt Lake is a remnant of the lake.
We stopped for the night at Century RV park off I-15 at exit 343 and took spot 28. For dinner we had ham in scalloped potatoes. It is very warm outside.
Friday April 10 2026 Day 5
We got up early to be on the road by 7:30. Had a cup of coffee and and energy bar before leaving. We planned on stopping later. The drive through the Salt Lake City and cities was uneventful. The traffic was not too heavy but the freeway pavement was in poor shape compared to the last time we were through here. Stopped at a truck stop and had our usual cereal breakfast. We bought gas at $3.99 a gallon. The cheapest we have seen so far. Very gusty windy head and side winds in the after noon. Very tiring. We stopped for the night in Cedar City. A Best Western inn had a 10 spot RV park on their grounds in the middle of town.. Very nice. Barbecue place next store so we had dinner there. Cooled down today, only 70 here in Cedar City. We saw lots of baby cows and sheep today.
Saturday April 10 Day 6
We left the RV park which was in the downtown area of Cedar City and headed south again on I-15. Very windy again, mostly front quarter gusts. Hardest to deal with. We got off I-15 at exit 27 and made our way easterly to Kanab, UT. We passed through Colorado City, home of the “sister wives” group in the Mormon church. In Kanab, we took Highway 89 south to Page, AZ where we stopped to buy some groceries at the Walmart. There was almost no water behind the Glen Canyon dam. The lowest I have ever seen. We continued south to Cameron Trading post’s RV park taking spot 16. 80 degrees when we arrived. We had a wonderful dinner of Judy’s homemade soup and a big salad. We saw no deer, antelope, or elk. They must be in hiding having their babies.
There is a bridge here at the trading post which crosses the Little Colorado river which will shortly empty into the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon National park. It is the same river that “flows” through St. Johns. AZ. The town of St. Johns is on the Coronado trail. There are stories that some of the people living here are descendants of Coronado’s men. The Little Colorado starts in the White Mountains about 40 miles from our property which is 6 miles as the crow flies from St. Johns.
Sunday April 12 Day 7
We left the trading post RV park and headed south again on hwy 89. Still blustery quartering front winds and bumpy road made for a hard day. Lunch at a small park just off the freeway in Holbrook. They have fixed part of the road south of Holbrook but as the road gets close to the Petrified Forest Park it is a bad as ever. We have to slow to 40 mph to keep the rig on the road. The road is built on volcanic ash. We made it to St. Johns and stayed in the RV park taking space 105. A seemingly long short day. Cloudy and 70 degrees, oh and windy.
After dinner we went to the property. At the gate the padlock was open. Not sure if we left it open or if someone pried it open to let their cows out. I could not get the lock to work until I loaded it with solvent. Works now. We could see cow prints all over the place. When we go to the shelter we were sad to see it had been blown over in the wind. Well it had been there for a long time and built with scrap wood found on the property. We were happy to see the cactus was blooming. After watching the beautiful sunset we went back to the motor home and had tea, coffee and ice cream cone.
Monday April 13 2026 Day 8
After breakfast we drove to Springerville to talk to the Realtor we saw over a year ago to see what we had to do to sell the property here in St. Johns. Got all the info we need and the procedures to sell. She answered all our questions and we are satisfied we know what to do. They will come and check out the property and give us their estimate of what it is worth. We can negotiate things from there. Mixed emotions about selling. Still not sure when.
We then went to Subway and got a foot long club split in one third for Judy and two thirds for me. Headed to the property to eat our lunch. Pretty windy but the destroyed shelter still protected us from the wind. After lunch we wandered around the property picking up rocks and me taking pictures of the land and getting a picture of each known petrified wood logs. I plan on giving a talk at the rock club about the property and the geology of the area. It was getting late and the wind was still blowing and the temperature was dropping. I think it got to 64 degrees today but felt a lot colder.
It is very dry here and almost all the state is in Stage 1 fire restrictions. That means we cannot have a fire at our property and cook dinner like we used to. Cooking our dinner over the fire was a favorite thing to do when we came here. The lake at Lyman Lake state park is way down. The Little Colorado River has no flowing water at Springerville and no water at St Johns. Almost no snow in the White Mountains.
We had Judy’s home made chili for dinner and a salad.
Tuesday April 14 2026 Day 9
After breakfast went into town to go to a thrift shop. Judy bought a pretty blouse and a plate and I got a couple of books. Tuna fish sandwiches for lunch. Went to the property and just enjoyed being there. Who knows maybe for the last time. We had scrambled eggs with ham, onions and red peppers for dinner. Yummy. We started getting some things done so we can leave in the morning for Sun City.
Wednesday April 15 2026 Day 10
Today we decided to get to Holbrook by going through Show Low.and Snowflake to Holbrook. It is further but the roade is much better. We took I-40 to Flagstaff then I-17 south. Nice drive as it was not really windy today, a big releaf. We decided to spend the night at Black Canyon City as we had already driven a long way today. Stayed at Black Canyon campground space 17. Saw little rabbits in the campground and a hummingbird. Mexican casserole for dinner with salad and steamed veggies. Tomorrow Sun City.
Thursday April 16 2026 Day 11
We drove south on I-17 to the loop 101 west. Then took the exit to Grand Avenue (US 60). We arrived at the Valley of the Sun RV Park on Grand and got spot 14. After setting up and having lunch we went to Andy and Laurie’s house in Sun City. Spent the afternoon and evening talking , playing cards and having dinner. Really great to see them again.
Friday April 17 2026 Day 12
After breakfast we picked up Andy and Laurie and went rockhounding. There is a place off I-10 called
Saddle Mt which is supposed to have fire chalcedony. The area has been know for many years and hard to find any big pieces. We did not. Enjoyed being out in the bush. After driving back home we had a nice dinner Laurie fixed, yummy as usual. Played some cards and watch as show called “The Madison”. Home to bed.
Saturday April 18 2026 Day 13
We slept in. After lunch all of us went shopping at Goodwill to see if we could find a pan lid, shorts for me and Corning ware. Got two of the three. At Laurie and Andy’s we played cards, ate another wonderful dinner, and watched another episode of “The Madison”. Enjoyable day.
Sunday April 19 2026 Day 14
We had breakfast at usual, cereal. We were invited to go to an outdoor concert in Sun City. After we got to
Andy and Laurie’s it was still in the 90 degree range. Since there was no shade and no breeze at the event we decided to stay home. Laurie fed us good tasting spaghetti. After watching the last episode of “The Madison” then went home.
Monday April 20 2026
Slept in really late this morning. After breakfast went out shopping. We had a light lunch since we invited Andy and Laurie out to dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. It was good but Judy’s steak was very tough so they gave us a discount. We went to the motor home after dinner and had Tillamuk Mudslide ice cream and chatted for a while. Took them home and we went to another Good will where we bought a few items. We plan on leaving for home tomorrow. 95 degrees today. Whew.
Tuesday April 21 2026 Day16
Left Sun City about 9:15 and took highway 60, then 93. Highway 93 was really rough with lots small pot holes. Tail wind most of the way but as we approached Boulder City NV the winds were more frontal and very gusty. We spent the night at Canyon Trail RV park taking space 91. The wind was rocking the motor home most of the night.
Wednesday April 22 2026 Day 17
The drive through Las Vegas was without any problems. It always is intimidating with everyone going 65 and me 55 with narrow lanes and with and some construction going on. The drive north on US 95 was on a very good highway compared to 95 in Arizona. We stopped in Mina for the night. Sunrise Trail RV Park in space3. Great place. The grounds were littered with lots of pretty rocks. I told the owner I would lke to “steal” some but have no room. They are rock hounds and all the rocks came from the local mountains she said. The temperature got down to the low 40’s overnight. Had to use the heater and extra blankets. No internet and no TV.
Thursday April 23 2026 Day 18
Left Mina and headed north on 95. Hardly any wind which was great after all the driving with wind gusts. We stopped in Fallon at Safeway to buy some groceries and eat lunch. US 95 intersects I-80 to Winnemucca. We spent the night at New Frontier RV park space F-19. Very nice park and not expensive. Very little wind except later in the afternoon but not too bad. Had salmon and salad for dinner.
Friday April 24 2026 Day 19
Left Winnemucca and continued north on 95. Headwinds most of the day but tolerable as it was more steady and less gusty. Stopped for lunch at Burns Junction at the closed weigh station. Saw two antelope today, the first ones. The road north of Jordan Valley was very bumpy but the scenery was very beautiful. Spent the night at Snake River RV resort space 22. Our view was spectacular as the Snake R was right out our front window. Had hamburger patties, fried potatoes with onions and mushrooms and a salad for dinner.
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| Judy caressing a big cotton wood tree. |
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| View of the Snake R. from our RV |
Left the RV park and continued west on I-84 towards Portland. We could have made it home today but for several reasons we decided to wait until Monday. It was more than 3 hours to get home, the head winds were picking up and we thought the Sunday night traffic going into Portland and I-205 may be congested. So we spent the night at Cascade Locks RV park in, of course, Cascade Locks OR taking spot 104. Nice wooded park.
