Lo lo mai, November 2014

We went camping with the Kim's and Vessey's in november.  The kids and baby tagged along.

Lonely Canned Ham

Poor Kaiser.  We haven't gone camping since New Year's.  He is just sitting in our side yard looking so lonely.  And still curtain-less.

New Years at Lake Pleasant

We went to Lake Pleasant for New Years eve with my beautiful niece.  It was cold.  And there were only non-power spots left.  Brrrr, even for Arizona.

Our campsite at Lake Pleasant

My niece

Happy New Year!

Thanksgiving at Lolo Mai, Page Springs AZ

We spent thanksgiving camping at Lolo Mai with the Vessey's.  The weather was perfect and the leaves were falling.  It truly felt like fall.  We also enjoyed Page Spring winery as well.  I picked up the vintage holiday lights at an estate sale and they couldn't have fit more perfectly in the front window.

Christmas lights and the canned ham

Fall colors

A touch of class enjoyed thanks giving too!

We go all out on appetizers

Yum!

Lights on the inside

wine

Shadow really hates the cold

Martin and our Crown canned ham

Fall colors

Yavapai Campground - Prescott AZ

We went camping the first weekend in November as a farewell to Martin and as the inaugural trip for Vesper, the Vessey's teardrop trailer.  Martin had been busy for the last month working on the teardrop, basically rebuilding the interior.  The construction part of it is done and its usable, but the Vessey's need to finish the interior of the trailer. It will be exciting to see the finished product!  I will share photos of the trailer when the work is completed.  Martin got a job flying helicopters out of state so the camping trips will be missing a very important person.  I had to have Martin teach me how to hook Kaiser up by myself (gulp).

Arizona is beautiful this time of year and it is great having a camper to enjoy "cold" camping.  The campgrounds are much less crowded and many are actually closed this time of year. Our first choice, Mingus Mountain, closes on October 31st.  Yavapai is open year around and has great scenery.  Kaiser kept us quite warm, we even had to open a window for a little air flow even though it was in the 40's at night.  I guess the insulation works.  Two adults and three dogs make a hot little box.

"Kaiser" the crown canned ham and "Vesper" the teardrop (sneak peek)

the "bar" in our canned ham

The boys playing acoustic bass and a ukulele

The first time I have ever seen tarantula!

the little green box and vesper on the I-17 

Zion National Park, Utah

We headed to Zion from the North Rim (yes its a late post).  Zion Canyon is beautiful and worth exploring, but our legs were too tired from the North Kaibab trail to hike the many trails.  We decided to pick the hike we would enjoy the most, the Virgin River up to the Narrows.  We hiked up the river through the narrow canyon for a couple of miles.  Hiking poles are a must for this hike as the rocks are slippery and large.  

At the campground I mistakenly reserved a spot that was shared with two other RV's (we looked out of place in comparison) and it had no shade. The campground was booked that weekend.  The rangers let us move to a spot near the restroom that was supposed to be demolished, but we had to park in our reserved spot during the day and then see if there was another spot available the following night.  Let's just say we got really efficient  at packing up and hooking up the trailer as we had to do it three times while we were there.  If you ever stay in this park in a vintage camper or tent, take a portable shower.  There are no showers at this campground and the ones in the adjacent town are on the disgusting side of sanitary.  I'm not that picky about bathrooms when camping, but the mold on the walls was gah-ross. 

Grand Canyon - North Rim

Kaiser at the North Rim

We went to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for three days during the last week of August.  Kaiser did great on the long hot journey from Phoenix.  The Vessey's joined us with their tent.  We all hiked the North Kaibab trail down to roaring springs on Sunday.  The literature says its 5 miles one way down to roaring springs.  The park map says 2 miles.  We took a GPS and it said we hiked 7 miles.  Either way, it was grueling 14 mile hike.  At least for me.  The hike back up was tough and the sun was hot.  Martin made it back an hour and 45 min. before Liz, Aaron and I. We dubbed him "Stamina Man".  He met us at the top of the trail with beers and the car to take us back to the campground.  My husband is the best.

http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/upload/North_Kaibab_Trail.pdf

Size matters - in this case.  Smaller is better.

Stopping on the side of the road on the way to the North Rim (Vermillion Cliffs in the background)

Near the top of the North Kaibab trail

 

Near the bottom at Roaring springs

Kaiser at the campground

Me and Martin

Its not a trip without a touch of class!

Lower Wolf Creek Camping

We went camping at the Lower Wolf Creek Campground this weekend.  Another successful and fun filled weekend with the Vessey's and Ed and Honey.  It was warm during the day but cooled off at night quite a bit.  It was a nice break from the Phoenix summer heat.  

The camp ground has no hookups so we used our battery powered LED lights.  We brought the dogs with.  They did not enjoy themselves as much as we thought they would, but seemed relaxed.  They don't like being on a  leash at all times.  They will have to learn to like it as they will be brought along in the future.

View from the driver side of our canned ham travel trailer

View from the campsite of the valley below.

The creek is dry this time of year, but if it had rained there would have been a waterfall here.

I played around with the settings on my camera and danced around in front of the cameral with a small led light.

Our first camping trip with Kaiser

We went to Lo Lo Mai in page springs for our first outing in Kaiser.  It is a campground we were really familiar with as we have stayed the cabins and in tent spots.  This location was ideal as well because it is conveniently located next to a wonderful winery.  We are now card carrryin' members of the "Page Springs Cellars Club".  I will be expecting a delivery of three bottles of wine every three months.  Our wonderful friends the Vessey's joined us with their tent.  We enjoyed our day at several wineries and several bottles of wine in the evening. The night ended playing an aggravating game called "aggravation" of all things.  I still don't know the rules.  Could be something to do with the "several" bottles of wine.

  Just sayin'.

We realized we needed a few more items to make our camping experience more wonderful.  We need a step.  Kaiser's height is a little too much for our old joints. We need a wheel on the jack thingmabob(I will have to have Martin fill me in on its actually name) and some miscellaneous kitchen tools.  And a bigger carpet piece.  Oh, and curtains too.  A touch of class doesn't cover much.  And the faucet leaks.  But overall a very successful first run.  We love you Kaiser!

 Martin and the Vessey's

 Our wonderful tow vehicle, the X3.  Pulled the trailer beautifully. I love the reflection of the red cliff in the car widow.

 Our pink flamingos!

 Me and Martin

Me and the Vessey's (Liz and Aaron)


Martin posin in the trailer

 Martin cooking some bacon

Even the flamingos were a little drunk after the night of wine.