Boondocking near Cottonwood, Arizona

More boondocking


 

View Forest Road 360, Prescott National Forest in a larger map

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If you've camped or boondocked near Cottonwood, you know about Thousand Trails Road and the boondocking area there. What we learned from another boondocker is that the area across 260 is much less crowded, and still in compliance with Prescott National Forest maps.

If you need propane and/or water, they can be purchased at the Thousand Trails RV Resort just down Thousand Trails Road. Easy in/easy out - tell the gate guard what you're up to, and if you've told the story convincingly he'll wave you through. Or salute. I like when he salutes. Propane sold 11:30 - 12, Tuesday - Saturday.

More RVing entrepreneurs  

In my last post, I featured several RVers who offer goods and services for sale. I'm adding Creations by Cyn to the list. She blogs at TexCyn Life. Cyn specializes in functional jewelry and doggie fashion accessories (so cute). Check out her work worn by award-winning models.

I've become fixated on Karen's socks. Not because I need socks, but because I need these socks. A lot of you already knew about Karen and her full-time life making socks I would be willing to measure my feet for (size large). As soon as I found her blog, she and her husband bought a house and stopped full-timing, so I guess now she'll have more space to make my socks (size large).

More wandering

We've spent the spring, summer, and fall centered around Flagstaff, where The Cousins live. It's been a lovely organizing principle, but now staying warm trumps family, and we've slipped off like a strapless prom dress. Tonight we're on the other side of Phoenix. Phoenix alarms us.

A man my age held up a sign at a stop: Homeless Vet - anything helps - God bless. We've given small bits of money to people for no particularly compelling reason, but we just didn't this time, to this man. On the way past he told us of the harm he wished us. Tonight, I'm concentrating on wishing for him everything he needs, but if he stubs his toe, too, and thinks of us, that's okay with me. I'm still evolving, shut up.

We're Tucson-area head-towarded.

Why you should go to Cottonwood, Arizona

We had a date with bloggers Lisa and Hans! They are an active, lively pair - very young retirees - and it was a good time. The four of us had had similar mornings. Hans and Lisa hiked several miles while spotting, chasing, and catching white-tailed deer on foot. Annie and I got up.

We met at the Red Rooster Café, where I spotted this sign:

I love this sentiment! Except that it's in the ladies' room.

Old Town Cottonwood was having a Veterans' Day street fair, so it was a lot bustlier than usual. Old cars (token old car ⤵), live music, and a few vendors.

From here on out, it's just going to be sky.

Soon after we got home, a rancher-like dude stopped to tell us the Forest Service has been ticketing campers in this area. We checked the map: yep, we're in Motor Vehicle Use (MVU) -legal territory. We'll check tomorrow to be sure we're no more than 300 feet from the dotted road, and if we are, we'll fix it.

P.S. It snowed.

A flair for understatement.

Our boondocking spot outside Ajo was hard to leave, and not just because we were stuck. But, temps are rising in the lower elevations, and rising in the higher elevations, too, so we can venture up to see my cousins who live in the tundra.

We left Darby Wells Road by noon, and engined north towards Sedona. In-between the two places are the Black Hills. So cute, hon; we'll be going over hills! And, so we did, although there are no pictures because my hands were clenched onto the steering wheel, and my behind was grasping the driver's seat. Annie asked me to let go, since she was driving.

The Forest Service land we're on is very pleasant, although it's more crowded than we're used to. The temperature is great, and the scenery is beautiful, of course.

This time we remembered to dial down our Sleep Number bed before cresting the top of the pass. Two cats did get dangerously overinflated, though.

These are not cats.

Suggest at will.

We're leaving here (Ogilby Road area outside Yuma) and headed towards the Verde Valley (Sedona/Rimrock/Cottonwood).  It's over five hours, so naturally we'll want to give ourselves several days to get there.

Do you have a favorite boondocking spot between here and there that you'd share with us?  We'll leave it all tidy, promise.

I wanted to tell you about Sidewinder Road, off Ogilby Road.  The address is officially Winterhaven, CA, if you want to Google.  I won't look.  There are a lot of big, level, open sites along this road.  You can even spend fourteen days next to an archaeological site, and I mean NEXT TO.  When you turn onto Sidewinder from Ogilby, you are right at the busiest railroad crossing I have ever experienced.  Keep going down the road;  the further you go, the fainter the "whoo" at the crossing.

I like how this is so round without being perfect.

Take a quick look here.  We just walked in, even though it's most likely private property.

Or, check out American Girl Mine Road.  On the right, just past Sidewinder Road.  Same deal with the train;  keep on keepin' on until you get a decent distance from the train.  The difference between a raucous, rumbling railroad and a melancholy, lonesome whistle is at least a quarter mile.  After a while, American Girl Mine Road diverges from _____Road.  _____Road is your best bet for parking.  Stay left.  The further you go, the iffier your Verizon signal will be.  ATT?  Don't make us laugh.  No, do!  

Ogilby Road has a bunch of level sites of its own that go on for miles.  Pass the "fee area," like I have to tell you that.  We smirk and snort when we pass the people paying.  There aren't any amenities there, either.  Unless they're parking and not paying ... park on, dudes.

So, I'll be sitting up tonight waiting for your boondocking suggestions.   Annie is boiling me a pot of coffee right now.