Sylvia's RV Journey

Well, I finally pulled myself away from the rim, and headed towards Heber- Overgaard. I'm now entering places that I've never been to, in all of the years I've lived in Arizona. I've visited an antique store, and then onto a lavender farm, where I bought some products that will keep me smelling fine. This wasn't a "you pick" farm, but they did have fields that you could admire and photograph.  I also stopped at a gallery that was owned by a Russian lady. I have to be honest though, and say it was the kitschiest , gaudiest  gallery I've ever been to. It was a bit creepy, because it was filled with taxidermy animals including a hyena, with paintings and sculpture that were just kitsch. I couldn't honestly see one item that I would want to take home with me, but it was entertaining just the same. I noticed a sign for Indian fried bread, so I definitely went back there for lunch. I actually had a navajo taco. Delicious. There were more antiques here as...

I reluctantly left the Mogollon Rim, with the idea of traveling west on Rte 300. This was the route my friend, Eileen, and I took on the far western side near the town of Strawberry, where we found our fossils. Rte 300, is actually about 200 miles long, along the Mogollon Rim. I wanted to see if there were similar fossils at this end, near Woods Lake Canyon. So I drove for quite a while, perhaps 10 miles, on this dirt road, until I hit the border of the Sitgreaves National Forest, and Coconino National Forest, where the road dramatically deteriorated. There were deeper ruts, larger rocks and a steeper climb, so rather than risking any damage, I decided to turn around. It was a lovely drive, in vain to find fossils, but nonetheless I have information for future reference. There were plentiful spots where I could have pulled over to camp, however I headed back to my last night spot, hoping it was still available, and low and behold, it was. Harry, the camp host, checked me in. After bein...

Eileen, and I headed towards Payson, near the town of Christopher Creek. I managed to locate the campsite that I stayed at last year. It's very close to Rte 260 with a little street noise, but easy access, views of great sunsets, and remote. Leaving the Sylver Gypsy behind, Eileen and I rode in her jeep, and continued to climb back up to the Mogollon Rim, this time on this eastern side, and spent some time at Woods Canyon Lake. We just sat admiring the water and listening to the sounds of kayakers, birds, and lapping water. We returned to camp, to enjoy views of the longest lasting rainbow ever, while the rains moved in. I just had to wash my hair, and did so from the runoff of my canopy. It worked out really well, in a camping primitive kind of way. I am ok with that! The next morning we discovered even more fossils at the Paleo site near Payson. It's hard to imagine this forest under the ocean millions of years ago. With the recent rains, the silt washed away much of the surf...