we started across historic route 66 from Kingman, AZ
the plan was to leave town as soon as we bought
supplies (propane, espresso and dog cookies, mostly)
and filled up with gas, checking fluids and both sis & i
had a soft tire which needed a little air...
we pulled up to the air & water part of the gas station:
the sign read "water not available in winter months"
and the air costs 75 cents
charging for air? on principle, i said nope, we would
take care of it at another place and off we went...
we were headed for Seligman which showed a few camping
spots on the map and someone had told us where some
public lands were (free)...
we wandered east on route 66 and stopped to take
photos of some of the now abandoned buildings, we
had lunch in one of the original diners, we kept our eyes
peeled for harley riders...
when we reached our destination, we proceeded to the
rancho where camping was allowed on public land...
we went down 5 miles of gravelly dirt roads and yes, the
landscape was beautiful, however, as we have found
to be the case on the public lands, there are deep ditches
dug along both sides of the road so that unless you
have 4 wheel drive, you are screwed, there is no way
to pull off and car camp - so we turned
back and drove the dirt road miles again and i was a
little tense because of those soft tires and omg what
happens if we get stuck out here in the boondocks....
so i plugged in to you guys and immediately brought up
the image of my protective bubble and used some of
the blues and silvery sparkles which reunite had recently
posted and felt better as we approached the paved road.
we stopped there to evaluate our situation - backtrack
to check out the paid camping areas we had passed, or move
east toward another town... since it was late afternoon,
we backtracked to a KOA campground...
but wait just a minute here - upon checking our tires
after the rocky road miles, all four on each car seemed
to be inflated properly. how was that? sis said they healed.
i said my forum friends were on top of things.
ok, so now we get to the KOA, which we have stayed away
from because they are too expensive for what you get and
folks tend to be shoved too close together and their tent
sites aren't that great, but i pushed because i had read a
post from zuni, i think, who described living in a KOA cabin.
was that you, zuni, because i can't find the post....
anyway, the way the post described the A frame cabin with loft
and window was exactly how i remember my friends'
KOA cabin in basalt, colorado, outside aspen in 1971!
omg, that description made me reminisce for DAYS, i spent
many good times with Kim and Bob-O sitting in their cozy
cabin... so i figured, it's a sign, go check it out
so about 4 oclock we pull in .... and .... it sucks. open tent
spaces, no privacy, very windy, and $26 ... forget it
how could i have felt so strongly that it was a sign? so we
went to check out another place where we were told it was
$16 for a spot over by the dumpster and they don't let
people with pets stay more than one night. i didn't like their
attitude, so even though the sun was beginning to set
and we had no place to sleep, we decided to go east toward
the next likely town.
and just at sunset, as the owner was leaving for the day, we
pulled into this place. tent sites $13, water, laundry, showers
and we liked the vibe... the owner said it was gonna freeze,
would we like a cabin w/ heater for the night @ $25?
yes indeedy, it is amazing. sis gets the top bunk for the
first time in her life, i get this connection and electric, the
dogs are happy, and everyone slept cozily last night...
but hold on - it's a property previously owned by KOA! these
folks are new owners... just when i begin to doubt the signs, kaboom
and here is the kicker - we bartered an agreement this morning
where sis and i will create a blog for the owner in exchange
for staying a week in this good vibe place... can you believe it?
healing tires and protective bubbles and a cozy (previously KOA) cabin
at the exact right time
YOU PEOPLE ARE AMAZING & YOU ARE BLOWING ME AWAY
i have to stop now, you made me cry, it's a happy cry, i just
can't see the screen for awhile.....
Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:57 pm
