North Rim Splendor

Once we decided to skip the heat and head for Arizona, Mike needed to take a little puddle jumper flight from Guaymas to La Paz to get the Bronco out of storage and get it back to San Carlos.  After landing in La Paz, he drove to Mulege for the night and then on to Santa Rosalia where he loaded himself and the Bronco on the Santa Rosalia Ferry. Ten hours later, a little worse for wear without much food or sleep, Mike and the Bronco arrived safely in Guaymas and headed to the boat.

Meanwhile, the kids and I had separated out all perishable food items to donate to the local orphanage and we got things pretty spic and span. The kids had one last sleep-over on Friday night with their good friend, Alec and then Saturday morning, we were off.

I was dreading the non-air-conditioned ride that the Bronco was offering up, but we were all pleasantly surprised. Once we got further from the water and headed up into monsoon activity, it was not a bad ride at all. Thanks to my not declaring that we had a grapefruit that I needed to throw away, this border crossing was much smoother than the last. We didn’t actually have a grapefruit this time, but I had learned my lesson to just nod, say we are citizens, hand over the passports and then keep my mouth closed.

We made it my sister’s in North Phoenix later that day and quickly cycled through showers and laundry.  Our next stop was our trailer in Yarnell where a majority of our camping supplies lived and then we were back in Phoenix the following day for haircuts all around. Mike seemed a bit sad to loose his pirate locks, but he looks 10 years younger. I got all of my hair cut off as well. I look just the same.

Looking closer to normal than we had for about the last 6 months, we traveled up to Payson to stay with my dad for a few days and acclimate back to the woods and off the boat.  The kids spent there days building forts and role-playing Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Mike and I mostly just slept. I think that the altitude was a hit after living on sea level for so long. But, after a few days, we felt once again refreshed and we were anxious to get to the Kaibab National Forest.

 

Vermillion Cliffs on the way to the North Rim

The North Rim is very interesting in that you will find a lot of people from all over the US and all over the world who have traveled hundreds and thousands of miles to see The Grand Canyon from this vantage point. But, you don’t find many Arizonans. It is a few extra hours of a drive compared to The South Rim for most people, but it is worth the additional time and gas to get here. Above 8500 feet, and with thick old growth woods and large sprawling parks of green grass, it is hard to imagine that the desert is so near.

Mike and I had been before pre-kids and then again a few years ago with the trailer. This time, we were just bringing the tent and doing it old school.  Driving in at dusk, we see lots of deer and turkey in the parks with the wild turkey keeping close to the boundary of the woods.

We see only a few camps occupied with RVs and trailers as we head down Forest Road 22 to the west. After a few more turns, we are on 222 and see an old forest road to the left that has been overgrown for years. Mike and I walk down a ways and find an established fire ring and a broad flat area bordered by Ponderosa Pine and aspen that will make a perfect site for us.

First order of business is starting a fire. Are you kidding me?! We did not bring a match, lighter or anything! Amateurs. It has been so long since we went camping, we were missing all kinds of things, but this was sort of essential. Luckily, as Mike says, the forest always provides. We found a spent little miniature Bic blue lighter on the ground. No fuel, but it had spark. A quick setup of the Coleman stove, light up a burner with the spark and use the flame for the larger fire. Voila!

 

Starting up the fire with the basics....again, a Tecate box saves the day

Since we have been here, the days have been flying by. I have been mostly cooking with either the Dutch oven in the fire or with the Coleman. The Coleman stove we have is ancient. The second burner won’t hold flame. The first burner sounds like a jet engine even at it’s lowest setting. We are going through propane like there is no tomorrow. 

The stove might be a pain, but it still produces a hearty gravy portion of a breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy. Good thing we are hiking daily!

In the morning, the kids do their school work. 

Language Arts with the girls in the morning

Then math with Daddy in the afternoon

After school we take hikes and practice archery and shooting. The kids are all doing well with the .22 Cub rifle. Keira got a compound bow that she has been wanting as an early birthday present. Unfortunately, she is just a bit shy of enough muscles to pull it back, but she is getting stronger every day.

Archery practice

Reid taking his gun safety quiz with Dad

The old growth aspen here are magnificent. I measured one this morning with a 5 foot circumference. Stunning. There are meadows ringed with these giants that make you feel like you just stepped into a Tolkien novel.

Our days have been hitting highs in the 60’s due to a few weather fronts, but we are looking forward to hitting high 70’s this weekend.  

The girls' fort

If it looks like the pictures are all from the same day, that is just because the kids wore the same clothes for nearly a week. But, we finally got showers and laundry from the Jacob Lake RV park and we are all shiny now. We also took a ride into Kanab, Utah for some fresh provisions and we got a new Coleman. Yea! I couldn't be more excited if I was discussing a new granite countertop for my (non-existent) kitchen.

We get internet here at the laundry facilities, so we should be checking in next week. Thanks for reading!