Helen and I planned an RV trip to Southern California, arriving in time to celebrate our oldest son’s 50th birthday. We made all the reservations in advance and scheduled a departure date of January 10. If all went well, we would arrive in Seal Beach, California, in two and a half weeks.
The closer we got to January 10, the more ominous the weather reports became, and Knoxville was square in the path of a snowstorm that would blanket the South. Helen and I scurried about, and the January 10 departure suddenly became January 9. We beat the snowstorm by 24 hours. A neighbor and dear friend sent us a picture of our home dressed in white stuff.
Our original route was Interstate 40 West, but Memphis had seven inches of snow, so that was no longer an option. We took the Southern route to Montgomery, AL, Gulfport, MS, Lake Charles, LA, and beyond. Except for Gulfport, most of the stops were one-nighters, which were hard on this old body, but we managed to stay ahead of the snow. Once we reached Las Cruces, NM, we were out of trouble and could slow the pace.
We arrived in Cottonwood, AZ, and Dead Horse Ranch State Park with three-day reservations. The weather was cool, but the skies were bright and sunny. Cottonwood is about 12 miles southwest of the charming town of Sedona, AZ, and Red Rock State Park. Helen and I were game for hiking and took off for Red Rock to get the kinks out of our legs.
The elevation for Sedona, AZ, is about 4000 feet above sea level, and, with the wind chill, the “feels like” temperature was probably in the low 40s for our hike, but we pressed ahead. In the distance, we could see The House of Apache Fire, a home built for Helen and Jack Frye in the late 1940s. Helen was an artist, and Jack, an aviator, was President of TWA at the time.
We hiked along a winding hillside trail for over a mile and reached the home. From here, we had a 360-degree view of sentinels of red rock mountains and a commanding view of Oak Creek below. The home is closed to tourists, but information, including interior pictures, is posted on a significant marker next to a locked gate at the front.
After spending some time at the home and enjoying the view of the magnificent red mountains, we hiked back to the visitor center and then drove into Sedona for some sightseeing. We left Dead Horse Ranch grateful for the break.
Our next stop, which also lasted three days, was Lake Havasu, AZ, at Lake Havasu State Park. Understandably, Southern Arizona is a hot spot for snowbirds from northern climes seeking refuge from cold weather. We secured the last reservation available for the days we were there. Moreover, we had to spend one night in one campsite, then move to another for the following two nights. The second site was a little tight for our rig, but I landed on the pavement after some patient maneuvering. I bowed for about two minutes when I climbed out of the truck.
Helen and I drove into Lake Havasu City on our second day to do “touristy” things. We walked along the waterfront and peeked into a few shops, but nothing caught our eye for purchase. There were few people out and about on this delightful day.
Lake Havasu City is known for the London Bridge, which spans a portion of the lake downtown. After it failed, the London Bridge was torn down and replaced in the 1960s. Robert McCulloch, the developer of Lake Havasu City, bought the original bridge in 1968 and had it shipped to Lake Havasu with each stone marked for reassembly. McCulloch paid the city of London $2.5 million for the bridge and spent another $7 million on the reassembly. The London Bridge is the second largest draw for tourists in Arizona after the Grand Canyon.
We spent our last day gazing at beautiful Lake Havasu and the evening sunsets at the campground. Having traveled much of our country, I firmly believe Arizona has the best sunsets.
Six days in Arizona helped immensely to re-energize us for the trip’s final leg. We experienced some issues with our trailer but resolved most of them. I’ll provide details later. Helen and I arrived in Seal Beach, CA, on January 25 to celebrate Justin’s birthday on the 27th. Cheryl, Justin’s Mother-In-Law, had a splendid celebration planned for the occasion, and all of Wendy’s family joined the party. We had a grand time.
We will be in Seal Beach for two weeks, then head down the coast. We plan to return home in late March, but we have not yet mapped that portion of our journey. Please stay with us; we love having you along for the ride.
We’re Easin’ Along.
Your descriptions made me feel like I was there. It’s really beautiful in this part of the country. Have fun!
Hey, there!
We planned to spend some time in Arizona because it is so beautiful. We have camped in Cottonwood twice before and I always look forward to going back. Thanks for checking in, and have a great weekend!
Interesting fact about the London Bridge. I had no idea. I’m glad you guys got off before the snow arrived. Your house looks amazing, but I’m sure you were happy to see it from afar.
That is a great photo of your son and his family. One to cherish.
As always, I appreciate your taking the time to bring us along on your journey. Enjoy every day.
Good morning, Suzanne!
The London Bridge is an impressive structure. I can’t imagine the meticulous effort required to move it and rebuild it. We ended up with more snow in Knoxville than predicted, so our decision to head up and move out proved to be a good one. We love our little house, and the best thing about it is that we can shut off the water and leave for long periods. Our California kids are always fun to be around, and Wendy’s Mom put on a delightful party for Justin’s 50th.
It’s always great to hear from you. Thanks for coming along.
Sounds great! Stay safe and have a wonderful rest of your trip ‼️♥️❤️
Hi, Ginny,
We’re having a lot of fun out here, although it could be a tad warmer. See ya’ in April! Joe and Helen.
You and Helen do not appear old enough to have a fifty-year-old son. And yes, Arizona does offer the best sunsets.
I remember all too well squeezing into tight campsites. A bow indeed. I know you’ll continue to enjoy the excursion. All the best to you two.
Hello!
Great to hear from you! Yes, we have a 50 year old. He was born in Berlin shortly after we landed in Germany during my Army tour there. He has a great Mom, and turned out well. Our grandchildren are a treasure.
Tight campsites are a real pain, and I understand why this one was still available. Thanks for stopping by, and please stay in touch! Joe
I love Sedona and you captured it beautifully in your pictures. One of the many great things about retirement is that you have the flexibility to change your plans at the last minute… like to avoid traveling in a snowstorm. Enjoy your trip!
Hello, Marian,
It wasn’t easy moving the dates and re-routing our trip at the last minute. Fortunately we have taken the route before, so we knew where to start. We’re in California now and having a lovely time here, but we loved Sedona and hiking through the State Park. So glad you stopped by. Enjoy your weekend! Joe
I’m so glad you kept ahead of the winter storms, Joe! Yes it is hard move after just one night. (I feel the same about our hotel stays) Your Sedona pics are lovely. I’ve never seen the London Bridge. We left sunny AZ Thursday heading to Utah and snow Idaho today. Home tomorrow. I suspect winter waited for us! Stay safe and enjoy your travels!
Good morning, Terri!
Yes, those one-night stops are a pain, but, we needed to keep pushing in order to make it out here in time for Justin’s birthday. We will be here until late March. I don’t have our return trip mapped out yet, but I would love to visit Utah and the fabulous National Parks there. Wishing you a safe trip home, and a great weekend. Thanks so much for stopping by. Joe
Great pictures Joe and so glad you were able to get out of Knoxville and the Southern coast ahead of the snowstorms. They set records all along the coast for snow and low temperatures over several days.
Thanks again and continue enjoying the rest of your trip! 👏🏻🌅
Hello, Dan!
I have to give Helen all the credit for getting us out of town and ahead of the snow. She insisted, and was proven right (again). Our plan was to follow I-40, but that was not an option once we saw the forecast for Memphis. We’re in SoCal until March. The days are lovely, but the temps are a bit iffy right now. We miss our church friends greatly, but so thankful we can watch the 11:00 service online. Thanks so much for checking in, and have a great weekend. Hugs to Nancy! Joe and Helen.
Well done, once again Joe!
I first experienced Sedona in my long ago past 🤔 maybe 1992-3. Mary convinced me to detour to Oak Creek Canyon while we were returning from the Grand Canyon…. been back twice and veered off the path once again for an unplanned 4th visit. AZ is magnificent … I was lured away from beautiful E TN by the magnificent American Southwest; NM and AZ (at the right times of the year) are like Heaven on Earth.
I wish you safe travels back to E TN (and roomy campsites forever). Thanks for sharing these great observations. You guys are amazing!
Guy
Hey, there!
Thanks for the nice comments. This was our third trip to the Cottonwood/Sedona area, and we returned because I insisted. I love Dead Horse Ranch State Park Campground plus, having Red Rock State Park nearby allows us the opportunity to hike to some incredible viewpoints. I agree that AZ is special–if you can find places with a minimal number of snowbirds. We have been there enough to know where to look. Once we were camping in a Tucson Resort RV Park in late March when we noticed that campers were leaving in droves. I ask a fellow camper where everyone was going. His reply; “Once the temperatures hit 80 degrees, they all go back to Michigan.” Understandable. Great to hear from you. Have a fantastic week and please stay in touch. Joe
Hi, Joe – What an adventure! You and Helen navigated the ever-changing weather with wonderful determination. Your descriptions brought the beauty of Arizona and the charm of Lake Havasu to life—with its crisp air and stunning sunsets. Wishing you both safe travels as you continue your journey down the coast. Donna
Good morning, Donna!
I have to admit that I was pretty proud of us for pulling everything together in a shortened amount of time. In addition to the sunsets, the thing I love most about Arizona, is that it is so different from Tennessee. I call it “Brown and Beautiful!” Thanks so much for stopping by, it’s always great to hear from you. Have a fabulous week! Joe
that is so great you got out before the snow storm and we’re able to rearrange camp spots. i really admire you for being’brave ‘about it. when we lived in Arizona (early 70’s ) we went up to Sedona. Very different then from now, I’m sure. I’m glad you in California and enjoying your time. I dont think I could handle the moving RV every night and tight spaces would stress me out but you seem very experienced. Here in N. Ca we are inundated with rain right now. We dont have a lot of trips planned yet because of my husbands upcoming cancer treatment at Stanford. But we did manage to get a spot at our favorivte place in Tahoe for June. i hope we get to go. Take care and I enjoy your travels.
Hi, Christina,
We usually take it a bit slower when we travel across the country, but we wanted to arrive in plenty of time for our son’s birthday. I don’t enjoy one nighters (or tight spaces), but that’s all a part of RV travel. Sending hugs and prayers that your husband’s surgery goes well and that he enjoys a speedy recovery. I’m certain that you will get to use that favorite spot in Tahoe. Glad to hear you’re getting some rain–it’s much-needed right now. Have a great week, and please stay in touch. Joe
Joe, those one-night stands are brutal! We rarely did that during our full-time travels, and don’t even want to now that we’re traveling via Airbnb. But I can certainly understand why you needed to hightail it west to escape that winter storm. Glad you had a few days to relax and recover in Arizona. Your photos of the red rocks of Sedona and the beautiful blue of Lake Havasu are wonderful. I would love to see inside of that gorgeous House of Apache Fire! Enjoy your time with family. That birthday photo is very sweet.
Good morning, Laurel,
The one-night stands are over for now, and we are resting comfortably in Seal Beach, CA on a two and a half week stand. Big difference! There was a display of the inside of the House of Apache Fire in the front that included some interior photos. Sadly, Helen and Jack divorced before the home was finished, and was never completed. Helen had an art studio on the second floor–the only room that made it to the end. I assume you and Eric are still in Florida so, enjoy that sunshine! Great to hear from you! Joe
Happy Belated Birthday, Justin! Joe, you and I both know that Helen would have moved mountains to be sure the two of you were able to attend Justin’s milestone birthday celebration. Treasured family memories are made at special occasions like this one, so I understand her motivation completely. Best wishes for safe travels and tons of fun as you move south along the coast. Stopping at Coronado, I hope?
Good morning, Mary,
Great to hear from you! I’m certain you know how painful those one-night stands can be, but they were worth the effort. We had a grand time celebrating Justin’s 50th. His MIL put on quite a party and it was fun. We’re in the area until Monday, then head south. We’ll spend about three weeks on the campgrounds operated by the Marines at Camp Pendelton, near Oceanside, CA–they’re right on the beach and very relaxing. Coronado is after that and we’ll stay there for two weeks. Time is flying by. Thanks for checking in. Enjoy your weekend, and please stay in touch. Joe
Beautiful photos, Joe. I’m glad you avoided the snow storm and safely arrived in CA for your son’s milestone birthday. Wishing you a wonderful stay in CA.
Good Morning, Natalie,
Glad you enjoyed the photographs! We’ve enjoyed our time in Seal Beach and spending time with family. We move to Oceanside, CA today for three weeks and looking forward to being there. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great week and please stay in touch. Joe