Remember me pining for pine forest a few weeks ago?
The crew and I are in our new campsite in a Ponderosa pine forest! It’s 15 miles south of Flagstaff, on BLM land called Williard Springs. There’s a pond and a meadow of green grass dotted with white flowers. The BLT rests in the shade on a bed of pine needles. The PTV basks in the sun soaking up rays. I’m not kidding when I say it’s so lovely it makes me cry! Spike and Bridget think it’s wonderful. They are so excited by the new smells!
Our camp is very private even though there are other campers here.
Let me tell you about our day . . .
Around 8:30 this morning, after we’re almost finished breaking our Ash Fork Fields camp, I walk over to Rusty’s camp to say goodbye. I thank him again for the road atlas, for helping me, and for his friendship. He thanks me for the food and the camera. Then he advises me to be careful looking for a campsite because some of the roads are rocky and muddy. I tell him I don’t want to get emotional and so our goodbye, although heartfelt, is quick.
I leave a small U.S. flag in the tree that the crew and I camped beside.
I know Rusty will find it. I attach a note to the flag that reads, “God bless you, Rusty. Thank you for becoming my friend.”
The drive up to Williams is not as bad as I imagined it would be.
At one point the PTV slows to 35 miles per hour right before we make it to the top. I don’t want to push the engine. Fortunately, traffic is light and easy. The directions I have for Lake Mary say to get off exit 195B. However, there is no 195B. It goes from 195 to 198. I get off at 198 and ask a workman in a truck how to get to Lake Mary. He tells me to go back to 195, head south and pick up Lake Mary Road.
However, when I get off at Exit 195, it feeds the traffic right onto Highway 17 south and there’s no Lake Mary Road. Remembering the commenter on my blog who wrote about a BLM area called Willard Springs on Highway 17, I keep on driving. Our plans can change at any moment!
Tomorrow I’ll write more about this day.
rvsue
P.S. A few minutes before posting this entry I called Rusty to let him know the crew and I arrived at our new camp, safe and sound. More about that tomorrow . . . . Many thanks to reader Jim Sathe who suggested this beautiful camp! I love it!
rvsue and her canine crew 