Thanksgiving on the Road

Odometer. 64205 miles

Mojave, CA to New River, Arizona

Today's route was a straight shot from Mojave, east to the Colorado River and Bullhead City, AZ.  No major elevation changes until we descend into the Colorado River valley near Needles.  

Route Map for Today

This hop is only about 4 hours, so we take our time packing up and getting on the road.  We found a scenic spot on the route to pull over and make lunch, and by 3PM we were pulling into the Riverside Adventure Trails RV Park, in Fort Mohave, which is neither riverside nor adventurous, but none the less a clean, comfortable and reasonably priced full hookup park.

Our Space at Riverside Adventure Trails RV Park

Thanksgiving Feast

Rsatrvpark as they call themselves is a Passport America participant, which means we get a space for two days at half the listed price.  We intend to stay two nights because tomorrow is Thanksgiving day and we have plans for a nice dinner for two at home.  I take the opportunity to fill our diesel tank at Smith's, a Kroger affiliate that accepts our Fred Meyer fuel points, while Joan buys groceries.

Thanksgiving day we had lots to be thankful for, and we celebrated with vegan turkey, broccoli, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry relish, which Joan made with fresh berries from this year's harvest on the southern Oregon coast.

Route map for the trip from Bullhead City to New River 

After our relaxing day in the Bullhead City area, we were ready for the last leg of this year's migration south.  Today we head east to Kingman, and then diagonal south and east to the Phoenix suburb of New River.  The route is 210 miles and should take us most of the day (ha-ha!). We like the slower kick-back route 93 through NW Arizona and enjoy the slower pace and the small towns along the route.

Before we can get to US 93 and start heading south we have to go north past Laughlin about 4 miles where we can pickup Arizona highway 68 heading east to Kingman.  Laughlin is one of Arizona's lowest elevation cities at 558 feet, while Kingman sits at a lofty 3,336 feet above msl, and boy do we feel it this morning 12 miles of 6% grade from a standing start.  Our Horizon motorhome with its 330 hp Caterpillar is up to the task though.  Mike Cody's words from my Camp Freightliner class ring in my ears " this chassis will climb all day if you keep the rpm between 1700 and 1900".  I do, and he is correct, no overheating and no problems.

Home in New River

By early afternoon we are set up at our hosts home in New River, just in time for sunset and cocktails on the patio.  

Ralph and Ann

Our hosts have several Model T Fords and I'm here to, among other things, enjoy their hospitality and friendship, and to learn how to service and maintain Model Ts.

Our new-to-us tow vehicle gets a once-over

Our hosts have a nicely equipped shop, and between Model T projects, I get our Tracker up on the hoist to give the undersides a quick cleaning and inspection.  The car is a 2002 model and is new to us, so I am particularly interested in it's condition.  It passes inspection with an A+ !

Touring through the Hills of Cave Creek

Joan and I get invited to go on many T tours, as our hosts believe that the cars like the attention, and we like the attention that they bring us!  We have been assigned a 1915 touring car to drive (and maintain :->)

Photo courtesy of Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour 2018

One of our favorite tours is called Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour where Artists in Cave Creek and Carefree open up their studios (and often their homes) to the public.  We have a great time visiting these wonderful galleries as a part of our Model T tour.

Sunsets on our home on wheels

Your Traveling Friends

Jeff and Joan