Beta Test Days 2 & 3

Day 2 Morning showed a shift in the winds.  The valley was full of smoke and our perfect campsite stank of fire.  Time to move on.  As long and trying as the road in was the day prior, the road out was cake.  Within an hour we were back to Young. Mike stopped a Sheriff to inquire about a way out of town other than 188.  Apparently where the road closed sign was, was also the way out of town that the locals use. The Sheriff warned us of a dirt road with sharp turns.  We laughed. After what we drove the day prior, it was cake.  This road bordered a stream. Break time for the dogs.  They romped again and wore themselves out.  It's important to have sleeping dogs instead of antsy dogs inside the Jeep. The road eventually dumped us on 260.  We grabbed food and made our way to the Mogollon Rim.  It was packed.  We hate crowds. We hate campgrounds.  Most sites were full and avoided.  The whole point of the trailer is to off site camp where ever we decide, not to be stuck to campsites with noisy neighbors.  We found a turn off without a sign which is a good sign that it is not regular camping.  It turned out of be a another four low road. Great news for us because that means most people will be scared off from it. And they were. It was us and another couple.  We parked, ate lunch and relaxed for several hours. The Taj Mahal was erected and aired out.  The smokey smell permeated in the canvass. We turned in shortly after dinner and a shower. After we ran out of water.  We blew through 30 gallons in two days. No breakfast at camp tomorrow. Bummer.  But it was part of the process. Now we know what to avoid, how to conserve more, and how frequently we will need to restock. We slept. Under the stars, surrounded by the scent of pine trees, sheltered from the winds on the Rim. The dogs passed out on there camp beds and didn't stir until we did.  I could get used to this. Morning broke, I slept in while Mike walked the dogs.  We packed up and headed to civilization for breakfast. Camping might be over but we weren't ready to head back to the scorching temperatures of CAG. Instead we stopped at the Tonto Natural Bridge.  We weren't allowed on the dirt trails to the water. Apparently dogs can't go in areas where people can swim? So we rebelled and they drank and splashed in a mountain spring.  Onwards to Sedona.  Which was a mistake.  The more times I go to Sedona, the more I hate it.  When you drop into town, your breath is taken away by the views.  And then the people happen.  The citizens of Sedona tend to be snobby.  Vacationers in Sedona are rude, and uncivilized.  It was packed.  I was feeling claustrophobic.  We picnicked by a creek, Rommel played and I was done.  Sedona ruined my mood.  Casa Grande bound.  Rommel slept until we hit out exit off I-10. The trees and red rock gave way to sand and cactus.  The heat smothered us. The trailer was unpacked and hosed off.  The dogs were given a quick wash.  While our weekend is not quite over (we're boating tomorrow), our camping excursion is over. I understand the allure of extreme long term expeditions.   Exploration Without Limitation.