Shift down when going back down Route 34 because the road is very steep, narrow, and lacks guardrails. Forest 35.45206, -105.66834
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Santa Fe NF Boondocking
Monday, March 25, 2024
Homolovi State Park
The park has a small visitor center, an observatory, five short trails, and a campground.
The visitor center is accessible. The trail to Homolovi II is accessible but very steep so most wheelchair users will need assistance. The trail to Homolovi I is an old dirt road. Since it had recently rained we did not attempt the road. The other trails are not accessible due to the rough, hilly terrain. We did not check out the campground or the observatory.The parking lots at the pueblo sites and visitor center have several long RV/bus spaces and a number of long spaces where vans will fit. Park 35.045, -110.65336
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Chloride Boondocking
This boondocking spot is located on leveled top of a small hill with a few abandoned pieces of mining equipment. We aren't sure what they are but the ground is clear of any metal scraps that could puncture tires. It's a quiet spot with views of the surrounding mountains.
Route 125 to Chloride is paved. A wide maintained dirt road leads to the road to the boondocking spot. That road is narrow and a bit rough. High ground clearance is not necessary but RVs with long overhangs may scrap bottom. BLM Camping 35.41709, -114.2268
Friday, March 22, 2024
Boulder Beach Campground
This is a pretty campground with many trees and vegetation between the sites. The sites are fairly roomy. It's popular and can only be reserved online or by phone so if you want to camp during the winter make reservations early. Amenities include tables, fire rings, grills, restrooms, water spigots, paved parking pads, and a dump station. The accessible sites are excellent with wide paved parking pads and pavement that extends under the table and fire ring. They were all reserved when we visited.
The paved River Mountain Loop Trail which parallels Lakeshore Road can be accessed from the campground. We chose to walk/roll along the 1.5 mile Boulder Beach Front Road for a quieter and more scenic hike. Boulder Beach Access Road which leads to the Front Road is fairly steep so most wheelchair users will need assistance. Campground 36.03618, -114.8026Sunday, March 17, 2024
Tom Devlin's Monster Museum
Burnt out on Hollywood, he moved to Boulder City, Nevada and opened the Monster Museum in 2017. Almost all of the monsters have been created by Devlin using the originals as a guide. Many of them are from classic horror films like Frankenstein and the Mummy but there are more recent ones like Freddy Krueger and Pennywise, the clown. Although visitors are not allowed to touch the monsters, it's possible to get close enough for photos. I would have liked to see more on how the monsters were created and the makeup processes used in movies. There's a theater where several documentaries are shown. We watched one on the makeup and costumes for the Planet of the Apes movies and plus part of a documentary about makeup artist, Tom Savini.
The parking lot is too small for large RVs. It may be possible to park at McDonalds or the shopping centers northeast of the museum. Museum 35.97156, -114.85067
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Needle Mountain Road Dispersed Camping
Monday, February 26, 2024
2024 RTRs
However there was the RTR in January! As always a lot of fun!
The Women's Rubber Tramp Rendezvous started out a little cold. Columbia Sportswear donated $8,000 in cold weather gear to HOWA and all who needed a jacket, hat, gloves, or socks but couldn't afford to buy them were able to get what they needed to stay warm and cozy.
The weather improved after the first day - prefect for sitting in the ball field and enjoying the music and seminars. Other popular attractions included the free pile, games and crafts, and the meet and greet with Bob Wells. We added a few new things this year - a donation thermometer, a colorful information booth canopy, direction signs, and a ramp to access the stage.
See everyone next year or maybe on the road somewhere! RTRs 33.676, -114.2102
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Historic Erie Street
The closing of the mine in 1974 doomed the business that lined both sides of Erie Street. Local businesses and the Lowell Americana Project have been preserving the buildings and adding to the atmosphere by parking antique cars, trucks, busses along the street. The only business that appears to still be open is the Bisbee Breakfast Club but it's fun to see all of the old cars and restored signs. There's an overlook of the pit at the north end of the street where the parking lot is located but for a better view drive north on Route 80 to the Lavender Pit Viewing Area.