Rving in the Desert

We made it to California!
Currently in Desert Springs (near Joshua Tree), then on to Redlands(near LA), plus Death Valley and Sequoia National Park!


Our campground in Cottonwood, AZ had a lot going on.  There was swimming, hiking and all kinds of games (basketball, mini golf, foosball) which the Weber kids enjoyed.

The views all around the park were cool - the mountains were one reason we didn't have very good wifi.  It was worth it, tho.  These photos are from a couple of different hikes at the park.

Our friends stayed at a cabin 4 sites down the road from us - super convenient.

There was an awesome pool - Caden jumped in avoiding all the bees that were circling.

We took a hike down to the river that runs right along the back of the campground property.

Saw a little Final Four action, too!

Just like old times in the backyard on Elm Street....

As is this!

I'm tacking a couple of other tourist things onto this post.  Just Johnny and I went to Montezuma's Castle located in the Verde Valley.  We learned how the people of the Sinaguan culture lived centuries ago.  Many Native American Tribes claim to have descended from the pueblo people who inhabited this area - Hopi, Apache and Yavatapi to name a few.

They built their stacked homes right into the side of this mountain using ladders to get up and down. The Sycamore trees were used to support each different level.  Ingenious!

Johnny and I also visited Tuzigoot National Monument in Cottonwood.  The Sinaguan people lived here, too.  Tuzigoot is an Apache word that means "crooked river" which refers to the same Verde River that runs through our campground.  There were hundreds of artifacts found here that gave insight into how the Sinaguan people lived. The other historical piece associated with Tuzigoot  - the discovery, excavation and logging of all of the artifacts provided many needed jobs during the Depression.

Both Montezuma's Castle and Tuzigoot are some of the best preserved ruins of people who lived in the 1300's.  It's amazing how little restoration work has been done here.