Black Canyon City KOA
Site #55

We are limping home.  Eight hour drive today.  Crazy Amelia had ambitions of driving all the way to SD, but after driving through rain in Kayenta, a torrential down pour in Tuba City, which we waited out, thank god, because it caused flash flooding west of town that was still going on when we drove by.  More heavy rain when I was behind the wheel 20 miles north of Flagstaff.  And then the mother of them all, the heaviest rain the two of us have ever seen, anywhere, anytime. On the I-17 somewhere just north of the Cottonwood Exit.  Multiple cars were pulled over on the shoulder with flashers on, including us.  Visibility was about 20 feet and the road was a river.

That’s enough stress for one day!  4pm, 102 degrees, and the need for a 30 amp plug-in.  So here we are at yet another KOA. This one is kind of a dump, but the AC is cranking, and we are leaving before sunlight tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone that inquired about Sara, she’s fine. We don’t know what she was thinking when the glass exploded, but probably something along the lines of, “I sure put up with a lot of shit from these two.”

Duct tape is awesome! At the first rain, we pulled over and I busted out the black duct tape to cover the exposed cardboard. Amazingly enough, only a little water got into the Airsteam after driving through all those storms.

There’s always could’ve, should’ve, would’ve beens.  And if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all be having a party.  We are going home and then up to Orange County Airstream on Thursday to have the window replaced.

After that?

While blogging the crazy weather hit the campground.

Mi amigo on Phil’s with the Sleeping Ute Mountain in the background.

Since our last trip to Cortez we’ve been wondering if it was really that great? And was Phil’s World really that much fun?  Maybe it was just that our stop before Cortez was so disappointing, that anything was going to feel great.  As time goes by the tales grow taller and the memories fonder.  You are almost afraid to go back for fear of it not living up to the pedestal you’ve place it upon.

Those were silly thoughts!  If anything, Phil’s World was even better than I remembered.  We wish we could magically transport all of our mountain bike friends so we could share the joy together.  The group would be so high, and not from legal marijuana, but from feeding off each other’s endorphins, laughs, beers, and camaraderie.

This was originally going to be a four-night stop, but after one day we added three more to make it a lucky seven.  The KOA Cortez is an extremely well ran business.  It’s not often any operation impresses us.  They are very detail oriented.  And do all the little things correct, like remembering names.  It’s a pleasure to give them our money, coming from me there’s no higher praise.

Last year was not a fluke.

Amelia with Shawn & Bernie, the two brothers that own the KOA Cortez.

One of the sweetest and shadiest spots at KOA Cortez. Site 28

A beautiful Rocky Mountain Penstemon on the Boggy Draw Trail outside of Dolores, 20 minutes from Cortez. I absolutely love this pic, perhaps my all time favorite.

Amelia clearing The Elbow on Phil’s.

Not everything is Buffy Saint-Marie at Phil’s, especially when you get to some of the outer loops like Ledges.

A Palmer’s Penstemon in Mesa Verde National Park.

Just another beautiful meadow. Maverick’s Loop, Boggy Draw area.

I really can’t tell you why, but I get the biggest kick out of watching everyone get a golf cart escort to their site. It’s like a parade every afternoon. Different folks, different RV’s, license plates from everywhere. It’s a great way to pass the late afternoon early evening, after a morning bike ride and nap!

One last observation, either we ran into a lot of people behind the times, or god forbid, fanny packs are coming back.

Okay, the Cortez blog was all done, I was going to review it once more and then post it.  The next thing you know a crazy wind came busting through the campground.  We had a bunch of laundry on hangars hanging on the awning.  I’m yelling at Amelia, she’s half dressed, (not just out of the shower, but recently out of the shower) with all my might I’m holding on to the awning.  She comes out to help and then all hell breaks loose. CRASH, the rear kitchen window shatters into a million pieces.

Ugh, it was such a great day.

Damn!

What a huge mess, glass everywhere.

Jim, a great asset to this KOA, was on the spot to help out. Bernie brought a shop vac over, and an old golf cart windshield.  Jim helped “install” the windshield and left me with a roll of duct tape and some cardboard.

Amelia and Jim in front of our janky rear window. We were raving about this place before this accident, now we are really raving about it. Great people that really helped us out.

Monday morning we will make a few phone calls, but the remainder of the trip is up in the air.

Stay tuned…