It's getting hot down here - time to head north!

We left The Valley on Thursday, April 20, this year.  Our first stop was Thousand Trails Verde Valley RV Park in Cottonwood, Arizona, where we stayed for three nights so that Gabe and Ziva and I could participate in an AKC Scent Work trial.  

The RV Park is absolutely enormous -- 500 acres, 340 camping sites, most with water, electric and sewer hookups -- and very nice, although you'll have to take my word for it.  I always mean to take pictures of our site and I always forget.  I took pictures instead of the "Alternative Dog Park" (which might as well be named "Gabe's Hangout," am I right?  Who is more alternative?) because Priorities.  Anyway, this fenced space was roughly 250 x 100 feet, with a rough gravel surface, three picnic tables and a very considerate porta-potty; I try not to think about what made that necessary.  There were a couple of mercury vapor lights for nighttime use.  The fence was 8 feet high and topped with 3 strands of barbed wire: no coyotes allowed.  It's off the road between the "F" and "C" sections of the park and I never saw anyone else use it.  I drove the dogs there from our camp site, but it was a great place to allow them to safely have a little personal time without me at the end of the leash.  

Not every travel blog begins with pictures of a dog exercise yard.  You're welcome.  

The Copper State Scent Work Club trial was so much fun, a fabulous three days. The Sedona site was amazing; we had an incredible view of the red rocks, and an unbelievable "win" photo backdrop! 

Good Poodles hung out in the car while it blocked
view and hearing for a search.

Gabe earned his AKC Scent Work Master title.

Fun people and their marvelous dogs!

Ziva Qualified in one of her Detective runs. How
about that backdrop? 

Our next destination is Iowa, but we try to travel less than 300 miles a day.  Driving the RV takes a lot of attention, all of it Doug's.  And that gives us a bit of cushion if something happens, and gives us time to do some sightseeing.  So on Monday night, we headed to Flagstaff and then east on Interstate 40.  Ziva does not approve of the highway maintenance level! 

One doesn't usually think, "Ooh, I want to go to a REST STOP today!"  But you'd be surprised; some have great interpretive exhibits, many have nice walking trails, and a surprising number are built around beautiful natural features, like the Meteor Crater rest stop on I-40.

A Kiva

Our stop for the night was Homolovi State Park near Winslow.  The park encompasses seven archeological sites, two of which are open to the public, with paved sidewalks and interpretive signs.  These impressive complexes were built by the Hisat'sinom (Anasazi), but abandoned over 600 years ago after drought forced the people to head north, moving in with what today are the Hopi.  The Park was created in an effort to present the historical sites which were being pillaged by scavengers who brought in backhoes to assist in their searches for delicate pottery and artifacts.  It was originally named "Homolovi Ruins State Park" but when the state shut it down during a budget crisis, the Hopi people said they would sponsor the park's operating costs for a year with one condition -- the state had to remove the word "Ruins" from the name, as, to them, it is a living memorial.  The state promptly agreed.

 

The Park is home to a small herd of wild donkeys.  They are
very noisy and seem to be having a great time.

Gabe had never had his picture taken On The Corner In Winslow, Arizona, so we had to do that. I had no idea that the Poodles were so fond of Jackson Browne (or do they think that's Glenn Frey?)

We could see the thunderstorm blowing in from quite a long ways away.

The campground is quite new, with all the mod cons, and completely full tonight.  The weather is changing; it's going to be windy tomorrow, so we'll set the alarm early and try to beat feet before the heat of the day can compound the problem.