Article by Emily & Mark Fagan
Motorhome Magazine July 2014
The July, 2014, issue of Motorhome Magazine is featuring our article about RV sanitation systems and RV dump station procedures called, “Keep It Clean!”
This article first appeared in Trailer Life Magazine, and the good folks at Good Sam Club liked it so much they decided to customize it a little for their MotorHome readers and publish it in that magazine as well. Continue reading
After our exciting slot canyon hike and our happy romps amid the beautiful wildflowers and “toadstools” just north of the Vermillion Cliffs in southern Utah, we put in some long hours on the road, driving north and west through Utah and into Nevada.
The roads in Utah were familiar and were loaded with memories as we passed through Kanab and the wonderful Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, on up through Panguitch and past its turn-offs for Zion National Park, Red Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Cedar Breaks.
This is Hayabusa country!
But when we got into Nevada we were in new territory. The roads were straight and deserted, and the vast valleys on either side of us seemed to go on forever. There wasn’t a building or car in sight all the way to the horizon in every direction.
“This is Hayabusa country,” Mark suddenly said. “This would be so perfect for a fast motorcycle!” Continue reading
OMG – When we’re not looking, we come across a gorgeous field
of wildflowers bursting with color!
May, 2014 – All spring we had deliberately searched for wildflowers in Arizona, using the excellent book Wild Arizona as a guide.
We had driven down crazy back roads and hiked into the hinterlands, stalking these colorful little beauties.
We had found lots of pretty flowers scattered here and there, but the vast fields of color we’d hoped for never materialized. Continue reading
The slot canyon is barely visible from the outside.
May, 2014 – The beautiful red rocks and views of Sedona, Arizona, are utterly enchanting, but the exotic Vermillion Cliffs two hundred miles north lured us away.
We have driven past the fantastically colored rock walls along routes 89 and 89A between Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah, many times in the past.
However, this time we stopped for a while to explore the area in a little more depth. Continue reading
“Montezuma’s Castle” – were the Aztecs in Arizona??!!
May, 2014 – We have driven past those tantalizing signs on I-17 in Arizona a hundred times:
“Montezuma’s Castle” & “Montezuma’s Well.”
But we have always been in a rush either to get up to Flagstaff or down to Phoenix.
Did those signs refer to the 16th century Aztec king, Montezuma?
If so, what the heck had he been doing way up here in Arizona when his real castle was down by Mexico City?
If not, then why did these places bear his name? Continue reading
Beautiful reflections on the West Fork Trail
May, 2014 – Sedona, Arizona, is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Not only were we thrilled (and challenged) by the wonderful mountain biking in the area, but the hiking was incredible too.
The only problem we had was figuring out which hikes to do! Continue reading
Ready to Ride!!
May, 2014 – Sedona, Arizona, is a mountain biking mecca, and our friend Marcel, whom we met during our winter stay in Phoenix, and who inspired us to take up this sport, was eager to get us out on the trails.
The mountain biking in Sedona is scenic, dramatic and thrilling — but we soon found out that it is far from easy!
There is only one trail in the main system of in-town trails — the Bell Rock Pathway — that is truly for beginners, and we happily rode up and down that 3.5 mile path many times. Continue reading
We have arrived!
May, 2014 – Driving north from Roosevelt Lake in the Phoenix area is a climb, no matter which road you take.
As we drove north on I-17, the rising elevation quickly took us out of the Sonoran desert landscapes.
The air cooled and the saguaro cactus gave way to scrubby evergreens.
In no time, we were in the heart of Arizona’s red rock country in Sedona.
Oh my. Sedona is breathtaking!! Continue reading
Happy Spring!
April, 2014 – Roosevelt Lake is situated near several classic Arizona scenic drives, and during our stay the spring flowers were just coming into bloom. Continue reading
Brittlebush flowers light up Roosevelt Lake
April, 2014 – We had spent the winter months in Phoenix, Arizona, enjoying beautiful hikes and gorgeous waterways, and observing pretty birds and wild horses.
But the desert was heating up with the arrival of Spring, and so were we!
So we headed just a little further east to Roosevelt Lake where the temps are always just a few degrees cooler. Continue reading