City of Rocks

June 12, 2014

Today we adventured out to a curious place called the City of Rocks State Park.  The drive had little to offer!  It felt like an hour of passing by the same stretch of dusty wallpaper, looping over and over.  We proceeded to navigate the sketchy process of managing the kid's expectations, all the while, lamenting the precious gasoline combusting in our engines.  Our fears, however, quickly dissipated as we turned a corner and looked down into a sight that did, indeed, look like a City of Rocks.  Have you ever driven a long stretch of flat and uneventful road and then marveled at a town suddenly appearing out of nowhere?  Little buildings all nestled up against one another for company?    That is what the City of Rocks looks like.  In this large expanse of desolate country, a surprising uprising of rock formations holding court. 

We parked the camper and made our way through the vast trails and climbed over and through the boulders.   After Tom gave each spot a thorough Rattlesnake check, we gave the kids a few pointers on how to avoid plummeting to their deaths and then we mostly let them run free.  It was SO hot, and before we knew it, Ivy was huddled in the fetal position in the shade of a rock declaring that she was dying.  Thankfully, the park offered Day Use for $5 and had electricity and water.  We popped the camper up, turned on the air conditioner and took a nap!  Well...Tom and I took the nap.  The kids just basked in the frosty artificial air and occasionally stepped on our faces.   After our nap, we took sprinkler showers to cool off and the girls finished our laundry.  By that time, the sun was dropping and there was significantly more shade, so we headed back to explore.  
We chased lizards.
We chased rabbits.
We chased shadows.
We had a sweet time.


 

 

 
 

 

As the sun started to set, we hit the road and crossed the Arizona border to the tune of an incredible full moon.  I miss the mountains of home, but the expansive horizon of Arizona is a nice trade.  The  sunset washed us with color in every direction.  We stopped in Duncan Arizona to visit my dad and eat his spaghetti!  A welcome change from our camper cooking!  I drank a cup of coffee with him at 4am before he had to head to the mines to work.  I wish we could stay longer to visit with him, but it just so happens that we have passed through his town at the wrong time.  He has 3 more days of 12 hour shifts ahead of him!  And here lies the downside of this unscripted adventure.  So far...the only one I can count.

Our Trip Summed Up: 

Days Remaining:  29

Miles Driven:  1,732

Currently in:  Duncan, AZ

Total Spending so far:    Gas:       $510.02 out $1,500 goal

                                                Sleep:  $10 out of a $500 goal

                                                Eat:        $146.08 out of a $600 goal

                                                Other:  $33 out of a $400 goal

                                                Grand Total:  $699.10 out of a $3,000 goal