Thursday, April 13, 2017

Arizona, Holbrook - Thursday, April 13, 2017 - OK RV Park


We left Val Vista Villages Tuesday around noon and headed to the Cummins Engine facility in Mesa so they could check out why our “check engine” light was coming on.  We were able to hook up to 50 amp service next to their shop so we would be ready for our 6:00 a.m. appointment on Wednesday morning.  On Wednesday they hooked the coach up to the computers and found we had two separate issues.  One was related to an air filter that needed to be replaced even though its indicator didn’t show it was time for that change.  When they took it off we could see that it indeed needed to be replaced.  Unfortunately, they didn’t have a filter to replace it and it took until around 4:00 p.m. before they could locate a replacement filter.  The other problem is in the engine crankcase which is beyond my being able to explain it.  We need to have some further analysis done to that problem when we get back to Indiana where we can have access to a larger Cummins shop.  In the meantime it is ok to drive and seems to be performing well.

When we went out to get in the coach to pull out of Cummins we couldn’t get the coach door open.  I ended up going up a ladder and in the window next to the driver’s seat so I could try to open the door from the inside – mission accomplished.  We pulled out onto the wide street in front of Cummins, went through the Jeep hook up for the first time then went inside the coach for the night ready to get an early start this morning.

This morning we couldn’t get out the door.  We called a mobile RV service in Mesa that we have used before and told them we were trapped in our RV.  A service rep came out relatively quickly and determined that we need a new door latch assembly, but made the current one so it would work in the interim.  We were on the road around 8:45 this morning.

We will miss these mountain views.  I have to admit that mountain driving still makes me nervous, “will we make it up to the top?” (we always do and we are still moving at a decent pace), “will the brakes heat up too much going down?” (they never do, Greg manages just fine).  These are the Mazatzal Mountains, highest peak is Mt. Ord at 7128 feet.




From the mountains we entered the Coconino National Forest area.  It looks to me like fire has been through here not too long ago.  A lot of the trees are scorched and missing lower branches.  Undergrowth is gone and just now being replaced by new grass.




Coming out of the National Forest, the tall pine trees are replaced by lots and lots of small bushes.



And, then the bushes are replaced by scrubby little plants.  We saw cattle grazing out here from time to time. 



All along this route, state road 87, there were warning signs to beware of elk.  I had the camera ready but the only wildlife we saw was one scrawny squirrel carrying a big nut across the road.

Historic US Rt. 66 runs through Winslow, AZ, we will be stopping to fuel up and then pick up US 40 to go east.



This great looking trailer was pulling into the fuel island next to us.



We will be staying a couple of days at OK RV Park in Holbrook, AZ.  It is near the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert.  We’ve been through them before but we are going again to take a closer look this time.  As the name states, it is an “ok” RV park.  It is neat with level gravel sites.  All sites have picnic tables and the people working in the office are very nice.  The only downside I can see is that the neighborhood next door to the park is a little rundown.




There is a lot of petrified wood just outside the park office.  We didn’t discuss its origin with anyone but it looks like it has always been here.



Some of the individual pieces are beautiful.





This is what some of the wood looks like after it is polished.


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