Are we really already at the first long-awaited stopover? You know, the journey is the goal - and that is also the case with us. Even though we have now made it to this impressive place, our journey to here was definitely fascinating! Here are the stories:
It is Monday the 5th of July. We are still in the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico - our place is just too beautiful so we stay here two more nights. We can relax here completely undisturbed, wire up the compressor and Lynda still has to take a motorcycle driving lesson. During the day it is very warm and in the evening there is always a thunderstorm. We already got used to it and are enjoying the cool down and the fascinating weather. Even if a hailstorm starts one evening - we briefly consider catching the hailstones and making a nice drink with it - well, we didn’t do that after all ☺️
But the day has come where we want to move on. Wednesday July 7th. Today Lynda drives alone in the van and Joss sets off on the motorcycle. On the very demanding off-road track out of the National Forest, Joss has to guide the van and Lynda help again and again so that everyone arrives safely on the paved road.
And here again a little anecdote from Lynda: Joss was just about to refill the tires when I had to take a pee. So I turn around the corner and suddenly he stands there - a wolf, about 30ft away from me - and looks me straight in the eye. I can tell you that it was a once in a lifetime experience. Of course it was only a short moment before the wolf ran away, but I will never forget that.
So today we will take different routes. Joss wants to explore more off-road routes in the Cibola NF with the motorcycle and Lynda drives on the highway and on backroads to Walmart in order to finally put the last blog online. Since Joss will be on the road for some time, Lynda goes shopping, clears away all things and is approached by people about Sir Quigley every now and then. Also a man who recommends a loop route where Joss could have a lot of fun with his motorcycle. However, since our route is already planned for today, Lynda says thanks for the tip and waits for Joss. After a few hours Joss is back and you can see the effort written on his face. He drove about 90 miles through super rough terrain - up and down and up and down again. Through mud, over stones or simply on sandy stretches. He is overjoyed.
We continue to our next place - it is almost dark and it is precisely these moments that you just want to arrive, set up camp, eat and go to sleep. It didn't work out with Lynda, Sir Quigley and a very large mud puddle. We get stuck. Even with our Maxtrax sand boards, we can't get out again - 15ft in front of our campspot - no forwards or backwards. It takes over an hour for Joss to get us out of the muddy mess. One can imagine what Joss and Sir Quigley looked like both inside and outside. In spite of everything, we then sit under a great starry sky, have another beer and hear coyotes screaming in the distance (the very first time that we hear them and their really terrible screaming makes them immediately recognizable).
We continue to the west. In the village of Soccoro we are doing some shopping and want to continue into the Gila National Forest. We find an entrance and drive a short distance into the forest when we see a tent and a car on the side. As we get closer, a man comes towards us with the words "You made it!". Exactly, it is the nice guy from the Walmart parking lot who recommended this route to us. The world is small. We chat a little with him and continue on the once again very demanding path. We need about an hour and a half for 16 miles. Super cool terrain, great scenery, crazy trees and caves (even with Native Americans cave paintings). Here, we find a great spot, too - recommended by Chris.
If anyone wonders who Chris is and why we always find such great and extraordinary spots - that's because we've been following Chris Shontz on YouTube for a few years. He explores many parts of the USA in his orange Jeep Wrangler and, with the support of Patrion, his entire routes and camps are made available. So, of course, we don't always "find" all the spots, but are giving a lot to Chris' recommendations and are always right. So take a look: @ venture4wd on YouTube (Thanks Petra 😉)
Next in the Gila National Forest. The morning in our beautiful and very quiet place is great. We “climb” a small hill, have breakfast and shower. Taking a shower in the wilderness with cold water already gives you the feeling of absolute freedom.
We continue our journey to a campsite in the National Forest right at Snowlake. The road leads through beautiful forests, great terrain and there are always cows on or next to the road. And then the sign that the Mexican wolf should be reintroduced. You also get advise on how to behave when you meet one. Unfortunately, we won't get this opportunity (although Lynda is already a professional here 😂). But in the distance we see elk - you can't have everything.
We are the only campers at the campsite and we enjoy the view of the lake with a bald eagle family who always indulge in fresh fish.
New Mexico - who would have thought that it is so incredibly beautiful here. The landscapes offer a lot and so we are spending much longer than planned in this beautiful state. Saturday July 10th we arrive at the Arizona welcome sign. We leave New Mexico with a heavy heart, but we are sure that we will come again. But now the Grand Canyon State is waiting for us.
We spend the night again in the forests, where it is now possible to camp wild anywhere. Unfortunately, our plans are briefly thwarted by a dental problem. Lynda feels that her molar has broken into 4 pieces. So we drive to the next city and look for a dentist. Lynda finally succeeds at the fourth dentist. Fortunately, only a piece of the filling broke off, so that it can be temporarily filled and the problem is solved for the time being. But the much bigger decision has yet to be made. Should Lynda cut her hair? Yes, Lynda's mind has been haunted for a long time and we will put it into practice on Monday, July 12th. About 8 inch are cut off, highly unprofessional and without much thought ... that's why it's now a kind of long bob. Even if the shock is big at first, in retrospect it was absolutely the right decision. Joss cut the hair just right and Lynda feels good.
The hair is short now 
That was Grand Canyon - Part 1. The second part will be published shortly. You can be curious 😉
See you ... somewhere and anyway ...