Exploring

We set out today to find a place to camp for the next week. This will be our first experience with dispersed camping on National Forest Service land. We drove to several locations we had found described on websites. Some were easier to access than others, but all are off the beaten path--mainly along washboarded unpaved roads.

The first three photos below are of the area along Thousand Trails Road near Cottonwood, AZ, where we plan to move tomorrow.

We drove into Sedona and stopped at a tourist information center to pick up a brochure for the Verde Canyon Railroad, which the Millers had recommended. Then we drove south on Hwy 179. We stopped at some viewpoints and then went past Oak Creek to the Red Rock Ranger Station. The views all around Sedona are so spectacular that it's a wonder there aren't more fender benders.

At the ranger station we got maps and information on some good hikes in the area and scenic drives, so we'll have plenty to keep us busy and happy for a while.

View of Bell Rock from the Red Rock Ranger Station

It was hot today, but the weather is expected to be cooler for the next week, so it should be comfortable for boondocking. No electric hookup means no a/c. We do have our great 12 v. Fantastic Vent, which circulates the air from outside wonderfully.