This turned out to be a most unique trip. Though we did not plan on doing winter camping, as our itinerary took us from Atlanta to Arkansas, southwestern Texas, Arizona, and Nevada, it turned out that way. We were thankfully pleased (more than pleased, really happy) that in the below-freezing temperatures and snow, the RV lived up to expectations: its front wheel drive, by keeping us safe on the slippery roads; its “house” furnace by keeping us warm inside; and the inside water hoses and heated storage tanks that did not turn to ice. It may not officially be a four-season camper, but it comes close.
We took the weather in stride and focused on new experiences: we visited three new national parks (Hot Springs, Big Bend, and Saguaro), one of which was our first urban national park; a new state (Nevada); beautiful state parks; and – as mentioned above – experienced winter camping. There was also the historical city of Tombstone and the legend-rich Lost Dutchman State Park, and further educating ourselves about the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) at Davis Mountains State Park, all in Arizona.
We ended our trip in Las Vegas and moved the RV to a new home, NIRVC Las Vegas, the same company that housed it in Atlanta, as our future trips (G-d willing) will be on the western side of the United States.
Readers tell us how much they enjoy the photos, so the following is a pictorial review of this trip:
1. Entrance to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas2. Main Street, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas4. Promenade, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas5. Mineral Deposit, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas6. Mineral Deposit, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas7. Historic bath house, now spa, restaurant with beer and root beer made on premises from underground hot springs, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 38. Smoke from underground hot springs, 143 degrees F, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas9. Spa Row, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas10. Female treatment room, Spa Museum, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas11. Entrance area to male treatment rooms, Spa Museum, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas12. Hiking path in forest behind treatment spas, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas13. Water fountain of hot underground water cooled to 100 degrees F, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas14. Free drinking water from clean, pure hot springs, Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas15. Campsite, Abilene State Park, Texas16. Bird sanctuary, Abilene State Park, Texas17. Abilene State Park, Texas18. Abilene State Park, Texas19. Flood gauge marker, Abilene State Park, Texas20. Cardinal, Abilene State Park, Texas21. Abilene State Park, Texas22. Abilene State Park, Texas23. Abilene State Park, Texas24. Abilene State Park, Texas25. Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National Park, Texas26. Fossil Discovery Exhibit, Big Bend National Park, Texas27. Fossil Discovery Exhibit, Big Bend National Park, Texas28. Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas29. Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas30. Sunset, Big Bend National Park, Texas31. Big Bend National Park, Texas32. Big Bend National Park, Texas33. Big Bend National Park, Texas34. Big Bend National Park, Texas35. Boquillas Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas36. Boquillas Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas37. Boquillas Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas 38. Boquillas Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas39. Santa Elena Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas40. Santa Elena Canyon Trail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas41. Santa Elena CanyonTrail, Rio Grande River, Big Bend National Park, Texas42. Santa Elena Canyon Trail, Big Bend National Park, Texas43. Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas44. Tombstone, Arizona45. Earp Brothers and Doc Holiday, Tombstone, Arizona46. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral reenactment, Tombstone, Arizona47. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral reenactment, Tombstone, Arizona48. Main Street, Tombstone, Arizona49. Crystal Palace, Tombstone, Arizona50. Epitaph Newspaper Office Museum, Tombstone, Arizona51. Woke up to snow, Tombstone, Arizona52. Drive from Tombstone, Arizona53. Entrance to Saguaro National Park, Arizona54. Saguaro National Park, Arizona55. Saguaro National Park, Arizona56. Saguaro National Park, Arizona57. Saguaro National Park, Arizona59. Saguaro National Park, Arizona60. Saguaro National Park, Arizona61. Saguaro National Park, Arizona62. Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona63. Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona64. Sunset, Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona65. Sunset, Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona66. Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona67. Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona68. Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona69. Snow driving, Kingman, Arizona
72. Snow on the way to Bullhead City, Arizona73. Colorado River, Bullhead City, Arizona74. Pictographs, Spirit Hill, Bullhead City, Arizona 75. Pictograph, Spirit Hill, Bullhead City, Arizona76. Casinos across the river from the Bullhead City campground in Laughlin, Nevada
