People who have been following my blog the last six months (and longer) know that I have been extremely busy with a personal project that finally came to fruition the end of November. This doesn’t mean the work is finished, as December and January still had me glued to the computer to promote my travel memoir, Plunge. The question is: did we have any fun throughout the focus and dedication towards my book?
(As always, hover over photos or click on them to read captions. My photos are heavily resized, so I can easily upload them and so this page loads with weaker internet connections.)
I have offered glimpses of that in previous posts, expense reports, and writing updates, but I have left a lot out as well. It is my intention to fill in the gaps today. Since my memory is nothing to boast about, I will let the photos do most of the talking. ???? My last sightseeing update documented how we arrived in Arizona, the end of November. You can read about that here.
On the drive to Tucson from Wilcox Lagoons, we briefly stopped in Benson to meet a fellow Westy owner.
Mark and I met up with two befriended couples and fellow overlanding nomads, Duwan and Greg (and their van Ballena Blanca) of Make Like An Ape Man and Ellen and Scott (with their tiny Scamper) of Ellen Jacobson Author, for Thanksgiving, my 45th birthday, and my book launch. I wrote a post about that milestone event here and Duwan did a better job with that here. For the next few weeks, we would see our friends on and off.
Mark and I made Tucson our home base for a couple of weeks in total. We enjoy the desert landscape and the town has a lot to offer in terms of scenery and services. There are a few free campsites close by, but we appreciated the driveways of generous friends of friends when it came to “life in the office.”
The highlight of December was our one-week tour of SE Arizona, together with Duwan and Greg. We started at the Titan Missile Museum, where we paid for a guided tour in one of the remaining “nuclear” silos from the Cold War era. Greg did an incredible job explaining this experience and Duwan took great photos, so I will refer you to you their blog post about it here. I strongly recommend reading this one!
We boondocked in the Madera Canyon region for a few nights, where we sat out rainy weather and hiked in the (cold) hills. This is where I finally opened my box of books and held a finished Plunge in my hands for the first time.
A quick visit to Tubac proved incredibly enjoyable. We all liked this tiny town with character and browsed the streets more than once. Greg treated us to a lovely Mexican lunch. This was the first meal out for us in months. Luckily, this area in Arizona took the virus seriously.
On the same day, we tagged onto Duwan and Greg’s national park pass to inspect the grounds of Tumacacori National Historic Park. We were pretty much the only tourists in this old mission and savored the peace and learning about its historical significance.
Our next stop was a bit higher in elevation. We were pretty chilly but still enjoyed a few walks in Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, before checking out Bisbee, a town that had been on our mental list for a long time. We played with the idea of settling there one day. How that introduction turned out was blogged about by me in this post.
In between town visits, we took a break in the natural surroundings of Whitewater Draw, where sandhill cranes migrate certain times of the year. A short walk (dogs on leash) brought us to “crane heaven.” Everywhere we looked, these stately birds were gathered in and along the pond.
The Old West town of Tombstone, famous for the O.K. Corral, was next on our itinerary and our final destination on this “tour.” Armed with margaritas, we strolled through town for a few hours. Why did we need drinks to take in the scene? You find the answer here.
The last week of the year, all six of us gathered again near Ajo in Southwestern Arizona. The desert around Ajo is peaceful and scenic. We found a fantastic free campsite near Locomotive Rock to celebrate Christmas and go for daily hikes. It was pretty much the furthest spot away from the main road that still had a reliable cell phone signal.
One day, we made the long drive down to Organ Pipe Cactus National Park, on the border with Mexico. Mark and I visited this remote yet fascinating place two years ago, without Maya, so I didn’t mind staying behind with her on a dog-friendly path while the others went on a hike further afield.
The frigid nights (yes, it gets down to freezing in the southern Arizona winters) sent us towards lower elevations in SE California. Our bubble of friends rang in the New Year in the Five Palms area, where Mark and I had a nice time a couple of years ago. With Maya, the two of us would return here again the end of January 2021, to “prepare” for our trip to Baja California.
The first month of this year was dedicated to some health concerns and promoting my book. And now we are in Mexico! Stay tuned for the next installment of travel news next week, whenever the internet cooperates. ????
Like me, Duwan and Greg are catching up on blog posts and they just published their version of our one-week tour. Check it out here.
Sunset over Locomotive Rock
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February 17, 2021 at 12:15
I love the diversity of Arizona. You hit up some of my favorite spots in southern AZ. Is Bisbee still on the short list of possible places to settle down one day? Hope you are enjoying warmth and sunshine in Mexico.
February 17, 2021 at 12:33
Hi Ingrid! We have moved on from Bisbee, AZ (too expensive) and Kanab, Utah (not enough “vibe”). Now, we are considering Mulege, Baja California. Haha. It’s always an adventure and an unknown with us! 🙂 While it’s quite chilly and windy here, we are happy to be camping south of the border right now.
February 17, 2021 at 21:56
I still vote for Kanab! 😀
February 17, 2021 at 22:59
It certainly is the most scenic! 🙂 But… snow in winter, freezing night temperatures for four months in a row, and in de hundreds (forties for you :-)) during summer.
February 17, 2021 at 13:24
Hi Liesbet! Always the adventurer! Thanks for sharing your travels by photos. I love seeing people out and about with so many of us staying home. Really looking forward to seeing more photos of your travels in Baja! Until then enjoy Mulege! The weather is sure to get even nicer in the next month of so.~Kathy
February 17, 2021 at 22:36
Hi Kathy! It’s so nice that you are familiar with Baja and know what to expect and what to like about this peninsula. So far, the weather has been decent. Windier than other years, apparently, and upper sixties and low seventies. So, we are looking forward to the perfect mid- and upper-seventies soon. The prediction actually calls for 89F one day, next week. We will see. No need to head further south. I think it’s time to finally head to the beach and stop exploring… 🙂
February 17, 2021 at 15:13
You seem to live the life I wish I could–or had. Love the pictures. Anything with Maya is the best!
February 17, 2021 at 22:37
Maya makes every photo and every experience better. As long as she stays out of trouble. She certainly has had plenty of socializing with the Mexican dogs, of which there are many! 🙂
February 17, 2021 at 16:21
Looks like fun! We haven’t travelled more than 10 miles from home or met friends face to face for months so I’m just a teeny bit envious!
February 17, 2021 at 22:43
I’m so sorry about the continued and prolonged lockdowns in Scotland (and Europe), Anabel. So many places we have spent time in deal with the virus differently. We are very careful (except with the bubble mentioned in the blog; we know that most responsible nomads like us take similar precautions), but have been able to meet new people from a safe distance and with a mask during our recent travels. That being said, we are in shock at how some ex-pats and Mexicans in the town we just stayed at interact, as if nothing is going on! It is so weird to us. Almost as if Covid doesn’t exist. And these are seniors…
February 17, 2021 at 16:47
I love that you’ve created a safe bubble of friends! You’ve been interacting with people WAY more than we have 🙂 I am looking forward to seeing more about your stay in Mexico!
February 17, 2021 at 22:48
Hi Janis! Because we have been able to roam freely throughout multiple US states and now in Baja California, being careful and camping in remote places, it makes us feel and believe that travel in a responsible way is possible. Of course, we are self-contained and never in crowds, like airports or buses. And, of course, travel and sightseeing is not what it was. But, doing what we are doing does get rid of that “restrictive feeling” so many people have right now. I guess that’s a pro of this otherwise challenging lifestyle…
February 17, 2021 at 17:33
Gap-filling and entertaining, Liesbet.
I’m glad you could hunker down for a while in Tucson. Now in Mexico, you are dodging a lot of bad weather in the States these days. Even Florida looks gloomy though we had a burst of sunshine yesterday. Not complaining!
February 17, 2021 at 22:52
Hi Marian! We’ve been reading about the crazy, awful weather in the US. It has been relatively chilly for us, even here, especially the evenings and nights. We are still wearing jackets (and me socks in the evenings). The climate is doing weird things! Looking at the map, Baja and Florida are similar in latitude, so I think the temperature is comparable. La Paz is probably like Miami. And Mulege, where we are, maybe like Vero Beach?
February 17, 2021 at 18:05
I am trying to picture your journey on the map, it sounds like Arizona is a large estate. I have never visited this region, so I am enjoying learning about it from you.
How lovely that you have been able to meet up with friends and enjoy spending time together. Maya looks very happy to be traveling around. I will look forward to your next instalment.
February 17, 2021 at 22:58
Hi Gilda!
I hope you’ll get to visit Arizona one spring or fall. You could easily spend a month or two traveling around the diverse highlights, climate zones, altitudes, and different eco systems and attractions. Our one-week tour didn’t cover that much ground. Every place we stopped and/or camped at was probably within 2 hours of Tucson. From there to Ajo and Yuma (on the border with California) is 3-4 hours.
What I particularly like about this group of friends – other than having lots in common and being like-minded – is that we are all independent as couples and enjoy/require our privacy and time apart. We are a flexible bunch that manages to combine personal space and work situations with social times around happy hour. 🙂
February 17, 2021 at 21:58
Hi, Liesbet – I love how you have been able to travel safely and wisely, and meet up with friends (safely and wisely). It’s been wonderful to travel with you vicariously through this post. Awesome photos!
February 17, 2021 at 23:04
Thanks, Donna. Sometimes it has been tricky to interact safely and wisely. Not because of us, but because of the other party. Usually, we camp in the middle of nowhere end don’t have anyone around, except while grocery shopping. We avoid interactions within six feet apart, unless, when needed and when masks are worn. This last week, we stayed at a real and popular campground in a small town. You have no idea how many times I had to back off – and keep backing off – and put my mask on, when expats (and sometimes local vendors) approached me when not wearing masks themselves. It feels rude and awkward to be doing this and sometimes – based on local customs – it is hard to figure out where to draw the line. I’ll be sure to approach this subject when I blog about our time in Mulege.
February 17, 2021 at 22:14
Tucson is one of our favorites and Bisbee was a great time too. Haven’t made it to Tubac or Ajo, but they are definitely on the list. Arizona just has a ton of great spots and is such a joy to visit in the winter (Summer?? Maybe not so much). I am looking forward to hearing all about your south of the border adventures. We have talked about heading down there at some point, but it would probably be a bit tough for us given our size (finding gas stations we can fit into, etc.) But what a beautiful and interesting place to explore. Enjoy the sunshine and warmth!
February 17, 2021 at 23:13
Thanks, Laura. I think Arizona is awesome during the spring and fall. Such a diverse and attractive state. Winters are still too chilly for us, hence our “migration” south in February. I do think it’s been particularly weird and cold everywhere in North America this year, though.
Baja is relatively quiet this winter, because the Canadians are not here. I actually haven’t seen many class A’s yet. Some travel trailers and a few fifth wheels, but most campers have been of the shorter kind, now that you mention it. That being said, there are definitely campgrounds that fit larger rigs. Not so sure about the boondocking spots.
We have actually been staying at some real campgrounds. Hard not to at $10 a night including facilities (in some places). 🙂 All we planned to do was drive south of Mulege to get warm and park on a beach for a few weeks. We’ve now been here for over two weeks and still have to place our butts on a beach for more than a couple of days! Friday…
February 18, 2021 at 08:35
Happy to see that you have still been able to get outside and see both friends and nature! Is the Phoenix area any warmer? I guess you have left Arizona by now, but we’ve stuck to that area on winter trips since Tucson is higher and colder. Meanwhile, I am freezing in sub-zero Colorado while my poor husband and puppy are even more miserable in Houston, where they have had no power, water, internet, or cell service for almost 4 days now. We just can’t escape winter anywhere anymore!
February 19, 2021 at 00:10
Hi Lexie!
I’m so sorry to read about the devastating news in Texas. This is so unheard of and truly awful. I sure hope people in Houston and elsewhere have found a way to stay warm! I won’t mention the reaction of the Texas officials about all this. How much more does the world have to endure, huh? We all thought 2020 was a bad year. No winter escapes for many people. I guess we are fortunate to live in a small and mobile home these months…
I don’t remember which altitude Phoenix is on. I thought it was similar to Tucson, at 2,000ft, but I might be wrong. I know that both cities are hard to endure in the summer heats of over 100 degrees! Mark and I spent a total of three winters in the southwest of the US in the past and we have never been warm (enough). That’s why we headed to Florida last winter and even more south on the west coast this year.
February 18, 2021 at 08:39
Liesbet, the term Goldilocks syndrome comes to mind as I read the comments about where you might settle. Keep sampling the porridge until it is ‘just right.’ Until then, enjoy your time South of the Border. I am going to go over now and read your friends account of your time together. Take care.
February 19, 2021 at 00:16
Suzanne, I’ve been coming across Goldilocks statements and references often these days, so I finally asked my husband about the significance of that character, as I’m not familiar with the story/fable. We don’t have Goldilocks in Belgium. Now I know! Yes, we are picky. Something has to be “just right,” or, at least feel right. Maybe that place is south of the border?
Duwan and Greg do a much better job providing information, facts, and descriptions of places they/we visit. I don’t like research and don’t want to spend more than four hours creating each blogpost… So, especially in this case, it was easy (and a brilliant idea) to send readers their way. 🙂
February 18, 2021 at 18:45
What a gorgeous sunset! Did you get caught in the snow and cold this week? Hope you’re staying warm out there…
February 19, 2021 at 00:20
Hi Diane! Luckily, that insane cold front with extraordinary amounts of snow and freezing temps didn’t make it down the Baja peninsula. We do have a fantastic, strong heater in our van, but we’d rather not use it. Although, every winter we need to drive more miles to get warm enough… I think we’ll stop here, 2/3 down, in Mulege. I hope you both are doing alright too! Crazy times.
February 20, 2021 at 00:10
Hi Liesbet, What a lovely post about AZ. Vince and I haven’t traveled in southern AZ yet, but this is surely the time of year to do so. My first husband and I went to Tucson a million years ago, saw the Mission down there and the Biosphere project. We went in November, so the weather was lovely. It’s exciting to spend time in new places with friends. Happy belated 45th BD.
February 24, 2021 at 11:57
Hi Marsha! Now that you live in AZ, you’ll be able to explore the state a bit more. Hopefully in the near future! I didn’t know there was a mission in Tucson. We should check that out next time we drive through. At the end of March it should have gotten a bit warmer in AZ, but there is probably a fine line between too chilly and too hot. Let’s see whether we can time it right once we leave Baja. 🙂
February 21, 2021 at 14:23
I’m enjoying your photos here, as well as on Instagram, Liesbet, so I’ve been able to follow your (mostly) warm sojourns in AZ and CA and now Mexico. Looks like Lots of fun to me, while we are hovering in front of our fireplace watching the snow fall. Every. Day. 🙂 xo
February 24, 2021 at 12:00
Hi Pam! That fireplace sounds cozy. Wrapped in a blanket on a comfy couch with a good book. For some reason that does sound enticing as well. Especially the comfy couch part! 🙂 Sorry you can’t be in paradise yourself right now. Hopefully next February! In the meantime, I’ll try and post some sea, sand, and fun photos the following weeks. Until we leave Mexico again for colder climes. We will be back in MA early April. 🙁
February 21, 2021 at 19:25
I’ve kept up with your Baja adventures somewhat when I’ve been on IG, Liesbet. Nice to see your AZ images and time spent sightseeing and fun with friends. One thing I think about in our RV is that we can’t always camp in someone’s driveway with its size, where you guys can since its an extended size van. Your mobility in Zesty is important to you and Mark and reminds me of what I’ve read so far in Plunge. (Which I am enjoying immensely by the way!) Cheers from my RV parked in the cold north to yours camped in the lovely warmth!
February 24, 2021 at 15:23
Hi Terri!
Thank you for following along. I’m a tad behind with my blog posts, but Instagram is pretty up to date, give or take a few days. I have to remember to take photos with other devices than my camera to be able to post on social media. It’s hard to keep up with everything, especially with non-existing or unreliable internet. But we are enjoying Baja. We might never leave. 🙂
You are right about our size versus your travel trailer. It’s one of the reasons we prefer a camper van. It’s compact, maneuverable, and fits in a normal-sized parking spot. In the US anyway. But we are quite tall at 11ft. Still, we wouldn’t change our set-up for a car/truck and a towable, because of the advantages Zesty offers. Yes, we like our mobility and simple living. Sending you sunshine from down south.
February 21, 2021 at 20:25
You bring up a great point, Liesbet, on resizing the photos so they load easier. I have read about “Make like an ape man” and I should check out their posts. Even their title suggests a fun and interesting blog. I am a little teary just reading about you holding “Plunge” for the first time. I cannot imagine the emotions. An interesting phrase “…took the virus seriously…” Almost sad all of the different philosophies on this. I recall seeing Pronghorn when we were travelling in the States. I also recall how the temperature changed rapidly in different elevations. I am happy you are in Mexico. Warmth! Yeah!
February 24, 2021 at 15:42
You are always so thorough with your reading and commenting, Erica! You have a great attention span and memory. I notice this in comments to my blog posts and others. And, in your own writing, of course.
The entire “atmosphere” around the Corona virus, globally, is so weird. Traveling right now opens our eyes to different approaches. We have noticed in smaller communities how most of the people don’t wear masks anymore, thinking their bodies and surroundings are immune. It is a huge difference with countries like Canada, the UK, and Belgium, and states like California and Washington, where lockdowns are still very real. Luckily, grocery stores require masks and provide cleaning stations.
All that being said, we are very happy to be in Mexico right now. We have made one new friend whom we have been hanging out with for over a week. He is as careful as we are and in some situations, we feel we can ease up a bit regarding mask wearing and social distancing. Being close neighbors in nature for a while almost creates the same bubble as one family under the same roof…
February 24, 2021 at 19:40
You are right, Liesbet, feeling more comfortable in a specific bubble with someone else who shares your philosophy to safety and health. Thank you for your kind, thoughtful words. I try to keep my spirits up, yet a kind word always makes a huge difference and yours has come at just the right moment. xx
February 25, 2021 at 18:03
Hi Erica! Sorry to read you were feeling down. I’m sending you another massive hug, even wider smile, and a handful of virtual sunshine. Spring is around the corner! 🙂
February 23, 2021 at 15:56
I got a kick out of the colourful javelinas in Tubac; and wow, the sandhill cranes are amazing! They summer around the Canadian prairie provinces, so we used to see them occasionally in Manitoba and Alberta. There’s no mistaking their call when they’re flying overhead – that many of them must have been nearly deafening!
February 24, 2021 at 15:45
I could have done an entire (Wordless Wednesday) post around the colorful, artsy javelinas, Diane. I’m glad you like these cute animals. I just have too many photos and too much material for only one blog post a week. And, I don’t want to blog more, because it eats up my time too much. Priorities! 🙂
I had no idea the sandhill cranes visit the western mainland in Canada as well. How cool and special. Yes, they can be very loud! Have a wonderful rest of your (writing) week!
February 23, 2021 at 21:32
Looks like the dolce vita Liesbet. We had intended to go to Tombstone when we were in Az, never got there. And you needed a big photo of you holding your book? Lol 🙂 xx
February 24, 2021 at 15:52
Honestly, I don’t think you would like Tombstone, Debby. It’s very kitschy and touristy and extremely right-wing. The four of us needed to keep drinking portable margaritas (remember that strong recipe from Mark I told you about?) to cope with the atmosphere in that town… To find “fun” in it. On the other hand, I do hope you get to visit one day, to understand what I mean. But, you’re not missing anything.
I do have a bigger shot of my book, but I just love that oasis feel of this cluster of palm trees with a warm spring underneath. It’s actually quite hard to take outdoor shots of Plunge and me for some reason. And, I’m sure Mark is tired of taking them.
February 25, 2021 at 16:28
I appreciate your honesty. And honestly, it wasn’t me who wanted to go, but hub who likes cowboy things. But now that you’ve mentioned the ‘surroundings’, I’ll take a pass lol 🙂 x
February 26, 2021 at 09:19
🙂 Tombstone does like its cowboys. And, every visit anywhere is material for a blog, a story, or a book. Once.
February 25, 2021 at 19:54
So I’m trying to catch up. When this post came out we didn’t have good internet. By the time I looked at all the photos I had no time to comment, then forgot, and then we went on our 2200 mile road trip.
A great wrap up! We had a bit of fun. I like seeing how two different people take pictures of the same thing.
I ought to do a wrap up like this and then I’d be caught up. Forget all those details! But I won’t. I hope to catch up to you some day!
February 26, 2021 at 09:28
Hi Duwan! I’m still behind with my blog posts as well. I always am. With that and everything else going on in my life! The days fly by and I’m always busy. It’s insane. The only way to jump ahead a bit with these posts is have them cover a longer time period once in a while. It doesn’t help that I want to do a writing update and expense blog every month and that I don’t want to post more than once a week as it would double the work and time commitment involved with blogging. Sigh!
March 2, 2021 at 10:00
I have been to Arizona and it is one of my favorite places to visit in US. Your post bought back charming memories from my visit. Thanks for sharing.
March 3, 2021 at 12:34
Hi Rajkumar, thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment. I agree with you, Arizona is quite spectacular. It is one of our favorite US states because of its diversity in landscapes and natural wonders.
March 14, 2021 at 16:08
As I mentioned on Duwan’s blog, it looks you had so much fun camping with your friends. All of those sandhill cranes much have been quite a sight. Glad to hear you’re enjoying warmer weather in the Baja.
Jude
March 14, 2021 at 16:41
Hi Jude! That was a pretty nice week in Arizona, to finally explore and sightsee a bit again. And in the company of friends. We hope to meet up with them on the east coast at some point this summer. I hope all is well on VI!