Dry Camping...and our wonderful dog...

We have not done much dry camping...except for the rest stops along I-5 on the way south and as you might recall Bryant did not get his coffee. It might be safe to say we didnt really know how to dry camp!  

Shadow Hills RV Park in Indio California, was our first real stop.  We had a great time meeting up with my sister Anne and brother in law Bram at their house and also meeting up with one of my good friends Melinda. Of course I had to do a little shopping with Anne...and now all the hangers in the VIA are officially used!  The RV Park was a great, efficiently run RV Park and we were well catered to with full hookups and wonderful facilities...so we left rather slowly.  It was a beautiful sunny morning!  Two of the four days we spent in the Palm Desert area were rainy!  We were enjoying the sunshine but had reservations to keep!

Our plan was to be on the road by 9am.  It ended up closer to 11am.  We were on our way to Lost Dutchman State Park (LDSP), Arizona...about 275 miles and according to the GPS 4 1/2 hours away.  That did not account for us going "our speed", did not account for fuel stops for the VIA, rest area stops for us to stretch, and to let Moxie get out and see the world too...she is such a wonderful traveller!!

By the time we got to LDSP it was 5:30pm and the super bowl had started.  The great news...we were dry camping.  There was no need to hook anything up...all we needed to do was change and get to Vance and Jane's REYO (Bryants brother and sister in law) at their nearby campsite where they had hookups and the game on.  Of course the game wasn't really watched in earnest...but it was an excuse to go over and visit.

Much longer story shorter...later, we got the propane going on the VIA...for the stove, the fridge, and then in the morning for the generator and Bryant was able to have his coffee!  We almost have this dry camping thing down!  Wooohoooo!  

Today, was a quick bike ride (a little over 5 miles) but FINALLY riding again...and it felt wonderful!  After lunch we moved to our new campsite...water and electric... and then went for a hike.  LDSP is at the base of Superstition Mountain...

 It wasn't a beautiful blue sky sunny day...but...there was green grass, green plants, and yellow wildflowers in bloom...it is beautiful!

And, fun to put my hiking boots on again!  That's been a long time too!

Moxie went with us, and she so enjoyed all the smells!  

We are here at LDSP for 5 more nights.  More biking...more hiking...hopefully more sun and warmth!  Except for a few days we have not had the warmth we have desired in our long journey south.  But, the good news...we have a wonderful traveling dog (companion)...and we have somewhat learned how to dry camp!