Week 2: Utah and Arizona

Hurricane Cliffs Boondocking

This week I decided to head to Utah (in between Hurricane and Zion National Park) to really dig in to the boondocking experience. I stopped off at a local Maverick gas station where free dumps and water were available. For some reason, my water wouldn't fill and I just decided to use one of those 2.5 gallon jugs to keep me hydrated while I was there. My plan was to YouTube what the heck was happening - why wouldn't my tank fill with the water?!

I headed to a spot called Hurricane Cliffs, and let me tell you, it was a real test in Hank's 4WD and the Airstream's toughness to handle spots off the beaten path. The road in, while short, was full of rut after rut. I had to drive very, very slowly and pick a good path to minimize the impact. It took me back to my mountain biking days where picking a good path was key to a smooth ride (I wasn't a great rider, but I loved following friends who were!).

When I got to my spot I tried unhitching to free Hank for exploring and could not, not, not get the trailer to uncouple from the hitch. I tried several times and finally decided to try again in the morning when I hadn't been driving all day. I'm learning that I do best with a fresh mind, not too hot, and being well hydrated to figure things out. Plus, another good dose of YouTube :D

The next morning, I met my "neighbors" and their dog Vader (super dark lab/pittie mix named after Darth Vader - ha!). Chuckie B and Vader made fast friends and the ladies offered to help me when I told them my dilemma. Lady Power to the rescue! One of them stood on my tailgate and bounced until the hitch released (after proper chocking, my friends - no chains involved here!) and we high-fived and patted ourselves on the back. That's right. The ladies fixed the issue. (Strong arm emoji, y’all!) Every person I’ve met so far has been sooooo incredibly nice and are always willing to help. I love this!

Charlie Brown post play session with Vader

Since I was spending 5 days (free!) in this spot, I was worried about water consumption and showering. Sooooo, I'll just say it right here: baby wipes are my BFF's and I learned how to use my kettle for a good hair wash. I'll also admit to being a bit dramatic as the closest town was less than 15 minutes away, so I had easy access to groceries, water, gas, etc.

The second day I was in the area, I decided to drive to Zion to do a hike and explore. I've learned that dogs aren't quite allowed on trails in National Parks and that I'd have to find a paved path to bring Charlie Brown. Knowing this, I drove in and hoped to drive the scenic route while also walking CB on the path. Unfortunately, each day I tried to do this, the parking was full in the park, and the shuttle didn't allow dogs. You know what? While I hate that I wasn't able to explore Zion, the local hikes we took in our boondocking spot were just as beautiful. Each day, we'd hike a different area and scope out the surrounding cliffs. What a beautiful experience!

After those 5 days, I decided to head to the Lake Powell area near Page, AZ. My Aunt has worked in the local parks for years and this was my opportunity to visit her before her season begins as well as see the local scenery. She recommended a great spot for $14/night, drove down from her house 10 minutes away, and we spent some time catching up while I soaked in her recommendations for the area.

CB and my Aunt loving on each other (heart eyes!)

The next morning I stopped by her house to say goodbye and she sent me on my way to Horseshoe Bend. WOW! Chuckles got a nice walk, and I got to see some beautiful nature.

At that point we were on a 2 hour drive to the Monument Valley, UT area for the night. While the RV park in Monument Valley was pricey ($75/night), the surrounding area was absolutely stunning!

Let's circle back on the whole water thing, shall we? Another good learning for me (and admittedly, very embarrassing). Apparently, I was trying to fill water in the "black tank flush", and not the actual water fill. Yes, I learned that on YouTube too. I feel/felt like an idiot when I realized people were probably waiting behind me thinking, "what the heck is this lady doing?!" But guess what? That's a mistake I won't make again. Effing duh. So while at the RV park, I got my fill of water, feeling super proud when a 60-something man and fellow camper said, "Wow, I'm impressed you're doing all of this yourself!". (Yayyyy me!)

I took Chuckie Boy on a hike in the morning before we went on our way, and I'll leave you with a few of those pics to enjoy.