First ever RV trip: Salt Lake to Mesa

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catmandu

New member
Joined
Sep 21, 2007
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4
Location
Maryland's Eastern Shore
Well, I believe it was a success.  I'll wait a few days to get the real answer from the kids, but I know Mom & Dad liked it!

Carl, Tom, & Ron had some cautious words about a one-day drive from Salt Lake to the Grand Canyon, but I suppose I did not explain myself or intentions well enough.  We did this trip for CruiseAmerica on one of their good-deal repositioning specials.  So I flew into SLC early on a Tuesday, took a bus to pick up the rig, stocked it with $130 worth of gear and $140 worth of food from SuperWalMart.  With nothing else to do but wait, I took a nice snooze in the parking lot.  Wife and the kids came out on the last flight, after school, got in around midnight local.  I don't sleep much anyway, and had a nice nap under my belt, so strapped everyone in with pillows and sleeping bags, and headed south until tired, about three hours.  Found a nice rest area / truck stop cooperative venture right off 15 and crawled in bed. 

Everyone woke up Wednesday late for east coast body clocks, but still early locally.  Had our breakfast and hit the road again.  Stopped around 10 am at Zion.  Parked the rig, packed lunch and lots of water, and hit the shuttle, with two nice hikes along the route.  Left Zion around 3 pm with lots of good photos, knowing a return is in order someday.  Made our way down to Williams, got in after hours to the Grand Canyon Railway RV Resort (very nice!), everyone got a shower, whipped up a late taco dinner, and then watched a movie on the laptop.  Everyone happy and tired as we crawled into bed!

Took the train up to the Grand Canyon on Thursday, enjoyed the Wild West show and stories / antics up and back.  Did some hiking around the rim, decided more was in order.  Got back, had cocktails at the GCR Hotel bar, then a swim and hot tub, back to the rig for dinner and another movie.  Still happy and tired into bed!

Took off Friday morning and drove up to the Mather Campground at the South Rim.  Packed another lunch and hiked again, this time down the South Kaibab trail into the canyon.  Only went halfway to get the proper taste, surprised ourselves by going up just as fast as we went down (maybe it was the pack mules chasing us).  Decided a full trip down and back with an overnight stay at the Phantom Lodge is due next time around.  Earlier dinner and campfire, then off to a Ranger-led 'Graveyard Walk'  which we found really interesting and appropriate to the season.  Happy, and more tired this time to bed!

Saturday after breakfast, repositioned the RV to the Village Market so we didn't feel pressure to make the 11am checkout time.  Hit a couple more vistas along the rim, with a short hike in between two, then a run through a couple gift shops, postcards at the post office, and off to Phoenix.  Treated ourselves to a 'last night dinner out' of Chinese Food, which was still budget-friendly.

Now the only downer: tried to do like many here have suggested and just stop somewhere for the night, but, man!  The greater Phoenix area is not the place for this!  Took I-10 east past the airport, thinking I'd just pull off at the first 'camping next exit' but gave up on that after 45 miles.  Cut back north and pulled out the directory, but after an hour of searching could not find a non- '55 or better' place.  So we gave up, and just pulled into the airport economy lot for the night, since the family was due out very early the next (Sunday) morning.  It worked out fine, and was convenient the next morning, but not quite as expected.

Again, I the Dad was left to handle the cleanup and turn-in on Monday, so I found some free WiFi in a hotel parking lot (with a free Starbucks coffee stand in the lobby!), figured out my final destination and the nearest RV dump, but still could not come up with a place to hook up for the night.  Football time was approaching, so asked the bellman where to go to catch my Redskins' game (playing the Cardinals, no less) and was directed to the Indian Casino three miles up the road.  Pulled up to find two other RV's in the 'oversize parking' and figured this was my home for the night.  Checked with the security guard, got the okay to park overnight, and went inside for the game.  My Redskins got lucky, and so did I afterwards at the Blackjack table, making enough to cover the daunting fuel bill for the trip!

Monday morning up early, cleaned up, threw out about $30 worth of food and gear that didn't fit in the luggage, and turned in the rig first thing.  Got lucky with another convenient bus stop, saving $30 cab fare, and made it home on my intended flight, again tired from the airline travel, but happy for a successful trip.

Like I said, the grown-ups I think could get quite used to this, but I'll let the kids mull it over a bit before deciding on a purchase and a two-month North American tour next summer.  Maybe we'll just do the good-deal CruiseAmerica thing again next fall, or maybe full time it once college rolls around!

Thanks again for a great forum, it helped tremendously in the planning and execution!

Mike
 
It sounds like it turned out pretty well.  Yes, urban area parking can get tricky.  Casinos generally work for an overnight.  Glad you liked the experience and that you reported back to us.

ArdraF
 
Overall sounded like a perfect outing, thanks for the update !
 
Thank You for the detailed report.  Sounds like you all had a great experience.  Warning this type of activity can become habit forming. ;D  I bet you will all be looking forward to the next RV adventure,
 
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