April and May Adventures

We love going to Saguaro National Park 

to see the cactus blooms

 but while our tendency is to look up, 

you don’t want to miss out on what is 

crawling on the ground. 

Sonoran Gopher Snake

Wow, what a treat to see a Gila Monster! 

They live underground 95% of the time and are rarely seen.

A few days after our visit I read about the Gila Monster

research project that was requesting photos inside 

the boundaries of Saguaro National Park.

Here is the email they sent.

It is so exciting that my photos are being used for research. 

They said they would be in contact with us to give us more 

information on the Gila Monsters we photographed. 

We went back a few weeks later to help pinpoint the location.

Can you believe we saw another Gila Monster?

The key is to go slow and take time to look around

 in every pull off.  Compare both photos 

and you can see they each have unique markings.

Wow! We were so thrilled to receive more info on "our" 

Gila Monsters. Can you believe that they microchip them?

On our way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

we stopped to see Horseshoe Bend.

As we were walking back to the van we saw this cool yellow lizard.

We celebrated our 38th wedding anniversary

at the Grand Canyon where we

honeymooned. 

This is Crazy Jug Point on the North Rim.

It is always a blast to meet up with our friends from Iowa!

We also had the pleasure of meeting up with family

and running around Toadstool Trailhead just 

over the border in Utah. 

Everyone had a great time!

Then everyone went to Lees Ferry. 

This is where they start the white water 

rafting trips through the Grand Canyon.

Had to dip our toes in the Colorado River which was ice cold.

Going south on 89 we took the loop through

Wupatki National Monument.

Click on the link to see more about these 

fascinating pueblos. 

For something totally different, we explored 

the  Lava River Cave near Flagstaff.

In the cave looking back at the entrance.

This ice tells you how cold it was in the cave.

No lights, trails, or guides. You are on your own!

Yes, we survived and got out alive!

Campervan Build

We ended our last post with the promise to show you 
how we transformed our van. 

It is a work in progress.

Our 2014 Ram Promaster Van

we have named Roadrunner. 

It was a commercial van full of shelves, which we sold. 

Thankfully, Joel came over with his power tools

to tear it all apart!!

After it was cleaned out we made a floor pattern out of 

cardboard to cut the plywood, insulation and vinyl, 

which made it so much easier.

Cutting the mini cell insulation into strips to fill in the ribs.

Next we laid down a whole sheet of insulation.

To quiet road noise strips of Fat Mat Rattletrap 

were put on the wheel wells. 

Three sheets of plywood needed to be cut and sanded.

We used the holes that the shelves were installed 

to bolt down the plywood nice and solid.

Vinyl flooring.

We wanted permanent beds so you can use them at any time.

 There is also a table

 that goes in between for dining and games. 

Four inches of memory foam with two inches of 

dense foam makes a nice comfortable bed.

 Finished off the sides and ends for storage. 

Added a large wire rack across the whole back 

which adds lots of storage.

Here is our kitchen. We cut out the hole for the sink 

which is attached to a 6 gallon water container and

 a foot pump operates the whole system.

Our two burner Coleman stove 

fits on the counter or we can take it outside.

Removing the ladder rack.

The portable toilet in the center is concealed

in a wood box with hinges. There is also

a privacy curtain that drops down from above. 

Reinstalled the steel panels behind the seats 

along with a black out curtain.

Nothing fancy but it sure is functional. 

Low maintenance, 17 miles a gallon,

 comfortable and we are able to go everywhere. 

Custom made screens that magnetically close 

to keep the bugs out. 

With sliding doors on both sides we get great circulation. 

After going to the Wilcox West Fest 

Ranch Rodeo & Chuck Wagon Cook-Off 

we camped at Indian Bread Rocks.

Since we are fully self-contained we love boondocking.

Here we are just east of Phoenix. 

No neighbors and beautiful sunsets!

38 years ago we started with a 2-person tent and camped across three provinces of Canada. 

Of course, it rained the second day and our stuff never dried out. For the last 18 years we traveled 

in Class C motorhomes of different sizes. Now we have downsized to a campervan. 

This isn't for everyone! We are known as the Two Crazy Kids.  

 Ready for more adventures in life!

Thanks for overlooking our errors and misspellings in the blog.