Next week we are headed to Flagstaff for a skating competition!
Arrived yesterday at the KOA in Flagstaff and were greeted by a very friendly staff. We had made our reservations online for a regular pull thru spot because our favorite patio sites were not available. However, the same day we made the reservations the staff called us to let us know a patio site was available if we wanted it. It is one we have never stayed I before so we looked it up on the park map. We will have to unhook and back into the site which is not a big deal since we are pulling the jeep and not the trailer, so we make the change in the reservation. Upon arrival, I pay the difference between what I had paid for the pull thru and the cost for the patio site, we are given a map and information packet and send on our way. I should probably decline the info packet since we have probably 10 of them already!
We drive right to the site, well a little passed it and unhook the jeep. I back the jeep out of the way so Tracey can back into the site. I do get out and help Tracey with how far to back into the site. This site is on a slight hill. Slight to the eye but a pretty big hill to an RV trying to level itself. We get where we think we want to be, Tracey places the jack pads and I release the air. Once the air is out I turn on the jacks to auto level and wait. Once I get the green light, I open the door and yell out to Tracey that we are level. He has a perplexed look on his face. “what’s wrong, does it not look level?” I ask. He shakes his head and walks towards me standing inside the RV. It is only now I see his confusion, as he gets up to the door I can just see the top of his head LOL. To be level we are jacked way up in the front. He doesn’t like how far off the ground the front tires are so I let the jacks down, air up the air suspension so he can get the jack pads back out. He has walked around the RV a few times and stood back away from it trying to get a plan of action.
The site next to us neighbors are watching us and make a few comments about how far off from level the sites are. We look under their rig and they have boards under their jack pads and their front tires are up off the ground as well.
Tracey has decided we need to back up a little further and since I am already inside I drive while he guides. We only have about 3 feet left behind before we would hit a fence. I am nervous as I release the parking brake and keep my foot on the brake pedal, with the neighbors watching and only 3 feet of space. But we get it moved back as far as we can, and once again Tracey places the jack pads and I then release the air. Once the air is out, I turn the jacks on and push for auto leveling. Once it registers level I open the door and Tracey is again shaking his head. He should extend his arm all the way to reach up the door handle. But there is no way around it. So, we proceed and set up camp. He puts our extra step out to help with the height but there is still 18 inches or more of a gap to the bottom step. Craziness. 
We spend the evening enjoying the cool breeze, preparing, and making dinner and watching a little of our favorite show “Going RV”. Calling it a night we sleep with the windows open, enjoying the cooler temperatures and the quietness of the forest.
Day 2 we actually sleep in, woo hoo. Don’t get to do that much at home, there is always something to do or somewhere to be. We lounge around a bit, just relaxing, and chatting. Eventually we get dressed and head out for a walk. As we round the front of our RV we run into our neighbors and strike up conversation. We have some laughs that begin with the non-level sites we are in and carries into reminiscing about other places we have each stayed with wacky or wild sites or access to sites. Tracey says we were heading down to see about getting breakfast but we will talk jeeps later. I guess there is something about their jeep he likes, or maybe it is just the fact they also have a jeep. Tracey doesn’t really need an excuse to chat with anyone!
We make it down to the Kamp Kitchen before it closes and enjoy a very tasty breakfast of eggs bacon hash browns and toast. All made to order. Best part we didn’t have to cook it. After breakfast, we take a walk around the park and check out other rigs. We eventually end up back at our place and relax. We are enjoying our time of nothing to do and nowhere to be. We listen to a little music, we chat, we sit outside. Now it is time to head to the store and get some groceries. Hope your Thursday is a good one!
Thursday was just that, a day of relaxing and doing nothing of any excitement value. But we loved every minute of it. Woke up during the wee hours of the morning Friday freezing! Yes, even places in Arizona get cold at times. We were so excited to not be sweating we left all the windows open. Love sleeping to fresh cool air. But about 3:30 in the morning it felt more cold than cool. I pulled the blanket up around my neck and even reached down and grabbed the comforter and pulled it over us.
Friday, we made smoothies for breakfast and did some writing and reading. Took a walk around the campgrounds to see what new rigs had pulled in. We are in the beginning stages of looking at what rig we want next. In just a short 4 year we are thinking of going full time in the RV so we are taking our time to figure out exactly what we want and need if we are actually LIVING in the RV. The walk was enjoyable, cool fresh air, friendly dogs, and people. We even walked back to an area of the campground we had never been to before, they have a big tent camping area.
We got a text from Miss C’s coach that they were running late for our lunch date so we extended our walk a bit and just enjoyed being outside, not something we do much of at home due to the extreme heat. We do meet Coach Jaime and her hubby for now what we are calling Linner (combo lunch and dinner). We are also joined by one of the other skating families, the Erlandsons. We have a great lunch at MartAnne’s. We had never been before so it was a treat for us. The food was very good and Tracey said his Michelada was the best ever.
After lunch, we headed back to camp. Tracey napped and I just goofed off waiting for Miss C to arrive. The Felbein family was kind enough to give her a ride up to Flagstaff. We had been contacted by her dad to bring her up on Friday but we were already in Flagstaff so in step my wonderful friend Jill.
They brought her all the way to the RV and we spent some time watching Micah run into the woods and explore. We just stood chatting outside. Eventually I sent Miss C in to wake up Tracey so he could come visit as well.
We have been invited to the house where some of the coaches and skaters are staying together. After Caitlynn gets something to eat we head over to visit with them. Caitlynn gets to spend time with some of her skating friends and Tracey and I have a chance to meet parents and spouses we didn’t already know. We enjoy the company most, we share some wine, grapes and cheese and the girls have made chocolate chip cookies. The girls do make up, then take a walk in the forest. Caitlynn comes back with a big long scratch on her leg! Good thing she wears tights to compete!!! I think fun was had by all. We don’t stay very late as all the girls need to get good sleep for tomorrow. Caitlynn and a few others must be at the rink at 8:30am so we call it a night and head back to camp. We pretty much all fall right into bed, I guess we were all tired.
Saturday morning the alarms go off on each of our phones one by one. None of us seem to want to get up. We know we need to get moving so showers are taken, smoothies are made, make up is being done. We are still late as usual, pushing Miss C to hurry up and get out the door.
We get to the rink and get her checked in and immediately find “the Hair Lady” Kimberly. She is not busy and has time to do Miss C’s hair, thankfully!! Hair done and off she goes to meet up with Coach Amanda for some off ice warm ups. Her dad showed up while she was back with Coach. So grateful he made it, for Caitlynn’ sake. She was disappointed that her stepmom was not coming so we were praying her dad showed up.
Caitlynn did not skate her best, two footed her axel and slipped on a spin, which she never does, her spins are amazing. Coaches said she seemed very nervous but not sure why. We still enjoy watching her skate and are very proud of her no matter the outcome.
Once done she changes into regular clothes and we head out to get a late breakfast/early lunch. We stop at a place our good friends Robert and Michelle introduced us to a few years ago, Brandy’s. It was just as good as last time, and well worth the wait.
After we eat we head to the mall at Miss C’s request. I truly believe she is a shopaholic!!! She does need a homecoming dress so we spend some time looking. The mall here is very small not really any places to find homecoming dresses. While we shop, Tracey ducks into the massage place and gets a 15-minute massage on his upper back shoulder blade area that has been giving him issues. He said the massage was wonderful and very relaxing. Caitlynn finds a few items but no dress, so we head back to the RV to rest before going back to the rink.
Tracey and Caitlynn both nap so we are rushing out the door once again to get back to the rink on time.
As we jump in the jeep I yell back to Caitlynn “Are you sure you have everything?” She says she does, only to get halfway to the rink and tell us she has no tights or boot covers, they are back in her other bag in the RV. UGH. I decide we will drop her at the rink to do off ice warm ups and we will drive back and get her tights. But as we get to the rink I remember Kelly is there from Discount Skatewear!! Kelly saves the day again and he has both tights and boot covers in her size and color! I buy them both and send her on her way to meet up with her Synchro team.
It is still another hour and half until they perform so Tracey and I head to the store. We stop and get gas in the jeep and then head into Safeway. We are in charge of bringing wine to the after party tonight. We spend some time checking out their wine selection and discussing which we should buy. We settle on a Kendall Jackson Reserve Chardonnay and a Ménage a Trois Red. 3 of each and we are on our way.
We are still early so we enjoy watching some of the higher-level skaters compete. Wow, I was truly amazed by some of them. Won’t be long and Miss C will be there if she keeps working as hard as she is now. Her Synchro team did so good. It was fun to watch all their hard work pay off.
After their performance and of course photos, we head out to the property of one of the skating families. What a beautiful place they have, a cabin in the woods. Jenn has fire pits going and several locations throughout the property, along with seating areas. There are drinks for the adults and the kids. There are appetizer tables and a pizza table and of course a dessert table.
The kids are free to run and roam, while the adults visit. A great night.
Sunday morning, we pack up and head down the hill. Traffic is horrible and stressful to say the least but we made it home about midday. Miss C is picked up by her dad and we unload the RV. We get everything unloaded as we need to take it in for service to Freightliner tomorrow. Once everything is in the house and the vehicles including the RV are in their perspective garages, I put just the freezer food away and we grab and big glass of ice water and sit to relax and love on the dogs! We are exhausted.
Had a great time away, fun with friends, met some new people and got extra time with Miss C, a very blessed time indeed.
See you on the next adventure!!
#iceinthepines #koaflagstaff #journeyfor2 #fleetwoodbounder #MartAnnes