Apache Junction, AZ
Well today, at least, it wasn’t anywhere near hot in the Sonoran Desert!
I travelled today from Yuma, Arizona to just east of Phoenix in a suburb called Apache Junction. My route travelled through the Sonoran Desert and the warmest it got to today was 14 and it was a chilly 11 degrees when I set up camp in Apache Junction. And wouldn’t you know, after I had set up I put the heater on to take the chill off and………right, no propane. Luckily they refill propane at the KOA and so the tank was off, filled up, and back on in no time. I’m getting quite a lot more proficient at getting that task accomplished.
The most exciting part of today was that I saw a WILD (well, I guess natural would be a better description) Saguaro Cactus for the first time on this trip. It’s the symbol of Arizona and you see them used in commercial or residential landscaping, but it’s kind of like seeing animals in the wild versus seeing them in zoos to see the Saguaros in the wild. Well, maybe not quite like seeing a lion or elephant, but you get what I mean.
I took some pictures with my little point and shoot along the way today and they’re not great, but they will give you an idea of how beautiful the countryside was that I drove through today. In the next couple of days, weather permitting, as I use Apache Junction as a base I hope to get some better quality shots to add to my collection.
This desert (or at least the part I travelled through today) is not what you normally expect – sand, sand, and sand dunes with the odd oasis. It has quite a lot of vegetation which is pretty green. Maybe more so this year due to the extraordinary rain. It’s still pretty barren for the most part, but beautiful just the same. And with the purple, rugged mountains poking up toward the mostly blue sky it makes quite the sight.
Since I let you know when I visit a great KOA or other RV Park/campsite, I thought I’d share today’s experience with you as well.
When looking on line to book tonight’s KOA I had noted in the camper reviews that this KOA is under new ownership and they were having some issues with the change in terms of taking payment by credit etc. I had no trouble with that, but when I arrived I discovered that the advertised pool is closed for work (including the hot tub which at 11 degrees would have been nice) and the Recreation room, with big screen TV etc, is closed for renovation for the time I am here. Then when I tried to get wifi, I discovered that I wasn’t able to access it from my site despite being able to log in at the office. So, uncharacteristically, I stopped into the office and suggested that since some of the advertised features of their KOA were not available to me that I ought to have a reduction in my rate. They assured me that the new owners were not interested in refunds or reduced rates. I asked to speak to the onsite manager and she said she would talk to the owner but that she hadn’t been successful in getting any concessions previously. So I left it with her, with the comment that I had planned to stay on a few more days depending on the weather etc but that I wouldn’t be if there was no reduction in the fees. And I did mention that I did a travel blog and was effusive in my praise when it was justified and had no problem being just as profuse in my disappointment where warranted.
So we’ll see what transpires. I’ll let you know.
Note from Editor: No refund or reduction in fees was ever secured. Nor was there any further communication from management.
Lois' Adventures 