Friday, November 8 to Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Fountain Hills, AZ)

It was a cool start to the day on Friday morning but it doesn't take long for the trailer to warm up with the space heater on. We are moving to McDowell Mountain Regional Park, on the east side of Phoenix outside of Fountain Hills. Since we can't check in until after 1:00, we weren't in any hurry for the hour and a half drive. We did want to make a stop on the way, though...at Blue Beacon Truck wash and have both the truck and trailer washed. 

It's a busy place...it took almost an hour before it was our turn...

They did a great job...truck, trailer, and tire treatment for the truck was $78.40 US. When we were in Cochrane Alberta it cost us $54 CDN to do only the truck ourselves. We were out and back on I-10 heading east in no time. I took a few pictures along the way (apologies for the window reflections)...

We're on highway 202 loop now passing Tempe...

From 202 loop, we took highway 87 north to Shea Blvd and Fountain Hills. We had a bit of an "oh-oh" moment when we came across a road closure due to a big Art Show but we made a quick U-turn and Google Maps re-directed us and we made it to McDowell Mountain Regional Park. We have been here twice in the early days (2011 and 2014) of our full-timing and loved it! It has now been 10 years and we are really looking forward to our re-visit!

We registered at the gate-house, getting our vehicle tags and map, and continued onto the E.I. Rowland Campground and site 30. We are in this site for 5 nights and were hoping to get a reservation at Usery Mountain Regional Park afterwards. But when I found nothing available there, I booked another 4 nights in site 31, across the road. So we have to move but it's no big deal now that we have the small trailer...besides, it will be a good time to dump the tanks.

Beautiful site, but there is quite a slope for the truck. However once we got the trailer backed in on the flat spot, we were perfectly level side-to-side...yay! 

A picture of our whole site taken from the far corner...

Saturday (Nov. 9) was a beautiful day, but a cool start as usual. We took care of a bunch of odds and ends, worked on picture editing, videos and our blog. 

I took a picture on our way back to the Park after picking up a few groceries...

The view from our chairs during happy hour...

Sunday (Nov. 10) we decided to make the long drive to the massive Mesa Market to see if we could find a sunshade and a mat for the trailer. It was about an hours drive...and other than seeing this huge marketplace, it was a waste of time. We expected lots of RV related goods but unfortunately other than one booth having outdoor mats that we didn't like, there were no RV related vendors. I guess we will have to wait until we get to Quartzsite. Here are a few pictures inside the market...lots of repetitive vendors, selling yard/home art works, cloths, hats, belts, jewelry, etc. Still interesting to walkthrough for something to do. We bought a shower drain strainer, and a bug zapper...😂

Steve liked the cowhide booth...

Fountain Hills, as we drive home...

Almost sunset...

Monday (Nov. 11) is hike day! Like White Tank Mountain Regional Park, there are a lot of trails to choose from...McDowell Mountain Regional Park offers over 40-miles of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding trails. Park Trails range in length from 0.5-miles to 15.3-miles and range in difficulty from easy to strenuous.

We walked down to the Nature Center, had a look, chatted with the workers and confirmed that the Tortoise Trail beside the the Center will take us to the Scenic Trail. Yes, it does...so away we went. Oh first, a picture with the fellow sitting outside on the bench...

On the Tortoise Trail...

We made our way to the Scenic Trail...

See that Saguaro forest up there? Little did we know when Steve took the picture that that is where the trail takes us...

Not what you're thinking...I'm adjusting my backpack...

There's a reason it's called "Scenic Trail"....

It's a very long steady incline...

Looking back...

There's a huge orchard in the distance...

Looking back again...

Here we are...up at the "Saguaro Forest"...

A 1:05 minute video. You'll see the campground in the distance behind me...

Amazing how birds can just land on the prickly Saguaro...

A Crested Saguaro ...

Amazing Saguaros...

Just like a fingerprint no two are the same...

Down and up we go...

Again...amazing scenery!

We made it back to the Nature Center and hadn't noticed the little oasis behind the building...

Our hike this morning was 2 hours 34 minutes, 6.56 miles/10.56 kms....with an elevation gain of 505 feet. So we were pretty hot and tired by the time we got back to the trailer. But what a fabulous hike...the views were spectacular! Thank goodness we did the hike in the early morning because the afternoon temperatures went up to 26C/79F.

No long hikes on the agenda Tuesday (Nov. 12)...just a nice walk around Fountain Hills park. The Art Show is over, so we are able to get there.

Across the street from the park...just love the architecture here in Arizona...

The Fountain...

At its full height of 560 feet, the fountain in the center of Fountain Hills is higher than the Washington Monument. It is 10 feet taller than Notre Dame Cathedral, 110 feet higher than the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt and three times as high as Old Faithful in Yellowstone Park. Fountain runs every hour on the hour for 15 minutes from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. every day of the week.

Veterans Memorial...

Totem Pole Cactus...

Senita Cactus...

Moroccan Mound...

The park has lots of art work...

We came across OYO Frozen Yogurt...a unique shop where you take a bowl (your choice of size) and fill as much frozen yogurt you want from all of the various machines along the wall...all sorts of flavors...you add whatever toppings you want and then she weighs it and you pay based on the weight. $.79/ ounce. Our selections came to $18! 😲

We sat outside with a view of the water and ate our lunch, LOL! Steve's on the left and mine on the right...

Suzanne, this picture is for you! The All American Grill where we sat on the patio and had a delicious lunch with my brother, Dennis and SIL, Suzanne. Gee, how long ago was that?!

We caught one final look of the fountain going off...

We continued along the walkway...

A picture of the fountain with Buster...

A 1:11 minute video as it starts and stops...

The walk around the lake is 1.25 miles/2 kms...and a lovely walk with lots to see.

Back home, Steve worked on picture editing and videos so that we could get this blog totally up-to-date...Yay! As he was working, he happened to see this roadrunner outside the window. The first one we've seen this year!