glamping – Cindy Bruchman

A colleague suggested a camping spot ninety-minutes away tucked under Ponderosa Pines and surrounded by Mountain Laurel. She promised valley views, and Jim and I felt an escapade was needed. 260 to 87S. Mile Marker 277. Drive through the gate a mile and veer left. Okay, we’ll try it!

We headed up to the high country for glamping and campfire dinner. As we relaxed, we put on George Harrison’s tribute concert from 2002 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. We felt like we were at an outdoor concert. The crisp air combined with a slight breeze whistling through the pines lulled us to sleep. This morning, we hiked along the precipice. This is the Mogollon Rim from the west side. How many times have we driven by this spot thinking we needed to travel 3.5 hours to get there? We halved our time and fell in love with the view and privacy. Not a soul to be found. Which shot do you like best?

“The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona.” *Wikipedia*

Glamping. We pull around a king-sized bed. Hey, it works for us!

Three cheers to my friend at work. What a spot-on suggestion!

Where have I been? Like millions of other people, summertime is for adventures and catching up with family. I have been working hard at revisions for my second novel and forbade myself to blog until they were completed. Additionally, my summer days have been full of grandchildren, reunions, and glamping. Yes, Jim and I are glampers. Too old and spoiled to sleep in tents and on the ground, not a fan of RVs or its parks, so we bought a teardrop camper. It feels like a crime that we have lived in AZ for seven years, and we’ve rarely been to our neighboring states. All those National Parks waiting for us. All those lakes to fish and kayak. Here are some shots of our first glamping experience, a three-night trip to Eastern Arizona to the Mogollon Rim and the White Mountains.