When my mom took me to the park on a Thursday, I knew something was up. We usually go on a Friday, so that meant one thing: adventure! Dad got the camper and when he was getting it ready, he noticed a connection to the propane gas line was broken. I’ve been smelling propane and have tried to tell them, but humans don’t understand Shiba. Anyway, Dad had to run to the Little Dealer, Little Prices off Deer Valley Road. We didn’t buy our camper there, but they have an outstanding parts department. He got the part we needed, and we were on our way.
We took I-17 north to the exit for 169 and turned west. We followed this to Cherry Road and turned right (look for signs to Cherry and/or Powell Springs Campground. The road turned to dirt at some point and was a little bumpy pulling a camper. Dad said the road was smoother when he came through in May and that the rains must have washed the road out. Just before the town of Cherry (an old minding town where people still live), the Powell Springs Campground will be on your left.
This campground is small with only 11 sites. The good news is they are free! The downside is the sites aren’t
maintained, so a couple of them are unusable due to overgrown ground cover. The first site we tried was too steep, so we had to try another site. We got situated and then jumped back into the car to explore the area.
Cherry is only a few minutes away. We turned around because the road was impassable just beyond town. We opted to explore around the campground and discovered a lush, green fern forest out in the middle of nowhere! The green was so bright it filled the inside of the car! If you opt to 4-wheel while in the area, check conditions and road reports. The monsoons have wreaked havoc on the dirt roads up in the mountains, and there is little maintenance on them.
Back at the camp, we settled in to enjoy the sounds of nature. I love the smell of pine and juniper trees. Mom and dad read books, and I read the land: who and what had been here. We ate dinner and enjoyed a spectacular star show. When you get away from the lights of the city, the sky opens up.
I no longer smelled propane gas, but I have a long memory. One time, a bee was in the camper, and I don’t like bees. Another time the wind howled and pine cones pounded the camper. Then, the alarm sounded with the gas leak, which took months to discover and the dealer we purchased the camper from didn’t catch it. All that to say, I am apprehensive about going inside the camper trailer—the very camper my folks got so they could bring me on adventures. It doesn’t make any logical sense, but I got myself worked up. I shook, whined, and panted like a lost puppy. Mom and dad did everything right and sandwiched me between them in the bed. The temps dropped down into the 40s, so their warmth was welcome. Just when I started to fall asleep, another alarm went off. Are you kidding me? That was it, I was done. Get me out of this place!!
This time, the alarm was because we didn’t have enough windows open. Dad has decided he needs to replace the unit as it goes off all the time and is too sensitive. Bottom line: none of us got any sleep. Oh, how ready to be outside I was, and we let the warm sun wake us up. After breakfast, we took a hike to find the Powell Springs. A long time ago, a road went to it, but we couldn’t find it. We ended up on top of a mesa with great views. We decided the Powell Springs was all around us, thus the name of the campground.
We sat around the camp for a spell then my folks started packing us up. The drive was only about an hour back home, but we stopped at the Covered Wagon Boat & RV Storage to drop the camper off. This is where we store the camper when we aren’t using it. They are reasonably priced and provide a secure area with gate.
And like that, my adventure was over. Mom and I took a nap, and I was grateful to be home.
Hi! I am Kumaito (Kuma for short), a multi-tan Shiba Inu. My breed is one of the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix, Arizona home. I enjoy running or hiking almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating, napping … well, I love just about everything and everyone!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith (Founder of the FIT Leader Formula™) is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/ and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog?ref=hl
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
