A RIDE ALONG - Indio (Palm Springs), California to St George, Utah

McTraveler left our winter snowbird refuge on May 3, 2013 from Indian Wells Carefree RV Resort located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California.   We couldn't have asked for a better winter; but we also couldn't wait any longer for weather to improve on our northern route.  Finally, enough is enough, let's lock and load ... we had a bad case of the itch to hitch!  From our rear view mirror, we drove away from a beautiful clear blue low-desert skies and 106 degree temperature.

With excitement and anticipation, McTraveler begins the first leg of the 2013 Spring RV Trip which will take us on a 6,000 mile journey through CA, NV, AZ, UT, NV, CA, OR, WA, Vancouver BC, WA, ID, MT, WY, SD, IA, NE, KS, MO, IL, IN, and KY.

Our winter refuge at Indian Wells Carefree RV Resort as seen from
Shields Date Gardens, Indio, California

Clear blue skies and  wide open desert 

Taking I-10 we head west towards LA then headed north up I-15 towards Las Vegas, Nevada; we drive through lots of open desert and surprisingly light traffic.  With the spring rains, the desert was greener than when we arrived last December and the wildflowers were starting to bloom.  

Even the Joshua Trees were starting to bloom.

Since we've already been, we be bypass the Mojave
on this trip ... always pack extra water if you go.

About 50 miles from St. George, Utah

I-15 construction as we near St George

Driving through the Virgin River Gorge area

McTraveler does a great job handling these grades and curves through the
 mountains.  We keep a copy of  the  Mountain Directory by the co-pilots chair 
as a reference on driving conditions through mountain passes and steep 
grades.  When we plan ahead we don't have to say "If I'd only known ..."

From Vegas we wander in and the NW tip of Arizona a couple of times.

Finally catch a glimpse of the Virgin River

                                                 

Red rocks are appearing on the cliffs of the desert landscape

                                                                                                                                                           

McTraveler was like a roller coaster ride ... raise your arms and yell  weeeeeeeeeee.!
Well, that's not exactly what the driver was yelling.

Can't wait to see the red cliffs up close and personal

St George Utah, our base camp to Zion National Park

We just had to start our 2013 Spring RV Trip by staying at McArthur's Temple View RV Resort in St George, but quickly found out the owners were not long lost relatives.  We found stunning red rock cliffs and a view of the Mormon Temple as the backdrop of the RV Resort.

Nope, they are not long lost relatives

Nice RV Resort with lots of amenities and activities

Hence the name of the campground ... McArthur's Temple View RV Resort

After leaving triple digit temps of the southern California desert, our bodies were shocked when we stepped out into St George's afternoon of mid-70s with nightly lows in the 40-50s.  

Well McTraveler took us on a beautiful drive today through ever changing views of the low-desert to high-desert landscapes; through wide open spaces to tight mountain cliffs on our way to St George, Utah. 

Hope you enjoyed the ride and that you'll be back soon.

Wishing you safe travels!

Pam, Jim, Maxx and Mollie