Prescott Arizona

Crossing the mountain at Jerome

Friday Sept 28 2018

This is our last touring day here in Arizona, tomorrow we plan on hanging out in the campground and resting. Our town for the day is Prescott, which is over a mountain range from our campground and about 50 miles driving distance.

We drove through Cottonwood and on up the mountain to Jerome without stopping, we had been to both earlier in the week. Past Jerome the sometimes narrow two lane road winds back and forth towards the mountain peak. We were probably up around 7000 feet by the time we crossed to the other side; the mountain top was all forested in complete contrast to the arid scrub vegetation below Jerome.

The ride down to Prescott Valley was all S curves, switchbacks and big drop-offs on the left side. The descent was beautiful and a fun driving experience.  

Prescott Valley

Soon the Prescott valley spread out before us. It looked to me like a filming location for the epic old cowboy movies; I was waiting to see Gene Autry ride up on a horse. BTW, working horsemen is something you rarely see in the west. I think all the animals have been replaced with UTV’s.

Before long we started seeing suburban housing developments and soon entered the city of Prescott. Founded in 1864 it was once the capital of the Arizona territories. It is a medium sized city of 40,000 and when driving in our impulse reaction was, less than impressed. That changes when you get to the town square, where it starts to get some character. There is a whole city block of park setting with a large stone Municipal building at its center. Green grass and tall shade trees invite locals and tourist alike to set awhile and soak in the ambiance.

Millie at the Prescott town square

The blocks surrounding the square are all busy with restaurants, shops and taverns. One section is called whiskey row and houses bars that host music venues. It seems like it would be a fun place after dark, if I was about half my age!

Larry on the other side of the Prescott town square

We drove back to the motorhome on a different route, this one down a different valley to I-17. The terrain was back to the semi desert scrub vegetation that is prevalent everywhere here. Most of the residences where small ranches, most looking tired and sun baked.

I don't think so!

It was in this area that Amy #1, an old GPS that I keep in the truck told me to make a left turn and drive “Off Road”. She actually said that, drive off road, I think these GPS’s are communicating with one another and there is a conspiracy brewing!