December 2, 2025 (Tue.) - Arizona Bound: From Stickers to Sunsets—and a Stubborn Toilet.
Today was another travel day. We headed west to Sun Valley, Arizona, planning to spend the weekend there since we prefer not to travel on weekends.
Lynn was up early at 6:00 AM to a chilly 22° morning (feels like 17°). Without her laptop—she hadn’t taken it out yesterday—she enjoyed a quiet start with coffee and her audiobook. Kirk rose at 8:00 AM for the usual travel prep. Travel‑day breakfasts are always quick: a Clif Bar and fruit. Since we hadn’t unpacked much, getting ready was easy, and by 9:15 we were rolling out into a “balmy” 25°.
The drive was 270 miles straight down I‑40, about 4 hours with an ETA of 1:15 PM. Less than 30 minutes in, we stopped at a Marathon Travel Center, hoping to find a New Mexico sticker. We’d searched in Moriarty yesterday with no luck, so this was our last chance. The travel center was huge and promising—and success! We added New Mexico to our sticker collection before getting back on the road.
Around 12:15 PM in Gallup, NM, we tried to stop at the Blue Beacon Truck Wash. After weeks of rain, snow, and ice, the truck and RV badly needed a wash. But the line was so long that Kirk wisely avoided entering the queue (once you’re in, you’re stuck). We pulled out and continued west, deciding to find another wash before reaching California.
By 12:45 PM we crossed into Arizona and stopped at the Welcome Center for a quick break. Nothing remarkable, but a nice enough stop. At 1:50 PM we arrived at Sun Valley RV Park, just outside Holbrook. The registration office was closed, so we had to call a number for site assignment. A staff member eventually came out to assist. The park was right off I‑40 and very no‑frills—self‑contained only, with bathrooms and amenities closed. They even mentioned they were “technically closed,” which surprised us. Still, at $45 a night, it was cheap and fine for a short stay.
At 3:50 PM, Lynn discovered (or triggered) a toilet issue. The bowl kept filling with water and wouldn’t stop, no matter how many times she pressed the pedal. After what seemed liked 15 minutes of “leg day” flushing (it was probably only 5 minutes), Kirk shut off the water and turned to YouTube for solutions. He managed a temporary fix but still needed parts from the hardware store. Thankfully, disaster was avoided—overflowing the black tank would have been catastrophic! And of course, the toilet chose to malfunction at a park without bathrooms. Worst case, we could clear out the garage bathroom, currently serving as a motorcycle gear closet.
Later, the park office called to remind us to disconnect the water hose due to freezing temps. Our heated hose once again proved useless.
By 5:15 PM we headed out for dinner, greeted by a gorgeous sunset. We tried Bienvenidos Mexican Restaurant, hoping for authentic Arizona Mexican food (Lynn hoping for some good crispy tacos). The menu leaned more toward BBQ than expected—Lynn ended up with an ‘ok’ baked potato topped with pulled pork (she opted out of tacos), while Kirk’s fajitas were solid. We also got ceviche which was pretty decent.
By 7:00 PM we were back at the RV, winding down with blogging, TV, and a quiet evening.
Weather – (Sun Valley, AZ) – High 50*, Low 20*. Wind 6-12 mph. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – None.
Food – Nothing to report.
Notable – Crossed into Arizona, Sunset.
Screen time – Pilgrimage, Landman.
