HAPPY EASTER

It's been a while since the last post, but so much has been going on that I haven't had much time. It is nearing the end of the "season" here and many parties, potlucks, etc... are happening. The rock shop will remain open until we leave, but on limited hours. So many residents are leaving now and most will be gone by mid April. We, of course, will be here until May 10.....it should really be hot by then.

This week has been marvelous. The temps are in the high 80s and the wildflowers are in full bloom. The desert is green and very much alive!! The next few days will actually end up in the 90s (great).

Best of all, Don & Carol, (Ken's youngest brother and his wife) have been in the area for spring break. They brought their daughter Kelli and her friend Amanda with them to tour some sights in AZ that they haven't seen before. They stayed in Cave Creek about 83 miles from where we are, but we did go up and have dinner with them one night. On Friday Don & Carol (girls wanted to stay by the pool) drove to Apache Junction where we met to take them on a tour of the "Apache Trail."

The “Trail” is 78 miles long and starts at Apache Junction on SR88. It climbs past the Superstition Mountains through beautiful Fish Creek Canyon and travels by the southern edges of Apache, Saguaro, Canyon and Roosevelt Lakes and ends at the mining town of Globe. Twenty-five miles of the trail is narrow (sometimes one lane) and gravel. It is a very twisty/winding road which is not recommended for vehicles over 15 feet. We were fortunate by not seeing many sightseers, so had plenty of time to enjoy the various sights.

Our first stop on the "trail" was Tortilla Flats and the Dutchman's Inn. Jacob Waltz, famous for the Lost Dutchman Mine, is memorialized here. The place is quite rustic with saddles for seats on the bar stools and $1 bills lining the ceiling and ALL the walls (everywhere). They also serve great food!!


It was too early for us to eat lunch, so we just looked the place over and took some pictures then headed further east where we passed through Fish Creek Canyon. The canyon was alive with wildflowers.

The walls of the canyon rise approximately 2,000 feet and were very colorful in the morning sun.


Once we arrived at the top of the hills, we stopped at a viewpoint and took a short walk to stretch our legs and look back at the sights. This is one of many pictures of the view.

Here is Carol and Ken on the walk and Don in the background taking some close up shots of the many flowers along the way.

Once we were past the canyon, we traveled on to Roosevelt Lake and hwy 188 where we stopped at the Tonto National Monument to tour a Salado Indian Cliff Dwelling. There are two dwellings here, but we could only go to the lower one because the upper dwelling requires reservations and is only available for touring in the mornings.

The lower cliff dwelling is on a one-mile (round trip) path and climbs 350 feet.
It was warm by then, but we made good time and had a fabulous view of the valley below from the ruins. That is Roosevelt Lake in the distance.


Here is Ken, Don, & Carol, enjoying the tour.


Well, that is it for pictures, but we finished the day off by stopping near the town of Superior and looking at an open pit copper mine, then going on into Superior and having ice cream at the local Dairy Queen (yum). After that, it was another 36 miles back to Apache Junction where we said goodbye until we see them again in Salem.

It was a fun day and we loved getting together with family so far from our Oregon home!!