I have been bad at not updating my blog!! We had my brother Pat and wife Corliss visit from Nova Scotia for 2 weeks and we were busy, busy. Wonderful visit and it went way too fast! Then, the weather has been so spectacular that it is hard to come into the house and sit at the computer, we just want to be outdoors. Pat and Corliss arrived Thursday afternoon February 20th and we had them out on an ATV ride the next morning. We decided to go to Walnut Canyon and were hoping to cross the Gila river and do some exploring on the other side. The morning started out cloudy and windy and as we were up in the mountains, south east of Superior it was on the cool side to start.
Just at the start of the ride into Walnut Canyon, there is an off shoot road that goes into a warm spring. Pat is determined to walk the rocks and get a feel of the water
We all had a laugh as he slid off a rock and got one foot wet! At least the watery shoe was warm to start with!!
Corliss and I rode in our ATV and Pat and Doug in the rental ATV. Our friend Ann is talking to us
Corliss and I are ready to roll!
Pat and Corliss at one of our rest stops. Pat is looking cool in his goggles. Who does he think he is??
Pat pondering the rocks and views, they really are spectacular even when the sun don't shine
Doug and Pat having a very philosophical conversation I am sure - ha ha
Pat and Corliss, Pat looking a little more dapper without his goggles on!
Doug, Sharon, Pat and Corliss
Lunch time! We had hoped to have lunch at the river but they must have opened the dam further up the river as it was running so high there wasn't even any river shore to picnic on. No chance of crossing it either! We had to drive on and find a higher ground for our picnic! Doug, Pat, Corliss, Sharon, Ann and Trent
Corliss and Pat at another rest stop
You can tell it is warming up as Pat is now in his t-shirt. Not sure what his sign language is conveying and not sure I want to know!
It was so beautiful in the desert that day and the sun finally came out after lunch and it warmed up beautifully. We had a fun ride but we were all tired by the time we got home.
Nest day, Saturday was the Lost Dutchman Days parade in Apache Junction at 0900 hrs. So we were up early and ready and raring to go. Our friends Pam and Rich from BC, came to our place and we all headed off to the parade. The weather was beautiful and sunny so we knew we were in for a lovely parade.
Rich, Doug and Pat waiting for the parade to start
A wider view of the group, Rich, Doug, Pat, Corliss, my empty chair and Pam
The parade was great as usual, lots of cowboys, horses, wagons, rodeo queens and wild west figures - fun!
The old stage coaches were gorgeous
He is supposed to be the "Lost Dutchman" who history says found gold in the Superstition Mountains but he never revealed where his mine was. To this day, people still go out looking for the lost gold mine!
Well at least I made this picture, I guess that means Doug got out of his chair!
One of Doug's favorite parts of the parade: when all the old tractors drive by! How can you tell we live in a ranching, wild west community!!
Another old covered wagon
These are the wild ladies of the west and this woman had to come over and give Doug a big hug! No one else - just Doug - go figure!!
Love those Shriner's! - they were out in full force with all their motorized mini cars, motorcycle drill teams and clowns
We all thought we might like to try out these bikes if we could just figure how they got on and off them without killing themselves
"Guns for hire" all us women quickly wrote down their contact information!
Another beautiful old stage coach, this was a great parade, we all enjoyed it very much
I had to take this picture as I am trying to convince Doug we should buy a 4 seater next year so we can take company with us on rides and they don't need to rent a machine if they don't want the expense! So far I haven't been too successful, but I am stubborn and don't plan to give up. I like this colour also!!
Doug and I had previously made plans to go on a four day camping trip up to McDowell Regional Park with our Hedley, BC friends Kerry and Marg before we knew Pat and Corliss were coming so we left them at home to fend for themselves while we went camping! They rented a car, we gave them coupons for things to visit and knew they would be just fine.
McDowell Regional Park is north of Fountain Hill and north east of Scottsdale so a nice drive to get there and it is far enough out of town it is peaceful and plenty dark at night for star gazing
This was our camp spot, a beautiful spot with plenty of room and privacy. We loved it
We had gorgeous sunsets every night, very different from the brilliant oranges and reds we get in Apache Junction. Much more muted pinks and purples but just as beautiful.
We had a male and female cardinal visit us every morning but they were so skittish, it was hard to get pictures of them
I think the cardinal is my favorite bird down here
Marg and I liked to go for a short hike in the morning. It was amazing how quickly it got warm.
Marg and I returning from our hike
We saw many bird's nests in the cacti. Those birds are very ingenious how they can build them amongst the spikes and prickles. Definitely safe from raiding critters!
Doug and Kerry lounging in their chairs at the Hamblin's camp spot - this is while we are out walking!
They have the best playground at this campground and of course us old fogies, needed to play in it. Doug and I playing on the spider web!
This is a broader picture of the playground. The canopies overhead are to protect the kids from the sun
I wasn't 100% sure I wanted to sit in the rattler's mouth - would take a brave young child to come sliding through it!!
This is the spider web without the old fogies in the picture!
Another view of the playground
A little stepping stone in the playground
Doug, myself, Marg and Kerry posing on the phony saguaro. It must be great fun for the kids to climb over it!
The slide is a large rattler that is a bit on the scary side. I think little kids might almost be afraid of it!! I loved it though, really well done
This is our campground in the distance looking from the playground - we are the red truck and trailer
We drove into Fountain Hills one day just as the fountain was going off. It goes off on the hour for about 12 minutes and really is beautiful
Kerry and Marg had never been to Montezuma castle so we did a day drive up north of Cottonwood to explore the ancient cliff houses and ruins
We have visited this site so many times but each time we are there it just leaves us in awe of what the Indians were able to build way up the mountain sides at least 700 years ago!
Kerry and Marg at the base of the hill
Doug and Kerry having their afternoon nap after we had our picnic lunch!
We then went on the Montezuma well, another ancient Indian site with homes build into the cliff sides and at the base of the rocks around a sink hole lake fed by springs underneath it
Marg and I walked down the stairs into the basin while Doug and Kerry sat on a bench overlooking the ponds. Of course they had to chat with everyone that went by!
It was easy to see the cliff dwellings once you were down by the edge of the pond. We had a lovely visit here and then we headed into Cottonwood and then went for a drive up to the old mining town of Jerome. It sits right on the edge of the mountain looking down on the Verde Valley below.
Doug and Kerry at the lookout overlooking the town of Jerome.
We then decided to make a quick trip into Sedona just for a quick look at the "red rocks", have supper and then make the 2 hour trip back to our campground. It was getting late and we knew darkness was coming on quickly. We plan to do more thorough sightseeing in Sedona with Kerry and Marg next winter when they are down
This was the view driving in through Oak Creek towards Sedona. The sun was on the mountains as it was setting
Sedona is another place you can go to over and over and love it every time!
It was a great first quick visit for Kerry and Marg and will ensure they will come again with us next year. We plan on camping at Dead Horse State Park in Cottonwood next year as it is only a 20 minute drive from Sedona and we'll be able to explore and hike to our hearts content (the guys will nap in their chairs while Marg and I hike for sure!)
We spent every evening sitting around the campfire enjoying the fire, the stars and the occasional coyote howl
I had to add a few more sunset pictures as they were so lovely
The colours were so unbelievable and so different from where we live in Apache Junction!
They almost look like someone painted the sky!
An absolutely lovely place to hike, camp and just destress!!
Pat and Corliss came up the last day we were camping to have a wiener roast with us. We toured Fountain Hills and the park before we went back to the campground
We walked around the lake,: there is a new sculpture of a heron done in metals standing in the lake
Pat and Corliss in front of the fountain when it went off on the hour
I guess I didn't take any pictures of our wiener roast - we must have been too busy eating but it was a fun camping trip
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