Our canyons tour has been temporarily suspended due to a family emergency in Texas. So we have taken a flying trip back to Texas.
No, not on an airplane. We drove the 1,100 plus miles from Williams, AZ to Longview, TX in two days. Not recommended for those of you thinking of trying this as it will indeed wear you out.
It is unknown at this time how much of a suspension this will be but we will keep posting updates as situation changes.
Of course, with our arrival at the beginning of the summer season we have run headlong into the heat and humidity associated with East Texas. I had forgotten how 'oppressive' the heat can be when you add humidity. Yesterday it was 92 degrees but when you add in the 70% humidity it felt like 99 degrees.
Oh well, this is something you get used to. NOT!!!! I will be utilizing the A/C for the duration and venturing outside only when absolutely necessary.
Stay tuned.....
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Camp Verde, Arizona
We
are now in Arizona. To be more specific
we have spent the last month in Camp Verde which is roughly halfway between
Phoenix and Flagstaff. The park we are
at (Zane Grey RV Park) is one of the best ones visited so far. It is nestled in a low area adjacent to a
flowing creek and just inside a national forest. It has been a very restful and peaceful place
to use in between our roaming to explore the area.
We knew we were going to like the area when we saw the landscape. As we left Phoenix from our overnight stop, we immediately began climbing in elevation. As we did the desert gave way to more mountainous type terrain and much greener views of trees and grass. We eventually got to 4,000 feet before descending into Verde Valley (3,000 feet) where the Verde River flows and is nestled in between higher elevations. It is easy to locate the river as it is the darker green ribbon of trees lining its banks as it winds its way through the valley.
I, for one, was tired of drab brown, dry desert air and cacti. I am very happy amongst the cottonwood and sycamore trees that abound in the valley. And we have met wonderful people in the park. Besides those that come and go, there is a couple that is our next door neighbor that have been delightful to meet and get to know better. Besides that, he cooks a ‘mean’ prime rib and is gracious enough to share with ‘their tongues hanging out Texas friends.'
One of our first excursions was to the historic town of Clarkdale to board the Verde Canyon Railroad for a train adventure back in time. It encompasses a 20 mile train ride to Perkinsville cattle ranch then back to the Clarkdale station. There are enclosed air conditioned passenger cars and open air viewing cars available to view the vistas presented by the national forests and wilderness areas. We saw an eagle’s nest and an eagle nearby as we passed. This in addition to the soaring canyon walls, red rock formations, bridges, a tunnel and the river flowing undisturbed through it all. This was a great introduction to the area.
The
area was a natural place for ancient Indians who were hunters and gatherers to
roam. They principally farmed and
supplemented their staple crops by hunting and gathering. The tribes belonging to the Southern Sinagua
Indians inhabited the area between 700 and 900.
Two sites have been preserved as part of the National Monuments managed
by the National Park Service.
Montezuma’s Castle and Tuzigoot (pronounced “two-z-gute”).
The castle is a five-story 20 room dwelling in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Early explorers found the structure and were amazed by the structure. They assumed it was Aztec in origin and called it Montezuma’s Castle which is now known to be a misnomer. But the name stuck and is now protected from deterioration by the park service. Down the road a bit are the remnants of a village built on a summit of a ridge rising 120 feet above the Verde Valley. This is the Tuzigoot (Apache for “crooked water”) site. The original pueblo type rooms were two stories high in places with about 87 ground-floor rooms. There were few exterior doors and entry was by ladders through roof openings.
Close
to Clarkdale is the town of Jerome. An
old mining town built high up on a mountain.
The elevation is 5,000 plus feet and was a booming copper mining town at
one time. When the ore played out, it
became a ‘ghost’ town with only about 100 residents. It has since regained some status as a
tourist, artsy, retail type town. It is
pretty unique with its winding narrow streets, houses and buildings built on
the side of the hill (usually with one side hanging out over air) and located
on the road between Cottonwood and Prescott. There is a great eatery in town known as the ‘Haunted Hamburger’ and has
some of the best tasting onion rings, fries and burgers found anywhere.
Not to be outdone is the town of Winslow. Once a bustling town located on old Route 66, it has fallen on hard times due to the construction of I-40 with its wide lanes and non-stop traffic that replaced the old narrow roads that wound slowly through the towns of yesteryear along the ‘mother road’ otherwise known as Route 66. Its chief claim to fame is the immortalization provided in the song, “Take It Easy” recorded by the Eagles as a single and on their debut album. The line in the song “Well, I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…” followed by “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me..” is the reason for the visit. There is a corner in Winslow commemorating the event with a statue and a mural on a wall that reflects the girl in a red flatbed Ford in a store window behind the statue. Of course, we had to take our picture(s) on the site.
A
visit to this part of Arizona summons one to view the red rocks of Sedona. Having no clue where to go, how to get the
best views or even what was in Sedona, we stopped at the local chamber of
commerce and tourism spot. A volunteer
provided us a map and gave us driving directions to some of the best known
viewing sites for red rock formations.
Armed with our map, cameras and curiosity off we went to find these
treasures. What a marvelous sight to
behold. The reds, greens, and browns
contrasted with the azure blue sky dotted with white clouds is something that
no picture can capture. I have often said
if someone could find a way to capture (like in a photo) what the human eye
sees they would become instantly wealthy.
It
is good to have photos (even with their shortcomings) to trigger the recollections
stored in our brains from viewing these magnificent sights. We are so thankful we have a chance to
explore, experience and record in our memories such things.
From
Sedona at 4,500 feet you can head through Oak Creek Canyon climbing to over
7,000 feet through a series of switchbacks while traveling to Flagstaff. As you do, you are treated to many beautiful
vistas as the landscape begins to change.
Around Flagstaff there is a lot more pine trees, grasses and cooler
temperatures. Once you arrive in Flagstaff,
there are several things to see and do.
We chose to go up to Snow Bowl, a ski area, on Humphrey’s Peak (12,600
feet) that is used for hiking during summer months to look around. It has snow on top even though 150 miles
south in Phoenix the temperatures are reaching 115 degrees.
While
in Flagstaff, we visited Salsa Brava.
This is a Mexican restaurant featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and
Dives.” All agreed this is some of the
best, if not the best, Mexican food we have eaten. It is not Tex-Mex but it is so flavorful and
fresh that my mouth waters as I write about it.
As usual all good things must eventually come to an end or left behind in our case. We are moving after a month in Camp Verde to begin our canyons tour. More to come about the tour in our next post.
We knew we were going to like the area when we saw the landscape. As we left Phoenix from our overnight stop, we immediately began climbing in elevation. As we did the desert gave way to more mountainous type terrain and much greener views of trees and grass. We eventually got to 4,000 feet before descending into Verde Valley (3,000 feet) where the Verde River flows and is nestled in between higher elevations. It is easy to locate the river as it is the darker green ribbon of trees lining its banks as it winds its way through the valley.
I, for one, was tired of drab brown, dry desert air and cacti. I am very happy amongst the cottonwood and sycamore trees that abound in the valley. And we have met wonderful people in the park. Besides those that come and go, there is a couple that is our next door neighbor that have been delightful to meet and get to know better. Besides that, he cooks a ‘mean’ prime rib and is gracious enough to share with ‘their tongues hanging out Texas friends.'
One of our first excursions was to the historic town of Clarkdale to board the Verde Canyon Railroad for a train adventure back in time. It encompasses a 20 mile train ride to Perkinsville cattle ranch then back to the Clarkdale station. There are enclosed air conditioned passenger cars and open air viewing cars available to view the vistas presented by the national forests and wilderness areas. We saw an eagle’s nest and an eagle nearby as we passed. This in addition to the soaring canyon walls, red rock formations, bridges, a tunnel and the river flowing undisturbed through it all. This was a great introduction to the area.
 |
| That's RR track on the left next to vertical red rock wall. |
 |
| Red Tailed Hawk putting on a show for us |
 |
| Towering canyon walls |
 |
| Notice what looks like figures at middle top playing leap frog? |
 |
| Not all rocks are red, see train in upper left? |
 |
| Beautiful sights to behold. |
The castle is a five-story 20 room dwelling in a cliff recess 100 feet above the valley. Early explorers found the structure and were amazed by the structure. They assumed it was Aztec in origin and called it Montezuma’s Castle which is now known to be a misnomer. But the name stuck and is now protected from deterioration by the park service. Down the road a bit are the remnants of a village built on a summit of a ridge rising 120 feet above the Verde Valley. This is the Tuzigoot (Apache for “crooked water”) site. The original pueblo type rooms were two stories high in places with about 87 ground-floor rooms. There were few exterior doors and entry was by ladders through roof openings.
 |
| Montezuma's Castle |
 |
| A closer look |
 |
| Tuzigoot from atop the ruins. |
 |
| Now looking up the hill at Tuzigoot proper. |
Not to be outdone is the town of Winslow. Once a bustling town located on old Route 66, it has fallen on hard times due to the construction of I-40 with its wide lanes and non-stop traffic that replaced the old narrow roads that wound slowly through the towns of yesteryear along the ‘mother road’ otherwise known as Route 66. Its chief claim to fame is the immortalization provided in the song, “Take It Easy” recorded by the Eagles as a single and on their debut album. The line in the song “Well, I’m standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona…” followed by “It’s a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowin’ down to take a look at me..” is the reason for the visit. There is a corner in Winslow commemorating the event with a statue and a mural on a wall that reflects the girl in a red flatbed Ford in a store window behind the statue. Of course, we had to take our picture(s) on the site.
 |
| The corner and girl in red truck's reflection in window. |
 |
| Largest guitar I ever tried to play. |
 |
| Sedona on valley floor |
 |
| Slightly different perspective |
 |
| The Courthouse |
 |
| Courthouse and Bell Tower |
 |
| A different formation behind the Bell Tower |
 |
| Close up of Bell Tower |
 |
| Revisited Sedona landscape that afternoon with rain showers in background |
 |
| Chapel of the Cross, built into the rock |
 |
| View of road from Sedona to Flagstaff, see cars on the road? |
 |
| Humprey's Peak looking up the slope at ski run and ski lift |
As usual all good things must eventually come to an end or left behind in our case. We are moving after a month in Camp Verde to begin our canyons tour. More to come about the tour in our next post.
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