From Apache Junction AZ to Deming, NM......

Our Location: 

Walmart Supercenter, Deming, NM

(1021 E Pine St)

The morning dawned to the sound of wind, steady wind and a beautiful day came into being. I was awake long before the sun showed it's wonderful self over the edge of Superstition Mountain but I didn't get up. Although it would be a travel day I still wasn't in any hurry to roll out. A text from  my sister around 7 am (Arizona time) finally told me I should get out of bed.

As promised, yesterday's para glider at Superstition Mountain.

 

Queen Creek Tunnel once again....

Riley was up by then too and we chatted about what time we hoped to be on the road and where we were heading, and you know the drill. We had a quick sandwich for breakfast and before long were busy doing those 'travel day things'. We skipped our hot drinks though as we tend to linger over those and it wasn't that kind of day. We were totally hooked up and ready to pull out by 8:10 am (Arizona Time). We took our time and managed to avoid most of the death wish holes in the road and before long we were on the hard top of N. Hackamore Road. 

Praying hands, and a face or two, do you see them?

Appears a bit skinny here due to the high sides......

It took us no time to make our way to Tomahawk Road, Old West Highway, and then onto US 60. We followed US 60 for a long way, all the way to Globe, from there we climbed onto US 70 East and stayed on it all the way to Lordsburg, NM. 

I love the colour of the rock here.....

 

Yes that is snow on the mountain top, isn't it beautiful?

For those that are interested, I'm going to write the next little piece of information for myself and anyone thinking of taking this route (again). Tomahawk Road, Old West Highway and the beginning of US 60 is not fast, it is city driving with 2 way, 4 way stops, along with numerous stop lights. I find the stop lights more concerning as the speed limit is anywhere from 45 to 55 mph and I take longer than a car to stop so some advanced warning would be nice. The road is good with a few bumps and humps but nothing major. When the stop lights cease to be an issue (about Gold Canyon) the road is good with double lanes, speeds are higher around 65 mph. The route to Superior is good, not difficult at all. I believe from around Superior it becomes a two lane road with passing lanes. IT IS ON THIS PORTION OF THE ROUTE THAT I WISH TO MAKE NOTE. The grades are very steep, sharp, twisty, turning, and appear to be narrow. I know they are regular width but to be honest when the  side of the mountain is standing mere feet from the roadway on both sides it appears narrow. The views are scenic and wonderful to behold but as a driver concentration is extremely important with no time to sight. A few pull offs were available but they weren't on top of the mountains, on the up bound it would have required a standing stop to immediate grades (steep or pretty steep, not gradual grades). The few passing lanes were helpful but still they weren't quite long enough in some places and appeared to stop at the very top of the mountains, not after you crested the top but just as you are cresting, meaning you had to get back into traffic before you actually managed to get to the top of the climb. The curves and twists were sharper than I would like but not bad or difficult but again one had to really concentrate while driving. This portion of the drive for me was  stressful and not the most comfortable drive I've ever accomplished, but it is very doable, although I would caution myself and anyone else going to do this drive to be aware of ice warnings as well. The downgrades are steep as well but usually pretty short. The city of Globe is much larger than I thought and I would like to return for a visit some time when I'm not hauling my home behind me. Historic downtown would be fascinating I'm sure.  US70 from Globe to Lordsburg, NM was fantastic, wonderful, leisurely, scenic and pleasant and made the stressful drive earlier seem worth the effort. Did I mention it was scenic? It was a beautiful, relaxing couple of hours on a 2 lane highway with not a lot of traffic, or at least we didn't seem to have much. A stop in at Taylor Freeze in Pima, AZ right on the roadside of US 70 is a good stop, great milkshakes there. My only complaint about this portion of the road is there is no warning of pull offs available and you are past them before you realize they are there. Signage for historical markers would also be nice as I noted a number of  markers but I didn't notice any advance warning of them. As I said before unlike 'non towing vehicles' I can't just stop quickly and safely so these were pretty much all bypassed due to being unaware of their locations.

 

Left picture we could see in someone's yard when we stopped at a wide spot in the road for a stretch. Top right picture is a fixer upper we noticed on our drive. Bottom right, for any folks that read many western books, Globe was a well mentioned place and as we can see from it's founding, it's been around a long time.

Scenes from our drive today, including the passing over of the Continental Divide.

From US 70 we continued onto I-10 East at Lordsburg, NM and made our way to the Walmart at Deming, NM. We crossed into a new state and therefore a different time because Arizona doesn't do DLS but New Mexico does, we therefore had to move the clocks ONE hour ahead even though we are still in Mountain Standard Time. We are actually parked in the vacant Home Depot lot next door to Walmart as are at least 10 other rigs. The big rigs are parked on our side of the Walmart parking lot of course just across the fence.  

Along US 70, absolutely stunning...

Still warm temps although I put on long pants as I find the wind a bit cool but Riley likes the temperature. We arrived around 2:30 pm NM time, parked, put out the slides and dropped the front feet to give us a bit more stability, and headed to Wally's for a few items on the grocery list. We had to make a second trip after we'd had lunch because we'd forgotten to take our drinking water jugs to fill and both were empty. Between the two of us we managed to consume 4.5 gallons of water in about 3 days. Must have been pretty thirst these last few days as 5 gallons usually last us about 5 days. 

 

A massive open pit mine, we could see it for a long ways but didn't know what it was until we were closer.

I called my dad when we arrived but left a message telling him where we are and that we arrived safely. I'll call him again tomorrow night when we land at our next destination. So we've settled in for the night and are tucked comfortably at the outside of the parking lot and will enjoy our night here. Some facts for the day, we reached elevations of about 4600 feet, the temperature ranged from 54F/12C to 69F/20C, we battled a pretty strong head wind all day used about 3/4 of a tank of fuel which is approx 30 gallons travelling 243 miles/391 km. It took us about 5 hours travel time. We are currently sitting at 4335 feet in elevation.

 

I can see a bear skin rug, can you?

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed your visit. Feel free to drop a line if you like. 

 

Don't you think this should be on a postcard?

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

On a long and lonesome highway bids you all a good night.

Deb  

Change of plans, friends depart, and a solo hike..

Our Location:

Superstition Mountains BLM, Apache Junction, AZ

A change of plans for Riley and I as the rains continued to fall off and on all night and still this morning. Doug & Yuma (Miss Adventure Travels) however wasn't deterred and off they went around 8:15 am. We said our goodbyes and both headed back to get our camera's for photo's at the same time. He texted to say he was on the main road before 8:30 am. A quick trip on this road with his motor home. He said he simply followed the wet tire marks and made it easily. It was fun getting to know him and Yuma, and the two weeks flew by before we even realized it. Again we wish them wonderful safe travels and hearty adventures as they continue their journey. 

Early morning fog rolling in, around and over the Superstition Mountains....

Superstition Mountain to the right, with the notch through the mountains on the Apache Trail to the left but lost in the fog.

We've settled in for the day, it rained off and on and then the sun would pretend as if it's going to make an appearance but soon the clouds swallow it up again. I don't like to drive in the rain and while it may stop everything will still be spraying up on the road and that often gives me a headache with the wipers swooshing back and forth. Tomorrow will be sunny and good travel weather so we'll be on the road then. 

How can one say the desert isn't beautiful?

Amazing how the fog and light play with the mountains, isn't it?

Today I think will be a catch up day where I can read blogs, finish my book and just relax and enjoy the day.  Always the kind of day I like before a travel day, and yesterday was pretty busy for me for a pre- travel day. 

Getting ready to hit the road. Yuma wasn't a happy fella but Doug looks happy to be getting away from us....

Goodbye Friends, safe travels!!!!

As I watched the morning slipping past I'm so happy we didn't travel today, the fog is thick at times, rolling and out blocking the mountains completely one minute and showing outlines or hints the next. I am glad I'm not driving in this stuff. We will (I think) be heading toward Globe tomorrow which is where the fog seems to be thickly hanging in that direction. We would be climbing a bit and definitely we would be driving in fog. Doug & Yuma went the other way, toward Tuscon so I hope it's not as thick that in direction. 

The sun tried vainly to come out over the mountain....

It can almost be seen.....

I love the mystical way the fog wraps this mountain in it's blanket....

Texted back and forth with my sister in law Janet for a while this morning, getting caught up on the 'need to know' stuff. In two months time they'll be heading home to Roseneath, Ontario and Buttercup Ridge. Sadly we'll be departing from Buttercup Ridge before they arrive home. Hopefully we manage a visit during the summer time. 

This mountain has been visible from a number of short hike's we've done into the Tonto National Forest from the Igloo and today my goal was get closer....

 

The fog was everywhere....

Around 10:15 am the rain had stopped, the skies were starting to clear and I donned my hiking boots, and gear to head out for a walk that has been on my mind for a long time. We've often seen horseback riders moving along through the mountains behind the large rock we climbed to the other day. I've wanted for a while to follow that trail and see what they see from what I deem as the 'far away' spot before they head downward and into the valley for a long time. Riley and I were about half way before we turned around the other day. Today I took various different paths but eventually I ended up exactly where I had seen the horseback riders disappearing over the edge. What a view they have!!!

About a half hour after I started out I took this shot of the Dogsled and Igloo. Looks funny without Motor Home and Jeep near by.

Turning around I took this picture. Love the shadows on the mountains.

The path I took was one I've not been on before but I had no fear of getting lost or turned around. I followed it for quite some time. I followed many horse paths, a few off road vehicle paths, and did some cross country hiking making my own way to paths I thought looked more fun or were heading in the direction I wanted to go. The going wasn't too bad, and I enjoyed the solitude. I didn't see anyone except one dirt biker when I was heading in and he was playing around in the big pit I've shown many pictures of before. I did see a rabbit, a couple of birds but that was it, nothing else that moved until I was just about back to the pit once more on the way home, then I encountered a few different folks, vehicles and dogs. 

I'm getting closer but not quite there....

Isn't this view something to see and I'm not back yet to where I want to get....

 

I made it to the spot that I wanted to be but noticed some pretty dark rain like clouds caught on the mountains in front of me and beside me so I thought it best if I hurried my butt back homeward bound. I checked the time and it was 12:21 when I started for home from the furthest point away.  The views were pretty awesome though I must say. I enjoyed them for a few minutes before heading homeward. 

I've dubbed him the Saguaro Padre!!!

This what I came to see.....and they just kept getting better the further I went...

The trails homeward bound were a bit more challenging as I took more cross country routes and found myself in places that didn't look easy to move in the direction I wanted but I still managed without any problem. I will tell you though I was sweating, the sun was out and there was no breeze of any kind. By the time I got home you could wring water out of my shorts and t-shirt. I could hear some dirt bikes tearing around but I didn't see them for a some time as they headed off in the opposite direction I had ventured.

Amazing to see the shadows back toward Superstition Mountain....

Amazing to see how the sun casts shadows and lightens the  mountain to look so different, isn't it?

I had a text from Doug but couldn't receive it as I don't have data capabilities here in the USA on my phone. I also called my dad, who's name also happens to be Doug. How funny is that? Dad and I chatted while I walked the last half mile or so to the Igloo. Gave me time to cool down a bit and a chance to chat with him since he is once again 3 hours different than we are here in Arizona since Arizona doesn't do the day light savings time stuff. 

Looking back at Superstition Mountain as I head further in the other direction. The head of the mountain is still hidden by the fog and the darkness makes it look very ominous I think.

I didn't notice the hole in the rock until I edited the picture, that big tall rock we've hiked to twice before but I've not had a picture from this angle before.

After a half hour conversation with Dad in which he told me they have had a new snow fall in the last few days, he and my sister did his grocery shopping, and he's visited Marion again, along with a few other little tidbits I was in the Igloo and ready to sit down and take off my boots. Saying our goodbyes for a few hours, as I'll be talking to him tomorrow when we reach our overnight destination to let him know we've arrived safely. 

Pretty amazing looking I think.....

It was worth the walk....

Lunch today was spaghetti and cheesy garlic bread. Riley did an excellent job of preparing lunch once again. She even cleaned up afterward and didn't want my help. I like these kinds of days for sure. Hahaha...

I started editing my hike pictures but decided to read for a while instead. I finished the Edward Stewart book, it was good, and I'll look for more written by him in the future. I started a Patricia Cornwell that I'm sure I've read many years ago called Scarpetta. I always enjoy her books. However true to my nature I had to close the book, take off my specs and have  wee nap during that time. I was back down stairs and editing pictures once again before 5 pm. So many good shots, it's hard to cull them down to so few but I am doing my best.

After editing I continued on this post I had started this morning. I could hear this noise out the door and eventually looked up to see a para glider or whatever they are called not far from our door, he was buzzing the little white hill I've shown in many pictures. The engine revving was what caught my attention, very loud and whiny sounding. He buzzed around here for a number of minutes landing finally back where the big parking area is with the gate into the Tonto National Forest. I took pictures but will post them another time. I have enough for tonight. 

So there you have it, our aborted travel day due to weather. A busy day for me and I enjoyed my hike a great deal. I know there are a lot of pictures but there was always something wonderful to see. I hope you've enjoyed your visit, feel free to leave a comment. I enjoy reading them. 

Until next time.... take care, be safe, 

Not all trails are easy ........not all trails are difficult....

This is what the trails looked like that I followed today....

Just some funny faces I noticed today. 

Not a face you'd see everyday, but perhaps at Mardi Gras, which we missed this year.

Old codger, think he was mining for gold in these here hills? 

Deb