Hiking and Riding...

Lost Dutchman State Park

Apache Junction, AZ

April 15, 2024 

I think Lost Dutchman Sate Park is the prettiest park we have ever called home.  It might be the time of year we are here.  I wasn't expecting a sea of yellow.  I have never seen so much yellow.  And yellow is my favorite color !

This is the view from our site.

Sally is enjoying her walks and smells.

We were up early for a Sunday hike.  The choice was Siphon Draw.  Siphon Draw is the primary trail from the campground into the Superstition Mountains.  It is a rocky uphill with steep spots that involve rock scrambling. The plan was to go as far as we felt comfortable.  In total, we hiked up hill a mile and a half before turning around.  The rocks are slippery...marbles I say...on the downhill making for a slow go.  Being early birds was not the best choice, but I didn't realize it until I tried to capture the beauty with the camera.  The sun was in my face and caused quite the glare in photos.  

Uphill...

Downhill...

Monday, after a leisurely morning, we decided to take a scenic drive.  I love sharp curves snuggled up against rock cliff walls and the anticipation of what I will see next.  

Heading out of the park and making a right turn put us on Apache Trail...that was easy !  This scenic drive got its name from the Apache Indians who used this trail to move thru the Superstition Mountains.  And in the 1900s, it became a stagecoach route.    

Today, the 40 miles known officially as Route 88 starts at Apache Junction and ends at Roosevelt Lake.  We had tried to take the gravel road when we visited Payson in October 2022, but the road was closed due to a rock slide in 2019.  From our end, the road is paved for about 20 miles and turns into a graded dirt road for the rest of the way to the lake.  The gravel road is still closed about 2 miles after the pavement ends at Fish Creek Vista.   

We crossed two one lane bridges over creeks that run into Canyon Lake. 

It's a pretty lake and although none of my photos show the activities,  we saw several boats zooming by, paddle boarders  and picnics.

We turned around and headed home when we went as far as we could go.  We did make one stop along the way at Tortilla Flats.  It was lunch time !  

Tortilla Flat is nestled deep in the Superstition Mountains.  Back in 1904, it was established as a stagecoach stop and today, is the oldest operating stagecoach town in Arizona.  

Shops are located on 1 Main Street (the only address in town) and boasts a whopping population of 6.  

We had burgers and fries at Superstion Saloon.   The Dutchman's Burger was pilled high with bacon, onion rings, cheese and pickles and smothered in the Dutchman's lost BBQ sauce after the recipe was found.  It was good sauce...a little on the sweeter side and if that didn't feel us up, the thin and crispy fries sure did !

 

I don't usually post about the restrooms, but don't miss the opportunity to be a showgirl if you make a top there.  I hear you guys can be an outlaw if you have a hankering for that !

And did you happen to notice the $1.00 bills?  Our waitress who provided not only great service also told us there are 700,000 + $1.00 bills stapled to the walls, ceilings, and every nook and cranny in the saloon.   And one more thing, the stools at the bar were beautiful leather saddles and I didn't get a photo.  

 

We perused the Country Store and bought homemade fudge.  And at the other end of the street, we bought post cards to mail to the kiddos before heading home.  Big doing is Tortilla Flat !  

The afternoon was spent walking and sitting outside with Sally...

and trying to capture the sunset.  The late afternoon glow on the mountains...

and the sun fading away til tomorrow.

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

Awesome Weather, Wildflowers, and Washed Ashore

Corona de Tucson

March 

Daffodils are the birth flowers for March.  They bloom in early spring symbolizing new beginnings, happiness and joy.  They are one of my favorite flowers.  

March is my birth month and this year to celebrate, Joe and I spent the morning at Tucson Botanical Gardens.  This is a wonderful time of year to meander and enjoy the beautiful colors.

There are two new exhibits at the Gardens.  

Antartica is an exhibit of large scale images of ice-shrouded mountains, graphic explorations of deep blue ice shaped by wind and water, and intimate studies of penguins and other birds who call this daunting environment home.  Antartica is described as the highest, driest, coldest, and windiest, continent on Earth and the world's largest desert. In 2021, photographers Catherine Harold and Vicky Stromee traveled to this formidable outpost to capture the beauty of the landscape, icebergs, and wildlife.   

The detail in these large scale images is so clear, the colors are so vibrant, and the action is incredible.  My photos of them do not reveal their beauty...so worth a visit if in this area. This exhibit is on display until June 30.  
    

Washed Ashore  is an exhibit of larger than life sea creatures constructed entirely from debris collected on beaches.  In ten years, Washed Ashore has processed over 35 tons of plastic pollution from the Pacific Northwest's ocean beaches to create over 85 works of art.  

Sebastian James the Puffin

The sculptures are beautiful, whimsical, and shocking all at the same time. Familiar items like buckets, shovels, water bottles, and flip flops are intentionally placed to convey the importance of keeping beaches clean.  This exhibit is also on display thru June 30.  

Priscilla the Rainbow Parrot Fish

There were all sizes and colors of jellyfish hanging throughput the gardens.  

Edna's Cafe is temporarily closed as the Gardens is making some changes to their on-site cafe.  In the meantime, Porter's Patio Cafe is serving breakfast  (8:30 - 11 am) and lunch (11am - 3pm daily).  

Charly's BBQ and Grill, a popular food truck at taprooms around Tucson, is preparing up a yummy menu of breakfast burritos and buttermilk pancakes or pulled pork sandwiches, Sonoran BBQ chili dog, ceasar salad, and smoked chicken wings.  We each had a pulled pork sandwich and fries. The fries passed the "very yummy" taste test and the pulled pork sandwich (served on a toasted bun with awesome Texas sauce and a hint of slaw) hit the spot.  It's been a really (really, really) long time since we had pulled pork.  Chef Carlos Guerrero has a long career in the business and was banquet chef at JW Marriott Tucson Star Pass Resort & Spa before he sprouted the idea of Sonoran-style barbecue  and began his own business.  

We also spent a morning at Catalina State Park this week.  

Romero Ruins is a quick loop just under a mile with historical land marks that guide visitors thru several centuries of human history.  One of several Hohokam villages in the Tuscan area is nestled in the shadows of the Catalina Mountains within the state park boundaries.  The Hohokam lived at this settlement continuously from AD 500 to 1450 with as many as 125 to 200 people living here at its peak around  AD 900.  Their settlement spaned the entire ridge upon which it sat...about 15 acres.  The trail winds thru where their homes once stood as well as a hill where ancient trash is buried, and an oval-shaped depression used as a ball court.

The trail gets its name from the remains of  a more recent structure built by rancher Francisco Romero sometime before 1850.  The ranch is described as a lonely 12 miles from Tucson which endured many Apache raids.   The Apache claimed this ridge as their hunting range. The Romeros occupied the ranch for a dozen or so years before moving to the Tucson area.  Mr. Romero built several buildings on his ranch, but only one has been partially restored (the original walls were seven or eight feet high) to emphasize the doorway, fireplace and size. 

 

Although the trail is short and easy, it not only offers a bit history, it also offers beautiful views... 

A row of beautiful saguaros along the ridge with the Catalina Mountains in the background...

spots of color...

Lupin growing along the trail...

and wildlife.

A baby lizard not more that two inches long...

The Romero Loop was a warm up as we also hiked the Canyon Loop Trail.  It is my favorite trail in the park.  It isn't a long trail either at 2.5 miles, but packs in a lot of beauty.  We always go counter clockwise and enjoy the ridge before taking the 90 steps into the canyon.  The ridge offers wide open vistas and we are so happy that signs of the Big Horn Fire in the summer of 2020 are fading away.  

 

As we descended into the canyon we heard the sound of flowing water...always a welcoming sound in the desert.  

The climb out of the canyon is much easier in this direction.

And what a gorgeous surprise we had as we rounded the corner...

Another beautiful Arizona day in the memory book...flowing water and poppies along with the warm sunshine and spending the morning outside with Joe was the perfect combination.     

We also met Jamie and Andra for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory this week...a birthday celebration and a slice of Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple was calling my name.  No pictures as we were busy conversing, laughing and enjoying our yummy lunch and dessert.  Jamie and Andra surprised me with the prettiest flower pot and cacti which is now at home on our patio.  

 

Back at the oasis,

The Cactus Wrens continue to fuss...

Mr C adds a spot of color...

 

Sally and I enjoy the morning glow...

and Sally has no trouble figuring out what to do on a rainy Friday.

Until next time...

A late afternoon walk in the neighborhood...

HAPPY TRAILS!