Wrapping Up Prescott

Point of Rocks RV Campground

Prescott, AZ

August 26, 2025

Prescott Courthouse Square

You may have guessed that Prescott is a favorite place we like to visit.  We have visited several times now and we always find something new and very much enjoy old favorites.  I am just now finishing this blog for our last trip when we visited at the end of August.  

Walking the square and enjoying the park-like mood with locals and visitors is something we both enjoy.  The four acre public space was established in 1864.  The focal point is the stately granite Yavapai County Courthouse built in 1916.

 But there is so much more.  

Cowboy at Rest : 1904 
Artist : Solon Hannibal Borglum

The sculpture depicts a cowboy stretched out on a rocky hillside.  There is a slight smile and pensive look on his face as his horse stands over him.  

Lady Ermintrude arrived in Prescott from New York in July, 1910.  The beautiful fountain graced the plaza for more than 60 years.  Over time, the fountain was showing signs of wear and in 1960 was removed and placed in storage at the Sharlot Hall Museum.  

In 2016, as the Centennial of the laying of the cornerstone for the Courthouse was approaching,  surviving components of the fountain and statue were discovered and restoration began.  Research was found that Robinson Iron, a foundry in Alabama had the original patterns and the missing and broken pieces of the fountain pedestal were replaced and restored. 

Lady Ermintrude stands elegantly today just as she did in 1910.  
Ermintrude is a femine German name derived from irmen  meaning "wholeness" and traut

 meaning "beloved".

In 1912, this Deodar Cedar was planted on the northeast quadrant of the plaza to commemorate Arizona's statehood.

We made return visits to a couple of favorite places to eat in Prescott.  

Brunch and take home pie at Berry's is yummy.  The biscuits and gravy are the best and deciding on which pie to take home is a fun choice to make. 

Somehow we manage to eat every morsel at brunch and leave with melt-in-your mouth slices of fruity goodness over a thin home-made crust and topped with a layer of lightly toasted meringue.

Date night at Papa's is a real treat.  We had reservations for 6:30.  Friday and Saturday nights are busy.  The locals have gathered here for authentic, home-cooked Italian food in this warm and friendly atmosphere for over 30 years.  

We both enjoyed the "not on the menu" special for the evening.  Crab and shrimp with a variety of cheeses wrapped in a house-made lasagna noodle topped with Papa's marinara sauce and cheese and baked to a golden, bubbly delicious smelling melt in your mouth greatness.  Served with Papa's freshly baked bread and a house salad with Mama's Italian dressing.     

And we could not leave without a piece of cheesecake...made fresh every morning. 

Back at Belle and Point of Rocks...

Afternoon playtime...

Firethorn...
The berries will ripen and turn red, yellow or orange in the fall.

Watching the birds...

Woodhouse's Scrub Jay

Back at the oasis it was a quiet week.  Our only outing was to go to Gather.  September and November are my favorite times to peruse this once a month, four day market in the Barrio Historic District.  

  

And today we had an errand at Home Depot.  Lucy went with us. 

And on the way home we stopped  at Dairy Queen.  We each got a Blizzard and a senior discount! Wahoo!

Until next time, I'll close with a few photos from the backyard and our walks this week. 

HAPPY TRAILS!

Watson Lake

Point of Rocks RV Campground

Prescott, AZ

August 22, 2025

Nestled among the Granite Dells is Prescott's beautiful Watson Lake.  It is a man-made lake created in 1915 when the Granite Creek Dam was completed.  The hope was to build a canal system using water from Watson Lake as a source to irrigate thousands of acres of grain crops.  In the weeks that followed, the lake filled and it was reported that wagon trails became submerged and that buildings required removal.  In the end, the unlined canals consumed the majority of the water and the irrigation project proved unsuccessful.  Hassayampa Alfalfa Company of Indiana built the dam with high hopes, but it soon went out of business.  Watson Lake was named for the president of that company.  

Today, Watson Lake is a picturesque outdoor paradise that offers boating ramps and canoe and kayak rentals, fishing for catfish, carp, and largemouth bass, birding with hundreds of varieties, and a host of walking/hiking opportunities.  It averages 70 acres with a depth of 50 feet.  It is just 4 miles from downtown Prescott and only a 10 minute walk from Point of Rock RV Park.  If you drive, there is parking along Hwy 89 or for a small fee, you can enter Watson Lake Park with facilities, picnic areas, summer dry camping and a large lawn area.  Watson Lake was our go to spot this visit for walks...sometimes with Lucy and sometimes just by ourselves.  We enjoy it for many reasons.

Birding...

Great Blue Heron

 

Greylag Goose are big and loud with an orange-bill and nest in wetlands and lakes.
 

While Greylag Geese are very rare in North America, you will likely see domestic geese descended from Greylags in parks and other human settings.  

This is the classic goose of farmlands and nursery rhymes.  

Walking Lucy...

Exploring...

Follow the white dots...

I grew up hearing "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." which was my moms way of telling me that what I think is beautiful might not be so beautiful to others. It is our life experiences, culture, and perspectives that influence what we find beautiful.  Back in the day in Moab, a woman once said, "There is nothing here but red rocks. I am going home." My inner self wanted to shout, "Good riddance!" But everyone's opinion of beauty is valid so I politely replied, "Safe travels."  

Beauty...

Amphibious Bistort

This was not our first visit to Watson Lake, but it was our most enjoyable time there.  It is nice being within walking distance.  We think early mornings are the best when it is quiet with only a few folks here and there.  Watson Lake has been described as a wonderland of rocks with beautiful shapes, colors, and sizes.  We definitely agree!

Point of Rocks RV Park has quickly moved to the list of top five favorites. 

Lucy had lots of room to play.

A male Ladder-back Woodpecker was one of many birds that we saw in the trees just outside the window when we had breakfast. I took this photo from inside.

Back at the oasis...

We enjoyed a couple of lazy, rainy days and nights.  We sure needed it...being lazy and the rain!

We saw two huge javelina...I'm not sure who surprised who the most.

We added new tiles.

We filled the birdbath and put out feed for the birds.

And enjoyed our first sunrise back home.

Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS!