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 !

Cave Creek...Sears-Kay Ruin

Cave Creek Regional Park

Cave Creek, AZ

May 9, 2023

Sometime at the end of April, Sheila posted pictures of Cave Creek Regional Park.  In years past we have read blogs from other friends who also visited  this wonderful Maricopa County park.  We had no appointments this week so Monday morning we headed northeast on I-10 with Cave Creek being our destination.  

It's a first time visit for us and another wonderful destination to explore the natural beauty and history of our home state.  This amazing 2,922 acre park in the upper Sonora Desert is located just north of Phoenix only 169 miles from home.  It was established as part of Maricopa County's Park system in 1963.  

    Monday night's sunset from our site...

Tuesday morning coffee on the patio

was spent enjoying the noisy antics of a pair of Cactus Wrens.  

 

We also had a project.  We didn't have carpet on the outside MH steps.  When we visited Willcox last March, Dover and Sally were both having trouble going up and down the steps.  We were hoping carpet would help with traction and are pleased to say our plan (so far) is working.  Their footing is much better.  

Our outing for the day was a hike to Sears-Kay Ruin about 18 miles from the park in the Tonto National Forest.  A pass is required for day use in the national forest...its $8 and can be purchased at most service stations in Cave Creek and Carefree. 

The ruin site got its name because at the time of discovery, the property was owned by ranchers with the names Sears and Kay.  

We had quite the history lesson before venturing up the steep trail maneuvering large boulder steps.  

The hike was described as short and easy.  Short we agree with, but easy not so much or maybe it's just that we are 76 and 72 years old with diminishing eyesight that makes depth perception a wee bit harder...we are slow and careful. In addition to the info at the big kiosk, the trail is well marked with signage all along the way.

The Sears-Kay ruin site has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The 40-room Hohokam village, perched on a hilltop, was last occupied over 1,000 years ago. The village consists of five separate buildings.  

If you squint, you can see the road we took...its just above the rock wall on the left.

The ruin in the photo below is a "mystery room".  Unlike any of the other buildings on this site, it had rounded corners.  The shape is considered to be an earlier model Hohokam pithouse and its presence may indicate that there was originally a smaller compound here before the one established in 1050.  

In addition to the buildings, the massive retaining wall along the ridge was also built by the villagers.

Heading down...

    

and stopping for photos.

On the way home we made two stops.  First to see what is billed as the world's tallest kachina doll.  It is located in the residential community of Tonto Hills in Cave Creek or maybe Carefree (I'm not really sure which).  The Corn Maiden Dancer Kachina stands 39 feet tall and weighs a whopping 145.5 tons.    

The Kachina is owned and maintained by the Tonto Hills Volunteer Fire Department.  

Constructed in 1970
Designer/Sculptor - Phillip Sanderson/Carl Ludlow

Our second stop was DQ.  No pictures as our burgers, fries and Reeses blizzards were consumed instantly on the spot...we were famished ! 

The weather is wonderful...life is good! 

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !