good-times-rollin

Wednesday, May 10, 2023

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 !

Friday, May 5, 2023

Garwood Trail - Cholla

Corona de Tucson

May 5, 2023

I read that Saguaros are 35+ years old when they bloom.

During the raising children and working stage of our life, we took the usual vacations staying in condos to the Florida gulf and the Smokey Mountains and didn't venture too far from home. In August of 2000 we purchased our first RV. It was a 28' tow behind.

Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, GA...summer 2003

By that time the kiddos had all flown the coop and Helen (Joe's mom who moved in with us in 1995) was living under our care. We think back on those years and are so grateful for Joe's sister Jo and BIL Chuck who graciously gave up a month of their time every summer to come stay in our home to take care of Helen. We enjoyed many trips with that little tow behind for 10 years. It even made a trip from Georgia to Delaware so we could go to the Monster Mile Nascar race in June of 2003. That was the year I saw Richard Petty and Kyle Petty standing on the corner where we exited the huge field used for parking on race day. No one had even noticed them standing there and I was the first to get an autograph. Getting to Delaware, race day, and coming home from Delaware was such a great trip. We adopted Dover in 2007 and that adventure was the reason Dover is named Dover.

The years flew by, the tow behind was traded for a 5th wheel toy hauler and we retired. Visiting the desert was not in our radar. In fact, exploring anything beyond the Mississippi was not on our radar. It wasn't until we were completely on our own in 2011 that we decided to trade the toy hauler and 2003 pick-up for the MH and said, "Westward Ho !" What a thrill ride that was...here, there and places in between for nine years. No matter what the destination...the desert always called us back.

This week we ventured east again towards the Rincon Mountains. Our choice for desert solitude was Garwood Trail in Saguaro NP-East. It was a perfect morning...blue skies and 68 degrees with a light breeze when we arrived at the trailhead at 8:00 am.

Having done this trail a couple of times before, we knew lots of cholla grew here. The cholla blossoms have been lagging behind the other cacti and we were hoping to see lots of color. It was great timing...

golden orange copper...

crimson red

yellow green...

pink red...

Stands of cholla are called cholla gardens. Individual plants within these colonies often have the same DNA and were "tubercles" from an original plant. It is impossible to capture all the cholla's collective blooming beauty in a single photograph, but here are a few close-ups...

I also think the woody trunks of the cholla trees are camera worthy.

About 1.5 miles into the trail, there is a crested growing on the banks of a dry wash. It is doing well. I love the arms !

The photo below was taken from the trail as we approached the wash.

The Rincon Mountains are a nice backdrop on this trail as it meanders up, down, and around in this tiny little section of the Sonoran Desert. We are happy to call this our backyard...