A Bit of Solo Urban Exploration

Arlington Cattle Company - Arlington, AZ

So I decided to do a quick Urban Exploration loop the other night - the moon was full, and I needed to drive for a bit...I drove to places I had been before, and in fact, have blogged about - so there won't be much in the way of history here - just pictures that showcase the heartbeat of Arizona - farmland at its finest.

Along the Gila River southwest of Phoenix lies a valley with some of the best farm land in Arizona - Arlington, Palo Verde and Liberty.  Small pioneer communities with big dreams - beautifully decaying right before our eyes. These communities flourished in the early 1900's when building canals and harnessing the power of the Gila River was a thing.  The Old Highway 80 is a wonderful drive back in history - it is frequented by motorcyclists for the long, slow rolling roads, and by photographers for the amazing buildings and ruins along the way...

The Arlington Cattle Company works is one of my favorite places to photograph.  The pictures NEVER turn out bad.  It's a beautiful plant, stuck in time, and easy to see and photograph without trespassing.  

Gillespie Dam from the Historic Gillespie Bridge

On down the road is the collapsed Gillespie Dam.  For history on this Dam, see one of my earlier blog posts where I talk in detail about the structure of the dam and the history of the dam and its collapse.  

I've been to the broken Gillespie Dam probably 15 times.  It's a place I go when I need to "get away."  I go there to see the power of the Gila River - to see that man can be powerless over nature.  To see the beautiful tragedy that is the broken dam.  

This time was no different - I wanted to sit and just be.  But this time, the Dam had been closed off.  You can no longer walk down to the old concrete apron.  You can no longer get close enough to see the mud swallow nests.  I've often wondered in the past why it was open when there were still dam operations going on on the East side of the dam.  I've wondered what would happen if a flash flood came through and all those people who camp and fish down there had no idea.  I guess someone else wondered too.  

So I took the best pictures I could, and decided to head down to Gila Bend.  The sun was starting to go down, and I'm glad I went - I got wonderful pictures of this old barn - I fell in love with this barn and was there taking photos for close to 30 minutes.  

There is something beautiful about this dilapidated old mess of twisted metal and wood.  I drove past it, slammed on the brakes, turned around, and parked and got out.  I don't know what it was that called to me - maybe it was the way the sun went down around it - maybe it reminded me of something - I don't know.  But I loved this barn.  It might have been my favorite part of this evening drive I took.  

I continued on to Gila Bend after the sun set, stopped at the Chevron and got some licorice and went back - I wanted a night photo at the Arlington Cattle Company with the full moon...again - I'm so glad I did.  This trip was worth every photo...

Arlington Cattle Company - Arlington, AZ

Annual Humbug Trip - With a Side Excursion!

China Dam - Sunrise on Humbug Creek

Saturday started off early - earlier than AZBackroads Girl is accustomed to waking up.  Met up with her off-road buddy Paul at 6 a.m.  At Lake Pleasant.  So I'd already been up and driving for 45 minutes - not to mention the 45 minutes before that to wake up, shower, pack up, and go.  BUT - we only had until 2 pm to explore, so early it is!  Shall we discuss the fact that I didn't get to sleep until 1 a.m.?  A mixture of being busy and excitement over going out caused me to not sleep.  

We didn't want to wake up Dave and Theresa at Humbug too early, so we decided to explore another homestead that Paul had discovered some time ago while armchair exploring on Google Earth.  Paul has already been - but I haven't - and I needed to go.  NEEDED.  Wasn't willing to take my truck, however.  His truck is "all grown up" and modified - mine is still a baby truck (we're fixing that, by the way - just bought skid plates!!)

Lake Pleasant from the trail

First stop after turning off on the Ft. Tule Creek road was the old China Dam.  I've been up here a hundred times and never seen the Dam.  So we made a little trek over to see it.  I was squealing and hyperventilating as we went down into a wash and up the other side - something I'm not sure I would have even taken the quads on back in the day (I thought it was really a tight V dip).  The FJ handled it like a champ, however.  Not sure why I was surprised.

The China Dam is on Humbug Creek and was built in the late 1880's for hydraulic mining purposes.  Not much more is known, except that it is a very popular place for off-roaders to go.  

I took a few pictures with my phone, but there were campers down there and we didn't want to disturb anyone at what was probably 6:30 a.m. or so, so back we went.  And over the scary little wash.  Which someone now found VERY funny because I was covering my face with my hands and squeaking like a mouse.  (Insert rolly-eyes emoji here)

Side Note - When did I become scared of basic off-roading?  My Dad took us all over the state of Colorado in the old Scout - and we went on some pretty hair-raising stuff.  I've never liked shelf-roads (heights aren't my thing), but seriously - when did this become "scary"?  

Latrine at the Homestead

Now we are off on the trail to the super-secret homestead from Google Earth.  It was an absolutely stunningly beautiful drive up into the Bradshaw foothills and up and around the creek.  Nothing too scary - had to find the correct route a time or two - but after we crossed the creek a time or two, all of the sudden I shout "I see stuff - I see stuff!!!"  On the other side of the creek I see old appliance trash - old refrigerators and washing machine shells.  I know we are close.  Paul runs the truck through the creek one last time and as we pop up the other side - I see old buildings!  I'm bouncing around all excited and can't wait to jump out and explore - there are a number of small buildings - and a latrine!  

Inside the main cabin are some built in bunk beds with sleeping bags and foam camp cushions (all newish), and a trunk with old books and the requisite Penthouse magazine.  It's just there for the articles though.  

I have no history at this time on this homestead.  It's on BLM Land - which is about all I know for certain.  I suspect it is an old homestead for cattle ranchers - but I'm still researching those land patents and it will take some time as the BLM/GLO records from the 20's and 30's are spotty.  

Paul and I poke around for awhile - looking at all the old trash, foundations, buildings, etc.  It's a beautiful place - but it's clear that at times the creek floods and the water gets up to some of the buildings as there is sediment build up inside - so perhaps not the best place in the world for a homestead - but it is gorgeous.  And someone spent a great deal of time building it.  If I find more information, I will post an update.  

After an hour or so of hanging around and exploring all around the area, we decide it's time to head to Humbug.

Saguaros above the Humbug Cemetery

Now I've posted about Humbug before.  So I'm not going to go in to any history - this is the annual Humbug Open House - always the first weekend in March.  Dave Burns graciously opens up Humbug to visitors who want to come and explore.  I've been going up there since 2010 and didn't take many pictures this time because I've taken so many on the 6 or so times I've been up there before.

Dave and Theresa were gracious hosts as always.  Paul didn't make it to the cemetery last time he was up here (2014) so Dave took us up there early before people started showing up so we could see where Newt White, Pat Fogerty and Johnny Lee are all buried.  We pay our respects, and found a single poppy amidst tons of lavender.  

Poppies in Humbug

As we hike back towards the Big House, we decide to head across the creek to check out the original homesteads of Joseph Champie and others - mostly just rubble foundations now.  There is a cool old stone smelter, and some other more modern stuff, including an old trailer, an outhouse, a chicken coop, and an old shed with a HUGE abandoned bee hive dripping with honeycomb.  

I find the old refrigerator that I take pictures of every time, take a few pictures, and I tell Paul that when I've opened it in the past, there was a huge black widow inside.  Guess who still lives inside the fridge?  The big fat black widow!

Humbug Big House from across the creek

Humbug is such a lovely throw back to a different time - the perfect place to spend a lazy day - especially when there are so few people up there.  When its busy, Dave teaches kids to pan for gold, and will give tours of the main Humbug ruins.  When I go to Humbug - I'm reminded of being a kid.  A time of exploring, hiking, no cell phones, no responsibilities - just wide open spaces that invite you to just "keep going."  Humbug is one of my most favorite places on Earth.  I've made friends, I've learned things, and I've simply sat back and taken it in.  

That is what Humbug was for me this year...pure bliss.

Vermilion Flycatcher in Humbug

It's a new decade, and AZBackroadsGirl is back!

Agua Fria River north of Lake Pleasant after a small storm - February 29, 2020

So it's been a while - but I'm back - in full force!  The FJ, the Nikon, Bailey and I are hitting trails and taking pictures.  More to come soon!

AZBackroadsGirl (Bobbi Jo)

Montana Mountain Trail - February 1, 2014

Panoramic view from the Saddle

What a BEAUTIFUL day!!!  A beautiful day for an off-road adventure, a picnic, a few harrowing clothespin turns, and a great deal of excitement over what my truck can REALLY do!

The AZFJ forums have been ablaze with tons of great rides to do over the next few months while the weather in Arizona is gorgeous.  Problem for me is, I'm not an experienced driver, and I don't have off-road or even all-terrain tires.  I have to be super-picky about the trails I choose.

Then one day, Montana Mountain run pops up.  This was one of the first trails I wanted to go on, but was unsure, and didn't want to go by myself...glad now I didn't, but wow - what a day!

There were three FJ's - Bailey and I in the Purple Submarine, a silver FJ driven by a gentlemen, his friend, a dog and his daughter - we'll call them "Red," and the leader of the run in a black FJ - his handle is technically AYC, but we'll call him "Choy" as that is what the girls were calling him by the end of the day.  We met up at the Shell station in Gold Canyon Ranch, and started out!  AYC was voted in to head us up, and I offered to be in the back.  We are all equipped with working CB radios, and off we go...

Choy and Red head down the trail

As we first turn onto the "trail" - it is paved for quite awhile, and we miss the turn off, but quickly turn around and get back on trail.  Nobody has done this trail, with the exception of myself, some almost 20 years ago, and only half way up to Roger's Trough - a trail head that leads into the Superstition Mountains and to some very awesome Native American Ruins.  So - we're essentially the blind leading the blind.  Yay us!

We keep heading down Hewitt Canyon Road, and blow past the sign pointing to the turn off to Roger's Trough.  I slow down, radio the other two, and we turn around and head back down towards the sign again.  And we're off.  Again.  LOL

Bailey and Serenity at our first Geocache

First stop - a geocache!  It was a lovely little hike down a dry river bed, which had clearly had a number of flash floods over the last year or two...and we stop by a huge tree.  We're certain the geocache is in the trunk - but no!  A little more hiking, and Red's daughter, Serenity, finds the geocache.  We sign the log, convince Choy to sign (and tell him to later sign up at Geocaching.com as Choy), and go back to the tree to take a picture of the girls - the tree really was awesome.  So we get ready to leave, and Red's daughter asks if she can ride with us, and we happily comply and Red offers to take to the back of the convoy - which I later sincerely appreciated!

The road up to this point is pretty much a graded dirt road with a few bumps here and there.  We're cruising along at a pretty quick pace, and then we start heading up.  Again, the road isn't bad - I'm not even nervous or being overly cautious.  The FJ is going like a champ - and I'm super-proud of my driving abilities - I'm not even in 4L (the truck is always in 4wd).  We stop about 1/2 a mile below the "summit" - the Roger's Trough trail head - for a lunch break.  We pull out the chairs, we all eat some lunch, and Bailey pulls out the Thin Mints.  We polish off a sleeve amongst the 4 adults and two children, and watch some other trucks heading up the mountain.  As we are getting ready to leave, a Sequoia comes crawling up, and stops to ask how far to the top.  We tell him it's maybe a mile at most, and he gets visibly excited and says "great - then we get to head down off of this."  We all kind of look at each other, and I tell him that the road down the back side is even worse than the road headed up the front.  The Sequoia turns around and heads back down.

Ominous snow clouds

And then it snowed.  For maybe five minutes, it snowed.  The clouds were ominous, and there were snowflakes sticking to our jackets.  And then it cleared up.  Immediately.  Like nothing had happened.

Onward!

The girls sit in the back chattering away, and we bump up the hill to the Roger's Trough turnoff, where we begin the "backside" of the Montana Mountain trail.

Immediately, the trail gets much rougher, and for the first time in 20+ years, I smell clutch.  Gotta stop riding it - I get that sorted out, I calm down, and I hear the girls are still chattering away, eating the second sleeve of Thin Mints, and chowing on a large Tupperware of goldfish.  They clearly don't think we're doing anything crazy.  In fact, they are acting as though we are on a highway cruise.  I decide to use their reactions as a gauge to how well I'm doing.  

As we get over the top of the first rough hill, we are now in gorgeous pine trees, and pass a number of campsites full of wonderful people who are all smiling and waving.  We wave back, and cruise along on a slightly rougher-than-graded road with some heavy ruts here and there, but all in around, a lovely drive in absolutely beautiful back country.  I forgot that the Superstitions, at the top, are a pretty high elevation.  It was about 50 degrees outside, and gorgeous. 

Best off-road vehicles in the world!

We stop in a saddle area to take some pictures (the panoramic shot above was taken there), and decide to walk back to a geocache that is about 250 feet behind us.  So we walk.  Around the bend in the road.  And we walk further, then off onto a trail.  It was WAY more than 250 feet, but who cares...it was gorgeous, we were having fun, and the geocache was genius!  

We get back in the trucks and head out again - all the while I'm still awaiting the "steep drop offs and harrowing switchbacks" which I've read so much about.  

As we round the bend, we come upon an old burnt section of the trail - and this is where the steep drop-offs start to bother my sensibilities.  The girls are still chattering in the back like little jaybirds, but the chatter has turned to "what would happen if we rolled off the mountain?"  Sigh - thanks.  They're SO imaginative!  We had everything from plumes of flames and smoke, to magical animals that would swoop down and rescue us (Bailey has been watching WAY too much Hobbit).  They are just chat chat chatting about it, while I'm attempting not to hyperventilate, nor to show the girls I'm panicking.  

Arizona pinstripes

We come to a tight turn, a fairly easy one, but the inside of the turn (the "down the cliff" side) has eroded, and the "up" side of the road is a big rock.  I just stop. I stop dead in my tracks.  I'm breathing heavily - panicked.  Afraid to "slide" off the rock and "roll down the mountain."  And I'm certain there won't be any giant eagles saving us.  Red radios to ask if I'm okay.  I shakily reply no...and I climb out of the truck for air and perspective.  Both he and Choy come to the truck, and they keep telling me I can do it.  I'm going to be uncomfortable because I'm not going to be level for a little bit, but I can do it.  I told myself that I must be able, and there can't be much danger, or Red wouldn't let me have his daughter in my truck.  They were right.  I did it.  I didn't slide.  I was fine.  

I've done worse than that in my old Honda CRV and on quads - I had already done worse THAT DAY.  I don't know what happened there - it was the least terrifying "obstacle" of the day.  Looking back on it now, the only thing I can figure out was that if that rock had had ice or snow on it, it would have been a very dangerous turn.  But dry?  It's fine.  Build up my confidence...keep going.  Still don't like the drop offs, and I'm getting TONS of Arizona Pin-stripes on the "mountain" side of my truck...but we're good. 

So - I think we're done with the switchbacks and the harrowing pin-turns.  WRONG!  

As we come around the mountain from that burnt out area, I can look down, and see the road switch backing all the way down.  Way down.  WAYYYYYYY down.  Okay - I can do this.  I'm awesome, everyone says my truck can handle all of it.  Still not in 4L.  I can do it!

We do the first few switchbacks, and then I watch Choy do one where there is no room to really back up much, and the "inside" of the switch back has a huge, HUGE rut in it (I'm sure if Red and Choy read this, they are going to think that I'm exaggerating - but it was HUGE).  And I HAVE to go in the rut.  There isn't enough room on the trail for me to take my truck level down this portion.  And I can't turn around.  No room to go back up.  For the first time, I see an FJ articulate like nothing I've ever seen.  Choy edges forward (not very slowly either), his front driver-side tire is not even on the road, and his truck just tilts into the rut.  Back passenger tire off the road.  And he goes.  Like nothing.  I glance back at Red - I'm sure with a look of sheer terror on my face.  They both radio that I'm fine, and my truck will be perfectly fine.  Two things are keeping me calm.  The girls chattering away about the movie Frozen, and the fact that even if I do roll, I'll just tilt into the mountain.  Unfortunately, there isn't much room for recovery.  

I inch forward.  I feel my front tire leave the safety of the road.  I start worrying, but I keep inching forward.  The truck tilts into the rut.  The girls get silent.  Dead silent.  (In my head "please keep chattering girls...please").  I let out a squeak as we tilt more, back tire leaves the ground, and we slide a bit into the rut, we catch hold, and keep going.  The chattering starts.  Then I realize that Serenity is talking to me.  She says the sweetest thing - I almost started crying from a mixture of terror, relief, and overwhelming emotion.  She says "I think you're probably the second or third safest driver I know.  My dad is the safest, but you are very safe."  And on the two girls chatter about safety on the road.  If I could have reached back and hugged her, I would have.

After this, I have full confidence.  I'm STILL not in 4L, and I did all of that.  I know that for technical off-roaders, this trail is a piece of cake, but for a newbie, it isn't.   (And what the heck kind of trails are those technical folks on?  Not sure how technical I'm willing to get...)

We keep bopping down the rest of the switchbacks.  They are mostly easy - a few where I have to get a little close to the edge, but I'm okay.  Hey - I drove on three tires for like 1.4 seconds.  I can do anything!  I KNOW how cool the articulation on my truck is now.  I can do anything!!!

We get off the mountain and start the long, mostly flat trek out.  We pass a Jeep sitting in a creek bottom.  I have to rev it up to get the truck up the other side - my push bar grinds on the rocks - but the truck pushes through, we bound up the other side, and keep going.

Choy in front, AZBackroadsGirl behind

The scenery is still lovely - we drove through the river bottom for awhile (crediting Red for the photo - glad to have a picture of my truck in action).  We climbed out of the river bottom, and we drove down a dusty, well-graded road until we came out the other side.  We girls are all singing at the top of our lungs to the Frozen sound track, with interspersed conversation from the backseat about their favorite parts of the movie.  It was an uneventful last couple of miles.  

Again, my lack of confidence was won over by my truck's ability, the "can do" attitude of my trail companions for the day, and by two little girls who are experienced off-road riders, and who kept me calm through much of my day!  Thank you to Choy and Red for your help, but first and foremost, thank you to Bailey and Serenity for just being you and acting as though nothing is happening, even if I felt my life was hanging on the line! 

Sheep's Bridge - Upper Verde River - January 4, 2014

Red Point - Sheep Bridge, Verde River

Been a long time since I've posted a new blog post...life got busy, but I'm back...and with a new vehicle!  I have an awesome Black Cherry Pearl FJ Cruiser - she's my baby, and affectionately called the "Purple Submarine."  Man, Bailey and I are set to go anywhere in this thing...

So this is technically our third off-road experience in the FJ.  The first was our yearly trek to Humbug, and our second was a trip down the Maggie Mine trail - enjoyed both, but this trip was awesome!

We decided to go to Sheep's Bridge via Camp 7 Springs, or FR 24.  It's a long road - 30 miles from pavement to the turn off on FR269, then another 12 miles down what was referred to as a "rough road."  I was told by everyone that my stock FJ could make it no problem, but not to attempt to cross the river (like I would do that without help anyway...).  We also wanted to drive out via Bloody Basin Road, which I had heard was easier than the Camp 7 Springs road.  We wanted Cabot to go, but unfortunately, his pick-up was in the shop, and the "Goes Anywhere Scout" wasn't able to go...We went with a friend in a Jeep so we weren't alone. 

7:30 a.m. sharp we leave for Cave Creek/Carefree - the start of our journey.  I've been down this road many, many times, and always in a 2wd vehicle.  It's always been fairly smooth and easy - and I've been up the road all the way to the County Line.  We had some geocaching to do, so we had some stops planned...

First stop - bathrooms at the Bronco trailhead.  Bailey was playing games in the back seat and got a little car sick because she wasn't looking up...so quick stop to let her stand up for a few, use the last real facilities, and then off we go.

We blow through Camp 7 Springs without stopping - the camp itself is, sadly, still closed.  We went up the road a bit further to our first Geocache - right at the juncture of Table Mesa Road and FR24.  Took a few minutes of bushwhacking to find it, but we did.  Then on to the next stop - a quick find at the County Line.

Refurbished stage coach stop

Now we're on a trail I've never been on.  But it's still graded.  And beautiful.    We stop to look at a refurbished stagecoach stop along the road, but it's on private property and gated off, so we just look and move on. 

Again, several stops for geocaches - having fun, trading items, picked up a travel bug that had been sitting for over 6 months.  And it's still early.  Road is still graded - completely smooth going!

Great Western Trail sign at the Junction
between FR24 and FR269

As we get up to the T-intersection between FR24 and the FR269 (road to Sheep's Bridge - also known as Bloody Basin Road), we stop momentarily to make sure we're all ready to go.  There is a sign there about the Great Western Trail - the 3000+ mile trail from Canada to Mexico.  In Arizona, the trail travels over 800 miles of back roads and trails, and we've just traversed a section of it.  I've been out in the middle of nowhere and come across the trail before...you don't hear much about it anymore, but I find it fascinating (of course, history...).

Now, I've heard the road to the river is decent for the first three miles, but the remaining 9 are supposed to get really bumpy.  There is a brief discussion about airing down our tires, but I'm against it, our Jeep friend is for it.  Ultimately, another pickup says don't do it...so we don't.  On we go into some of the most beautiful country - we hit Tangle Creek and the camping areas are lovely - the smell of pine, and the cool air makes for a delightful drive.  Then we hit the 3-4 mile point.

And...well, I don't think much of it.  It isn't anything more than a well minded Jeep trail.  Plenty of people on it, a bit rocky occasionally, but all in all, fun.  I never even put it in 4 wheel drive. 

And then...we pull off to take a peek at the overlook...and we see it.  The bridge...I can barely contain my excitement.  I've been reading about this bridge for 15+ years...the history, the remote location, the beauty - and it is all of those things!

Red Point Sheep Bridge

The original Red Point Sheep's Bridge was a cable suspension bridge built in 1943 by, I believe, the Flagstaff Sheep Company (I've read differing stories on this) to allow for safe crossing of the sheep that are run from lower Arizona to the Rim each year.  This area was teaming with sheep ranchers, and many sheep were lost each year trying to cross the Verde River, which, until about 5 miles further down river, is one of the last fully uncontrolled rivers left in the state of Arizona.  The original bridge structure was built mainly from salvaged materials, starting with wood and cables, and later reinforced with concrete, and was made entirely by hand - no heavy machinery was used.  The total cost to build the bridge in 1943 was $7,277.  The cabling was more than 1 inch in diameter, and was salvaged from the old Blue Bell mine. 

Concrete buttresses from original bridge

In 1978, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the last of its kind in the southwestern United States.  Unfortunately, in 1988, the old bridge had to be dismantled due to its being weakened from years of service and flooding, and a new bridge, of similar design, which you see in my pictures above, was built.  The only thing left of the original bridge is one of the concrete and wood buttresses.  It's a very imposing structure, and tells of a time when lots of foot traffic was seen on this bridge. 

The current bridge is 598 feet between towers, and 691 feet between anchorages.  The walkway itself is 476 feet long and approximately 3 foot wide.  It crosses high above the Verde River.  High enough that I was unwilling to travel very far out onto the bridge.  My daring daughter and my boyfriend and shotgun rider, Jon, and his girls, went all the way across.

Bailey, Gia and Jon on the bridge

Sheep ranching is no longer carried out in the area, but the bridge is used by hikers, horseback riders and hunters to gain access to the Mazatzal Wilderness. 

After thorough exploration of the bridge and buttress, the girls were anxious to look for the other key point in the area - the Sheeps Bridge Hot Spring.  Down the side of the embankment, and across a short meadow and into the reeds, is a concrete tub which people have built, guiding hot springs water down into the tub, and then it flows out the other side.  The Verde river has many hot springs along it, and in fact, this is just down the river from the famous Verde River Hot springs site, which used to have an old resort at it.  But that is for another trip...

Hot Springs "Tub"

Down to the hot springs we went, slipping and sliding through the mud.  While muddy, it was not "dirty" - it was very nicely kept, and the water was clear and beautiful.  We let the girls get in up to mid-thigh for about 10 minutes, but we still had a long drive out, so we made them get out and head back up.  It would be a lovely site to spend a quite evening if camping, and I understand that frequently one finds people bathing au natural - so if you plan this trip, send an adult in to check the tub first! 

As we left the Verde River, there were several other side trips I wanted to make, but due to time, and lack of experience, I decided to leave those for another time when I have my brother with me.  We had had fun, but still had a 50+ mile drive out via Bloody Basin Road...and we didn't know what was ahead of us. 

Three miles into our trip back towards the T intersection, I get a CB transmission telling me we have a big problem.  I stop, get out, and walk back to the Jeep.  The Jeep owner tells me his clutch just gave out.  My heart sinks a bit, as I'm not sure I can pull a Jeep all the way back to civilization.  The Bloody Basin Road is the shorter route, but we don't know anything about it.  The Camp 7 Springs/FR24 route is longer, but easy...what do we do?  We are all crawling around looking under the Jeep, in the engine compartment, etc.  I ask one of the girls to move the clutch pedal around.  Nothing.  I don't see anything...and then it occurs to me if we're not seeing any movement...maybe the pedal has something wrong.  I get in the truck, and it is clear that the issue is in the pedal itself.  It's just flopping all over the place, with no resistance whatsoever.  I follow the pedal stem up, and find that it has become detached from the master cylinder rod.  Hmmm...how are we going to fix this?  I can put it back on, but it keeps popping off. 

I explain our dilemma to the guys, and explain that it would be nice if we had one of those pins - you know, that looks like a bobby pin, but bigger (I'm referencing a cotter pin, but couldn't remember the words) - you know, the kind you use on your trailer receiver piece - which of course, I don't have with me.  I'm thinking I'll zip tie the stupid thing on there, when the owner of the Jeep says "well, I have one.  He pulls his cotter pin off, I pop it on the clutch pin that went through the master cylinder rod, and voila, we are on our way! 

I'm feeling very full of myself and glad I could fix the Jeep and not tow it out.  Little did I know how glad I was we didn't have to tow it out - on Bloody Basin Road. 

The sun setting on Bloody Basin Road

What a beautiful drive while the sun was setting...stunning views, meadows, mountains, hair pin turns everywhere (again, thanking the Lord above we didn't have to tow the Jeep - we wouldn't have made those turns). 

As we make it off the Tonto National Forest land and onto the BLM land, I realize we have about 12 more miles to go, but I think it will go quickly - the Tonto National Forest land was well graded and a beautiful drive.  Well, let me tell you, the BLM apparently doesn't have the money, nor does it care to grade the road.  Clearly, all the recent rain had made for lots of mudding fun for trucks - there were wheel ruts that were, in some places, a foot deep - lots of rocks and bumpy dried dirt.  Four miles of the roughest road we had been on all day.  I was having a blast, but everyone else on the trip was about done.  Well, except Bailey who was, of course, expecting a much rougher ride all day. 

We cleared out of the BLM property, stopped at the facilities at the Horseshoe Ranch, and drove the rest of the way out to the I-17, then high-tailed it home.

It was a sunrise to sunset drive.  Beautiful back country - the beauty of the desert was never more apparent than today.  A little off-roading, a lot of history, and some hot springs fun...a great day for all!

And let's see - I always like to end with a bit of a moral.  Hmm...always check the pedal first.  It might be an easy fix.  LOL

Mothers Day - May 9, 2011 - CK and Horsethief

Horsethief Lake in Horsethief Basin

Today was an absolutely beautiful day.  Randy and I woke up early and headed up to Crown King with the intent to ride down to Oro Belle and take some new photos with the new camera.  Yes, going to Crown King and to Oro Belle is getting a tad bit old...we seem to go there alot.  But we know it well, and, well, I have a new camera.  So we had to go back.  Besides - the road changes every year...right?  Right!

It was an uneventful drive up to Crown King, except that I couldn't find the town of Bumble Bee.  You know, the one right on the main Bumble Bee road?  It's an old stage stop, but over the last 20 or so years when I've been through, there hasn't been much left except the false front town designed in the 1930's to attract tourists.

Road to Crown King as seen from Oro Belle

Well, guess what.  That's apparently gone too.  The old store/bar - couldn't find that either.  Either I'm not remembering things well (slight possibility), or someone razed Bumble Bee, the fake-ghosttown.  I'll have to follow up on that.

We tootled through Cleator, then headed up the old switchbacks to Crown King.  I'll save the history lesson for a later time, because I really want to get this published tonight (I have 4 others I've started over the past year and didn't get finished), and because we're going back up to Crown King in a month for Mining Days.  By the way - for those of you that don't know - the road to Crown King is fairly steep, dirt (albeit graded), and about 30 miles long.  One way. 

Oro Belle General Store ruins

Anyway - we got up to Crown King, parked the truck, unloaded the quad, and headed out towards Oro Belle.  I was freezing.  It was roughly 61 degrees or so out, and I didn't have a jacket.  Go figure - it was 80 when we left Phoenix...  Anyway - as I whined about being cold, and Randy kept telling me it would warm up, we made it down to Oro Belle.  Someone has graded the rock crawls, and the road was exceptionally smooth for a "primitive road".  The creek was beautiful and running pretty decently - it was quiet and nobody was zooming around the trail yet (it was still roughly 9:30 or so in the morning - way to early for the runners up the trail to be up there far).  We walked around, took some pictures - the buildings are, sadly, deteriorating.  They are already so different then the first few times I went to Oro Belle in the early '90s.  One would completely miss the old store if they didn't realize it was there.

On our way back up, we stopped at the Tunnel Mine - a place we discovered on our last run.  Unfortunately, the Nickel Mining Company has since placed No Trespassing signs on the property.  What a shame - it's a beautiful little hideaway.  I can understand the danger, however.  The mine runs directly underneath the property as best as I can tell (hence the name "Tunnel Mine"). 

Tunnel Mine

Back up to the Senator Highway and we are off to Horsethief Basin Recreational Area.  Did I mention I'm still cold and whining at this point?  I'm also tired, which isn't helping things.  Poor Randy...

The road into Horsethief Basin isn't difficult.  We could have made it in the truck (which, by the way, would have been MUCH warmer!), but it sure was beautiful.  Unfortunately, the area has been recently ravaged by a forest fire.  There are ghost trees everywhere - it was eerily beautiful.

We rode and rode, and we gained in elevation.  And the wind started blowing.  I'm really cold now, and am past whining about it, and on to completely irritation.  And then we finally pull into Horsethief Basin Recreational Area, and go up to the lake.  What a breathtaking sight - it was quiet, we were the only ones there, except two mallard ducks.  I've never seen such a lovely lake in Arizona.  Ever.  The dam which created the lake (made, I believe, in the 1920's or 1930's in order to create a recreational spot for Phoenix residents) was lovely, and the lake was clear as a bell - you could see the trout swimming around. 

Road to Horsethief Basin

We ate some lunch, and decided to head back - It was so sad to see the burned areas - over 1/3 of the trail from Crown King to Horsethief has been burned - I don't know which fire it was, but it was clearly large - and clearly within the last few years.  All I could think of was Smokey the Bear - Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires.  The picture to the right is a bit haunting, I think.  Such a lovely day, sunny and bright.  And burnt. 

Anyway - we headed back to Crown King, stopped in for our usual burger and iced tea, then decided to head back to Phoenix.  It was still early, but Mother's Day gatherings still awaited, and it was time to go.  On the way down, I explained to Randy alot about the mining history in the Bradshaws near Crown King.  I showed him where the old train tunnel used to be (it has been collapsed - I assume on purpose), we looked for the pilings for the old tramway that went up the mountain (which we didn't find), and we just, in general, enjoyed ourselves.  Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day to all.

View from the train switchbacks on the way to Crown King