When I first found out that we would be making the trip to Phoenix I had mixed thoughts…
First, (and I truly am ashamed I asked this) Phoenix? What is in Phoenix? Isn't it just unbearably hot and sandy?
And secondly, I think I'll do a Google search and see what's out there. (By the way, I LOVE the Google search. You can find just about ANYthing with a good Google!)
My search results led to all sorts of tourist points in the greater Phoenix area, one of which piqued my attention. It was a scenic drive on the Apache Trail with 5 miles of gravel road…hmmmm…sounded like an adventure! It boasted of mountain views and rugged beauty. Now, I'm all about mountain views. It all began in my youth when my first minstrel crush sang about "Rocky Mountain High" and "Aspenglow"…Yes, I was crazy about John Denver. You can laugh all you want and it doesn't change a thing. His songs spoke of places I felt I somehow knew. What was rather interesting is that I was a land-locked Midwestern kid…and the kind of places he sang about I had only seen in photographs. At the time I decided I would grow up, sing rock and roll for a living, with that living I would BUY one of those mountains to perch on forever. I digress…
I printed off all I could find about the scenic trail and tucked it in my carry-on thinking it would make for a good conference break. And as fortune would have it, we decided to take our first day in town to investigate. We began the drive stopping at every point of interest. Cactus here…mountains there…
All of a sudden we realized that we had better get a move on as the shadows were taking over. If we were going to make it to Roosevelt Lake and the rest of the drive, we would have to hustle. Not to mention the 5 mile gravel road… in the mountains!
As the lake appeared on the horizon we found a quick pull off and grabbed the camera. It was perfect! Just enough light to catch the lake in the background, and treat of all treats? The full moon was rising directly over the lake. It was amazing! We enjoyed the moment and then realized we had a gravel road to tackle…and it was almost dark! There was no way we were going to turn back, we had come too far, and it was only a 5 mile road of gravel.
As we began the trail we were encouraged by the sight of a mileage sign. You know the type…so many miles to the next major metropolis. HA! The road began to narrow, and talk about gravel and washboard! It was wild. Every once in a while we would be passed by a motorist giving us the belief that the end must be in sight. We drove some time before realizing the maps reference to 5 miles of unpaved road didn't tell the whole story. There was another 17 miles after the first 5 of the scenic Apache Trail!!!
Yes, it was truly an adventure…a dark, bumpy, dusty, adventure. On occasion we stopped, turned off the lights, stepping out of the car to look up. The stars were brilliant. The night was void of any hint of mankind. Upon turning a corner the moon would peek over the mountaintops. Its brilliance would light up the entire valley below. We vowed to come back the next morning to see it all in sunlight…
So, an adventure was had. It was priceless! Thank You Google!
By the way… We took lots of pictures so we could share them with you! Check out the 'Apache Trail' and 'Phoenix' albums on "myspace"…
First, (and I truly am ashamed I asked this) Phoenix? What is in Phoenix? Isn't it just unbearably hot and sandy?
And secondly, I think I'll do a Google search and see what's out there. (By the way, I LOVE the Google search. You can find just about ANYthing with a good Google!)
My search results led to all sorts of tourist points in the greater Phoenix area, one of which piqued my attention. It was a scenic drive on the Apache Trail with 5 miles of gravel road…hmmmm…sounded like an adventure! It boasted of mountain views and rugged beauty. Now, I'm all about mountain views. It all began in my youth when my first minstrel crush sang about "Rocky Mountain High" and "Aspenglow"…Yes, I was crazy about John Denver. You can laugh all you want and it doesn't change a thing. His songs spoke of places I felt I somehow knew. What was rather interesting is that I was a land-locked Midwestern kid…and the kind of places he sang about I had only seen in photographs. At the time I decided I would grow up, sing rock and roll for a living, with that living I would BUY one of those mountains to perch on forever. I digress…
I printed off all I could find about the scenic trail and tucked it in my carry-on thinking it would make for a good conference break. And as fortune would have it, we decided to take our first day in town to investigate. We began the drive stopping at every point of interest. Cactus here…mountains there…
All of a sudden we realized that we had better get a move on as the shadows were taking over. If we were going to make it to Roosevelt Lake and the rest of the drive, we would have to hustle. Not to mention the 5 mile gravel road… in the mountains!
As the lake appeared on the horizon we found a quick pull off and grabbed the camera. It was perfect! Just enough light to catch the lake in the background, and treat of all treats? The full moon was rising directly over the lake. It was amazing! We enjoyed the moment and then realized we had a gravel road to tackle…and it was almost dark! There was no way we were going to turn back, we had come too far, and it was only a 5 mile road of gravel.
As we began the trail we were encouraged by the sight of a mileage sign. You know the type…so many miles to the next major metropolis. HA! The road began to narrow, and talk about gravel and washboard! It was wild. Every once in a while we would be passed by a motorist giving us the belief that the end must be in sight. We drove some time before realizing the maps reference to 5 miles of unpaved road didn't tell the whole story. There was another 17 miles after the first 5 of the scenic Apache Trail!!!
Yes, it was truly an adventure…a dark, bumpy, dusty, adventure. On occasion we stopped, turned off the lights, stepping out of the car to look up. The stars were brilliant. The night was void of any hint of mankind. Upon turning a corner the moon would peek over the mountaintops. Its brilliance would light up the entire valley below. We vowed to come back the next morning to see it all in sunlight…
So, an adventure was had. It was priceless! Thank You Google!
By the way… We took lots of pictures so we could share them with you! Check out the 'Apache Trail' and 'Phoenix' albums on "myspace"…
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