Gearing Up To Move On

Today we went back to Globe for supplies and to gear up for Roosevelt Lake. We are planning on staying at Cholla Campground (we accidentally stayed a night there when we ended up at the wrong RV campground earlier in the trip). It doesn’t have all the amenities we have had this week so it will be a change of pace for us. The weather is getting warmer and we are looking forward to getting the pontoons in the water.

We had a good stay here in the casino RV lot. We were mostly gone for the day but having the pool was GREAT! It was a whole different way to RV Camp (casino style) but the location was perfect for exploring the area.

The most unique part of our visit was meeting the people along the way that truly seem to care about the history of their town. The lady who told us about the Pony Express and set us up with the private jail tour, the gentleman who gave us the tour of the jail on a moments notice, the postal worker who runs tours all day once a year (using a vacation day to do so) the people who kept giving me maps of the downtown and pointing out good things to see – all seemed very rooted in the place where they live. I haven’t lived somewhere that celebrates their history like that so I found it unique and utterly charming. It’s good to know that there are places that stand the test of time.

Road Trip 

We took off in a new direction today. We headed north east and drove along the Salt River Canyon. So beautiful and different than the other landscapes we’ve seen. Its a steep and curvy road (which makes for a queasy me) but the view was outstanding.

First stop was  Show Low for lunch and then onto Fool Hollow. Ok pause here:”Fool Hollow”? Does this not sound like an enchanted hideaway for wayward elves?

Again we are here too soon for the fish.  Fool Hollow will have to wait for another season. Evidently all good road trips end with a Sonic “real fruit” pineapple slushie!
Sonic even has Happy Hour – how happy does that make me?

Miami AZ

Another warm sunny day so we spent the morning at the pool then headed to Miami which isn’t far from Globe where we have been sightseeing. Miami is a little town with a past much like Globe. Its famous for the it’s copper mine but has an old downtown much like Globe. It also has a kickin’ Mexican place called Guayo’s El Rey. So far the very best place we have eaten. It seems everything is homemade (including the chips) and best Salsa ever! Great food, great service, great prices AND perfect margaritas. We will be looking for an excuse to stop in again.

There is a saloon, antique stores, odd stores and an old fashioned soda shop all housed in the old buildings that one made up Miami. We’ve been in a bunch of antique stores but these were unique. Lots of old pedal cars, gas pumps, merry-go-round pieces, old games and some oddities. We took our time and called it a day when the shops closed.

Courtroom

Leather Doors

Courtroom Skylight

PO Boxes

Mail Cart

Santa’s PO Box

Marshal’s Office

Vintage Lighting

Vintage Lighting

Downtown Globe

We woke up to nothing but sunshine! We went to the pool at the hotel and there were only a handful of people there. We really haven’t been poolside in forever. The weather and water were perfect. I’m thinking we will fit that in after breakfast every day we have left here.

We headed back to Globe today to look at more of old town. Most of the downtown is made up of old, often original buildings. Of course they house gift shops and galleries or eateries but you can still see the 1900’s in their construction, walkways, ceilings, windowsills, doorways and floors. Copper ceilings, railings and trim show up in many of the buildings – and why not? Copper mining is the heart of this area. The most ornate was the old Bank with its entire building front and side made of what looks like marble. It didn’t match the motif of the times but was ornate and unique.

There is an annual tour of the Post Office (built 1927). It is so cool to see what remains of another time. The tour was led by a postal employee that donates his time once a year to show the public around the basement and upstairs of the old post office that is no longer used. All of the overhead lights are all still intact and very cool. The courtroom had the judges desk and chair. The jury area still stands though the chairs are absent. There are skylights in the ceiling and leather covered doors. All of this stands still in time, in good repair, just silently waiting for the annual tour or the occasional school field trip. If those walls could talk! There is one room where the fella giving the tour has a collection of postal items from the past – a little museum of sorts. All very interesting.

Besh Ba Gowah

Off for an AM drive to San Carlos Lake and the town of San Carlos. Both are on the Apache reservation. The lake was muddy looking and low though at other times of year we hear there is good fishing. You have to have day licenses and permits to hike, fish or park once you are on the reservation. We had a little drive through of the town and headed back to Besh Ba Gowah in Globe.

Besh Ba Gowah is partially reconstructed Salado village. The museum there has the largest collection of  recovered items found on site in the Southwest. You can walk through the 700 year old site. There is an area that hasn’t been excavated (I’m not sure why it hasn’t) but that was intriguing considering what has already been unearthed.

We went to find the old railroad station in Globe but all we were able to see of it was what we could see through the window. It has been restored to its former self and is, on occasion open to the public. We did meet a sweet gal named Molly who was excited that she was there at the right moment to see the the pick up by the Pony Express? We had seen several traveling cowboys on horseback on the road and wondered what they were up to. They certainly looked like authentic cowboys in their chaps, boots, and hats. They looked beat and dusty. Molly told us once a year the Pony Express follows that original route and actually does the mail pick up along the way. Who would have guessed?

Molly kindly asked if we would like to see the old jail. She texted Rick who said “sure, I’ll just slip my shoes on and meet them there”. So we walked a couple of blocks and he gave us a private tour. It’s hard to believe that the same jail was used (in the same conditions) from 1910 to 1980. There is a catwalk from the courthouse to the jail. You can still see some of the writing scraped in the walls from the 1930’s and places where an inmate had kept track of the days spent there. The doors to the cells open by a mechanical lever in an outside hall. Nothing at all like what we see on TV now.

All Settled in At Apache Gold

Breakfast at the Casino and then into town for Groceries and a little look around. We took a walk downtown and found the Old Elks Lodge is now an antique store. It is in the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Books as the tallest 3 story brick building. Evidently they ordered too many bricks and rather than waste them they expanded the 3rd floor to have 24 foot ceilings. Took in a movie and called it a day.

Rollin On Again 

Today was a travel day. We left Cottonwood and headed south east to the San Carlos area. A full day on the road with a pit stop at Costco (always fun)! We are staying at the  casino RV area at Apache Gold Casino on the Apache Reservation. This is a first, not that we haven’t seen lots of folks camped in Casino RV parking lots – just new to us. We have full hookups though and its a good starting point to explore other areas. No, it does not hurt my feelings that there is a casino across the way with a pool and buffet. 

Tonight we had dinner at the Casino. They were kind enough to give us $15.00 in free play plus let me spin the wheel for another $25.00 since it was my BD. Then because I accumulated 300 points they gave me yet another $20.00 in free play so I left with plenty o’ money to stop in again to play the slots without dipping into my own pocket!

Off To See The Ruins

We headed just up the road from our campsite to see the Tuzigoot Ruins. These ruins are partially restored but still give you a sense of what was built there by the Sinague Tribe. Who knew ruins could be so interesting!  

Montezuma’s Castle Cliff Dwelling and Cliff Castle Casino

Our day was part old world and part new world. We drove about 30 minutes to Montezuma Castle National Monument to see a well preserved cliff dwelling built between 1100 -1425 AD by the  Sinague people. It’s hard to believe it is still standing! You can only see it from below but that’s impressive enough.

Note: Until today we hadn’t really seen any bugs – which we thought strange. I was sure they were here somewhere and today we found one! He (or she) is really colorful and elegant looking, I mean come on, a feather boa around the neck? 

Evidently the call of the casino lured us (mostly me) in! The casino has been VOTED #1 in AZ for the past 17 years. With our $5.00 in free play a small investment of our own – we were able to pocket some extra money for the next casino that calls!

The GRAND Canyon

We left about 8:00 and headed back through Sedona and on to the Grand Canyon. We rode the shuttle buses which were awesome because each shuttle bus had a route with several stops. You can hop off and spend as much time at a destination as you want and then hop back on at 15 minute intervals.

It was SO cold! I was wishing I had brought gloves! Then at our first stop in the park I found a pair of purple gloves – but no one there to claim them.  No sense leaving them lying on a rock. If I met up with the owner I would have gladly returned them and explained I was keeping them warm for her, but alas no owner showed (happy me)!

The Grand Canyon was breathtaking! It certainly leaves an impression. No photos, no matter how amazing could give you the essence of being there. It seems endless and deep and ancient.  I’m not afraid of heights, but I was afraid of JP and his NOT being afraid of heights as you can see in the picture. 

We spent the whole day riding the shuttles, seeing the canyon, walking rhrough the visitor centers and shops and galleries. It ended up being an 11 hour day from start to finish. We were beat but it was definitely a day to remember! 

A Little R&R Day

We decided to lay low today. We did a little shopping and decided to hit the hay early because tomorrow is a BIG day. We will be leaving for Grand Canyon in the morning! So can’t wait!

JP isn’t actually a bird watcher but did find and follow a roadrunner until he had a photo op! Later in the evening we did some night fishing. We annoyed a good sized beaver who was entertaining himself by slamming his tail in the water and scaring me EVERY single time! No bites, no nibbles, no catching though we did see plenty of bass just hanging below the surface.We can add roadrunner, lizards, bats and beaver to our wildlife list.