A DRIVE THROUGH CAVE CREEK
The desert night dropped to 32F but that’s the way it is here in what they call the high desert. Our altitude is higher than places like Yuma where days & nights are warmer.
SITE 38 ALLOWED US TO WALK THE GUYS ON A DIRT ROAD THIS MORNING
A FEW PICS AROUND RUSTYS
Nice walk this morning & we could tell the dryer air is already helping Max’s arthritis. Instead of lagging behind he was out front most of the time. Nice to see because he has been having trouble with his legs.
PORTAL IS AT THE BASE OF THE CHIRICAHUA’S ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
We deliberately didn’t do anything this morning except lounge in our outside recliners soaking up more fresh air & sunshine. Despite the cool nights, it always warms up nicely every day.
We jumped into the Jeep just after lunch & drove the short 5 or 6 miles to Portal, Arizona. This was our third time in Portal & it was nice to see nothing had changed & everything looked the same since our last visit. Portal is a unique & very quaint little place that time has kind of passed by. Basically speaking, there is one General Store, a Post Office, & a Library. No streets or suburbs. No permanent population to speak of either. An old dusty road runs in front of the store & down aways to a turn around where the Library & Post Office are. A few other old buildings & that is all there is to Portal. But, it is a place like no other, & one which I will always remember. The General Store is the community hub & has a popular lunch bar in the back. John McAfee, founder of McAfee antivirus software hung out here for a bit. In fact, he hung out a lot in this valley a few years ago. Type his name into our search box at the top of the right hand column & see what we found left of his time here.
SUNNY FLATS CAMPGROUND IN CAVE CREEK
The road past Portal leads into the beautiful Cave Creek area which is a birder’s paradise. It’s a beautiful time of year to be in Cave Creek with it’s shimmering golden leafed Aspen & Sycamore trees. JoAnne is right in making her Cave Creek comparison to Zion Canyon & I can identify with Doug’s feeling of spiritual pulls in certain areas. Cave Creek is on a much smaller scale of course but the towering canyon walls & mountains towering over the green & gold forested floor makes this area a ‘must see’ for anyone traveling in the area. And, it’s only about a half hours drive or so south from Interstate 10. East of Benson or west of Lordsburg just take highway 80 south heading for Rodeo, New Mexico. Turn right at the Chiricahua Desert Museum & Portal is only another 3 miles or so up the road….in Arizona. And, if your going to spend a few days in the area (recommended) then be sure to stop into Rusty’s RV Ranch.
NICE DAY FOR A DRIVE IN CAVE CREEK
Rusty’s is one of the very few RV Parks we like. Both times here, Rusty has put us in a site on the outside road, close to the dog walking area, & not near other RV’s. It just makes life so much easier for everybody that way, especially when Kelly has to contend with 3 dogs… & me!!
We both still felt tired from the weeks trip so we didn’t get into any hikes today. Many trails in the Cave Creek area but we just didn’t have the energy. It was back to the rig before 2 & we spent the rest of the day enjoying the peace & quiet of the southwest. Had planned on staying here one more day but there is a rally rolling in tomorrow & we know the site beside us, just a few feet away, has a rig booked in. So, as some of you readers know, that is too close to people for the Bayfield Bunch so we will be skee-daddling right on out of here tomorrow morning heading for the ranch over on the other side of the Chiricahua Mountains.
THE CHIRICAHUA’S BY MORNING & EVENING LIGHT
GROANER’S CORNER... During training exercises, the lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another Jeep stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. "Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside.
"Nope," replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, "Yours is."
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.
Rodeo New Mexico... I have so many warm and fun memories there. It is a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI was just going to say the RV park looks pretty empty..and How long you staying for?..but you answered both questions!..thanks for that..great shots today on your jeep excursion!!
ReplyDeleteglad to hear the weather is warm and sunny!..enjoy!
Good mountain pictures, we were planning to be in that area this winter but a new family member in the works have us heading to FL.
ReplyDeleteHave a good trip tomorrow.
Nice to see all those great photos of the southwest desert again, Al - good job!
ReplyDeleteThe sunshine and blue skies sure look nice as well.
Too bad you have to skeedaddle out of there as Rusty's looks like a nice place to hang out for a few days.
It looks so inviting. I sure hope to get that far while I'm in the southwest, although I am sure I'll be back. I'm like Max and need the desert air once in a while.
ReplyDeleteMan, your high desert is much prettier than my high desert here in Reno. (This one ain't bad, but we're still moving on south soon...)
ReplyDeleteaah back to the stories and pictures of the Southwest. I love Arizona. I think you all prefer the less populated areas and it is enjoyable to read about and see. Like we are right there with you!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the southwest pictures Al, thanks. Also it was good to see your Jeep in the pics too, I know you are having fun!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great day for you, to bad about having to pull up stakes so quick, but the ranch sounds good too. Be safe out there and tell the three boys hi from Rigg's.. oh yeah Sadie too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the re-visit to Portal and Rusty's, Al. We are just as enamored of both places as you are, and are sorry you have to skeedaddle so soon. But we know you are going to be at the ranch soon, so we will make it a point to visit you (we'll keep our distance and make it a short visit) before long. Our life here in Benson is hectic right about now, so we can't take a lot of time anywhere except in the casita. But for you guys and the furry crittrers, well take some time!
ReplyDeleteRusty's RV Ranch looks like a place we might want to visit at some point in time. Does Rusty ever have any problems with illegals in the area?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your wonderful description and photos. Now we want to visit that area for ourselves. My husband is an astronomy nut. Sounds like our kind of place.
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