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The General Crook Trail/Rim Rock Road
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This trail is a 54-mile loop road through the Coconino National Forest. Approximately 2/3rds of the drive is unpaved forest service road. The loop starts about 30-miles east of Camp Verde, AZ. at the intersection of state routes 87 and 260. From there we headed north on SR87 to Forest Service Road 95. We stopped at the Blue Ridge Ranger Station to have our lunch and to check on the condition and status of the forest service roads.
Our weather was clear and sunny with temps in the mid 60's. By the time we got to the high point on the road - 7500' feet ASL - the temperature had chilled to the upper 50's and the wind was really blowing. The ranger informed us that all of the forest service roads were open and passable so off we went.
At one point along the road we came across an area that had burned in a wildfire. It was sad to see so many trees destroyed but at the same time we were afforded a maginificent view of the valley and distant mountain ranges. Being a 'ham' I put put a call on my radio and was answered by several hams in Phoenix, 74-miles to the south. It took about 4-hours to traverse the loop road but it was a great day and a great experience. I hope you enjoy the photos. |
Pink Jeep Tour - Diamondback Gulch
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The Pink Jeep Tours in Sedona, AZ are world famous. They provide a series of 4-wheel drive tours and adventures into the back country around Sedona, AZ and the Grand Canyon. Every time we're in Sedona we take a tour with them. Most of the tours are on trails that are rated 'difficult' and the Diamondback Gulch tour was no exception. All tours are via a specially modified Jeep Wrangler with experienced guides. Our tour guide was Joe and he did a magnificent job. Enjoy the photos.
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Jerome, Arizona, elevation 5200-feet, is an old Arizona silver and copper mining town founded in, depending on whom you believe, 1876, 1889 or 1899. Signs at the town limits state the town was founded in 1876. Sometimes called 'America's Most Vertical City' because it is perched on the side of Cleopatra Hill just below the Mingus and Woodchute Mountains overlooking Arizona's Verde Valley. It was named for New York investor Eugene Murray Jerome. Mr. Jerome owned mineral rights and financed some mining operations but he never visited the town named for him. Jerome was infamous for gambling, prostitution and vice leading the New York Sun in 1905 to proclaim Jerome as the "wickedest town in the west". The town sits above what was once Arizona's largest copper mine, The United Verde Mine, out of which over 3-million pounds of copper was mined...each month! The total value of the copper, silver, gold, zinc and lead from the mine topped $1-billion.
Jerome suffered through four devastating fires in 1894, 1897, 1898 and 1899 but modern building codes were adopted at the turn of the century. But Jerome still has it's own fire department. The current town population is said to be 500 but in 1915 the population was around 2500. The town is primarily made up of artisans, shop keepers, bed and breakfast hosts and the odd oddball. It may be a small town, 0.7 square miles, but approximately 1-million tourists from all over the world flood the town each year. Parking is scarce so if you go and find a spot grab it and walk the town. We had lunch at The Jerome Palace, home of the Haunted Hamburger. They serve a variety of pricey but good meals. The place is pretty small so try and stop by before or after the lunch and dinner rush.
Sitting at the top of the hill is Jerome's Grand Hotel. It started as the United Verde Hospital, the mining company hospital, in 1927. It was closed in 1950 when mining operations were phased out and sat empty until 1994 when it was purchased and renovated. The view of the Verde Valley from the front of the hotel is magnificent.
The only way to or from Jerome is via Arizona Highway 89A which is a superbly scenic drive. Below are some of the photos we took during our visit to Jerome.
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Cruising on Saguaro Lake
Saguaro Lake is a few miles northeast of Mesa, AZ. and is one in a chain of four man-made lakes created in the early to mid 20th century for flood control, hydro-electric power and to provide the Phoenix valley with fresh water. With a surface area of 1264-acres, an average depth of 90-feet, 22-miles of shoreline and a length of over 10-miles, Saguaro Lake was completed in 1930 and was the last of the four reservoirs created along the Salt River. The lake is home to a number of sport fish including Rainbow Trout, Large and Small Mouth Bass and Walleye.
There is a marina at the western end of the lake and numerous recreation areas scattered along the shore. The marina features a restaurant, boat rentals and slips and a tour boat, The Desert Belle. We were unaware of the tour boat's existence until we arrived at the marina for lunch one day. Just as we finished lunch the Desert Belle was pulling back into dock and preparing for the second and last cruise of the day. Cruises average 90-minutes and cost $20, less for seniors and kids. The boat also has evening cruises. Below are a selection of photos of the marina, the boat and the lake.
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The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ houses somewhere around 10,000 musical instruments from 200 countries around the world. When we arrived we found a large, open and airy building on the far, far northside of Phoenix. All tours are self-guided but guests are given wireless headsets enabling them to hear the various instruments on display. As you approach a display you'll see a video of one or more of the instruments in that display. The wireless headset will provide the video's companion audio. The at the desk told us not to try to see all of the instruments in one day and added that he could spend 3-hours in the section of African instruments. Well, we were able to see all of the instruments in abour 4-hours. While there are a few unique insruments most are merely derivations of basic percussion, woodwinds and brass. What is unique is how the instruments look but, for me anyway, if you've seen one drum you've pretty much seen them all. Donna disagreed and thoroughly enjoyed all of the museum displays. In addition to the instrument displays there was a large area dedicated to the influence latin music has had in America over the years and a smaller section showcasing the likes of John Lennon, George Benson, Paul Simon and others. Non-flash photography/videography is permitted.
You know me... If It Ain't Country, It Ain't Music. Lo and behold there was a small display dedicated to country music.
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If you go be sure to bring money. Adult admission is $15, seniors are $13 and kids 6-17 will be charged $10. Children under 6 are free. And while those prices are not out of line with other museums we've visited the prices in the on-site cafe are through the roof! You know by our 'Top 10 Rules For Fine Dining' that we enjoy the more simple fare. When we went to lunch we found that the featured meal was Calamari. If that's your thing then good for you but not us. We ordered a couple of burgers, a small bottle of water and a small bottle of Coke. That set us back nearly $23!! The burger was good but it wasn't that good! Like I said...bring money.
There was one, probably unintentional, particularly humorus display in the Asian room. The theme of the museum is "Music Is The Language To The Soul". Keep that in mind. As you turn a corner in the Asian Room you come upon a large display of South Korean musical instruments. The display takes up parts of three walls.
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When I turned around I saw the North Korean display. Remember the museum's slogan? Well, the North Korean display speaks volumes. This is it.
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Probably unintentional but still very telling...and accurate.
All in all it was an enjoyable day but if you've got a special love for music or if you're a musician then you just might more than a few hours to see this museum.
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The Apache Trail is a 45-mile scenic drive through the desert and Superstition Mountains between Apache Junction and Roosevelt, Arizona. It rolls through some really beautiful desert and mountain country and past three man-made lakes...Canyon Lake, Apache Lake and Roosevelt Lake...which supply the greater Phoenix area with a majority of it's fresh water. Twenty-two miles of the drive are unpaved which makes it especially fun in a Jeep. Just before you leave the paved portion of the trail the small town...population 6...of Tortilla Flat beckons. Part tourist trap, part gathering spot for locals, Tortilla Flat is an actual town that began as a stage stop in 1904. If you find yourself in the area try a cheeseburger and listen to the great, live country music on the patio. Heading eastbound on the trail about 4-miles east of Tortilla Flat you'll encounter Fish Kill Hill, a 3-mile, 6+% grade that winds you down to the desert floor. The trail on the hill varies from 1 to 2 vehicles wide. It's those one vehicle wide sections that can be fun! |
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Our 2011 Chicago Cubs Spring Training Trip (5-5) |
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Previous Blogs
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The
'Four Peaks"
