POST #67

In this post as in earlier ones you can click the links for more interesting info and click on the photos for a larger view...

We are still here in Homolovi State Park, near Winslow AZ.  On Wednesday, April 8th we did some exploring.  There are several ruins of ancient Hopi villages in the are with two here in the park.

First we visited the ruins known as Homolovi #1...

Here are some photos of signs describing the ruins as you first enter...

There is not much left of the pueblos...they were abandoned over 600 years ago, in the vicinity of 1400 A.D...

For a video of the Homolovi Ruins from Arizona State Parks... Click >>> HERE

For an interesting video tour made by a tourist... Click >>> HERE ... 

These are interesting videos...highly recommend!

As we went through the ruins we saw thousands of shards of broken pottery...

Also found a lot of obsidian that they picked up nearby at the San Francisco Peaks Volcano Area and a flint like material they got thru trade I would guess....

 

The San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range in San Francisco Volcanic Field in north central Arizona, just north of Flagstaff and a remnant of the former San Francisco Mountain.  Only about 50 miles west of here...

The highest summit in the range, Humphreys Peak, is the highest point in the state of Arizona at 12,633 feet. (3,851 m) in elevation. The San Francisco Peaks are the remains of an eroded stratovolcano. Prior to its collapse due to a lateral eruption (similar to Mount St. Helens) to the northeast (around 200,000 years ago) and subsequent glacial erosion, the San Francisco Peaks fully matured elevation is estimated to have been around 16,000 feet.   We will be exploring that area in a week or so...

The ruins and artifacts were fascinating!....

If you are ever in the area check it out!

Until Next Time!

POST #66

We were planning to stay at Fool Hollow State Park until April 9th.  We had a wonderful Campsite on the lake at an altitude of about 6300 feet...

It was chilly (60s) and windy there each day we were there.  We always watch what the weather is going to be and found, to our dismay SNOW😲 was expected with temps into the 20s.  So we decided to escape, cancelled our remaining reservation, and moved on.  We drove to Homolovi State Park, at an elevation of 4850 to avoid snow...a short drive of about 83 miles...

At Holbrook, AZ we got onto I-40, which follows the path of old US Route 66, sometimes known as the "The Mother Road" or "The Main Street  Of America"... Hey!  Post #66---Route 66!  As we were driving through Holbrook we noticed several places selling petrified wood...

Everything from chips to full logs....

The Petrified Forest National Park is just east of Holbrook...

The Petrified Wood for sale was collected in the areas surrounding the park....

Also in Holbrook we passed the Wigwam Motel...

The motel is arranged as a square, with 15 concrete and steel wigwams on three sides and the main office on the fourth, flanked by two smaller sized wigwams; there was also originally a gas station on the complex. The individual units are called "wigwams," not "rooms" or "tepees" or "cabins." The base diameter is 14 feet, with each unit 32 feet in height. Behind the main room of each unit is a small bathroom with sink, toilet and shower. Current rooms contain the original restored hickory furniture, two double beds, cable TV and a window-mounted air conditioner. In keeping with the authenticity of the restoration, there are no telephones, Internet access or ice machine. Vintage restored automobiles from the 1960s and earlier are located throughout the parking area. Small green metal benches etched with the words "Wigwam Village #6" are scattered throughout the complex as well.

We then merged onto I-40 (Route 66) and headed west to our campsite at Homolovi State Park...

The Campground is just a couple miles NE of Winslow, AZ.  Winslow?  Isn't that where....

Yup!! we visited again!

Pootzie parked behind the famous Flatbed Ford....

We made this video last time we were here...silly but fun!...

There is a lot to explore here at Homovoli Park!  We are here until at least April 15th, waiting for the weather at home to warm up before we proceed north. 

Watch for more on Homolovi later!

Until Next Time!

POST #65

On Monday, March 30th we left the Desert at Picacho Peak, AZ and headed North to Fool Hollow Recreation Area...a distance of about 181 miles.  Mostly clear skies...temps in the low 60's.

It was kinda slow going, a lot of climbing, curves and switchbacks.....

Along the route there were acres of Mexican Poppies....colored the country orange!

Here is a short video clip of part of that drive...

We arrived at Fool Hollow Recreation Area about 3 PM and set up our camp...surrounded by ponderosa pine and juniper trees...

The trip wore out the Boys...and the driver!

Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area is located in the world’s largest contiguous belt of ponderosa pine forest. A relatively flat basaltic plateau, broken by Show Low Creek and Fool Hollow Wash, characterizes the property. Fool Hollow Lake was created by construction of a dam at the confluence of Show Low Creek and Fool Hollow Wash in 1957 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with federal assistance. This created a 149 surface acre lake surrounded by National Forest lands.

We discovered our campsite is populated by some local denizens...the Arizona Rock Squirrels...Dozens of them...they come right up to see what we're doing..(and looking for a snack!)...

They started eating out of our hands!  4 to 6 at a time!

And then the little desert lizards. There are dozens of them in this site....

They came over and climbed up on our chairs!  We call them Goannas...

We are here at Fool Hollow Lake until April 9th, can't do much because everything in the nearby town of Show Low, AZ and we need to shelter in place according to the Governor of AZ.  It's a beautiful place to stay so it will not be an inconvenience for sure!  Then we start working our way North towards home.  Stops we had planned along the route, such as Petrified Forest National Park, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, and Monument Valley are all closed so guess we will just drive through...

Until Next Time!!

POST #64

We arrived here at Picacho Peak State Park, AZ on Friday, March 27.  We are only here for a short time, leaving the morning of March 30.

The unique shape of the 1,500-foot Picacho Peak has been used as a landmark by travelers since prehistoric times. One of the first recordings was in the 1700’s by the Anza Expedition as it passed through the area.

Picacho Peak is not a volcanic cone, but is part of a volcanic flow that has been partially eroded away.

In 1848, the Mormon Battalion constructed a wagon road through Picacho Pass. The forty-niners on their way to California used this road. In the late 1850’s the Butterfield Overland Stage was carrying passengers through this area. Picacho Peak’s most noted historic event occurred on April 15, 1862, when Confederate and Union scouting parties met in the Battle of Picacho Pass during the Civil War. This was the largest Civil War clash to take place in Arizona.

Picacho Peak has long been known for its spring display of wildflowers. If rains come at the right times in the winter, the spring will bring an explosion of gold to the bajadas of the mountain that appear as a tapestry of color.

The wildflowers are predominantly Mexican Gold Poppies and purple Lupines. 

Picacho Peak State Park Campground is a beautiful place! Click HERE for a 360 degree tour of the campground!  This is our spot, #20 in the "C" Loop...

We hiked around all of the Loops...

The only problem with this campground is there is NO water available.  We had to arrive with a full water tank, and would have to drive 8 miles to the Flying J to get more.  This wasn't a real problem because we are only here 3 nights.

Tomorrow will be a bit of a sad day...we will be leaving the Desert and heading North about 180 miles to pine trees and an elevation of 6300 feet to Fool Hollow Lake State Park...

So this evening we walked among the Saguaros at sunset...

As we bid them "goodbye" until next winter...

They are calling for temps in the 90s here next week!  Due to the stupid virus the restrictions that they were hoping to lift on Monday have been extended until April 30th.  If for some reason travel is restricted we don't want to be here in the Desert as the temps rise into the 100s.  It will be 20 degrees cooler where we will be, near Show Low, AZ, for the next two weeks.

Stay Safe!  Stay Positive!  We WILL get through this!

Until Next Time!!

POST #63

Yesterday, March 27, we left Gilbert Ray Campground at Old Tucson.  Due to the stupid virus, everything was closed around there, such as the Old Tucson Movie Set, the Sonoran Desert Museum and the buildings in the Saguaro National Park.  

We stayed "home" most of the time....Sleeping in...

Hiking around...looking at scenery and plant life, like this Barrel Cactus in bloom...

A packrat got to a Barrel Cactus fruit on this one...see the little seeds?  The fruit is edible and is said to have a taste similar to lemon...We didn't try it!

While in Gilbert Ray Campground we had some spectacular sunsets!... 

And we still had time to relax inside with the Boys...

When we headed out we drove through the Saguaro National Park on our way North to our next destination.

Click HERE for a Dashcam Video of the drive through Saguaro National Park.
Pick the "Sonoran Drive"

It was a short drive of about 40 miles to Picacho Peak State Park...partly cloudy, breezy and only about 60 degrees...

When we arrived about 2 PM we set up camp...Picacho Peak in the background..Picacho Peak is not a volcanic cone, but is part of a volcanic flow that has been partially eroded away...

A HUGE Saguaro is growing right behind us...

We  leave Picacho Peak on Monday.  Today we will explore a bit and get back to you with what we find....

Stay Well!  Think Positive!  Be Safe!

Until Next Time!