Out for the Summer 2017

We began out summer adventure yesterday, leaving Picacho around 10:15am and the temperature was already a balmy 95.  The high was predicted to be 102, time to get out of Doge for sure!  We traveled the back roads, moving north through Superior, which has a very large copper mine, then up into Globe.

Started the climb up to Superior 

Even tho this is desert, it is still pretty

Rock formations all along the way

Down and then back up

Once we got through Globe we started the climb downward to the Salt River Canyon which is known for it’s wild horses that roam.  We did not see any but I was staring out the window just the same.  Climbed back out of the canyon and then we were in the White Mountains.

One of the largest copper mines in Arizona

These mountains are very beautiful.  Covered in pine, our first hardwood trees we have seen since last fall.  Spring has only been here a few weeks, we saw lots of wild flowers along the way.  We also saw a huge wildfire in the distance!  Not again.  Arizona is on alert for this summer - they had a went winter which means lots of brush grew and is clogging the under side of the forest.  A quick lightning hit and there is trouble.  We thought - it has started already!

Moving down into Salt River Canyon

Got into Showlow, tanked up the RV and continued another 12 miles eastward out of Showlow to the community of Pintetop-Lakeside.  In all we only traveled 213 miles, 4 hours later, and no issues driving.  We never go far the first time out - choosing someplace that if there is a problem, we can get help.

Could not see any wild horses

Seems Pinetop-Lakeside is still in a sleepy winter mode, many summer birds (opposite of winter birds - these are the folks who come up into the White Mountains for the summer to escape the steering heat of the Valley - Phoenix) have not arrived yet.  But we do see signs of the heavy snows they had, the trees are just starting to bud out.

Looks like a big wild fire! We will eventually end up 2 miles from this!

Found Hon Dah RV Park which is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation on their casino and checked and was settled at the site by 2:30pm.  We have some issues with the rig - have a mobile repair guy here now working on the water filter system.  Every year we learn something new or have to fix something and then it is better and easier to handle.

And that wild fire?  It is a prescribed burn going on and a little over 2 miles from us.  This morning when we got up the smoke was so heavy we could not see the sun rise.  It has cleared now, we just hope the fires are something we will not experience this summer - we have experienced enough in our lifetime.

How did Buddy and Pache do?  Buddy got a new drug in the morning - about an hour before we planned to go - seemed to calm him down really good.  Buddy and Pache are allowed to be free in the rig while we move, hunkering down where they want.  Buddy did okay, no accidents or vomiting.  But Pache - when the engine of the RV was whining from exertion - he started yelping and panting.  Since my ears were hurting from the pressure, his had to be.  He knelt down behind Dave and stayed there, just staring at me until we got to the Resort.  But they have both settled in, doing what cats do, and that is taking their afternoon siestas.