It was drizzling. It was noticably colder out, too. The temperature in Phoenix at 8am was a mere 50F and 46F in Wickenburg.
We ate leftover burritos for breakfast but stopped at the Pony Espresso in town for coffee. It was my first cappuccino in months. The cafe offered free WiFi but the connection was slow and frustrating.
Wickenburg looked asleep as we drove off, but I couldn't help but notice that the downtown area had several manequins that for the unsuspecting passers-by looked like real people from the 1880s standing at the corners: a Mexican playing guitar, a cowboy talking to a red-dressed prostitute, a lady in a long dress by a saloon, and a prisoner chained to the "Jail Tree" that was used in lieu of a jail cell. The manequins were life-like and added a touch of folksy art.
Rain was heavy at times as we approached Phoenix. We got on the 303 Bypass south, then back on I-10 for 11 miles west to catch Route 85 back to Gila Bend, and the rest of the drive was the same as the start a few days ago, with intermittent heavy rains. Kevin was behind the wheel now, and that meant we were driving 15 miles below the speed limit.
We made it to our area by 3pm. Gasoline was now three cents higher than when we left: $1.62 for regular unleaded. Once on Highway 90 the skies looked a light grey, and any rain clouds had stayed west of the Mountains. Had it rained here while we were gone? Our rain barrels looked dry. The cats looked happy to see us again. The catbox smelled ripe for a clay litter change.
We turned the heat back on. Reality soon set in. I downloaded all 983 photos I had taken, downloaded a few of the better ones (and leaving many more better ones for another album) and began getting mentally prepared for the new workweek.
We both had fond memories of all the sites we saw. Lake Havasu City, especially along the riverfront, was prettier than I expected. The vistas into the red and white rocks of California were intriguing. Nevada's little triangle in the Tri-State region also promised to hold more adventure than just a few sleazy casinos.
"There'll be a next time!" said Kevin as he prepared a spaghetti meal.
"And we could also explore Arizona's 'Forgotten Corner!'" I said, that parcel of land in AZ that lies in the very corner of the Utah and Nevada Tri-State area north of I-15. The Beaver Dam Mountain Wilderness with the Virgin River Gorge can be accessed here off one turn-off from I-15. There are some backcountry trails that lead to the far western corner of the Grand Canyon, away from Native Tribals lands or National Park Ranging Nazis. We could use St.George, Utah as our base ops.
We ate leftover burritos for breakfast but stopped at the Pony Espresso in town for coffee. It was my first cappuccino in months. The cafe offered free WiFi but the connection was slow and frustrating.
Wickenburg looked asleep as we drove off, but I couldn't help but notice that the downtown area had several manequins that for the unsuspecting passers-by looked like real people from the 1880s standing at the corners: a Mexican playing guitar, a cowboy talking to a red-dressed prostitute, a lady in a long dress by a saloon, and a prisoner chained to the "Jail Tree" that was used in lieu of a jail cell. The manequins were life-like and added a touch of folksy art.
Rain was heavy at times as we approached Phoenix. We got on the 303 Bypass south, then back on I-10 for 11 miles west to catch Route 85 back to Gila Bend, and the rest of the drive was the same as the start a few days ago, with intermittent heavy rains. Kevin was behind the wheel now, and that meant we were driving 15 miles below the speed limit.
We made it to our area by 3pm. Gasoline was now three cents higher than when we left: $1.62 for regular unleaded. Once on Highway 90 the skies looked a light grey, and any rain clouds had stayed west of the Mountains. Had it rained here while we were gone? Our rain barrels looked dry. The cats looked happy to see us again. The catbox smelled ripe for a clay litter change.
We turned the heat back on. Reality soon set in. I downloaded all 983 photos I had taken, downloaded a few of the better ones (and leaving many more better ones for another album) and began getting mentally prepared for the new workweek.
We both had fond memories of all the sites we saw. Lake Havasu City, especially along the riverfront, was prettier than I expected. The vistas into the red and white rocks of California were intriguing. Nevada's little triangle in the Tri-State region also promised to hold more adventure than just a few sleazy casinos.
"There'll be a next time!" said Kevin as he prepared a spaghetti meal.
"And we could also explore Arizona's 'Forgotten Corner!'" I said, that parcel of land in AZ that lies in the very corner of the Utah and Nevada Tri-State area north of I-15. The Beaver Dam Mountain Wilderness with the Virgin River Gorge can be accessed here off one turn-off from I-15. There are some backcountry trails that lead to the far western corner of the Grand Canyon, away from Native Tribals lands or National Park Ranging Nazis. We could use St.George, Utah as our base ops.
"Make sure you bring your own beer, though" I reminded Kevin. Beer over 3.2% is not sold in Utah. The Mormons insist on that crazy law.
Sure, I'll always want to hike more than Kevin, and this trip could easily have been extended another day or two to hike some backcountry trails outside of Kingman, Bagdad, or even Wickenburg. But time and rainy, cool weather were against us. I'll wait for the warmer weather to come back to plan shorter trips that just concentrate on a hike and one town instead of 1100 miles and fleeting moments in too many towns. For some of these trails we don't need to worry about four-day trips, we could leave at night on a Friday and head off to a place like Prescott within five hours. My work and school schedule is going to be VERY busy the next two months; there will be little time to play.
Like Kevin said on the first day of this trip, "There is no such thing as an ugly spot in Arizona."
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