On to Eagar, and Springville, AZ

I got a very slow start this morning, and I had a really good night's sleep. It's actually quite rare these days, and I cherished feeling refreshed today, when I woke up. So along with basic chores, I didn't leave my camp until 10 am!  I spent the night in such a beautiful quiet, and cool, pristine forest with so many white bark aspen, and these crazy clicking grasshoppers. 

The last part of this forest road drive, towards route 260, opens up into these vast fields. it really makes one feel so small in this open space. 

I made my way east towards the town of Eagar and Springerville. Always with my eyes open, along the way, I found a herd of pronghorn deer. I turned around, and tried in vain, to capture a photo. They had moved along quickly. It was probably a group of at least 30, along the highway fence. On the other side you could see rolling hills of red cinder, one looking particularly like an extinct volcano. I stopped at a small trail to hike, admiring the cliffs, and deep red rust ground.

In my search, I discovered a place called Java and Junk in Springerville. A place where you could find antiques, and have coffee! It was certainly a whimsical, artsy place, with dollar bill's hanging and waving from the ceiling. I enjoyed seeing a large beautiful old wooden bar counter, with mirrors, something that would have belonged in a turn of the last century saloon. I ordered a coffee, and strawberry rhubarb pie, which was shaped into a calzone. Honestly, it was seriously delicious, and I was thrilled to meet the bakers who were sitting at a table nearby. I also sat in a comfortable leather recliner, and shared some conversation with a fellow named Chris. He was working on the wind farm just down the road, and stops there daily for coffee. It's fun getting to know people out of the blue, as he will eventually wind up in Phoenix for an 18 month long job, working on towers. He had worked on towers in Geneva, New York. I warned him about the extreme heat right now, and told him he will need a backpack cooler with water accessible 24/7.  Everyone here was so nice, and very pleasant, and of course, enamored with Jo Jo, who actually allowed people to pet him, and in return, they got licking kisses.

I left with a big smile on my face, and convinced myself that I would come all the way up back up here from Phoenix, just to revisit this fun experience again. It was topped off by a brief stop at the Apache Forest Rangers station, where I bought my lifetime senior National Park Pass. Now that I'm officially an old person, I can enter any National Park for free with this card.....forever!

I headed south on route 191 towards Alpine, and discovered a forest road that I quickly took. I found a very accessible spot, but after a little walk, I discovered space right next to Paddy Creek. A babbling creek, just slowly calling me, to come and park right next to it instead! I managed a somewhat steep decline, and as I looked in my rear view mirror, my heart sank as I saw part of my sewer cap lying there. Damn. Once I made it to level ground, I walked back to retrieve it, and fortunately, with all the luck on the planet, it was a simple twist off issue which popped right back on, with no damage. How lucky is that? Am I stretching my luck? So, I also realized that the ruts and the rocks were rather pronounced. With the intention of getting some exercise, I took my maul, and my heavy duty screwdriver, and went about chiseling and chopping away all the rocks, digging them out, and removing them, so when I do escape, I will have a much easier time without the concern over damaging my undercarriage. At least that is plan A. If anyone out there were to watch me, they would think I was completely deranged. But, you know, I enjoy the challenge, and I'm here, for the night, next to my own personal, wonderful babbling creek. So far I haven't seen a single soul, and I'm in the pine forest, with some deciduous scrub oak, and beautiful wildflowers. I am going to enjoy this drive on route 191, the Coronado Trail, which is considered one of America's jewel Scenic byways. 
































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