Wednesday Evening<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going to the ranch for July 4th weekend was never a sure thing, but we had talked about it on and off. When I said I really wanted to go along, we solidified the plans. I made innumerable trips to Walmart and Walgreens leading up to Wednesday, made a list of everything we could possibly need and then packed it all, and after Paul finished work around 12:30pm, we loaded Tom Truck with our gear and Efrain, Ruben and Ellie, and the five of us headed for the hills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We wanted to take the Beeline Highway, but as we were driving east, signs indicated there was a fire that had closed the northbound lanes of HWY 87, so we detoured and made for HWY 60, which takes us through Globe and the Salt River Canyon. I am never sad to take that route as it is so picturesque. Paul was gracious enough to stop once in the canyon so I could take a few pictures. Ruben’s tummy was acting up, so the fresh air was a tonic for him too. Unfortunately, my camera settings were all mucked up. The last thing I had done with it was attempt some self portraits with the timed shutter release, but I forgot to reset it, so when I went to take a photo of the canyon, it beeped for several seconds before clicking. I couldn’t remember how to fix it and felt ridiculous, but the photos turned out alright at least. When we got to our next stop at the Maverik in Snowflake where there was phone coverage, I got online and found the answer and solved my problem. Whew!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We rolled into Saint Johns right around supper time so we stopped in at the Subway and grabbed some supper subs, then hopped over next door to the grocery store for a few essentials for the evening (mainly S’More’s ingredients), before heading out to the ranch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a beautiful night for a campfire, and we sat outside gazing at the constellations as the stars came out. <\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_0_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Pole Knoll<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were up bright and early Thursday morning while it was still brisk out – in the 50s I think! We headed in to town for some breakfast from the Maverik, and ate it at the park. Then we did the rest of our grocery shopping so we would have some sandwiches and cookies for our trip into the mountains. Finally we were off to Springerville!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul has a fairly consistent pattern of stopping for a hike on the Pole Knoll trail. We wondered if there would be a lot of people there, but we had it mostly to ourselves, but for a mountain biking family and a couple who brought their three dogs and a horse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although I am not yet ready to go on an actual mountain hike, I did wander around the picnic area and up the trail a little ways to find interesting photo material. I could call this chapter of the blog post “Pine Cones and Tree Bark and Lichen – Oh My!” I racked up a lot of steps there and felt so powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_1_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Greens Peak<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Paul and the boys returned from their wander in the woods, our next stop was a place Paul has taken the kids before, but I had never visited: Greens Peak. It looks unremarkable from the foot of the mountain, a smooth grassy slope topped by radio towers and a ranger station. The road up was exciting though, extremely bumpy, with a drop off on one side and switchbacks up the mountain. I was *a little* nerve-wracked, but by the time we reached the top I’d recovered and was in my ecstasies over the views from all sides. I took many photos in every direction and kept almost all of them because it is glorious to behold the far reaching vistas and the pine forested slopes between wide grasslands. I wore myself out there, and was ready for a sitting break on our drive to the next stop on our White Mountain tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_2_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Hawley Lake<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another lovely site to which I had never been was Hawley Lake. There’s nothing like the clear waters of mountain lakes! The kids enjoyed wading and splashing in the water while Paul explored the shoreline a little. There were even some boaters floating out in the middle. <\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_3_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Little Creek<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On our way up to the lake we passed an absolutely charming little creek that I mentioned wanting to stop and photograph, so on our way back down, Paul stopped there. It was too steep for me to climb down, but he took the camera and Efrain joined him down by the water’s edge where he got some nice shots. I don’t remember if there was a sign that said what the name of the creek was, so I’m sticking with Little Creek. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time we made it back to the ranch there was just enough time to take a little snooze in the cabin while the generator charged all the batteries. Since it was on anyway, Paul plugged in the swamp cooler – the hoses that used to connect to the water tank have deteriorated too much to actually turn on the cooling part, but the fan was enough. It blew out a mighty cloud of dust when it spun up, right in my face (cough-cough-sputter) but after that it was very pleasant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the sun set, we got the fire started and enjoyed our hot-diggity-dogs for supper. While dining on our fine cuisine, we kept hearing loud mooing through the darkness from down below us in the valley, and halfway wondered if one of the calves had somehow gotten inside our fence and separated from its mama, but eventually the mooing moved on down the valley and out of earshot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once again we settled in to the cabin for a well deserved night of rest. It took the boys a while to settle down, which I found highly amusing, but Paul was out the second his head hit the pillow. He’s just lucky like that…<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_4_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Breakfast in Saint Johns<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We had nothing planned for our Friday after so much driving and site seeing the day before, but I wasn’t done with my mission for the weekend – making it to 1,000 photos! Paul knew of one little spot right outside Saint Johns that I’d never seen, so into town we went, grabbed yet another breakfast at Maverik (they have yummy breakfast food!), and went to the park to enjoy it al fresco. It’s such a cute small-town park, with tennis courts, a public swimming pool, several ramadas, a playground, an all the green grass your eyes could hope to absorb. They were gearing up for the grand 4th of July town picnic Saturday, with a stage already erected on one side of the park, and light poles festooned with American flags. <\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_5_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Patterson Ponds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a five minute drive to Patterson Ponds. I was completely captivated! We set off down the trail that goes around the edge and branches off half way around to encircle the second pond as well. I was busy snapping photos of flowers when I heard a voice from behind me on the trail, hollering, “You fishin’ or takin’ pictures?” I turned and saw this guy carrying a bucket and fishing pole. I grinned back at him, “Pictures!” He struck a pose and said “Here ya go! Take one of me!” So I did! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul brought along a chair for me so I could rest whenever I needed to along the way, which I was happy to use. There was a picnic table where the kids were hanging out for a few minutes, and we sat there with them for a while when we caught up. There were three kids fishing beside the pond nearby and it was just so wholesome to see! True Americana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the far side there were trees that arched over the trail, and I sat down by the rope swing for another rest in the shade. It’s moments like that when I most particularly notice the lack of mosquitoes here in Arizona. In Minnesota, sitting lakeside like that one would be eaten alive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can’t believe I made it all the way around the pond. What a triumph! Maybe next time I will have the stamina to explore the second pond as well!<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_6_placeholder\n\n\n\n
Visiting Joe<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While we were walking around the pond and the kids were off exploring the other one, Paul and I decided that instead of staying one more night and then driving home in the morning, we would make one last stop before going back to the cabin, and then have lunch, pack up, and get home Friday evening. That way we wouldn’t lose a Saturday for chores (chore days are essential) and the kids would be back in time to attend their baby cousin’s first birthday party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we headed out to the ranch, but instead of turning in to go to our place on the south end of the Carrizo, we went all the way to the north edge of the ranch so we could pay a visit to Joe, who serves as the VP of the ranch association and has quite an operation up there, where he s also building a home. Paul has taken the kids up to his place before and they loved visiting his chickens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time there was an extra treat in store. When we arrived, Joe was nowhere to be seen, until we heard the roar of an engine, and he rounded the side of his big garage driving an ATV! After greetings, he invited the kids to jump in and took them on a tour around his property. It was a rugged little road, and he wasn’t going slowly, so they had a very bumptious time of it! We followed in the truck, and at one point, I saw that the road took a sharp right angle, but Paul didn’t and we ended up nose downward heading into a ravine. I may have screamed a little, but Paul was cool as a cucumber, and got the truck back up onto the trail with relative ease. Good job, Tom Truck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, back in the main yard, the real fun began when Joe turned the wheel over to Efrain and let him drive the kids around for a while. After that, we went in to the chicken coop to see the chickens. As many pics as I kept, I deleted more, I assure you. The kids just loved every minute of it! I even got a great shot of Joe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before leaving, Ellie got a chance to drive the ATV too! First Paul rode with her to make sure she knew how everything worked, then he let Ruben ride along, and after that I even got a ride. She drove like a pro – a testament to Laurent’s excellence in driver’s training! She lets all the kids practice in her car whenever she comes up to the ranch with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\nngg_shortcode_7_placeholder\n\n\n\n
After a tour of the house we thanked Joe for his hospitality and said our goodbyes, then headed back to the cabin. When we announced we’d be leaving that evening to drive home, it was gratifying to hear the disappointment from the kids. It’s always nice to leave them wanting more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could not have been more delighted with the entire trip. Every single thing went perfectly, and I had more energy that I even expected. I failed to get 1,000 photos, but did manage an even 700, and after culling and editing had 324 keepers. Can’t do much better than that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thankful. Blessed. Can’t wait till next time!<\/p>\n