Monday, March 31, 2008

A Sunday Drive

After staying home sick on Friday, and lounging around the house like a lazy bum for most of Saturday, DaNece and I decided to take a drive on Sunday.

 

We drove through Camp Verde through Payson, up to Holbrook and then home. No particular reason behind the drive, we just wanted to get out of the house and see a part of the state that neither of us had before. So we loaded up the dogs and headed off.

 

8 1/2 hours, 4 counties, and over 400 miles later we arrived back at home, safe and sound. Neither of us were in a real picture-taking kind of mood, so photo-stops were at a minimum. For the most part we just sat back and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of northern arizona. A few of the photos that I did snap:

 

The bridge over East Verde River:

 

Forest lakes. Formed by snow-melt into the depressions of the forest, these shallow pools of water were a real treat. And the weirdest sound was coming from some of the banks.... FROGS! I can't imagine being a frog and hanging out in near-freezing water all day, but they were there:

 

Once we hit the interstate again we got to drive by the Cholla Power Plant outside of Joseph City. The power plant's flue gas stacks dominated the skyline, as we stood in 40-50MPH winds taking pictures:

 

About an hour before reaching home, the sun gave up its position on the horizon, and darkness settled over the road:

 

Next time we go through this beautiful area I think we will be spending some time at the rim, but it was just a bit too cold and windy for it this weekend.

 

I will probably update this post when DaNece uploads all her pictures from the day. :)

 

Full Photoset.

5 comments:

Melissa said...

those pictures are awesome. I totally would have gone to garlic paradise. ;)

love this:

No particular reason behind the drive, we just wanted to get out of the house and see a part of the state that neither of us had before.

that's the only reason to take a drive. :) what a great sunday you must have had.

Mike said...

When you said Payson, I immediately thought you had driven up into Utah. Glad to see you didn't go that far. Looks like a wonderful Sunday drive.

Chickenbells said...

Yeah...we blew around Skull Valley for a while on Sunday. We were going to try to get out to Sycamore, but were moving slow on Sunday morning...Someday I know we'll make it out there (sigh.) Anyway...the drive sounded wonderful...

Granny J said...

I am reminded of a tank the LH & I visited many years ago up in the Kaibab> It was absolutely ringed with bullfrogs & as we circled the tank, we were preceded by a chorus of plops as the nearest frogs got out of the way. Wish I had pix of the occasion!

TomboCheck said...

Melissa - Thanks! I was tempted to go to the garlic paradise, but didn't think it would work into the timeframe of the day. :)

And though that may be the only good reason to take a drive, it is rarely the reason I'm behind the wheel. :)

Mike - I don't go to Utah... your blog has scared me away from ever heading up that way.

CB - I still need to go hit up the skull valley cafe after hearing your rave review! And Sycamore Canyon will still be there next weekend, or whenever you finally manage to get up there. I think in a few more weeks Lola might be ready for a long hike, so we will probably head to sycamore or to wet beaver creek... :)

GrannyJ - It was surreal. I would have never expected frogs in that cold water. Of course, we didn't get to see any of the little guys in action, they were on the far bank. :(