Our objective to "Get out of the Heat" for a few hours so we headed
north for about 200 miles towards Payson. FYI April 16 2020 we went to
Payson and took a different route home via Roosevelt Lake.
If you missed it, see "Shades of Blue & Green".
This trip (on Friday July 24th) was an out and back with several
stops along the way.
We travelled North via the Bush Highway, (highway 87) in order
to escape the lower elevation heat (and someone's sitting & sulking)!!
We crossed a couple of 45500-5,000 summits on this very scenic
highway. The high temperature for the day 78 degrees which
is way better than 102, or 105, or 110!!!
And Don, of course, stopped here and there for some very
interesting geocaches + 2 virtual caches.
As you may have heard there was a huge wildfire in AZ in
which started June 20, 2020 and burned 193,455 acres before
it was totally contained July 6,2020.
And that is what you're looking at in this photo.
This map shows the fire's massive size 193,455 acres.
The fire started near the SW corner when
a car ,close to Mesa AZ caught on fire which ignited this fire.
We had picked several "sites to see" on our outing, and
just past the entrance to Tonto Natural Bridge State Park,
we stopped so Don could find a geocache called "Stonehenge".
He did, but I was fascinated by the sign in the distance...
just in the direction we were headed - YIKES!!!
The "bridge" is thought to be the largest natural travertine
bridge in the world. It stands 183 feet high over a 400 ft long tunnel,
that measures 150 ft at its widest point. There are great
trails to hike over, around and down to...
During our drive, many times today, I kept seeing these
colorful "stalks" and didn't know what they were.
Introducing the Goldenflower Century Plant (Agave Chrysantha).
Stunning to say the least.
Don located the sign to Gowan Trailhead for the virtual cache
which required that he pose with his GPS near the sign.
After a short drive north, the the town of Strawberry was
on our list and
we enjoyed learning more about the oldest standing
schoolhouse in AZ.
It was established in 1884. We couldn't go inside, but
our trusty cameras did their job!!!
And, this plaque tells the rest of the story...
Next we headed south on the Bush Highway and turned east
on W Houston Mesa Rd to visit Shoofly Village Ruins.
OH NO... this gets the "Wild Goose Chase" award for the day...
oh well, I'm getting hungry.
Last stop before heading back, a picnic lunch spot with a view.
Green ValleyPark, in Payson offers "urban fishing",
walking trails, covered picnic sites, free parking and
no entry fee. YIPPEE...
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