Something New...

At the end of the last post I mentioned that I'd be back when I 

had something new to report so here I am... 

Yesterday morning, Aug 19, I concluded my 3 mile walk as the sun began 

to rise.  All of the smoke from the CA wildfires 167 of them with over

20 being major fires + some AZ fires, filled the skies in AZ.

So we headed out looking for lower temperatures and smoke free 

skies.  This map shows our route of Scenic Byways as we toured

the Gila Pinal Scenic Byway from  Superior to Globe via Miami, and

then followed the Copper Corridor East down to Winkleman 

and then took the Copper Corridor West back to Superior.

The traffic was light as we headed east until we hit road construction!!!

Sometimes things happen for a reason.  Since we were stalled in

traffic I finally was able to snap a photo of this great bridge that

we were going to cross.  I've tried to capture it for many years but we

were always "flying" by too fast.

Don had some geocaches he wanted to find in Miami.

The "hint" for the first one was it's behind the 

historic Bullion Plaza School,

and "up high".  While Don quickly located it, I did my 

photographer thing... capturing the peaceful patio area also 

behind the old historic school.

Next geocache clue "it's magnetic by a large tank". (The geocache 

log container was attached with a magnet under the tank.)

I was a little apprehensive when Don told me that the next

geocache was in a park called Miami Vandal Park.  As it

turns out the "Vandals" is the same of the 

Miami High School football team. 

The hint for this one "magnetic/large box"!!!

Next we headed for Globe where we turned south to Winkleman.

The skies were clear, there were green trees, an 

elevation of over 4500'and a gentle breeze.   AHHHH

At the top of the summit was a picnic spot with 

covered picnic tables and outstanding

views in every direction.

As we headed down the 10% grade towards Winkleman, 

both of us were dragging both of our feet!!!

As we headed NW on the Copper Corridor West scenic highway,

 the terrain changed and so did the scenery due to copper 

mining at the Ray Mine.

 

The tailing piles offered there own kind of beauty under a 

partially cloudy sky.   Since we had our late lunch at 2:45

we had ice cream for dinner when we arrived home 

after a 6 hour drive, and someone I know 

went to bed earlier than usual.

But I was awakened at 1:45 a.m.  by massive rolling thunder 

and continuous lightening about every 3-4 seconds,

and then the rain started.  We hadn't seen rain since 

March and that was only .06 inches.

Last night we got .12 inches in about an hour and 

when I opened the front door to check

 out how hard it was raining is was

like stepping into a Sauna.  The temperature was 97 degrees.

Within the next 45 minutes the temperature actually

dropped 18 degrees.  The first time we've had a

temperature that low (79) for months... day or night!!!