Wild West Adventure - Cowboys and Canyons Day 8

**grantasmic** · 25 Oct 07, 09:38 PM

Day 8, 1 October : White Mountains, Salt River Canyon, Globe, Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Tuscon

Joy of joys, I didn’t wake up till 0450! Finished writing up yesterday’s notes – just too tired to do it last night! Then John went off in search of coffee and made a quick call to Claire from the lobby, as despite all the assurances last night the room phones are still locked!

The weather this morning is overcast and the forecast gives an 89% chance of rain! Hmmm, just like home, then! Just a hell of a lot hotter!

Cases packed and outside by 0700 and down for our free breakfast. It’s like a rugby scrum! There’s not much room, limited tables and folk everywhere! We managed to grab a table for 4 and went in search of orange juice, strawberries, cereals, toast and coffee. After a quick trip back up to the room we were ready for the coach at 0800. Today we would be travelling across the White Mountain range to Salt River Canyon where we’ll be stopping for our morning rest break. Dana explained that this is Apache country and that there is no coffee shop there, just restrooms and probably some of the Indians will have their stalls set up. Before long, the landscape began to change to rocky cliffs. We were obviously getting nearer to the White Mountains because we passed a Real Estate office advertising White Mountains Vacation Village timeshare properties! Not sure I’d want a vacation home here!

We are now travelling on the most incredible mountain road – sheer drops on one side and we are climbing higher and higher and zig-zagging round and round on the ascent. My ears are popping as much as they do when the plane takes off and lands! The views are breathtaking from up here and we can make out the river way below us.

Soon we are travelling downhill and the brakes are working overtime to keep us on an even keel! We have to cross the bridge at the bottom of this hairpin ride and I think once we’ve crossed over we’ll have our rest stop.

Sure enough there is a small car park, some restrooms and a handful of locals with their boot sale stalls! Everyone headed for the loos, but the girls all came straight back out again!

Possibly the bucket full of toilet rolls at the entrance should have given us a bit of a clue! Yes, you’ve guessed it the toilets were just a bucket over a pit! No thank you very much! The boys had the same facilities, but then it’s so much easier for them!

The rain was still trying its best but it didn’t really bother us that much. So we took lots of photos, avoided the temptation of browsing the Indian jewellery and made our way back to the coach. Paul was inspecting the coach’s wheels as there was a terrible smell of burning rubber! Probably because he’d had to use the brakes so much negotiating the mountain roads! All aboard and we were heading back up the other side of the mountain! We wound our way up and down and over more bridges. I know I’ve said it already, but the views are stunning! I don’t think there are really any words that can do it justice.

We finally arrived in Globe – which Dana told us has lots of places to eat, art galleries, museums, etc, and that it also has an historic part. Meeting up with Rose and Pete, we decided to visit the main art gallery. Making sure we crossed the roads only where we were allowed to and waiting for the 'white hand', we sprinted across the road – my God, they must all be super-fit here! You get about 2 seconds to cross and then the 'red hand' goes up! Once inside the gallery, the lady at the desk began chatting to us, asking us where we were from. She said we might want to talk to one of their artists who was in attendance today. Right on cue a very tall, thin chap with long grey hair in a pony-tail and a cowboy hat on top, appeared and she said ‘these folks are from the Isle of Wight’. It turns out that his very first job was working on the Lymington to Yarmouth Isle of Wight ferry and knew the Island well! It is, indeed, ‘a Small World after all’

We had a nosey round the gallery. There were some average paintings, some beautiful paintings, several very nice bronze sculptures of horses, lots of photographs and beautiful ‘leather carving’ pictures. Most of them carried ridiculously high price tags! There was also a selection of quilts – they were also very expensive!

Dana had told us that the Safeway supermarket had a good deli section that would make up a baguettte for us ………….. or, as we discovered, not! Apparently, they no longer have this facility! So we decided the best thing to do was to buy some rolls, tomatoes, ham and cheese, grab a bottle of drink and some cookies and make the best of what’s on offer! Getting back on the coach we began to put together our picnic – and very good it was, too!

We then set off again for the journey to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum – all 320 acres of it! Our road took us over yet more mountain scenery and into the Tonto National Forest! It was through here that a rather unpleasant smell wafted through the coach! No, I don’t think anyone had dropped a clanger! As well as the air con system, the coach has a separate ventilation system that pulls air in from outside – we could smell the juniper trees when we were travelling through Canyon de Chelly! But this time the smell was foul! Dana said it was skunk! If that’s right, it’s no wonder everybody gives skunks a wide berth!

Arriving at the Arboretum we were greeted by one of their staff who passed out park maps and gave us a brief overview of what we’d see and warned us to make sure we took plenty of water with us. They seem to have plant representation from just about every region and country imaginable. He told us that they have a very rare hybrid hummingbird – the only one in existence! We only caught a glimpse of it in amongst the leaves - he wouldn’t pose for us! Oh, well – can’t have it all! Walking on we passed all manner of cacti – including one called ...

Our walk took us past Ayer Lake where we stopped and watched turtles and all sorts of birds in, on and around the lake.

Continuing on, we visited the Sonoran desert area and on up to Picketpost House. This route took us climbing upwards along rocky paths and it was just as well that every now and then a breeze cooled us down. The weather now was very hot and humid, although the sky remained overcast and there were still occasional spots of rain. We could see Turkey Vultures soaring overhead and circling the cliff tops and we tried very hard to get some photos.

The trail now went downhill and took us into the Queen Creek area – there’s signs up here that say ‘rattlesnakes only beyond this point’. We also encountered a huge nest of very large, very scuttling, ants – and gave it a very wide berth! Didn’t want to get up close and personal with any of them!

The vultures were back and we waited and waited in an attempt to get a decent picture. John suddenly spotted one sitting on a high ledge of the cliff and I managed to get a photo. Our patience finally paid off and having taken a couple of OK-ish shots of them we moved on to the Australian exhibit area and wandered through Eucalyptus and Gum trees – no koalas though!

We had now walked the whole loop and were back at the Visitor Centre where we could buy more bottled water (we’d drunk what we’d taken with us ages ago!) and sat down for a breather. As more of us began to gather, a staff member asked if we could do with a little air and went off to flick a switch. Suddenly air was blowing up through the vents in the floor and cooling us down. The weather now was very hot and very overcast and it looked like we could be in for some rain.

Back on the coach for the final leg of today’s travelling –to Tuscon. I think we’re all looking forward to having 3 nights in one place and getting some laundry done! Tuscon is a sprawling city and, of course, no-one in America walks anywhere because it’s all just too far! I think the Island would fit into Tuscon with room to spare! Finally we’re at the hotel and on our way to our room. Oh no – there is only a valet laundry service. $8 for a blouse?

I don’t think so! I resorted to hand washing some trousers and tops and hanging them to drip-dry over the shower rail!

Met up with Rose and Pete and headed off to the Javelina Cantina for dinner. It’s getting late and we’re ready for something to eat and our beds! We found a table and placed our order – John had cheeseburger, I had chicken burger, Rose ordered Ceasar salad and Pete had steak and shrimp and all the trimmings! BUT – we waited and waited and waited and other Titans were coming in, getting fed and going out again! Our waiter apologised a couple of times for the wait and told us our food wouldn’t be long. After yet another wait we asked if there was any chance of getting any food any time soon! His answer was that he hoped it would be here in about 10 minutes. When we all groaned in despair, he got quite stroppy! At long last our food arrived and to be honest it wasn’t worth the wait!

To cut a very long story short, the manager finally agreed to give us a 25% discount - but it might take a while 'as the computer was down'.

They seemed utterly incapable of working out how to deduct 25% from the bill and managed to get it totally wrong! As we were all rapidly losing the will to live and just wanted to go to bed, we did the calculation for him, paid up and left. Shan’t be eating here again tomorrow!

Guest · 26 Oct 07, 07:45 AM

Lovely photos

Guest · 26 Oct 07, 09:07 AM

Bucket over a pit

highlander447 · 30 Oct 07, 02:30 PM

Great pics, shame about getting messed around at the restaurant

DIBBadmin · 30 Oct 07, 02:30 PM

This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.

25 Oct 07, 09:38 PM	#1
	25 Oct 07, 09:38 PM grantasmic VIP Dibber ✓Premium Member
grantasmic VIP Dibber Join Date: Feb 05	Wild West Adventure - Cowboys and Canyons Day 8 Day 8, 1 October : White Mountains, Salt River Canyon, Globe, Boyce Thompson Arboretum and Tuscon Joy of joys, I didn’t wake up till 0450! Finished writing up yesterday’s notes – just too tired to do it last night! Then John went off in search of coffee and made a quick call to Claire from the lobby, as despite all the assurances last night the room phones are still locked! The weather this morning is overcast and the forecast gives an 89% chance of rain! Hmmm, just like home, then! Just a hell of a lot hotter! Cases packed and outside by 0700 and down for our free breakfast. It’s like a rugby scrum! There’s not much room, limited tables and folk everywhere! We managed to grab a table for 4 and went in search of orange juice, strawberries, cereals, toast and coffee. After a quick trip back up to the room we were ready for the coach at 0800. Today we would be travelling across the White Mountain range to Salt River Canyon where we’ll be stopping for our morning rest break. Dana explained that this is Apache country and that there is no coffee shop there, just restrooms and probably some of the Indians will have their stalls set up. Before long, the landscape began to change to rocky cliffs. We were obviously getting nearer to the White Mountains because we passed a Real Estate office advertising White Mountains Vacation Village timeshare properties! Not sure I’d want a vacation home here! We are now travelling on the most incredible mountain road – sheer drops on one side and we are climbing higher and higher and zig-zagging round and round on the ascent. My ears are popping as much as they do when the plane takes off and lands! The views are breathtaking from up here and we can make out the river way below us. Soon we are travelling downhill and the brakes are working overtime to keep us on an even keel! We have to cross the bridge at the bottom of this hairpin ride and I think once we’ve crossed over we’ll have our rest stop. Sure enough there is a small car park, some restrooms and a handful of locals with their boot sale stalls! Everyone headed for the loos, but the girls all came straight back out again! Possibly the bucket full of toilet rolls at the entrance should have given us a bit of a clue! Yes, you’ve guessed it the toilets were just a bucket over a pit! No thank you very much! The boys had the same facilities, but then it’s so much easier for them! The rain was still trying its best but it didn’t really bother us that much. So we took lots of photos, avoided the temptation of browsing the Indian jewellery and made our way back to the coach. Paul was inspecting the coach’s wheels as there was a terrible smell of burning rubber! Probably because he’d had to use the brakes so much negotiating the mountain roads! All aboard and we were heading back up the other side of the mountain! We wound our way up and down and over more bridges. I know I’ve said it already, but the views are stunning! I don’t think there are really any words that can do it justice. We finally arrived in Globe – which Dana told us has lots of places to eat, art galleries, museums, etc, and that it also has an historic part. Meeting up with Rose and Pete, we decided to visit the main art gallery. Making sure we crossed the roads only where we were allowed to and waiting for the 'white hand', we sprinted across the road – my God, they must all be super-fit here! You get about 2 seconds to cross and then the 'red hand' goes up! Once inside the gallery, the lady at the desk began chatting to us, asking us where we were from. She said we might want to talk to one of their artists who was in attendance today. Right on cue a very tall, thin chap with long grey hair in a pony-tail and a cowboy hat on top, appeared and she said ‘these folks are from the Isle of Wight’. It turns out that his very first job was working on the Lymington to Yarmouth Isle of Wight ferry and knew the Island well! It is, indeed, ‘a Small World after all’ We had a nosey round the gallery. There were some average paintings, some beautiful paintings, several very nice bronze sculptures of horses, lots of photographs and beautiful ‘leather carving’ pictures. Most of them carried ridiculously high price tags! There was also a selection of quilts – they were also very expensive! Dana had told us that the Safeway supermarket had a good deli section that would make up a baguettte for us ………….. or, as we discovered, not! Apparently, they no longer have this facility! So we decided the best thing to do was to buy some rolls, tomatoes, ham and cheese, grab a bottle of drink and some cookies and make the best of what’s on offer! Getting back on the coach we began to put together our picnic – and very good it was, too! We then set off again for the journey to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum – all 320 acres of it! Our road took us over yet more mountain scenery and into the Tonto National Forest! It was through here that a rather unpleasant smell wafted through the coach! No, I don’t think anyone had dropped a clanger! As well as the air con system, the coach has a separate ventilation system that pulls air in from outside – we could smell the juniper trees when we were travelling through Canyon de Chelly! But this time the smell was foul! Dana said it was skunk! If that’s right, it’s no wonder everybody gives skunks a wide berth! Arriving at the Arboretum we were greeted by one of their staff who passed out park maps and gave us a brief overview of what we’d see and warned us to make sure we took plenty of water with us. They seem to have plant representation from just about every region and country imaginable. He told us that they have a very rare hybrid hummingbird – the only one in existence! We only caught a glimpse of it in amongst the leaves - he wouldn’t pose for us! Oh, well – can’t have it all! Walking on we passed all manner of cacti – including one called ... Our walk took us past Ayer Lake where we stopped and watched turtles and all sorts of birds in, on and around the lake. Continuing on, we visited the Sonoran desert area and on up to Picketpost House. This route took us climbing upwards along rocky paths and it was just as well that every now and then a breeze cooled us down. The weather now was very hot and humid, although the sky remained overcast and there were still occasional spots of rain. We could see Turkey Vultures soaring overhead and circling the cliff tops and we tried very hard to get some photos. The trail now went downhill and took us into the Queen Creek area – there’s signs up here that say ‘rattlesnakes only beyond this point’. We also encountered a huge nest of very large, very scuttling, ants – and gave it a very wide berth! Didn’t want to get up close and personal with any of them! The vultures were back and we waited and waited in an attempt to get a decent picture. John suddenly spotted one sitting on a high ledge of the cliff and I managed to get a photo. Our patience finally paid off and having taken a couple of OK-ish shots of them we moved on to the Australian exhibit area and wandered through Eucalyptus and Gum trees – no koalas though! We had now walked the whole loop and were back at the Visitor Centre where we could buy more bottled water (we’d drunk what we’d taken with us ages ago!) and sat down for a breather. As more of us began to gather, a staff member asked if we could do with a little air and went off to flick a switch. Suddenly air was blowing up through the vents in the floor and cooling us down. The weather now was very hot and very overcast and it looked like we could be in for some rain. Back on the coach for the final leg of today’s travelling –to Tuscon. I think we’re all looking forward to having 3 nights in one place and getting some laundry done! Tuscon is a sprawling city and, of course, no-one in America walks anywhere because it’s all just too far! I think the Island would fit into Tuscon with room to spare! Finally we’re at the hotel and on our way to our room. Oh no – there is only a valet laundry service. $8 for a blouse? I don’t think so! I resorted to hand washing some trousers and tops and hanging them to drip-dry over the shower rail! Met up with Rose and Pete and headed off to the Javelina Cantina for dinner. It’s getting late and we’re ready for something to eat and our beds! We found a table and placed our order – John had cheeseburger, I had chicken burger, Rose ordered Ceasar salad and Pete had steak and shrimp and all the trimmings! BUT – we waited and waited and waited and other Titans were coming in, getting fed and going out again! Our waiter apologised a couple of times for the wait and told us our food wouldn’t be long. After yet another wait we asked if there was any chance of getting any food any time soon! His answer was that he hoped it would be here in about 10 minutes. When we all groaned in despair, he got quite stroppy! At long last our food arrived and to be honest it wasn’t worth the wait! To cut a very long story short, the manager finally agreed to give us a 25% discount - but it might take a while 'as the computer was down'. They seemed utterly incapable of working out how to deduct 25% from the bill and managed to get it totally wrong! As we were all rapidly losing the will to live and just wanted to go to bed, we did the calculation for him, paid up and left. Shan’t be eating here again tomorrow! __________________ Villas 2002, 2003, Buena Vista Palace Resort & Spa 2004, 2006, Arizona (& 2007) California, including Disneyland!, Nevada 2005, BCV, HRH & SSR 2008 Our 'Right Down the Middle of Main Street, USA' 2006 Visit Wild West Adventure - Cowboys and Canyons 2007 We should have gone home years ago!

26 Oct 07, 07:45 AM	#2
	26 Oct 07, 07:45 AM Guest Guest
Guest Guest	Lovely photos

30 Oct 07, 02:30 PM	#5
	30 Oct 07, 02:30 PM DIBBadmin Imagineer
DIBBadmin Imagineer Join Date: Mar 02	This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.