A Drive to Four Peaks

One day last week, we decided to head out north of Apache Junction to an area of mountains known as Four Peaks. Before we even left town, we spotted this coyote. Actually we have seen several right in populated areas in Arizona. They don't appear to pay any attention to people or cars.

And we weren't far along our drive into the mountains, when we heard this gruff lookin' soul and then spotted him.

More saguaros and mountains ensured this would be a great day.

Mike made a quick stop when I spotted a Crested Saguaro; we have only seen them on one other Arizona backroad. We spent some time checking the area to see if there were more, but no luck, only the one.

If you are sick of cactus, fast forward cuz I found lots of saguaro to capture on this drive.

This one is definitely pointing heavenward.

The roads were good and up we went.
There is beauty even when there is no longer life.
Rain the day before had left some puddles and some were partially frozen...

It wasn't long before we saw snow.

It looked like we were driving on a country road in northern Minnesota. Only going downhill on slick narrow roads is a little more adventuresome.

There was even a lake in the distance. This is the Apache Lake we set off towards on our last drive into the mountains.

Look at the mountains to the left. That stripe of white is snow - must stick there because of the low brush in that area.

We checked out several campgrounds and boat landings and then headed back towards Apache Junction driving along the reservoir for many miles.

We found a couple of places to put the boat in next fall (Yes, we are definitely bringing it down) and a spot to camp for a couple of weeks. It was an absolutely beautiful day and it is fun to be in snow, for a couple of hours anyway.

In the past week we have golfed (I should have just road along for as bad as I did) a couple of times with Sis and Mike (MN friends) and they helped us eat a big batch of wild rice soup one night. Sis and Mike and I went to the huge swap meet and us gals only covered half of it in over four hours... to be continued next weekend. Great area! More later.