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| | Car Camping | | 3 Days | | |
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| no partners | | After I dropped Chad off in Safford from our Trip to Eagle Creek, I spent 7.00 to get into Roper Lake State Park and took a nice, hot shower....  I would have paid 10.00 for that... 
Enjoyed a nice Moonrise after the Shower and then headed up the Mountain to find a Camp Spot for both myself, and Paul Hubbard and Kat. Drove all the way up the Swift Trail to the end, checking out a few spots. There were already a few people up there, starting their Labor Day Weekend a day or two early. Saw a Skunk meandering around one of my possibilities...Decided on my old standby, that I just happen to like, and Camped at the Grand View Peak TH again. Just like this spot. Nice little Meadow, nice Overlooks and Cell Service 200 feet up the Hill, and it's quiet. Got set up, had a little Fire, and sacked out after a pretty long day...
Got up the next morning, bummed around Camp a little, then took a drive down the Swift Trail to where I knew I had really reliable Cell Service. Called Paul and left a message, giving him directions to the Campsite. Went to Big Rock Campground, to find out that it was already occupied and it wasn't by skatchkins....Bummer for him, don't know where he ended up, didn't run into him while I was up there. I guess I had to be Downclimbing Cliffs or Hiking after Dark on Overlooks to catch up to him....
On the way back to the Campsite, I saw a Doe and her Twin Fawns standing in the middle of the Swift Trail. They ran up the Hill as I approached. I got a couple of decent pics, but couldn't get the second Fawn in any of them, it had wandered off quite a ways from Mom.... 
Got back to the Campsite and was pretty much a bum all day. Collected some Firewood and had a nice Fire again that night. Decided to play with my Camera and see what I could pull off with an old, outdated, Point and Shoot. That's the majority of my Photoset... 
Got up Saturday, did my Goudy Camp Loop Hike, got back to Camp, had lunch, and took off for Riggs Lake after leaving Paul a note at my Campsite. I knew he would underestimate the time it would take to get up there, just because, for a first timer, there are waaayyy too many places to stop for cool Photo Ops. I found a better Campsite for Paul and Kat and gave them directions in my note. Good thing it was bigger, after seeing his set-up... 
Did a couple of Hikes at Riggs Lake, with the thought of doing some Fishing, but with the Algae band around the Lake, I just didn't have the right Tackle for that, plus there were alot of people Fishing already. Took off back to my Campsite, to find that Paul and Kat had been there, so I proceeded over in the direction they were setting up. After trying to rip out my oil pan on a rock and letting the Escape play in some more mud, I arrived in time to see the building of the Hubbard Hilton (and Spa) Hank, I have to tell ya, you may have them beat in the Kitchen Department, but in order to even match them in the Spa Department, you're going to need a bigger Grasshopper....
Now, I'm not a big fan of Drinking and Driving, but I knew I would be thoroughly entertained for at least an hour, so I pulled out my Camera, a Wine Cooler, and pulled up a chair... Paul didn't disappoint. After some pleasantries, he went right back to work. I have to say, it was impressive and darn near a work of art.... After they got done erecting the "Master Bath", we visited and laughed for a bit, before I departed.
Went back to my own Camp, finished packing up and headed down the hill to meet Chad at the Noon Creek Picnic Area, to go over some particulars from our Eagle Creek Trip. On the way down, saw another Doe in the middle of the Swift Trail and managed to get one shot of her before she disappeared.
Met up with Chad, and ended up talking for a couple of hours, watching the Moonrise. Finished heading down the hill and stopped in the brand new Big 5 in Safford to see about taking advantage of their Labor Day Sales. I did just that.... Really nice store, by the way. It's now the biggest one in AZ...
Arrived home at 1:00 A.M. Sunday morning and was at my Housesitting job by 9:00 A.M. Didn't even get the Car unpacked....
Great Trip every step and mile of the way. Southeast AZ has yet to disappoint, or even be "so-so". Always a great destination that I will never tire of....  |
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Post Creek |
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| | | At the point where it crosses under the Swift Trail. | | _____________________
| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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