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| no partners | | After a couple days in Chama it was time to start heading home. I wanted to camp one or two nights, with one of the places being El Morro National Monument. I also wanted to head down the Coronado Trail, thinking I might camp somewhere there as well. I drove west from Chama, stopping at Blake's in Farmington for a green chile cheeseburger lunch, before heading on to Shiprock and down to Gallup. I continued south from Gallup to on NM 602 to Zuni Pueblo. From there it was only a short distance east to El Morro. But, it was a very windy day and didn't want to deal with that camping, so I decided against El Morro and kept driving. Stopped at Eager to top off the tank, then it was on to Alpine and the Coronado Trail (a favorite drive  ). Passing by mighty Escudilla, it saddened me as I thought of the color it used to wear this time of year other than the current grey. 
I thought about Strayhorse CG, an interesting old spot with its assortment of facilities (almost as many toilets (2) as camp sites, one on each side of the highway  ), but alas still pretty high and windy here, so I decided to head down to tried and true Granville. Just about dark when I rolled in, and had the place completely to myself, so I got the spot I like to set up.
It was a peaceful night, and I drifted off to a good sleep to the faint sounds from the nearby Morenci Mine activity. Woke up at 5 in the morning and waited for the birds to start their morning chorus. Because it was a new moon and I was partially down under trees, I left the rain fly off the tent so I had a bit of a sky view through the mesh. I lucked out and had the bag facing west, and was treated to a real nice shooting star, followed by the bright passage of the ISS.  I wasn't sure if it was the space station, so I checked the schedule when I got home and yup that was it! (almost had to be given how bright it was)
From Granville it was on through the always mind boggling open pit mine operation to Clifton, then I stopped at the Forest Service office at Three Way (first time there). Wow, they have a great view up on the hill! I wanted to ask about the cabins at Granville. They said they date back to the 1940's and were lease arrangements similar to Madera Canyon. The water system was put in by one of the cabin owners (the one with the for sale sign), but it is not in operation due to the familiar story of not being able to meet ADEQ standards. No water in the cabins or campgrounds, though that could change in the future I was told. I also asked about the Cherry Lodge site across the highway, and was told that was where an old store run by a German family once stood, dating way back to the days when it was a logging and freight road.
With my questions answered, it was an easy drive home arriving in early afternoon, ending another fine trip. |
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