A Drive To The Cliff Caves.....and more!

Saturday brought a heavy cloud cover and cool desert temperatures.  It did not feel like a shorts and T-shirt kind of day.   We had planned to drive out to the Roosevelt Dam area and visit Tonto National Monument...and, more specifically....to hike up to the cliff caves.Tonto National Monument - Tonto National Monument   We did just that!

Interesting rock formations

On our way out from Gold Canyon, we stopped by our good friend's Golf Resort.  Rick joined us for the day trip.And what a day that was!

Approaching Roosevelt Lake from the east side.  The west to east drive - on Apache Trail - is a rough, windy and graveled road. Our route was east on Highway 60 to Globe then on to Highway 188 to the Roosevelt Dam.

It is a good hike to get up to the cliff caves but the trail is well maintained and it made for a fairly easy walk up.

Easton was well secured in a hiking backpack that Trevor carried up to the cliff caves.  He was a trooper....and so was his dad.  Neither of them complained about the steep walk up.  LOL

Ginette, Trevor and Easton.....nearing the cliff cave dwelling.

This hike was well worth the effort.  The history is most interesting.  How the native folks adapted to living here is impressive.  To build these cliff dwellings did require some ingenuity.  And to source food from local plants and animals is equally impressive.

L-R  Rick, Easton on Trevor's back, me and Ginette.

We spent some time listening to the park ranger who was quick with answers to our questions.  We all marveled at the stamina it took to hike, source and build these high mountain cliff dwellings.

Jeanette enjoys a peaceful look at what the original cliff dwellers saw every day of their lives.

The park ranger (L) is answering our questions.

Easton needed some refreshment before the long hike back down.

Jeanette captured this beautiful photo from deep inside the cliff cave.

On the hike back down to the parking area, we stopped and read all about the natural flora this area offered the natives. 

Working their way back down.

Out of his hiking back pack, Easton enjoyed some supported walking around before we drove out of the area.

Back at the fiver, I was multitasking while Ginette and Jeanette prepared a wonderful shrimp Currie dish.

Sunday saw Ginette, Jeanette and Easton tour around.  They headed to Frontier Town too.  While they busied with that, Trevor joined Rick, Denis and me for a round of golf at the Gold Canyon Golf Resort.  We played the 'Sidewinder' course.  Although a cool day, it was sunny and we did manage to play in short sleeve shirts....once the sun did its job.

Enjoying breakfast at the resort before our Tee-off

I manned the camera to capture Rick, Trevor and Denis at the First Tee.

Beautiful scenery to play in.

Rick at the ready to pound one out there.

Trevor's turn with a 3 wood.

The 19th hole was held at our RV sport in Canyon Vista RV Resort.

Denis took a turn with Easton. He wanted to stay with the guys following our return from golf.

The cool temperatures returned in the late afternoon and, for the first time ever, we took my birthday gift out the fiver garage, assembled it and, once connected to a propane tank, we had instant outdoor heat.  It is an impressive fireplace.

To warm up, Ginette and Trevor headed for the hot tub and pool and, a wee bit later, Jeanette readied Easton to head over there....and to tour the area too.

This is a cool shot in the grasses at the resort.

Easton got to see his mom and dad enjoying the hot tub.

Last evening, we had some RV friends over to share a wee dram over the nice, warm, fire.  Bonnie and Fritz, from Iowa, were first up and then followed by another RV couple (Randy and Alice)  from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta - a suburb of the City of Edmonton.  Friends of Bonnie and Fritz also joined in for a while to warm up by the fire.  We enjoyed some fun laughter.....and teasing....and ribbing....and, well, you get the point.  It was pure fun!  The RVing lifestyle is an absolute treat to experience and to enjoy with like minded folks.  It's pure gold!

Oh...so...nice.

The chill in the night air was made bearable with the fire.  All agreed that without it, we would all have been sitting in the comfort of our RV's.

The sun has set in the west....and the clear, orange sky announces darkness that is soon to fall.

We have had so much pleasure having Ginette, Trevor and Easton along for this past week. We've also enjoyed great golf outings and fabulous dinners.  The icing on the RVing cake was the ability to share it with like minded old and new friends.  That is a gift to cherish....and that we do!

Our little Easton - his folks too - sadly leave us tomorrow (Tuesday) for the flight back home to Langley, BC, Canada. Although we will miss them, we will have some wonderful memories to carry us through our winter travels.  I know that Jeanette will really miss that special morning 'alone time' spent with Easton, playing on our bed while his folks slept in.  It was routine, since their arrival, to get Easton - when he woke up - and carry him to his Nana's bed - with toys in tow - to enjoy that special time.

Ginette and Trevor have today off.  Jeanette and I are looking after Easton while his parents are off touring around Phoenix, Scottsdale, and the other wonderful tourist spots this area has to offer.

We'll spend a few more days enjoying Canyon Vista RV Resort before packing in earnest and readying to leave for our one month stay in Yuma, AZ., this coming Friday, Feb. 15th.  The more normal warm desert weather will return to its customary norms in a few days. Yeah to that!

Thanks for dropping by.