Ah it was a great day for me! Woke up late not sure if I was still going to have the energy to go for a drive today but found I was wrong. After a little brunch with the women of Hooters LOL I was on my way. (give me some credit my friend needed a ride to work today.) Anyway, off to the highway I went. Didn't know where I was going but I really didn't care so long as the roads were smooth, curvy, and there wasn't any traffic to get in the way.
City traffic is city traffic, after I got past Apache Junction the roads started to clear and I was able to see the mountains on either side of the freeway beckoning me ever closer. Nothing puts things in perspective like looking at the sheer mass of the terrain in Arizona. You could hike all day and into the night and not be able to reach the top of some of the peaks. I used to rock climb and I still find myself looking at the geology of the rocks and think to myself huh that would be fun to boulder....
I got sidetracked I ended up heading East of Phoenix towards Globe AZ. I got as far as Superior and was sorely disappointed to find the rest stop restroom in less than operable condition. It was time to move on to lesser traveled areas. I continues on my journey East to the 177 interchange. I could have kept going to Globe but I had a feeling that this could be a fun offshoot and you never know unless you try right?
This was probably the best decision that I made the entire trip. I found myself on some two lane back road with wonderfully twisty roads that have a 10% grade. I love driving on pavement like this because I've always owned a vehicle that can take corners and doesn't have a problem with incline mountain passes and swiftly declining corners. I was and I still am grinning from ear to ear with the fun I've had today.
After a few scenic photos that became opportune I continued on my journey. I was not pleasantly surprised when I ran across a section of forest by the highway that had fallen victim to wildfire caused by people, not nature. It saddens me to see the swath of destruction that a little carelessness can create. It is one thing to see the natural result of desert heat and lack of water on the terrain but it's worse to see and smell the charred remains of the life that against most odds survived prior to the fire.
Aside from the lack of forest in some areas the most prominent feature has nothing to do with plant life or wild life it has everything to do with the geology present. You have huge outcroppings of stone that crest out of mesas and creosote covered hills. These formations come in every color that you can think of and continue to awe me as I drive through. My trip kept going on in this fashion until I reached the summit of the mountains that I was traveling through and found myself a few miles East of Globe my original destination. With just under a half tank of fuel remaining in my car I decided to travel to my original destination and further investigate the road that I had not traveled.
I'll stop here because the trip became less interesting the further I traveled from the 177. I was stuck behind slower traffic for miles and when I finally was free of the traffic I wondered if I had done everything I could for a stranded motorist that I stopped for. (Another Story) This was my afternoon and I'm pleased to say it was fun. Hoping that if you live in the Phoenix area to take a side trip if you feel the need you never know where the unknown road will take you.
AJames...
City traffic is city traffic, after I got past Apache Junction the roads started to clear and I was able to see the mountains on either side of the freeway beckoning me ever closer. Nothing puts things in perspective like looking at the sheer mass of the terrain in Arizona. You could hike all day and into the night and not be able to reach the top of some of the peaks. I used to rock climb and I still find myself looking at the geology of the rocks and think to myself huh that would be fun to boulder....
I got sidetracked I ended up heading East of Phoenix towards Globe AZ. I got as far as Superior and was sorely disappointed to find the rest stop restroom in less than operable condition. It was time to move on to lesser traveled areas. I continues on my journey East to the 177 interchange. I could have kept going to Globe but I had a feeling that this could be a fun offshoot and you never know unless you try right?
This was probably the best decision that I made the entire trip. I found myself on some two lane back road with wonderfully twisty roads that have a 10% grade. I love driving on pavement like this because I've always owned a vehicle that can take corners and doesn't have a problem with incline mountain passes and swiftly declining corners. I was and I still am grinning from ear to ear with the fun I've had today.
After a few scenic photos that became opportune I continued on my journey. I was not pleasantly surprised when I ran across a section of forest by the highway that had fallen victim to wildfire caused by people, not nature. It saddens me to see the swath of destruction that a little carelessness can create. It is one thing to see the natural result of desert heat and lack of water on the terrain but it's worse to see and smell the charred remains of the life that against most odds survived prior to the fire.
Aside from the lack of forest in some areas the most prominent feature has nothing to do with plant life or wild life it has everything to do with the geology present. You have huge outcroppings of stone that crest out of mesas and creosote covered hills. These formations come in every color that you can think of and continue to awe me as I drive through. My trip kept going on in this fashion until I reached the summit of the mountains that I was traveling through and found myself a few miles East of Globe my original destination. With just under a half tank of fuel remaining in my car I decided to travel to my original destination and further investigate the road that I had not traveled.
I'll stop here because the trip became less interesting the further I traveled from the 177. I was stuck behind slower traffic for miles and when I finally was free of the traffic I wondered if I had done everything I could for a stranded motorist that I stopped for. (Another Story) This was my afternoon and I'm pleased to say it was fun. Hoping that if you live in the Phoenix area to take a side trip if you feel the need you never know where the unknown road will take you.
AJames...