Thursday, March 26...Top of the World (The Carpenters)


  My day started with a hang-out session with the hummingbirds up at the office area.  I was trying to count them which wasn’t easy as they flit around so fast.  I know I saw 6 at the side feeder and at least 4 more at the feeders in front of me so, although I think it was more, I can legitimately claim to have seen 10 zooming around at the same time.  It was like being in a swarm of big flies that were squeaking instead of buzzing.  So fun to watch, almost impossible to photograph.  
-----
   Marilyn’s day started with her limping out of bed.  Last night she twisted her ankle and today it’s making her aware that it isn’t happy that she did that.   So no walking this morning or bike riding today.  And she’s not a model patient...doesn’t want to ice it, resisted elevating it and thinks an ACE bandage would be a ridiculous waste of money.  😐   
-----
   Kim’s day started with a drive back to the dealership to retrieve his phone...left it in the loaner car.  He knew it as soon as he got back yesterday, called to verify and decided to wait until today to get it.  That was about 1:30...he was without his phone for the rest of the day.  It was too cloudy to image so he stayed in the trailer playing on his computer. The biggest inconvenience of not having a phone was playing solitaire on his computer last night instead of World of Warcraft.  He uses his phone as a hotspot to play...no phone, no hotspot, no WoW.  So he spent the evening trying to figure out a game he’s never played before.  😏
--------------------
   Today was supposed to be on the cooler side...65o being cooler than 80o...so we decided to make it a truck day for all of us. That would give Marilyn’s ankle some much needed rest time.
   The first year when Kim and I left Picacho for Holbrook, AZ, we took Hwy 77.  Not a wise choice when pulling the bike trailer because we switch backed our way into the Salt River Canyon before switch backing our way out.  Not so fun.  However, today we weren’t pulling a trailer; and I remembered a spot at the bottom of the canyon where down meets up and thought it might be a nice place to have a picnic.  So I packed a lunch and we got on the road about 11:30.
-----    
   Stayed on US 60 East up through Superior and beyond; surprised when we came upon the little town called Top-of-the-World and what appears to be its main commerce, the Trading Post.  We stopped at the Trading Post on a ride in 2018 and from a discussion with the owner learned that he sold a lot of items on consignment for disabled veterans. I assume that’s still the case.  We pulled in so that Marilyn could get a good look at all the treasures for sale in the yard.  I wasn’t surprised to see that the 4-liter Jaguar engine with new belts was still there. I imagine that this little town with a population of 231 (2010 census) is not the first place a person in need of such a thing would look.  Anyway, the Trading Post was closed due to COVID-19 but according to the sign the owner lives nearby and if someone needed something from the yard he is willing to make it happen.  Kim did see an interesting tractor that he’d probably like to have but we don’t have the room for it.  Maybe next time... 😉
-----  
  From Top-of-the-World we drove into Globe, AZ, where we picked up Arizona State Route 77.   US 60 and SR 77 run together from Globe up to Show Low, traveling through the Tonto National Forest.  We didn't go as far as Show Low.  We were definitely in the mountains but I was unable to determine specifically which mountains. Nearest I can tell we may have been somewhere in or near the Superstition Mountains.  Mom was amazed that Arizona has these incredible mountains...she thought it was all desert.  Nope!
   Reached the Canyon bottom where there was a conveniently located rest area with picnic tables.  We ate a late lunch then spent a few minutes getting closer to the river.  Time to head back the way we came.  Switchbacks are not my favorite type of road but it wasn’t as scary going up as it was coming down.  When we got back to the town of Globe we took 77 toward Oracle.  Took Tom Mix Hwy, then Park Link Dr. and cruised into camp about 7 hours after we left.  It was a good day!!
--------------------
   Stopped to peak into the raven’s nest as long as we were passing by.  So amazed to see 5 eggs in it now!  So two more eggs were laid since we saw the three on March 22.  What fun!!
--------------------
   We have reservations here at the KOA through March 31...we’ve started discussing what the best course of action might be for us.  While I know that we can travel to Michigan, from what we’re hearing we need to assess the situation and decide if that’s really prudent.  If Michigan is under a shelter-at-home mandate what’s the downside of staying here?  I’ve heard that the governor is giving an update on the situation tomorrow morning so maybe what she has to say will factor into our plans. 


No comments:

Post a Comment