Tuesday, March 29
The crew and I cross the San Carlos Indian Reservation between Safford and Globe, Arizona.
We’re heading northwest on Route 70. Ominous, dark clouds press on the Gila Mountains north of us.
“We’ll reach Globe soon. How ’bout we take a break here in case it’s raining when we get there.”
Bridget, Reggie, and I walk a short distance down the lane toward Dripping Springs.
“Is that the wind blowin’ your ears back, Reg?”
The wind has been our companion all morning. It hasn’t interfered with towing the Best Little Trailer at all.
When we arrive in Globe, it isn’t raining, but, man, is it cold!
As we roll into Wal-Mart’s parking lot, Bridget makes a commotion, so I let the crew out again.
Brrr, it’s cold! I’m not used to windy, damp cold like this!
“Okay, you two ought to be comfy while I shop, ” I say as I toss them into the Perfect Tow Vehicle.
With plenty of grub for our pantry, we take Route 188 toward Roosevelt Lake.
Gosh, I love this drive from Globe to Roosevelt!
It is one of my favorite drives. The road takes us up and through mountains — the Superstitions on the west and the Salt River Mountains on the east. After several gentle turns while gaining elevation, the road goes over a crest and the blue of Roosevelt Lake appears.
Oh, my, there it is.
It is here where my spirit always rises in anticipation and delight.
The road swirls down the slope. I can see all the way across the lake to Tonto Basin.
I like that the road is built in such a way that I don’t feel like I’ll plummet into oblivion at every curve. Instead the Perfect Tow Vehicle drifts over the landscape like one of those big black birds that ride air currents at almost every camp the crew and I have made.
I stop at the store in Roosevelt and buy six Tonto passes at $8 each. This is a hike from the $3-a-day fee (with senior discount) when we were here last year. No senior discount now.
I like Mesquite Campground at Schoolhouse Point best.
It is less crowded than Cholla Campground or Windy Hill Campground. That’s probably because there’s a sign at the start of the road to Schoolhouse Point that says the ramp is out of the water. We don’t care about that.
We’re in saguaro country again!
With much eagerness I crane my neck for a first glimpse of the campground.
Oh, please, don’t be crowded!
We come around a bend. I see a camp host’s RV and, so far, no sign of any other campers.
Oh, wow! Flowers everywhere!
Slowly we cruise the campground.
The campground road takes us around the restroom building and we come upon the site we had last year. It’s occupied.
That’s okay. It’s fun to try a different site for this visit.
The campground is even prettier than I remember!
There are desert globemallow and great swaths of a yellow flower (desert sunflower maybe?) along the loop road and around every campsite.
NOTE: I like to use DesertUSA for identifying plants. Flowers are listed in categories according to color. The site also gives reports on the status of wildflower blooms. Animal identification is another feature of the site.
This campsite is taken by a Class A, B, C or truck camper, as marked by a lonesome-looking folding chair.
The loop farthest out is the most scenic.
The lake can be seen from a few of these sites. However, there is a camper in one of the sites and a humongous generator crouches outside. That nixes this loop for us!
Soon I’m backing the Best Little Trailer into a site away from the restroom. It’s a consideration of others to leave those sites open for campers who depend on the restroom facilities.
Here’s the campsite I choose . . .
I realize how much warmer it is here than in Globe.
And the sun is shining through white clouds!
Gee, it’s good to be back . . . .
rvsue
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