Given that, and last weekend's completely forgettable experience at Cave Creek (another Scottsdale *must see*), I set off for the Apache Trail with some trepidation. Eh, I figured worst case scenario, it would be a nice drive on a sunny day.
How Apache Trail is not in that book of things to see, I do not know. Apache Trail was Amazing. Breathtaking. Mesmerizing. Given I was driving so I couldn't pay super close attention to things as I was literally trying not to drive off the side of the mountains, I can only imagine how stunning it is if you can fully focus on it instead of the road.
Boy, those roads. Most of it is a fine drive, one and two lanes of paved surfaces. There are, however, 22 miles of unpaved roadway. The roads are not only unpaved, but there are 10% grades, steep curves, cutbacks, one lane bridges, falling rocks strewn all over, blind curve after blind curve, and not a guard rail to be seen on those sheer drop offs. The 22 miles took me 75 minutes to travel. Perhaps in a big cushy SUV I could have flown over the roads that resembled washboards, but in my little japanese car, no dice. I guess I should be thankful it took a long time to go a short distance because those 22 miles were the most spectacular of the drive. I'm sure this headache will go away soon.
On the Apache Trail, I also saw the Tonto National Monument (sucker for a National Park Service site) and Roosevelt Lake and its accompanying dam (love a good Army Corps of Engineers project). Just beyond the damn, I passed a parking lot and literally did a double take. Instead of a car, there was a horse parked by the side of the road, tied to a post, waiting for his rider. I'm sure that was how things used to be 150 years ago, but it really took me by surprise. About an hour later, I got caught in the middle of a Pontiac sports coupe owners' rally. Odd day.
For photos, click this link
No comments:
Post a Comment