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Wild Horses, Vintage Bus and Cliff Dwellings


December 15-21, 2018 — The third week of December found us continuing our stay at Above and Beyond RV Repair in Apache Junction, Arizona as work remains to be completed on our electrical upgrade. The electrical system is very involved on a motorhome and takes a bit of trial and error to get all the settings on the components to work in sync. 

After much time testing and retesting the electrical system with unfavorable results it was determined that the Digital Multi Control Board aka “the brains” was not functioning as it should. Hopefully this issue will be resolved soon and we can be on our way. Until then, Above and Beyond RV Repair is going above and beyond by allowing us to stay at their shop where they graciously are providing us with an electrical hookup, water and dump. 

While being stationery in Apache Junction we did manage to get out and see the sights including the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains. What a beautiful area!

 

Mile Driven – RV

Miles Driven – Car

One of our favorite elements of being nomadic is meeting others that embrace this lifestyle and understand the rewards of adventure and minimalism. This 1964 GM PD4106 is being renovated by aspiring full-timers Juan and Michelle Trujillo and their four children. We had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful family and touring their bus. We’re excited for them to fulfill their nomadic dream and hope to see them out on the road soon.  Be sure to check out their YouTube channel Beginning From This Morning.

Salt River wild horses enjoying breakfast along the Bush Highway near Apache Junction, Arizona. Approximately 100 wild horses make up the Salt River band that are legally protected from intentional human injury or harm. Viewing of the horses is best near sunrise or sunset. 

Sunrise at Saguaro Lake in the Tonto National Forest near Apache Junction, Arizona. 

Canyon Lake, formed by the Mormon Flat Dam, is one of four reservoirs formed by the damming of the Salt River near Apache Junction, Arizona. The lake is located in the Tonto National Forest and is accessible via the Apache Trail Scenic Drive. 

Love these old one lane bridges. This one on the Apache Trail has a metal road base making it very noisy when driving on giving you the “wonder if we’ll make it” feeling. 

With switchbacks, hairpin turns, one lane bridges, and dusty washboard road surfaces the Apache Trail Scenic Drive near Apache Junction, Arizona is a bit of a driving challenge but the incredible scenery of the Tonto National Forest and Superstition Mountains make it so worth the trip. 

Apache Lake, the third of the four reservoirs along the Salt River and located along the Apache Trail Scenic Drive near Apache Junction, Arizona, was formed by the Horse Mesa Dam. The lake is a popular recreation area for hiking, boating and fishing. It’s interesting to see the dry desert landscape with saguaro cactus and a lake in the same location. 

The Theodore Roosevelt Dam, one of four dams located on the Salt River near Apache Junction, Arizona. The dam was originally built between 1905 and 1911 to a height of 280 feet and an additional 77 feet was added between 1989 and 2006. The dam was instrumental in the development of large-scale irrigation to the arid region of central Arizona. 

Roosevelt Lake Bridge is the longest two-lane, single-span, steel-arch bridge in North America. It spans 1,080 feet across Roosevelt Lake along Highway 188 between Globe and Payson, Arizona. The bridge was completed in 1990 with a purpose of rerouting traffic off the top of the Roosevelt Dam. 

Tonto National Monument in Roosevelt, Arizona was a nice surprise as we were not aware of it until driving along Highway 188. The monument features cliff dwellings of the Salado communities dating from 1250-1450 plus a museum with artifacts. 

A half mile hike up a very steep path leads to the lower cliff dwellings. The views from the dwellings were amazing! You can also take a guided tour of the upper cliff dwellings. The hike to these dwellings take 3-4 hours and the tours require advanced reservations. Hopefully we will be back another time to take in this tour. 

As the week came to a close we continued to wait for a diagnosis and resolution to the control board issue. Until then, we will remain in Apache Junction. No worries, though, as there is much more to see and do in the area. Stay tuned for next week to see what we discover. See you then!