Today's drive will be through very familiar territory - taking US 60 through Globe / Miami / Superior and on into Phoenix. The temperature will gradually rise till it's in the mid 90's in Phoenix.
The first area I go through is Cibecue - the location of a big forest fire several years ago. The mountains are beginning to "green up" again, but it will be many years (if ever) for the ponderosa pine to grow again.
I've purposely taken this route in order to go through the Salt River Canyon. Incredible views, tight turns and plenty of pull-offs to stop and take pictures. Be sure to check them out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/wearlaz/sets/72157607075174831/
Seneca (AZ) is VERY small town on the way to Globe... if you blink, you'll miss it TWICE! :)
The cities of Globe, Claypool, Miami and Superior are largely mining towns. Only recently with the price of copper rising - the towns have started to get new life again. Several years ago, they were looking like they'd slip into "ghost town" status...
On the outskirts of Apache Junction, I pass by the Superstition Mountains. This is a beautiful area that I hike a couple of times a year. The Peralta Trail is a great hike with fantastic views of Weavers Needle, the thousand foot tall rock plug of a long gone volcano. You can rarely see Weaver's Needle from the road - only brief glimpses of the peak. If you ever get the chance to hike into the Superstitions, it's a trip worth the effort.
As I approach Apache Junction (AZ), US 60 turns into a multi-lane, divided highway - a sign that we're nearing home!
With the cruise control set, we motor through Mesa (AZ) and into Phoenix (AZ). At the junction of US 60 and I-10, I take a left and get off on Baseline. In about 15 minutes, we're turning into the drive way of HOME!
I pull Edgar into the garage and marvel at the size difference between him and my Land Cruiser. After a couple hours rest (and it's cooled down) - Edgar gets his first REAL bath in the driveway... Waxing will wait until the Invisi-Bra has been installed this week. The windows will be tinted this week as well.
I'm planning on one more post to close out this trip - the BEST of the BEST. I'll also include the stats for the trip as well as my MINI sightings totals.
Towns/Places travelled through: Show Low (AZ), Cibecue (AZ), Salt River Canyon, Seneca (AZ), Globe (AZ), Claypool (AZ), Miami (AZ), Superior (AZ), Apache Junction (AZ), Mesa (AZ), Phoenix (AZ)
Weirdness of the Day: NONE!!! We're in Arizona!
