11 January 10 - 17 January 10

We have seen Red Rock State Park, Casa Grande, Toozigot and Montezuma National Monuments this week. The names are weird but the explanation makes them seem logical. Toozigot means crooked river. Montezuma was named after the explorer, thinking he had made it this far and was a place he had discovered. Beautiful places to visit and the engineering in them is amazing. We have now seen Red Rock named places in Colorado and Arizona – I vote for Colorado as far as the scenery goes.

The patch work of lumps you see in the building way up are individual globs of clay that was put in to create the wall. The theory is they used ladders to get it up the side of the hill. All of the Indian ruins we have seen have been built on hills. In talking to a Park Ranger – he said “ That was not done as a means of defense, but for the ability to see someone or something – deer, coon, and other destructive animals, in their fields. The fields had to sustain them from season to season.”

The car travel has been beautiful though. The overpasses and even along the roadway has been a joy to look at as you go. When you are within 25 – 30 miles of Phoenix all the overpasses have differing themes on them. You will see cactus, palms, Gila monsters, or just the swirls you see in the desert southwest. Almost everything is the 'red dirt' reddish-brown color in multiple hues with green mixed in now and then. You could make a documentary on road design that would take 2 – 3 hours to watch, but as you travel along it makes the trip more enjoyable.

On Saturday we took a road trip to Roosevelt Dam, yes I know our parents used those words in reverse order, but this is the 'Rough Rider' not the other one. Miriam was the 'Activity Director' for the day. We passed a lodge – call that tourist trap – and the sign said: “ 22 miles of dirt road. She said to turn around, but I wanted to do one of those old logging road type trips and continued on the way. It was a beautiful drive – all I heard were ohs and ahs, but my sightseeing was limited to straight sections – very limited. We stopped about half way and spent 30 minutes looking around and eating lunch. While we were stopped 5 cars/pickups past as well as 5 motorcycles. A much traveled road. We did see another roadrunner, but again no Wiley. Miriam said we heard them on 82 so no need to see one here. Her days as Activity Director are going to be limited, but we both have had a good laugh about what shows on a map.

Monday we have to take the RV in for some work installing parts that were on back-order when we left Ohio. This is why we have stayed this long in one area. It will be good to travel again – not in the car.

Pictures:
Dirt road on way to Roosevelt Dam – lake on right
Montezuma Castle – closer up of the work to build
Montezuma Castle – yes it is that high up
Red Rock – Apache ceremonial lodge – we tried to walk up
Casa Grande Ruins – the roof is protection from the elements