Going Back To Arizona

After our hike up to the Gila Cliff Dwellings and then back down again we were really tired. We wanted to spend the night in one of the RV camps near the cliff dwellings but it was now that we finally figured out that there was no - and I really mean NO cell phone service any where near the cliff dwellings or even in the Gila National Forest. Worried that our men folks would be starting to worry that it had been two days since we had contacted them we decided to drive to a point where there was cell phone service. We were glad they had both had enough since not to worry and to figure you that we just couldn't call out. It took about an hour but seemed longer as tired as we were but we finally got cell service just before getting to the small village of Membres. We had decided to make the Loop Drive all the way around and through the Gila Forest instead of the winding, twisting road we had come in on. When we saw an RV park at Membres ( as it is another Indian word it is pronounced Mem-brays). The RV park and the people there were very nice. Sarah and I didn't stay up long after our long day. A quick super, a quick dog walk, a glass of wine, and a concert by the local coyotes and we were in bed asleep.

The next morning, after a nice, hot shower at the RV park our co-pilot decided we should get down the road toward her home in Springerville, Arizona.

In an hour or so the co-pilot decided she wanted a walk and hopefully with out her leash. Sarah knew of a dirt road that had some huge cottonwood trees on it. The road says Bill Evens Lake, (we had been there when we teens) but we decided we didn't want to take a chance on getting into an area where we would have trouble turning the motor home and we knew we needed to get back as we were running a day later than planned and we both had plans for the weekend.

I have seen some large cottonwood trees in and around Albuquerque but nothing as big as these were. We wondered if this was where Geronimo and his band of Apaches might have camped and had these sheltered them then about 150 years ago.

This big cottonwood had fallen and made a good seat.

 This section of the Gila River was dry which was right by where the big cottonwoods were.

As we went on toward Arizona we saw many, many of these yellow flowers on the hill sides. We were not able to stop were any were close by to get a good, close look at them.

The two wild women and their wild dog made the big loop over to Silver City, New Mexico, the Gila Cliff Dwellings and back to Springerville, Arizona. We won't be forgetting this great adventure.