Roosevelt Lake

Yesterday I went on a drive of the Apache Trail. I had read all of the Trip Advisor comments about it being a treacherous road and then others that said it was no big deal. Well I’m pretty experienced. I can handle driving in the mountains, which turned out to be the case. I took the curves like a pro, most times while gawking at a beautiful view. Up and down and in and out. Not a problem. A little ways past Tortilla Flats, the road turned to dirt, and not just dirt, but major wash-boardy dirt. Here I am in my Ford Focus, with recent memories of a two-mile wash-boardy drive to the Rowe Sanctuary in Kearney, Nebraska. THIS wash-boardy dirt road was going to be 22 miles and I turned around.

I got back to my hotel, kicking myself for not giving it at least a couple miles before turning around. It could have been a nice road after this initial wash-boardiness. I really wanted to see Roosevelt Lake. Dammit.

This morning when I woke up, I still had feelings of regret. I really wanted to see Roosevelt Lake. Although I was heading south to Tucson today, I decided to go see Roosevelt Lake, only I took a different route. I took 87 to 188 to the Lake and what a great idea that was!! It was an excellent road where I made great time. I pulled into Tucson around 4:00, with several stops along the way. And not only did I get to see the Lake, but I got to see more of the lake – all the way from the northwest where it started to the point where it veered away from the highway!

It really worked out nicely since several miles down the road was the Tonto Basin. Another thing I wouldn’t have seen if all went as planned. And then there was the Tonto National Monument, a cliff dwelling with another great view of Lake Roosevelt.

There are those saguaros again. Flipping off those negative thoughts. Everything happens for a reason…

Happy trails,
Barb