Leaving Salome

We left Salome on Thursday, March 22 heading to Scottsdale for a week.  We stayed at the Roadrunner Lake RV Park where our friends, the Bennetch’s from PA, spend their winters.  It was great catching up with Carol and Dale who have been full-time RVing for several years.  They’ll  summer in Idaho again this year.  There’s a different atmosphere being in the suburbs of Phoenix; a jolt from being in the desert for 4 months.  We took advantage of their ‘light rail’ to go in to Phoenix to see the Native American displays at the Heard Museum.

On Saturday, we drove to the Superstition Mountains, a beautiful scenic ride, stopping at the Goldfield Ghost Town, Apache Junction and Tortilla Flat.

Goldfield Ghost Town

Superstition Mountains

Montezuma Castle

Before we left Scottsdale, we took an overnight trip to Sedona and the red rock area to the north.  On the way, we stopped at the 900 year old Sinagua Indian cliff dwellings at Montezuma Castle National Monument. 

In Sedona, we got a closer look at the rock formations on a jeep tour, a VERY bumpy ride.  

We had hoped to take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad but found out that you need to make reservations a week in advance.  They said the train is booked full every day that it runs.  (Maybe next year!!) 

Tuzigoot National Monument

Going west from Sedona, we stopped to see the Sinaguan pueblo ruins at Tuzigoot National Monument before heading to the historic copper mining town of Jerome located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff.   Jerome is said to be America’s most vertical city. 

We found snow along the road before cresting the 7000 ft. Mingus Mountain.  I’m really not fond of the switchback roads over the mountains!