Missed Turn Finds Us At A Shrine, Then Bouncing Down The Backroads and Another Stop At Nichols West.

Our Location today is North Ranch, Congress, Arizona, U.S.A.

Due to the temperature dropping down near 45 F (7 C) last night we chose to sleep with the windows closed. Even though we slept soundly we both felt like we could have stayed in bed longer. I was up by 7:30 and Kathy before 8:00. If we were still tired why would we get up early, you might ask yourself. Because we had plans to go exploring today and we didn’t want to waste our time just sleeping. 

This morning's Sunrise.

We still had breakfast and our Coffee/Tea while reading at the Computers but even that time we shortened down. We had our inside chores finished and packed some Hiking Equipment and supplies making certain that we’d make it safely Home by the end of the day. All that planning and gathering took some time and since it was past 10:30 Kathy suggested an early lunch before leaving. 

Chicken Sandwich, Chips and Jell-O

The Weather Network even said today’s high would reach 72 F (22C) this afternoon but when we stepped outside the Trailer and that Cold North Wind hit the both of us we were scrambling back inside for our jackets. 

Heading up Highway 71.

Back on Highway 89 heading up to Yarnell.

Armed with instructions to a local site that Al from Travel with the Bayfield Bunch had sent Kathy we were determined we would find it on our own. We didn’t stop at the Office here at North Ranch to ask for instructions like Al suggested, instead we headed back into the town of Congress where we looked to see a street sign with the name Date Creek Road on it. For well over a half hour we traveled the neighbourhood around Ghost Town Road before heading down Highway 71 towards Highway 93. During that time I had Kathy read me the instructions a few times before realizing we were going the wrong way. 

Last Supper.

Praying in the garden.

Going back through Congress we crossed Highway 89 only to come face to face with a sign on a fence that said “Private Property”. Reading the instructions again we started heading east on 89 nearly stopping at every cross road there was with no luck. What happened was we ended up driving the winding highway all the way back up the mountainside to Yarnell. Once the Two-Lane Road becomes a Divided Highway there is no turning back and you have to go the distance. 

Lots of climbing.

Jesus dies on the cross.

After driving through the town, we turned around and started heading back when we spotted a sign to the Shrine of St. Joseph. Kathy had read about it and thought that we should check it out. The road wound its way through a residential area until it came to an end in a small parking lot that could hold a dozen vehicles at best. There are no fancy signs but looking closely at the fence there was a Painted sign saying Shrine of St Joseph. 

Jesus is laid to rest.

On the Third Day he has risen.

Leaving the truck as you walk along a path you are first met with a solitary figure at a long table about to break bread at the Last Supper. Seeing beyond him you start an ascent up the mountainside following a path that is in need of repair as you begin the “Stations of the Cross”. In the Christian Bible they lead to the Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Christ. It was well laid out and displayed. It is Not Handicap Accessible so if you have difficulty climbing uneven stairs you might pass on this.  We helped contribute to their maintenance fund before leaving. 

Pictures from the Bulletin Board at the
Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park.

As we headed back to the Highway it didn’t take long before we were leaving Yarnell behind. Driving on the westbound lane of Highway 89 we momentarily pulled over at the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial State Park. This is in memory of the Nineteen Hotshots Firefighters who lost their lives on June 30^th 2013 trying to save homes in the Yarnell region. This is a difficult Seven Mile in and out Hike not meant for anyone with physical limitations. 

This is a Bone Rattling Road.

Are we there yet?

Someone marking their spot.

We passed on that and headed back towards Congress. Not having the trailer pushing us down the mountain road like the last time helped but Kathy still felt like she was getting Sea-Sick from all the curves in the road. We finally pulled in to the Family Dollar parking lot trying to figure out where Date Creek Road was. I didn’t mention earlier that we had brought our GPS along in case we got lost somewhere. When it asked for an address we entered 00 and within seconds it was leading us back towards Yarnell. We had been looking for the road by name but our GPS knew it as CR-62. As soon as we crossed the Cow-Guard there was the name Date Creek Road. 

Notice the clouds forming in the sky.

Lots of daily trains out here.

Training Horses.

We had been warned that this would be a slow drive but that our Truck could make the trip. What Al didn’t count on was our tires would contain 80 PSI of air in them. This Washboard Road had the Truck Bouncing so much that I had to steer it like I was driving on Snow Covered Ice and we were traveling around Seven MPH. Exactly as Al had mentioned at Six and a Half Miles from the Highway there was Skull Rock. There was no way for us to cross the Railroad Tracks but with the use of Zoom on the Cameras we got a good view. Skull Rock like many other rocks had been painted to resemble different things in the area. A rock on the Highway painted to look like a giant Frog or a small rock by the side of Date Creek Road that looked like rearing White Stallion. 

Skull Rock.

Frog Rock

Painted on the side of a Rock

Turning around in a Rancher’s Driveway the trip back to the Highway seemed smoother and at one point we were actually doing Fifteen MPH. We had a number of locals pass us by and leave us in their dust. Their vehicles had Wide Tires that looked like they were low on air to smooth out the Washboard Road. We loved every minute of our Adventure today and we still have a couple more of those to check out.

Deep Fried Breaded Zucchini after we had eaten half the order.

French Onion Soup

Chicken/Bacon Quesada

Heading back towards Congress Kathy suggested we eat at Nichols West again and since it was already after 4:00 I didn’t object. Today the parking lot was full but we arrived as someone else was pulling out. Inside it was all different servers then the other day. We splurged and had Deep Fried Breaded Zucchini appetizer that we share. Then we had French Onion Soup and a Chicken/Bacon Quesada for our meals. It was all Delicious and we won’t be hungry until breakfast. 

This was the Sun around 4:30 MST.

The sky was full of dense clouds when we headed back to North Ranch to the point it went from Dim to Dark instead of the usual Arizona Sunset. Not Quite Sure what we’re doing tomorrow but I know we’ll be back exploring on Thursday. Thanks for following along, feel free to leave a comment and click on the pictures to enlarge them. Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Words of Inspiration

God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.

Rudyard Kipling, English Author