Dear Maia, Isaac and Virtual Wanderers,

What a blooming fun day – but a tad on the long side. We definitely saw a lot of different types of gorgeous Arizona terrain. It was a 200 mile voyage, so I’m not going to post about everything we drove past – but I’ll hit the high spots.

We started the day at Boyce Thompson Arboretum on US Hwy 60 just outside of Superior. I remember the day Maizzy and I found this place – ten years ago! It was a total Serendipity find in the days before we planned anything in advance. Love at first sight.  It was March and everything was blooming. I walked the whole place with her in a backpack. We come back every year!

The way it’s arranged, you visit different areas to see different desert types. They added a new desert section a couple years ago that’s my new favorite. Today, we wondered through the Wallace Rose Garden (full bloom) to the Wallace Desert Area. Then, we took the main path to the lake and back to the entrance. It took about two hours.

After that, I bought a few plants from their sales area. I love bringing weird desert plants home. They winter in, summer out. I’ve had decent success although I secretly feel sorry for them living in pots in Colorado. Succulents have gotten so popular that they are at all the big box stores. I try to get uncommon ones. This took another hour.

Then, the journey started. We took US 60 east past Miami. Then we took AZ 188 north. This is the more rural route through Tonto National Forest and the Roosevelt Lake area. Tonto National Monument is on this road, but we just didn’t have time to stop this year. The lake is stunning with saguaro cactus on the shores. Lots of recreational turn-offs.

We took AZ 87 into Payson once AZ 188 ended. Lots more traffic on 87, and it climbs out of the low desert fairly quickly. I’m glad we opted for 188 despite it being slightly longer, because it’s more relaxing. Once in Payson, we took AZ Hwy 260. This is the section that climbs back up onto the Colorado Plateau. And, a scenic climb it is with more recreational turn-offs. We stopped at the Mogollon Rim Visitor’s Center for a short walk.

In Heber, we took AZ 277 to AZ 377. We are now back in grassland with some distant buttes. When we got to Holbrook, I was starved so stopped at my favorite restaurant here – Bienvenidos. It’s steak night when we get to Holbrook.

Driving through the Holbrook area reminds me so much of my first road trips with Maizzy. I find myself missing my best first dog – we explored this place together! I miss her tonight.

Love ya’ll, Cathy Hartt

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