I am so ready to be home. Seeing the Welcome to Arizona sign was a sight for sore eyes. My right leg has started to ache so I guess it's also tired of being in the car. I made a few stops to walk around and make my leg happy.
The first one is Lake Powell at the Wahweap Bay Overlook. Welcome to Arizona. It was raining on me so I did a little happy dance in the parking lot. But then I looked at the lake. So sad and depressing at how low the water levels are. Still a beautiful place.
About 30 miles south of Page, the clouds and rain went away and the temperature started to rise. Glad I stopped in Page and picked up a couple of bottles of water.
Next stop. Strawberry Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was built of pine logs in 1885 and is said to be the oldest standing schoolhouse in Arizona. It became a historical Monument in 1981.
The Old
My next stop was Zane Grey's Cabin in Payson. The original cabin that he built, was destroyed in the 1990 Dude Fire. In 2005 they rebuilt an exact replica of the cabin using the original blueprints. He was known to write 10,000 words a day when he had a story he wanted to get on paper. He had a typewriter but preferred pen and paper. No pictures were allowed inside but it contains personal belongings as well as original first editions of some of his books.
In 1929 Zane brought a film crew to AZ to film a bear hunt. However, he was unaware that the hunting season had been changed. He attempted to get a special license from the Governor but was denied. Grey vowed to never return to Arizona and his cabin was left abandoned for 30 years. Talk about holding a grudge.
I was ready to call it quits and my hotel room was beckoning me. Now there are some people who know that Payson is only about an hour and a half drive from Apache Junction. Why in the world get a hotel room when you could easily make the drive. You must remember that AJ is still experiencing SUMMER!! I wanted to get home in the early hours of the day so I could unload the car when it wasn't 100 degrees. And I was tired. Worth the cost of a hotel room.
Be Safe and Enjoy a good night's rest and cooler early unpacking,
ReplyDeleteIt's about time.
Wow ... I don't think I have ever seen Lake Powell that low. We used to drag a big cabin cruiser up there (or down there) and spend a couple weeks on the lake.
ReplyDeleteZane Grey ... one of my favorite authors.
Lake Powell isn’t much of a lake anymore…so sad! The PIEbar in Pine near Payson has yummy empanadas and coffee next time you are in the area. We missed the Schoolhouse in Strawbwrry so I think we need another trip there…👍😉. It’s always a comforting feeling to get home after a trip!
ReplyDeleteLoved all the tidbits of information as you stopped along the drive. Strange about the two girls in the rain with the umbrellas. Great decision on your part about arriving home to unload in the coolness of the early morning. Sorry about the soreness in your leg.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading Zane Grey, he was one of my Dad's favorites, he had almost every book he ever wrote!!! Quite a collection. I remember, it just took forever to get to Tuscon once i hit the Az line.. and the traffic...
ReplyDelete