DEAD HORSE RANCH STATE PARK, ARIZONA

We arrived at Dead Horse Ranch State Park early Monday morning after a pleasant and uneventful drive to Cottonwood, AZ.  This campground does not take reservations, so it is first-come, first served.  When Sandy talked to them on the phone they suggested arriving early and so we did.  We got lucky.  We found a great pull-through spot just as the previous occupant was packing up and getting ready to leave.  By the time we unhooked the Honda the space was wide open.

This is the view we have from the back of our site at sunset.

We are getting into more beautiful country and with spring just around the corner the scenery is going to be even more spectacular. The weather is certainly cooperating out here in the West.

Tuesday we drove to a place called Montezuma Castle, which is a National Mounment maintained by the U.S. Department of the Interior.   It is a truly lovely location. It is located alongside of Beaver Creek, and the sound of the nearby spring flow of fresh mountain water layers the area with a soft background sound that adds to the beauty of the grounds.


Archeologists estimate that the Sinauga Indians migrated into the valley around 1150 AD.  No one knows whey they abondoned these pueblos by the early 1400s.  Possible explanations include over-population, disease, tribal conflicts or even changes in weather patterns.  The dwellings seen in the photo are pretty much they way they were found.  However, the masonary dwellings were closed to tourist traffic in 1950 to prevent any further deterioration.

On the monument grounds are many old Arizona Sycamore trees with beautiful bark.  The smaller photo above captures this mottled back that reminds me of a paint by numbers project.

About 75 yards from the base of the clift homes is Beaver Creek which provided a source of fresh water for drinking, cooking as well as for growing crops. 

On the way out of the National Monument we spied a small road side vendor selling native American Indian flat bread.  We split a single order.  We topped the bread with cinnamon and honey. It was delicious.  Sandy kidded the vendor about pulling the dough from a plastic bag, and he quipped back that he just tosses it into a microwave.  We had heard of this native Indian dish from one of Sandy's older sisters, Sharon,  who spends about six months of the year in a fifth wheel RV. The flat bread was a special treat.

Next we drove north to Sedona. The plan was to have lunch and then visit a small local museum.  The scenery went from beautiful to spectacular.  The mountain grades were impressive.  There is a preponderance of red rock in Sedona as you will see from these photos.

When we were in Bottomless State Park in New Mexico we met Mike and Beth Heine and their sweet Labrador Retriever, Lexie.  They have been following our blog and e-mailed us that they were coming to Dead Horse Park.  We met up with them last night and plan to have dinner with them soon and hopefully enjoy an evening camp fire afterwards.

Life is good on the road.

NOTE:  if the pictures are small when you view my blog, just click on them and they will open wider.

Stay tuned.