Lost Dutchman State Park

We're back at the Dutchman for two weeks.  It always amazes us how we can feel so remote in the high deserts of Arizona with the Superstition Mountains towering overhead, and yet only an hour from the downtown of the fifth largest city in America, Phoenix.  We have a great campsite with views of the mountains, the cactus growing up the hills, and the always wonderful sunsets.

We rented a car for one of the two weeks, so we were able to check out more than the immediate surroundings.  So here is some of what we experienced.

Hiking: In the park, we hiked Siphon Draw; a rocky climb up 900 feet to a "crease" in the Superstitions where there is a smooth rock slide.  Just outside the park, we hiked the Peralta Trail up to the saddle where we had views of Weavers Needle.  We were feeling good as we climbed up over 1,200'  over lots of rocks.  At the saddle, we had our lunch stop before heading back down.

With our rental SUV we drove to Tortilla Flats where there is a very nice NF campground (future camping) and the Saloon and General Store where we enjoyed a great lunch, and then listened to a Western band.  We had hoped to continue on to Roosevelt Lake, but due to a summer wild fire and then severe flooding, the road was closed; so another day we drove via Globe to check out RL.

We were surprised when we arrived at Roosevelt Lake with the impressively large and scenic campground (another future camping place), to find the Tonto National Monument.  The Monument protects some cliff dwellings, which can be explored via a climbing asphalt path.  We climbed through Saguaros and wild flowers to have an opportunity to climb into the dwelling, which included the original wood beams from over 500 years ago.

Another day, we headed over to the Heard Museum of Native Indian art.  In addition to the art, there is a permanent exhibit of the story of how our American government took  Native American children away from their parents and their tribal reservations, and shipped them to schools, to remove the "savage" from them.  How sad and poignant.





Frank Lloyd Wright's Talisin, his western home and business center, was another of our day trips.  Built in the 1930s and continually being revised and added to, Wright's architectural style was clearly portrayed in this center.  When built, Talisin was on the northern edge of town, up on a hill, with great vistas.  Today it still has great vistas but Scottsdale is just outside its property.

Just before leaving Lost Dutchman, we joined the singing cowboy.  Farewell to a great two weeks.

We're back at St. John, USVI !

We had to get back to the island.  Back in the Fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma, did major damage to this island including Cinnamon Bay campground.  We skipped coming last year, but now it was time.

Work is finally progressing at the campground and word is out that the reopening should come in time for the late fall and winter season.  CB had to be our first stop after arriving.  Very sad to see all of the damage, but very uplifting to see reconstruction.  As our taxi driver said, "It will come back."

Old Danish Warehouse -- Before

Old Danish Warehouse -  After Hurricane Irma

Since we had no campground to pitch our tent, we "roughed" it at Grand Bay Resort where we rented an efficiency for two weeks.  Our VRBO was only a couple of blocks from the Cruz Bay ferry dock.   We shouldn't get spoiled with hot water showers, a king bed, and in room laundry as we will be back at Cinnamon Bay Campground next time.

Camping at Cinnamon Bay

Not Camping at Grand Bay Resort

Cinnamon Bay Beach

Annaberg 

Food truck at Maho Beach

Rams Head

During our stay, we hit most of the north shore beaches, Solomon, Honeymoon, Hawks Nest, Trunk, Cinnamon, and Maho.  Many changes including a bar and food setup at Maho, and the Cinnamon Bay food truck (which survived the storm) moving to Trunk Bay.  We also did our pilgrimage hike to Murphy Great House first walking along the beach with views of Waterlemon Cay.  We had helped back in 2015 to clear the overgrown ruins, volunteering with the Friends of the Virgin Islands, and we came back to have lunch with views of the BVIs from the great house.


Besides spending lots of time at the wonderful beaches with snorkeling to see all of the fish and turtles, we also again volunteered with the Friends and helped clear part of the  L'Esperance trail near the Reef Bay Factory ruins. 
Tough but rewarding work as we cut and pulled the overgrowth of wild pineapples, Catch-n-Keep, and all kinds of wild foliage.


And our final beach day at St. John had to include Salt Pond and a hike to Rams Head.  A mandatory day for when the weather is windy and the seas are rough; and they were.  This time we took the VItran bus (only $1) to Salt Pond, but when it was time to get back to Cruz Bay on the 3pm bus.....No Show.  So Morey snagged a ride with some fellow beachers.

St. John survived the storm, and although its taken over two years to get back to its old self, St. John is back....and so we will be back.

Back on the RV Road.....

But first we fly to St. John, US Virgin Islands, for two weeks of sun and beach.

 Then we fly to Las Vegas, pick up BIW, and head down for our Winter journeys.