Apache Junction February 18 - February 28, 2024

 Sunday we traveled from Page to Mesa (near Phoenix).  A beautiful drive!!

Once we were set up, we went to “church.”  So thankful for being able to stream and feel a part of our church.  Once again, Matt brought music with the team that tied into the service and Pastor Jonathan knocked it out of the park!  We had communion, but we were not prepared. So we celebrated with Texas toast and gin.  It’s what we had…

Monday we brought our truck in to be serviced.  We found out that we needed a whole new headlamp assembly…that needed to be ordered…that would take about a week…and that would cost about $2400.  Good thing we are flexible!  We extended our stay at the Mesa/Apache Junction KOA.  The weather was great and we were able to go on many more spectacular hikes!

Monday we took a hike at Treasure Loop.  We have done this hike before.  A good workout, a fun hike, and decent views..

We went to our favorite joint in Gilbert for amazing tacos and margaritas - Joyride! We highly recommend this place!

After dinner we went across the street for prickly pear ice cream cones! Yummy!

Tuesday we hiked the Hieroglyphic Trail to Petroglyphs.  A beautiful trail with water falls near the Petroglyphs.

Following our hike, we went to one of our favorites for dinner - The Handlebar.

Fun place to sit outside and have good bbq.

Wednesday we hiked the Brittlebush and Crest trail. This is also a hike we have done before.

Thursday we hiked a new and long trail - the Fremont Saddle via Peralta Canyon.  It was a total of about 6 miles.  Up one way and down coming back.  To get to the trailhead, you had to travel around 7 miles down a dirt road.  Lots of boondockers off the road.  Once we got to the trailhead, it followed a little stream and then went up over some rock.

This hike was definitely amazing!  And we were a bit pooped when we were done.  We cleaned ourselves up and went to Gilbert for dinner. We ate at Postino’s.  I had a salmon chopped salad that was awesome!  Best ever!  Kurt had a panini that was good.  That’s it - just good. But the happy hour price and beer was great! $6 for a glass of wine and $6 for a half pitcher of beer - good beer!

Friday we decided to take an easier and shorter trail.  We headed to the Merkel and Vista Trail. We had done this trail before, but I never did the Vista Trail because I took care of baby grands while the adult kids and older grands went over the mountain. A nice little hike and not difficult at all.

We went to a Japanese Restaurant for dinner - Mimi no Hana. It was good, but we’ve had better.

Saturday we went back down to the Peralta canyon and hiked to the wave cave. An easy hike until the last 1/2 mile going up to the cave.  But so worth it!

After church on Sunday, we went to the Peralta Regional Park for a short mile hike.  It was the perfect Sunday afternoon hike.

A lot of Cholla

Hedgehog cactus

Prickly Pear

We still have not heard if  the part has come in for the truck…so we wait… and hike some more!  Monday we hiked Monument Canyon to Broadway Cave.  Not my favorite hike.  It was flat until you got to the mountain to climb up to the cave, but the trail was a rocky gravel.  It was hard on our feet.  Still a good hike.

A Gila Monster!  We did not get close enough to let him bite!!

We got a call Monday afternoon that the part for the Beast had come in, so we brought the truck in Tuesday morning.  It was finished by 10am.  So we went for a 2 mile hike at Silly Mountain, did laundry and sat by the pool.  After BSF Wednesday morning, we packed up and headed to Organ Pipe Monument.  The adventure continues!