It's Good to Be Back on the Tonto...

On Lake Roosevelt... not quite under the Mogollon Rim. That's still a bit north of us... But we've still got a nice view out across the southern country of The Tonto Basin...

*Looking North across the Tonto Basin*

It's not much of an "issue"... but you can't just pull into a campsite on the Tonto National Forest and set up camp. You've got to stop somewhere first... and buy what you need of what they call the Tonto Pass .

You can get that at quite a few retail stores as well as the U.S.F.S. visitor center near here. Not a big deal if you know about it in advance... but it could be a genuine PITA... for someone rolling in from out of state and getting here late... just sayin'... so if you head this way any time... make sure you allow for getting a pass.

Now... bein' an army cripple... and since their regular day rate is only $6 bucks... $3 don't hurt my poor boy feelings none! :)

Even with threatening weather on the Tonto!

*Storm Clouds Gathering over the Tonto*

The sun and blue sky fought a good fight... but they're still allowed only so much of a day... and like usual... they slid off into the dark...

There's something awful nice though, in Arizona. Even when the storm clouds gather... as the day fades on this high desert... There's something awful nice here...

It's much the same as sitting in the wind on a motorcycle, or being horseback... this Arizona Desert helps put things in some sort of a proper perspective... if you let it. All the hooey you let yourself get cranked up with during the day fades...

The scent of the quiet desert...  fills your lungs... and that wonderful soft aroma of a campfire...

The vistas of Far Country fills your eyes and your soul...

*Far off Snowy Ridges across Roosevelt Lake*

... and you know that in the morning... after the storm passes in the night, the sun always rises...

*The Morning Sun lighting up the Tonto*

It rained a good Arizona rain last night, and got chilly compared to lower in the city. ;) good thing I got propane just before dark...

Which was a curious thing... Got to the station with the bottle and had great difficulty getting the valve open... The gal struggled with it... I took some pliers and gently massaged it... it won't budge...

and then... I had an embarrassing idea... seems it's tough job to open a valve that's already wide open!!! uh... oops! Senility is an awful thing. ;)  Sheesh...

Not sure when or why or how... and why it didn't spew the last bits when I detached the hose... but... running 'round with an open propane valve is likely a poor choice of actions... :) one more lesson for you... watch me... and do the opposite! ;) you'll be beautiful and rich in No Time!

Just "Being"... on the Tonto
Brian