Devil's Bridge

Some plans just don't work out as planned.  The plan was to drop Ann off far away from Devil's Bridge, drive Greg's car to the Devil's Bridge Trailhead and hike one mile to the Bridge.  Ann would most likely beat us there as the road was described as 'slow going'.  Hiking with me is even slower.

But, it did not turn out that way.  The Ranger at the information desk did everything he could but forbid Greg to drive down that awful road.  That meant that we would park at a different trailhead, hike a connector trail, hike along the Chuckwagon trail and then connect to the Devil's Bridge trail. That, by the way, is a four mile roundtrip hike!!  It was going to be worth the try.  Right?

If you are going to hike 4 miles do it in fabulous scenery with friends like Ann and Greg.  Here, Greg walks behind me protecting me from mountain lions and reminding me to be careful.

No, that rock is not a bench.  Don't disturb the lichen!  See sign below. 

Ann and Greg made it very clear that if we were to have a chance at making the full roundtrip we would have to stay focused on hiking, not stopping every ten feet and shooting!  What?  Yikes!  But, Ann does have a  humane side to her.  Every once in a while she would stop and say, "This is a good shot.  You can stop and shoot!"  So we did.

Rest stop.  Views like this take one's breath away.  Oh yes, and the hiking too!

I got the tree.  Greg got the bushes! Cactus?  Yep.

I knew it was coming.  Looking up at these 'steps', however was a bit more than I was expecting.  Actually a whole lot more!  If it were not for Greg and Ann I would not have made it to Devil's Bridge.  Ann would get to a tough point and take my tripod so I would have both hands free to balance, give suggestions on the easiest way (she is the uber hiker) and give both caution and encouragement in the same sentence!!  When she said, "Hand me your tripod and come down on your butt." I did so without question.

Greg is taller so he has to be further from the edge!  Ann kept encouraging us to get on the bridge.  She is truly nuts!!

Ann is shorter so she had to stay way far away from the edge!  She actually 'climbed' up the mountain to get this shot.  She has that much energy!!

To get this angle you need to be up high . . . like on a bridge across the valley!

Then, there is the matter of getting back.  Ann was rightly concerned about making it back to the car before dark and she was smart enough to realize I don't go down rocks much faster than going up them!  I can chuckle now, but at the time the whole thing seemed a bit daunting.

Looking back at the Bridge. The Bridge looks shorter here because there is a stone column hiding part of the view of the whole bridge from where we were on the trail.

Just another view.  Deep breath!  I made it to the Bridge. I was so excited inside I could hardly stand it.

Greg kept promising me that we would have better light on the return trip.  That was to keep me from losing my mind from passing so many great shots.  He was right.  But, the mission was to get back to the car before dark!!  He did not tell me that part.  We did shoot a bit more but I did not set up my tripod and my shots are terrible.

Greg, you are cracking me up. 

Lefty gets around and I noticed that he was not out of breath.

I have a new resolution.  I am going to work at building up my strength so I can cover at least a six mile roundtrip hike.  The best friends are the ones that push you to discover what you can do and inspire you to more if you want it.  Thank you Greg and Ann. You are the best great friends. 

Taken on our way into Sedona to have dinner.  Once again I lost my breath.  Whew, what a day!

Tonto Natural Bridge

It is nice to 'find' something as special as this.

The Tonto Natural Bridge is believed to be the largest travertine bridge in the world!!!  I had never been to this State Park!  The bridge is 183 feet high and has  a tunnel that is over 400 feet long.  The Park is located about 10 or so miles north of Payson on Highway 260.  You can get more information on the web but be aware that there is a lot of comment about the road.  Ignore it.  The road does have a steep 14% incline in a small portion and there are some mountain curves.  But . . . this is a paved 2 lane road with guardrails and it leads to wonderment.  Just take it in slowly and you will shake your head wondering what all the fuss is about on the web!

If you have a State Park Pass it is valid here.  This is not your usual Visitor Center!

Ample paved parking lots, exceptionally nice and clean bathroom facilities in several locations, paved paths along the creek, nice shade, picnic tables and grills . . . WOW!  You can have pets but they are not allowed on the trails and you cannot keep them in your automobile.

I put more photos of the parking area than usual just to show how easy this place is to visit.  There were just a few people there last Wednesday and we were told at the Visitors Center that it can be crowded on the weekends and holidays.  I bet!  

Within a hundred or so feet from the most southern parking area you can walk to an observation deck and look down on the Bridge.  Along the way you might notice a narrow ditch with running water.  Hmmm. . . .  When you get to the observation deck you will see why. 

The small ditch feeds the greenery at the top of the Bridge.  Those white dots are water.  This image was taken from the observation area.

This image is looking south from the observation deck.  Water is flowing in a small creek down below and you can hear it from above.  It was rather windy and a bit cool on the deck but not so when we hiked down to the creek.

Seen across the creek from the observation deck.  

This is an optical illusion.  This is a level walkway bridge below the observation deck.  The bridge, as you will see below, connects the other side of the creek to a lower deck at the base of the Bridge.  The shadows of the railing were just right to make it look like it has steep steps.  Heck, it could even be a ladder.  You can appreciate the creek!  The Bridge is on the right side of the image.

Illusion dispelled.

There are a number of trails and several paved paths in the Park.  We opted to take the Gowan Trail which leads down to the bottom of the creek.  We were told that you can hike from the northern side and go under the Bridge but you should be prepared to 'boulder hop' and likely get wet.  I am all for that until I consider the cost of my gear!  The Gowan Trail is listed as moderately strenuous but it is doable by this ol' girl so consider that.  There are steps built into the dirt trail and some of them are high enough to make you feel like you are really pulling yourself up.  They have thoughtfully put two benches in the shade for adventurous souls who decide they are going to rest along the way.  You are treated to creek water sounds the whole way down and a view that is pretty doggone nice.

The reflections were fun to work with.  We discussed on the way back just how 'busy' this site seemed to be.  There was so much detail and we shot wide to take it all in.  

We hoped to catch some golden hour shots near the Ballantyne Trailhead on our way back to Phoenix.  We had taken some photos on the way to Payson and now have a few more taken on the way back to share as well.  Unfortunately, I managed to lose all of my shots taken up and back by not importing them properly!!  Tom's are more than up to the task of sharing what the whole trip looked like.

There you have it!  We hope that, if you have not checked out this Park, you consider doing so.  It is about 110 miles north of Phoenix.  An easy drive.  Time it so you can stop and get some golden hour shooting in on the way home!  Thanks for sharing.

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

As expected . . . no good fall colors yet!  The very best part of the day was spending it with two very close friends and, as it turned out, we got in more visiting than shooting!  Perfect!  Since the big stuff looked rather summer weary and dusty, we focused on the smaller items.  When we were told that there were lots of butterflies in the Children's Garden we were on the case!  Of course, so were the children and they were in the way!

Enjoy our leisurely stroll knowing that we only made it as far as the butterflies.  After that, we decided it was time for a Porter's hamburger or sandwich in Superior.  For those not yet let in on our big secret . . . Porter's has the best hamburgers and fries and they have now expanded with a shaded patio.  If you even get close to the place at any time you really must stop in and check out this eatery.

These butterflies are wild and free.

Feather cactus.  So gorgeous.  It was a day of experimentation and this was taken with an older manual focus 55mm Nikkor Micro lens at f/5.6.

This Desert Rose is sending out a request for lady bugs ASAP, please. It hurt to even edit this photo.

A datura.

Haha!  I imagined this was the layering for weather option!  

We were hunting for something that looked Christmasy.  We thought these would do and after 50 or so photos  . . . you know our drill.  Now we have to decide which one to use on a Christmas card.  Am glad I don't have to choose because she took many good photos

Same lens as above.  Both shot handheld with Nikon Df camera.

Every time I go to the Arboretum I get trapped by these lovely ice plant flowers.  I must have dozens of photos of them and not a one captures what I see there.

Bishop's Cap Cactus

We asked as we left when the staff felt the best fall colors would be filling the Arboretum.  We were told that at the end of the month, the weekend after Thanksgiving.  And to celebrate, it will be a weekend with live music and other festivities.  Great place to take out of town guests.