Wednesday, November 13 to Saturday, November 16, 2024 (McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Fountain Hills, AZ)

Wednesday (Nov. 13) is moving day...the folks in site (#31) across the road had left early this morning, but we had to wait to get the okay from the park worker to move. He came along, gave the site a quick rake, and gave us the go-ahead. Rather than packing the outside stuff back into the truck, we walked it over...then we hooked up the trailer to the truck and took it to the RV dump. With tanks empty, we brought the trailer to our new site...such an exhausting travel day! LOL!

We like this site much better...not only is the view nicer, but we have lots of shade. So we have sun, if we choose, or shade...perfect! But for the next couple of days I think we will definitely be enjoying the shade as the temperatures are going to be in the 80's F (high 20's C)...

The pictures don't convey just how close and high the mountains really are...

We had a relaxing afternoon sitting in the shade outside...reading a bit, and I did a little knitting. Late afternoon, Steve set up 'Core Crash' and the two of us played a few games. Much better if you have more people playing, that way you don't have to get up so often, but we had fun. Steve won 2 (one was by default because I had 3 strikes) and I won one.

After our relaxing day yesterday...well, other than our exhausting move, we decided to get out for another hike Thursday (Nov. 14) morning. Again, we consulted the 'AllTrails' app and decided on the Wagner, Granite, and Bluff Loop trail. The Wagner Trail started from the campground...

Apparently last August they had a wildfire of about 60 acres closing the park and believed to have been caused by lightening. In 1995 they also had a wildfire and we've noticed that much of the foliage has made a comeback from our previous visits...

Part of the trail was on a road access...

You can see why it's called Granite Trail...

Up we go, out of the low, wash area and up onto a bluff (thus the Bluff Trail)...

A nice little rest at the junction of Bluff and Granite trails...

We walked the upper perimeter from right to left above the area below...

We can now see the campground in the distance...

Almost back at the campground...

Ah...home...

Another great hike...1 hour 40 minutes (including rest stops), 4.41 miles/7.10 kms, with an elevation gain of 269 feet. 

The rest of the day was basically a repeat of  yesterday afternoon...relaxing in the shade...

We played Core Crash again...another 3 games, but this time I won 2 and Steve 1...

Steve had a visitor...

Friday (Nov. 15) morning, with a predicted high of 20C/68F Steve wanted to get up on the roof for a little repair of the air vent. He had installed the Maxx Air Vents before we left home but the one over the bathroom needed to be adjusted.

With that done, we headed into town so I could do a little grocery shopping at Safeway. Steve also filled a couple of containers with drinking water...$2.50 for 5 gallons, expensive compared to Quartzsite where its $1.00 for 5 gallons. Mind you, we didn't go to Q last winter, so it may have gone up.

My "good" knee (the one that I had a full knee replacement done 5 years ago) was acting up today. The pain was reminiscent of the pain I had before the replacement...so I don't know what is up with that. At any rate, I spent the afternoon, with it elevated and an ice pack on it. No playing Core Crash today!

I did try to go for a walk with Steve over to the South campground (we are in the North one) but after a few steps, I realized it would be best to sit back in the chair with it elevated. So Steve went by himself. On his way back, he took a picture of the playground. Steve wondered if the snake slide terrifies any of the kids...LOL!

The forecast for Saturday (Nov. 16) is significantly cooler, with only a high of 61F/16C expected. A big change from the temps we had been enjoying a few days ago! We even woke to clouds...thankfully no rain is in the forecast though.

We watched the quail outside our dinette window as we had our morning coffee...

These ones are much fatter than the ones we saw at Alan and Cec's...

A bird nest in the Teddy-Bear Cholla beside our trailer...

Well, staying off my knee yesterday, seemed to have helped it and although it was still a little tender, we decided to give another hike a try. This time we chose the McDowell Mountain North Trail. The trailhead is about 3.5 miles away....and as it turned out on a lumpy, bumpy road. 

Look at all the arms on that Saguaro! 

The trailhead...

A large Buckhorn Cholla Cactus...

As you can see by the jeans and hoodie, it's much cooler today...

All sorts of interesting Saguaro...

Nice benches to relax on along the trail...

A bird nest below and a bird house up top...

A Barrel Cactus I believe...

The sun did come out and our hoodies came off...

Interesting Saguaro...

Buckhorn and a Barrel Cactus...

Hedgehog Cactus...

Saguaro skeleton... 

Another good hike...with interesting varieties of cactus, some healthy, some not so much. After 1 hour and 15 minutes, 2.97 miles/4.78 kms with an elevation gain of 141 feet, we were back at the truck. A shorter hike but about right for today!

It was going on 1:00 by the time we got home...time for lunch! After that Steve edited pictures and I worked on this blog update. We sat outside in the sun for a bit but it was just too chilly with the breeze...looking forward to the warmer temps returning next week!

We're on the move tomorrow...to another favorite park...Lost Dutchman State Park!