RV Trip'N

Monday, April 22, 2013

Towerpoint Resort

We’re back at a resort for one more stay before heading back to Minnesota. This time we are at Hightower Resort in Mesa. We were here last April and really enjoyed it. This time of the year most residents, snowbirds, have left for the season so this place is pretty empty. The real draw for this place is the commons area that is opened 24hrs. Music from Sirus Satellite Radio is played throughout the area making sitting in the lounge area or using one of the pools or hot tubs very relaxing.

The weather is starting to warm up and the forecast calls for temperatures in the 90's all week. They have an "ice out" contest here on the radio where you guess when the first 100 degree day will be, I guess we are not far from that.

The following photo's were taken in the evening, 9:00 pm, and the temps were still in the 80's yet the area was practically deserted. Nice having the pool to yourself.

Commons Area

Heated pool

Outdoor hot tube with another spa in the back enclosure

Beautiful outdoor lounge

Lap pool

Friday, April 19, 2013

Awesome Archery

The regional park that we are staying at has an archery range that is described as Arizona’s premier outdoor facility and only one of the only Five-Star rated range in the Western United States. Amenities include 4 miles of trails around four separate trails. A couple practice ranges, a2D range and a 3D range. It was really impressive. Steve and Chloe would really enjoy this range.

Five star archery range

Part of the course

Practice range

Visitor, spectator area

Targets on the 2D range

Targets along the 3D range

3D target

Close up of a five foot 3D target

Later in the day we headed into Apache Junction. Apache Junction Arizona is home to the Superstition Mountains with the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine on the east, Bulldog recreation area on the north, and the city of Mesa on the west. Goldfield Ghost Town, a popular tourist spot preserved from former prospecting days, nestles near the western face of Superstition Mountains. We had to stop and see the ghost town, and

although there were some very old and interesting antiques remaining from the boom mining days, it is still a typical tourist area.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Usery Mountains Day 2

This morning we decided to take a little walk after breakfast around the campground. We thought that after yesterday’s snake sightings we may see some more. Well we did come upon one that we thought was dead as it didn’t make any movement as we approached it. We saw that something was protruding from his mouth and thought he may have suffocated while feasting on a mouse or something. After talking with the park ranger we later learned that snakes remain very still and motionless when eating and we were very fortunate to have witnessed it. We returned later to get pictures and found that he had moved on. Later we did see our fifth snake, a large one that crossed the street directly in front of us.

This park has many trails to hike from .5 miles to 7.5 miles and from easy to difficult. We decided to hike the wind cave trail which is also the parks most popular trail. The trail is 3 miles and considered hard. It’s a climb of 812 feet the first mile and half and then the return is the descent of 812 feet. It was a pretty trail with beautiful vistas of the Phoenix valley.