Day 4
I woke earlier than normal to get an
early start on the day. Vacations go to quick and this one was. We
decided on climbing Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. The mountain gets
its name from its shape which resembles the hump and head of a
kneeling camel. The trail is about 1.4 miles long and elevation is
about 1,300 feet. The trail is marked extreme difficulty but you can
see people of all ages challenging it.
There are two locations to access the
hiking trails on Camelback. The lot we used way back in 2000 was full
so we circled the mountain to get to the other trail. The second
trail has no lot so you have to park on the street a good distance
away and hike to the hiking trails. The area is very built up with
houses and golf courses now surrounding the base of the mountain.
Hiking up and coming down was a
steady stream of people. They looked like ants. Jimmy made it up
about ¾ the way, Ruth and I made the summit. Going up and coming
down I rounded the path a bit and strayed off trail. It saved time
and distance.
After hiking Jimmy wanted to go to a
few stores. I said I would drive him but in the middle of it I had
it. I couldn't take it any longer. Being on vacation and seeing
nothing but the same corporate stores as at home made me go bonkers.
Scottsdale is a fine area but it is corporate heaven. We went to a
local grocery chain called Fry's. On one street there were two Fry's
on the same side separated by maybe a half mile. If you have money
there are plenty of upscale places to eat that aren't corporate its
the middle income restaurants that are all corporate and nothing
else.
I even ventured off in the opposite
direction towards Fountain Head. Nothing. Then to Fort McDowell
thinking I could find lunch. Nothing. OK don't laugh but I thought
theres an Indian reservation lets find an Indian restaurant surely
they have to eat and cornbread sounded good. I know corn doesn't grow
in Arizona, at least I think, but Indians do make cornbread, don't
they? Well you can laugh now. Nothing on the Indian reservation,
nothing but a casino at the entrance. But we did see a Road Runner.
That was exciting and the scenery wow so beautiful. But still no
lunch. So back to Fountain Head and Senor Taco which made tacos so
small they looked like baby tacos not sir size.
As far as temps the heat sort of
arrived but still not that bad. I think it hit low 80's.
Thought I had while driving through the
Indian reservation. Its desolate and barren now in modern times. Can
you imagine the hardships the Indians faced a 100 plus years ago when
they were forced onto these desert lands? Sad.
Gotta GoGo!
Carey
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