Wednesday, April 20/2016

Riding around Williams, AZ

Beautiful forest trails

We travelled some pretty awesome trails today.  Beautiful forest trails winding through the tall ponderosa pines and in amongst the juniper trees.  The smell was incredible!!   It truly was a magical place and I can only imagine the animals that call this place home.  It must be loaded with deer, elk and bear.  Not to mention the coyotes and fox and the numerous birds that live here as well.  What an incredible environment!!

The trails were well marked

The trails were well marked and we had no trouble finding our way.   The weather was awesome and it was a good day to ride.

Kermit in the trees

Duke was burried here

Spring flowers bloom in the forest as well

The trail to Hell Canyon

We accessed the trail to Hell Canyon.  It was classed as a "3" trail but not because of the degree of difficulty.   It was classed as a 3 because of its rocky roughness.  And it was definitely rough in some spots.  The trail was often strewn with big rock and one had to pick their way over, through and around many of them.  Kay and I managed to navigate the trail fine heading down the canyon but had a big blowout on one of the tires when we were coming back.  It was a good thing we were almost at the trail head so John simply took the main trail back to the truck and brought the trailer so that we could load Henrietta up and take her sad sorry ass back to camp.  Her days are over until she gets new shoes!!  We had a good day of riding despite the unfortunate end.

Beverage

This camper didn't make it down the trail

Kay blew a sidewall out

Alligator Juniper - note the scale like bark

Parked under Dukes tree - waiting for rescue

Back at camp, it was supper and beverages and of course.....an awesome fire.  The cats came out of the hiding spot and explored even more of the area.  They were getting quite brave although Mowgli was not too impressed with the crows nor the ravens.  They were way too loud for him and under the truck he would run.  Corinna could not have cared less about them!!