Wednesday March 23, 2005
After breakfast in the Pasonglo Lodge lounge Wednesday morning and and packing the motorcycles, we headed south on AZ 87 to AZ 188 where we took a left and continued south toward the Theodore Roosevelt Lake. The lake is fed by the Salt River to the south and Tonto Creek to the north and created by the Theodore Roosevelt Dam.
For yet another day we were blessed with great weather. When we first saw the lake, Ed was last riding and the first to stop for some photography. Barry was second and second to stop, approaching the bridge, awaiting Ed. Dave finally turned back to find what had become of the other two.
Theodore Roosevelt Lake
Observation area between the bridge and the dam
The information at the observation area boasted that the bridge is the longest single span steel two lane bridge in North America. We took particular note in that Dave's son Michael was just participating in the science olympiad in which he had to design and build a bridge that was then judged by the ability to support weight and the weight of the structure.
Just over a decade ago, a project was started for the purpose of raising the dam 70 feet. The lake had been drained to a low level for the construction project, at the completion of which years of drought kept the lake from filling. Within the past several months, however, the high rainfall has raised the lake to above the level that the previous dam would have been able to hold. So the lake is now at a record depth.
Theodore Roosevelt Dam
We had seen Tonto National Monument on the map but didn't know what it was. At the observation area, another traveler told us that we really should stop and that it was just a few miles in the direction we were heading.
Tonto National Monument contains cliff dwellings constructed 7-800 years ago. We parked the motorcycles, took some time in the visitor center, and then climbed the trail up to the lower ruins. More can be found at www.nps.gov/tont/.
Dave and Ed with the Tonto ruins top center
Nearly there!
Ed on the Tonto trail high above Theodore Roosevelt Lake
During the years when the lake was drained, other ruins that had been submerged were explored, generating new knowledge regarding theories about the departure of the cliff dwellers. This was a very good stop.
The Teddy Bear Cholla cactus joined many varieties of flowers along the Tonto trail.
The same traveler who recommended Tonto National Monument also suggested we check out the Salt River Canyon. We stopped in Globe to fuel both our machines and our stomachs, sitting in front of a service station / convenience store. We were very much enjoying the sunshine. Then it was on to the canyon, characterized as second only to the Grand Canyon. We were not disappointed. Unlike the Grand Canyon, we were able to ride from the top to the bottom and part way back up the other side before turning back.
Ed climbed into a tree for this photo.
After taking in the dramatic Salt River Canyon views, we rode back into Globe and then west to Apache Junction for the night. The evening included another Mexican dinner. The motel proprietor took pity on us and provided a roll-away bed "on the house", so Barry didn't sleep on the floor tonight, not that he had failed to get his quota the past couple nights. We all slept well.