SPRING WAS WELL UNDERWAY MONDAY ON OUR ATV RIDE IN THE DESERT.

There were lots of wildflowers blooming as well as lots of wildlife as we wandered around south of the Gila River.   We were fortunate to have it almost completely to ourselves except for two young guys on mountain bikes.  We never saw another powered vehicle from the time we left Diversion Dam Road until we got back to it.  The north side of the river including Box Canyon was probably overwhelmed with people.  Family Motorcoach RV club had thirty or more Jeeps staging just south of Florence when we drove past on our way to Caliente and the ATV rental place had a large number staging there as well.  They probably all went to the north side.

We pulled out of our 96 Ranch Road location at 8:38 this morning and are in Snowflake, AZ tonight.  We drove via the Salt River Canyon and just before Show Low ran into rain.  Between Show Low and Snowflake we had snow covering the windshield for a ways.  That was a reality check!!!  We're not in the valley of the sun anymore.  It is currently raining lightly with the wind rocking the motorhome.  I dug out our electric heaters and they are making it cozy inside.  I think we will make it to Bluff, UT tomorrow then Clifton/Grand Junction the next day.

On the way home from the ride, I suggested to Richard that we check to see if the owl was in his usual spot in Florence Gardens.  He was.

I believe these are called Red Maids.

Blue Dicks.

One of several windmills we passed on our ride.

At what the club calls the underground house.

Wave to me guys.

We even got to see the Copper Basin Railway in action.