While in Coolidge, several members of our group had ideas of a day trip to do. We decided to combine them all into one loop drive. We drove over to Florence, then to Kelvin on the Florence-Kelvin "Highway" (really a dirt road), then north to Superior, then back to Coolidge through Florence Junction.
Our first side-trip was Chuck's idea. He was looking for a place to take out kayaks. This is near Cochran, probably not on any map. We found the Gila River, but didn't think it was doable.
The trees on the road leading to the river were not tall enough for cars with kayaks on top.
So on to our next goal. On the way, the cactus were gorgeous.
Bill and Lois remembered seeing these stray boulders out in the middle of nowhere on the Florence-Kelvin "Highway," and wanted to show them to us. Wow! Combined with the cactus, they were just beautiful.
We decided to have lunch here.
And look at some of the graffiti.
On the way north to Superior we went by this copper mine that is 6 miles long!
That is a huge electric shovel down there. Compare it to the size of the tiny trucks around it. (The trucks on the left are gigantic in their own right.) The shovel was powered by a VERY long extension cord.
But my goal on the trip was to find poppies. They are early this year, and I found on the internet that there was supposed to be hillsides of them just north of Superior on Silver King Mine Road.
Sure enough, you could see them for miles around!
I was very happy! (And also relieved that I didn't let the group down.)
While in Coolidge, several members of our group had ideas of a day trip to do. We decided to combine them all into one loop drive. We drove over to Florence, then to Kelvin on the Florence-Kelvin "Highway" (really a dirt road), then north to Superior, then back to Coolidge through Florence Junction.
Our first side-trip was Chuck's idea. He was looking for a place to take out kayaks. This is near Cochran, probably not on any map. We found the Gila River, but didn't think it was doable.
The trees on the road leading to the river were not tall enough for cars with kayaks on top.
So on to our next goal. On the way, the cactus were gorgeous.
Bill and Lois remembered seeing these stray boulders out in the middle of nowhere on the Florence-Kelvin "Highway," and wanted to show them to us. Wow! Combined with the cactus, they were just beautiful.
We decided to have lunch here.
And look at some of the graffiti.
On the way north to Superior we went by this copper mine that is 6 miles long!
That is a huge electric shovel down there. Compare it to the size of the tiny trucks around it. (The trucks on the left are gigantic in their own right.) The shovel was powered by a VERY long extension cord.
But my goal on the trip was to find poppies. They are early this year, and I found on the internet that there was supposed to be hillsides of them just north of Superior on Silver King Mine Road.
Sure enough, you could see them for miles around!
I was very happy! (And also relieved that I didn't let the group down.)
