travel – Cindy Bruchman

A colleague suggested a camping spot ninety-minutes away tucked under Ponderosa Pines and surrounded by Mountain Laurel. She promised valley views, and Jim and I felt an escapade was needed. 260 to 87S. Mile Marker 277. Drive through the gate a mile and veer left. Okay, we’ll try it!

We headed up to the high country for glamping and campfire dinner. As we relaxed, we put on George Harrison’s tribute concert from 2002 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. We felt like we were at an outdoor concert. The crisp air combined with a slight breeze whistling through the pines lulled us to sleep. This morning, we hiked along the precipice. This is the Mogollon Rim from the west side. How many times have we driven by this spot thinking we needed to travel 3.5 hours to get there? We halved our time and fell in love with the view and privacy. Not a soul to be found. Which shot do you like best?

“The Mogollon Rim is a topographical and geological feature cutting across the U.S. state of Arizona. It extends approximately 200 miles, starting in northern Yavapai County and running eastward, ending near the border with New Mexico. It forms the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in Arizona.” *Wikipedia*

Glamping. We pull around a king-sized bed. Hey, it works for us!

Three cheers to my friend at work. What a spot-on suggestion!

1. A morning walk after a night of rain.

It has been seven years since I moved from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to Arizona. This past week we traveled back to visit family. Traveling down country roads that seemed to lead nowhere, my eyes were full of the beauty of the Virginia countryside. Add the sounds of Americana music, the smell of fallen leaves underfoot, the chore of raking up the spiny husks fallen from the Chestnut tree, and playing with a litter of eight puppies truly filled my heart. Which shot do you like best?