We settled in a state park called Dead Horse in Cottonwood, Arizona. We wondered about the name and found this story in the park brochure. It explained that a family came from Minnesota to look for a ranch property to buy. They visited many. One had the distinction of having a dead horse in one of the pastures, and when the father asked the children what ranch they wanted to live on, they exclaimed "the one with the dead horse." And so it was. When the family sold/gave the land to the state for a park it was with the understanding that the name would remain.
We wanted to hike and so we asked the campground host, who is from Farmington, Maine, by the way, where would be a good place to start.
She pointed out an eight mile loop that would take us into the hills and back eventually to where we were camping. A good start!
It was a walk through arid, dusty country that surprised us with all the blooms of spring in spite of the drought conditions. The temperatures rose to over 90 degrees each day, even though the night temperatures were down to the 40's. We were told that the drought has really held back the normal amount of flowers but we were definitely surprised by all that we saw.
Other hikes took us to Red Rock State Park and a River/lagoon walk in Dead Horse. Everywhere we looked we had a "kodak moment" and never could resist getting a shot of the rocks, birds, flowers and any other local color we saw.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Arizona!
And today will venture into Nevada, to Lake Mead National Recreational Area near Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. It will be a short overnight because tomorrow we head to LA, California to visit for the weekend with our friend Marmot. She is a woman who completed the AT the same year we did and is known as a Triple-Crowner. She has hiked all three major north/south long distance trails by herself.
We are very excited to see her tomorrow and to venture into California on Easter weekend.
Blessings to you all.
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