After spending the bulk of Saturday sitting in our Best Western hotel room, doing the same thing I've been doing all week, working on final projects (my final, Final, FINAL! projects!!), it was time to get out!
We stopped at the Buffalo Bar & Grill to grab some dinner and watch some of the Nebraska vs. Texas game-we didn't really expect anything special. The first impression was that we had just walked into a biker party-where we had not been invited-but the waitstaff said have a seat, so we did. We had just about the best waiter ever-great suggestions for food (amazing buffalo burger!!), focused on how everything is made from scratch (amazing fries and Keith loved the cowboy beans), unexpectedly good beer selection-but mostly it was how nice the waiter was that made the meal. He shook our hands before we left-when is the last time that happened! If you find yourself in Payson, AZ you should most defiantly stop there! Ugh-now I'm hungry for that burger again!
I decided that I would not do any school work on Sunday-thank goodness!! First we went to
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, which is believed to be the largest natural travertine bridge in the world. The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point.
It had snowed a little bit this morning and it was pretty icy in the entrance of the bridge.
Keith had read about a hot springs that was on the way back to Winslow and after being so cold at the natural bridge, being warm sounded great-if only it was that easy! After a super bumpy 17 mile drive down in to the Verde River Canyon we were met with the below sign. At least with signs like this, you know you're at least in the right place!
What was supposed to just be a mile hike to the hot springs turned out to be a little more. It took us a few tries and maybe a mile or so of wandering around to find the sign that pointed us in the right direction. After scrambling over some boulders and more wandering around Keith bumped into (a surprisingly fully clothed) old man who informed us that we needed to cross the river to get to the hot springs-what!??! It was about 45 degrees outside and Keith thinks the water was also about 45! It was so cold it hurt-and turned my legs red!
As we got across the river, the old man was crossing to leave-so we had the whole hot springs to ourselves! The pools are all that remain of the Verde Hot Springs Hotel that burnt down in 1958.
The pool outside was about 98 degrees and the pool inside (well surrounded by 4 walls but no roof or door) was about 104. The walls surrounding the pool had been painted many times over.
Now I have to get back to business and finish the projects, I just have to get through this week!
Of all the days described, this is one I would have most liked to have joined you for. Best to you both. Charles
ReplyDeleteIt would have been so much fun if you had been there Charles! That day felt so much like being in Oregon-I can't wait to come home!
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