The Apache Trail

Finally ... we arrive at end of the trail - The Apache Trail.

This is rugged country. The Apache Trail is billed as a "scenic drive", but I'm sure there are folks who might challenge that. So if this kind of hilly desert country isn't your cup of tea, and the slow (often only going 5 or 10 miles an hour) drive for three hour (or more) over a gravel road that it pretty rough in places, then you might want to do something else. But we braved it ... and it was pretty good.

Below: a sketch of the topography.

Below: a bit more detail of local sights.

and Roosevelt Dam.

Apology for the lack of photos along the Trail.

All in all, a great experience ...

Goldfield Ghost Town

MFW: Warning: some information posted here may be contrived, fabricated, exaggerated, outright lies, ... or attempted humor.

After The Mining Camp Restaurant Rose and I headed toward The Apache Trail ... until I spotted a rather unusual looking venue called Goldfield Ghost Town. What the hell, I wanted to get some water anyway ... 

Seems somebody rounded up a bunch of old buildings, wagons, mining equipment etc. and built this Western Town.  Turned out to be rather interesting and fun.

Goldfield Ghosttown has a A nice little gift shop and confectionery.

Below: See that guy standing on the rock? He stood there for 10 minutes, texting somebody - and me without my gun.

Below: Local wildlife ...

The water tower ... and vultures ...

Below: Goldfield Ghosttown Coffee Cantina and Bakery

Below: Rose resting at the Antique Photography place ...

Below: Yodelling or yawning ??
We'll never know.

Below: Goldfield Saloon
What's the difference between a bar and a saloon?
I can walk past a bar.

Below: Rose at the Goldfield Walmart

Below: Rose in front of the Goldfield Bordelo.

What's the difference between a bordello and a brothel?
Answer: Who cares? (just kidding)

Below:
Behind the bordello I met Dutch, the town tarantula.

Somebody has definitely been feeding Dutch.

Below: Goldfield's Boot Hill is also behind the bordello.
Think about it.

Not everybody dies with their boots on.

Below: After the bordello we figured we outta go to church.

Twice.

Below: the big nuggets are stashed out back.

Below: At the jailhouse. The possee will never look for me here.

Finally ...

Below: Goldfield Ghosttown Bar and Eatery
is an interesting Western style bar with a nice patio deck
and a view of Superstition Mountain.

How duz a guy get a drink around here?

Just sit at the bar.
________________________________________________________

Next: Apache Trail ...

The Apache Trail Circle Route

There's gold out here all right ...
but maybe it's not in the ground.

After Rose and I escaped Yuma, we bolted across the Sonoran Desert to Phoenix - stopping briefly to gas up our steed and grab a quick milkshake at Dateland oasis.

Come morning Rose had a hankering to go exploring and found a old map of a thing called The Apache Trail Circle Route. I figured (wrongly again ) that this would be just a nice drive amongst some touristy venues in the area ...

Imagine my surprise to find that it turned out to be thousands of miles of driving through sweltering desert over razor sharp boulders in rattlesnake, scorpion, and Indian infested wilderness ... to nowhere.

OK, OK ... I'm exaggerating ...

Things started well ...

Superstition Mountain 

Seems that Apache Trail starts near Superstition Mountain - a nice happen-stance as I always wanted to see that. And as you can tell by the map (above) there is a lot of tourist venues in the area - including Superstition Museum,  Lost Dutchman State Park ... etc. Many other attractions are not even on our map.

Jutting up out of the desert landscape Superstition Mountain is indeed an impressive and imposing sight. I can imagine many tales and legends surrounding it - even if the famous Dutchman and his legendary gold mine never existed.

The Mining Camp Restaurant

Rose and I were getting lost ... we didn't have a map. So we turned into the first likely looking place to get one. It was called
The Mining Camp Restaurant.

Inside we found a nice gift shop and a large Western style restaurant.

We picked up our map and took a few pics outside.

The Prospector's Mill ... has seen a better day.

Some of the old mining equipment was interesting ...

Coming up ... Goldfield Ghost Town and Apache Trail