4 April 2012: We left Tortilla Flat FS campground this morning and headed a whole 15 miles east to Apache Lake area. But those 15 miles are pretty interesting. It is a very narrow and steep road in many places with single lane bridges. We made the trip last year and enjoyed it as much this year. Can’t hook up the jeep while we drive it though. Just too many sharp bends and it tends to push you going downhill. We camped on a ridge looking down on part of Apache Lake. Went to down to the lake and put in our kayak in a no wind calm water morning. Just after noon the wind picked up and a few white caps showed up. We turned around a little bit early and thank goodness the wind was a tail wind all the way back to the beach.
A pair of eared grebes.
These guys are pretty successful fishermen. We seen quite a few with minnows in the beaks.
Putting in at Lake Apache.
View from Connie's perspective of the "painted" cliffs.
View from our camp with Apache Lake in the distance.
The fairy dusters are blooming pretty good.
Our camp.
3 April 2012: We went out on a nice kayak today. The weather was much better than yesterday – warmer and very little wind. We explored mostly the west end of the lake as we had not been in that area before. Got to see the Mormon Dam which holds the Salt River back and forms Canyon Lake. Went up a number of fingers of the lake and got to see a lot of birds. This area is a bird watchers paradise.
A cactus wren on it's way to building a nest.
This European house sparrow has a nest in a saguaro with a nice view.
A pied-billed grebe let us get pretty close. This is the first one I have seen here.
Looks like a grey squirrel to me.
Our lunch spot.
The Mormon dam holds the water in Apache Lake.
A blue heron coming in for a landing.
2 April 2012: We started out to go kayaking this morning, but when we got to the lake there were whitecaps on the water and frankly it was just to cool to be out there. We opted to go hiking instead. You can just head out into the desert and walk as far as you want or can. Sometimes cliffs and drop offs get in your way, but you can just adjust your heading and go in another direction. They have had more moisture around here than down by Ajo. The ocotillos have leaves on them here where as in the Ajo area they were leafless. The cholla are not blooming as much here though. But we did see a couple of prickly pears with blossoms on them.
Hike we did instead of kayaking.
This guy was hanging out around the marina.
The colors around here are unusual.
Click to enlarge to see the carp hanging out near the restaurant. Compare to the size of the ducks.
Pretty flowers every where.
1 April 2012: Drove to Canyon Lake area and are staying in the Tortilla Flat Forest Service Campground. We stayed here last year and this is a good place to camp. With the Senior or Golden Age Pass it is very reasonable: $3.00/day. There is water and sewer but no electricity. This is not a problem for us as we have our solar panel which provides all the power we need. Kayaking at the lake and hiking in the desert – what more could a couple from Montana want?
The drive down here was pretty good except there was some wind – headwind and then a crosswind. Must be the spring of wind this year.
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