Greetings from India...

I posted this trip in the Scenic Location section, and @McSpazatron suggested posting it here to share with those "looking for road trip planning/inspiration."

India and I went on a 483+ mile loop trip of several intertwined trails of interest. We started out just southeast of Florence, AZ, then drove to Tombstone, AZ, the Chiricahua area, and ended in Mammoth, AZ. While much contented with the trip, I ended up mentally exhausted from traversing west after exiting the Aravaipa Canyon via what some call Arizona’s Rubicon Trail, National Forest Service Road 5015, aka Rug Road Trail (https://www.trailsoffroad.com/trails/1695-rug-road). The last section took two days to get through some fifty miles of relentless trail, which I would do again, just not in my vehicle.

https://www.4runners.com/threads/5th-gen-4runners-in-scenic-locations.7967/page-117#post-525277

Additionally, while my intent is not a YouTube channel, as I lack the interest, time, and skill to do so, I am trying out this Relive app to animate the trip, which some bikepackers use to share their routes as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ3undCFYOA

 

Great trip! Love the route-trace video. The satelite view really gets the imagination going on the views you’d see on the trails.

Our new pup says hi too lol.

Never thought a dog would make me post corny pet pics haha

 

I've had a dog (or two) since I was a kid, they've made me a better human. What's your doggie's name?

Found the app used by bikepackers, and I, too, like the animation of the route. The app has additional features I am learning.

 

Like my friend @McSpazatron, I've enjoyed your posts. We have had to cancel/postpone some trips due to my health, but in the meantime yours and McSpazatrons
journey's fill that void until I can hit the trail. Nice pooch Carlos, will he/she be a traveler like India?

 

Not sure if she’ll be a traveller yet, but I’m fine if she isn’t. I haven’t had her in the car much by myself…she’s too much of a mama’s girl right now lol. But when mama is around, she seems to enjoy car rides!

@Getuponit I’m hoping you can start checking off some of your postponed trips as your health allows! And who knows, maybe even do another meetup! All the best to you!

By the way, have either of you traveled though the national forest on the eastern end of Ohio? @Getuponit if I recall, isn’t that near your stomping grounds? Possibly doing a trip to the Dayton Air Force museum this summer, and the NF may not be super far away from there. @The Knitted Brow, have you had any travel in that area?

 

She had the name Fiona when my wife decided to adopt her. It stuck!

I’ve only had one other pet back as a kid when I lived in PR. Only lasted a short time since the dog liked to eat chicken and eggs. Namely, the ones in the back yard. My dad would not stand for that lol.

Growing up in a warm place made me see dogs as “outside”animals. I think that was subconsciously holding me back from the idea of a dog in the cold north. But it works out nicely that Fiona is a little shrimp, she almost could count as a hamster haha. Perfect inside dog if you ask me!

 

All of our Boxers loved to travel. One of them, Oscar, would put his hind legs on the back seat to stick his head out the moon roof; it didn't matter to him we were driving 55mph down the highway. We would see oncoming traffic pointing at Oscar with his head outside. Duke traveled with me through every country in Central America on our way to Yaviza, Panama, near the Damien Gap. Abby was My Life's [sic] companion, but when Abby got a chance, she joined Duke and me as well. All three of them traveled coast to coast and beyond both borders. India prefers to travel if she can sit on My Life's [sic] lap. However, I am determined to make her a travel companion of mine. I call it Forced Love.

Being a native New Yorker, I have traveled to the East Coast, such as the New York to Florida corridor, including Ohio, to visit family, a number of times from Arizona and before from Texas. Other than a planet alignment opportunity to go across the USA from San Diego, CA to Calais, ME, to visit a number of presidential libraries along the way (including President Rutherford B. Hayes' library in Fremont, OH.), I have no plans to return to the East.
Rutherford B Hayes

Duke kept his name from the shelter too. In part because he was deaf and didn't answer to Duke anyway. We changed the names of others, including India, for no reason.

Are you Boricua too? Asking for a friend.

 

Lol, boxers are pretty cool dogs. I had an uncle that had a beautiful one. First dog I really bonded with, or it was just friendly to everyone lol. Even if I decided to get a boxer, I don’t think I have the energy or discipline to keep one well exercised, and the winter weather up sucks enough for me, much less for a dog with a thin coat that probably does best playing outside a lot.

And yes lol, Boricua, central mountain range. Left when I was a little kid. Still went down there frequently through my childhood and when my kids were still kids.

 

Boxers are a German breed, they prefer cold. On the other hand, hot climates are tough for them because of their short nose.

Boxers are the clowns of the dog world. Oscar's title was Ambassador of Aloha. He wanted to meet and play with everyone. Until things got serious, and then he took the role of guardian. While my parents did not live with us, Oscar was very protective of them when they visited, or he visited them, especially with my mom. Abby was a trained and certified Therapy Canine who visited patients in the hospital. She had a switch that clicked on when in that role. At home, a totally different dog and back to being a clown. It was hard to believe how seriously Abby took the Therapy Canine role. Despite her presence, she put folks, especially kids in the emergency department, at ease and was praised a lot for it. Duke, forget it. He walked around like he was all that and a bag of chips. He knew his presence was intimidating enough, and that is why I took him with me to Central America. But when no one was looking, Duke was a gentle giant baby.

Boxers have crazy energy that does not wane with age and require lots of exercise to burn it off. Otherwise, they will chew through sheetrock to burn it off themselves. Scouts honor. Oscar was an incredible athlete, running, jumping, swimming, climbing, and many more incredible feats of surprise if we didn't entertain him before he entertained us. So yes, lots of exercise. Duke was the opposite, which is very rare for Boxers; he could sleep in all week if you let him.

Newyorican here. Born and raised in NY. My parents are from Jauna Diaz, PR.

Enjoy Fiona; those Chihuahuas are a handful too.