India's navy on maneuvers.

I agreed to join a friend at Fool Hollow Lake Recreation Area Campground, a campsite inside Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests (ASNF), AZ. Before accepting, I said to him, "Me at a campground? You have a better chance of seeing Bigfoot at a campground than me. Let me think about it." After thinking about it, I agreed to join him as the trip provided an opportunity to (1) try the Kokopelli tandem kayak, (2) challenge the battery bank (800ah), knowing it would be cold (31-39F) at nighttime, and having to use the electric heater, (3) travel an alternative segment on the AZBDR I skipped, (4) driving the east segment of the Mogollon Rim road, both inside ASNF as well, (5) another opportunity to learn and try the Relive app, and most of all, (6) more drive time for India. (7) All in anticipation of a two-week trip in Jan 2024 on the New Mexico BDR.

After leaving Phoenix, AZ late, in Globe, AZ I decided to reverse the route by taking the most direct route to Fool Hollow Lake via asphalt first and leaving the mostly dirt route for on the way back. The round-trip from Globe was 270 miles, including a side trip to find a future boondocking site on BLM in the same area.



While I have driven AZ Hwy 60/77 before, it is another unofficial scenic route that will not disappoint. Surprisingly, on this trip, highway speed was monitored by aircraft.



Not one but two F-16s made a sharp bank into the canyon in front of us and passed overhead. (Not really monitoring highway speeds but quite the surprise.)



We arrived at our reserved site after dark (34.27395, -110.06729), and after a walk around the neighborhood, we went to bed. The next day, I chatted with my friend who travels in a camper and depends on hookups, and why we were there. While I did set up the 400w portable solar panels, they barely harvested 270w the entire day due to being mostly cloudy from sunrise to sunset.



During a short sunny moment, India and I put the kayak in the lake (34.27099, -110.06745). At first, India wanted nothing to do with the kayak in the water despite her jumping in and out of it on dry ground at home. Luckily for me, as I thought she would jump out initially, India was enjoying the water shortly after being in the water. From her seat, she was even barking orders, "Row! Row! Row!" Just kidding. She did enjoy it. I guess familiarizing India with the kayak in the backyard was helpful. Until we had to climb out via a dock. India was not having it. I thought she would jump into the water before climbing onto the dock. Anyhow, after many attempts to get India out first, I got out first and lifted her onto the dock.



After waking the next day, we headed out as we had a lot of driving to do, and I also wanted to check a nearby site on BLM land (34.29361, -110.04169). Despite plenty of camping being available near Telephone Lake, AZ., the area is closed due to nesting between 1 April-1 July.



The east end of the Rim Road was a muddy mess, slipping, sliding, and very slow the first 20+ miles before the road composition changed from wet dirt mud to rocky for the last ~30 miles. Somewhat made up for lost time then, despite a bit slippery on the many curves, inclines, and descends before the end, near Gentry Campground (34.30140, -110.71298), where India and I ran around while the 4Runner aired up before asphalt again.



The asphalt was shortlived, followed by a well-maintained dirt road into Young, AZ, where I topped off with gas and, India and I shared a turkey and ham subway from Hitching Post Grab and Go (34.10621, -110.93260). I also had a chocolate chip cookie, which was really good too. Interestlingly, chocolate is toxic to dogs, yet dogs can drink lake water while kayaking without issues. But I digress.



The road from Young, AZ, to Globe, AZ, was a combination of asphalt at each end and dirt in between. You know, the twisting and winding mountainous incline and descending section. It's likely the dirt portion is a piece of cake when dry, but for us, it rained the entire time from when we left the Fool Hollow Lake campsite until reaching home in Phoenix, AZ.

Having been through this last segment as part of the AZBDR before, I wanted to stop at the Salt River Diversion Dam, AZ (33.62613, -110.93323) to use the bathroom and let India run around.



And before the two hours and some change drive home via a more mountainous twisting and winding road in the dark and in the rain and at higher speeds of asphalt between Maimi, AZ and Superior, AZ. Adding insult to injury, driving in the rain in AZ is very rare. Thus, drivers lack the driving in the rain experience, at nighttime, even worse, on unlighted twisting and winding mountainous highways, even worse than that, and worse of them all, at highway speeds, 55+mph.

Overall, a great trip. (1) The kayak was easy to take from bag to water. It handled well in the water. Light enough to carry from the water to the campsite while attending to a leash dog that, of course, had to use the bathroom and I would have to pick up after. (2) The battery bank did well without recharging, other than the 270 watts from solar which is nothing. (3) Completed an unfinished section of the AZBDR, and worth it. Even if in the rain the entire day. (4) Completed the Mogollon Rim, east to west, even if in the rain as well. (5) A better Relive video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OszOyS13C3U&t=1s

(6) Better than before but India still needs more drive time. However, she does enjoy each new location she gets to explore and smell. (7) I am looking forward to NMBDR next; fingers crossed.

Thanks for reading our trip story.

 

Very nice! I've done some whitewater rafting in the Salt River Canyon in the spring and saw some Bighorns. That section on the Rim is always fun, too.

 

You're correct. It's why I always say I'm not a survivalist because I believe in an end-of-the-world apocalypse but because I do a lot of stupid shit. Aside from being prepared for many contingencies, I am also prepared to abandon a disabled vehicle and set out on foot.

 

While whitewater is not for me, what do you use for rafting? Inflatable or rigid?

 

Inflatable is best there, since it's not very deep and there are plenty of rocks. I got launched out by a rock and took quite a dunking, but after trying to figure out which way was up, I surfaced right next to the boat and my buddy pulled me back in before my third good breath. It's been over ten years, but we'll be backpacking in Grand Gulch (UT) in the spring.

 

Look, I'm sorry, I can't help myself. Great post & pics but I'm an aviation geek and those aren't F-16s. I can't tell exactly what they are but can narrow it down to the F-22, F-35, or F-15.

 

Thanks for the info. While somewhat cool, it's also somewhat eerie sitting out in the middle of nowhere in the desert here in AZ, and suddenly, a fighter jet pops up doing a pass-over. I believe it a free show for us and for them a last target before they fly to their base.

 

By the Empennage I would say F22 Raptor, Not F35 Lighting that's single eng.

 

Hard to tell - its definitely the F-22 or F-35 but without a better zoom in I'm not sure. The best tell would be the intakes, if they are swept back F-22, if they are swept forward F-35.

If it IS an F-22, its a pretty cool sighting as they only built a couple hundred before being cancelled and are FAR less numerous in service than the F-16, F-15 or F-35.


F-22



F-35