Camping this weekend

[AZsix]

We are heading to Cave Creek Regional Park in (of all places) Cave Creek, AZ. Temps are supposed to be in the mid 90's and we don't have A/C so that shows you what serious (or is that stupid?) campers we are. Friday night they have "Bug Theater" for the kids. They are supposed to bring flashlights to illuminate the flying insects and the ranger will help them identify them. Saturday morning they have "Critters of Cave Creek" where they have animals that are native to the park such as a tarantula, a king snake and scorpions. My kids love insects and animals so they are really looking forward to it.

It will be hot during the day but the nights will be fantastic! If it gets too hot we can always drive into town and get an ice cream.

This will probably be our last trip before the end of the month when we head go to the Grand Canyon.

I will take pictures of the park and write a quick review when I get back.

[PattieAM]

Have a great trip.

[BootheBunch]

Sounds like a lot of fun!  Enjoy!

Lisa

[BuddyBear]

Eeeyoow, BUGs :p
Sounds like a great weekend.
We went to a couple of the Forest Service programs last summer
at Canyon Point CG, fantastic, they do a really good job of entertaining and educating,
had a blast, and the kids really love it too..

Have fun and stay cool
BB

[CajunCamper]

A weekend camping in 90 degree weather is better than a weekend working in 90 degree weather.

Have a great time.

CajunCamper

[MomboTN]

This will probably be our last trip before the end of the month when we head go to the Grand Canyon.

When you go to the Grand Canyon (or any other National Park) make sure the kids do the Jr. Ranger Program.  The kids have fun and they are very educational.  They are designed for kids of all ages up to about 13-15 depending on the park.  They will get a certificate or patch when they do their assignments.

[dras]

Have fun Gary! I'm thinking about heading over to the Show Low area this weekend. Still nice and cool over there (maybe a little too cool at night). Good chance to check out the repair on my furnace.

[AZsix]

Well we survived the weekend with only minor injuries to two of the kids. Since there was no loss of life I will consider it a successful trip.

We made it just a few minutes after "Bug Theater" started Friday night and got the last camping spot to boot. The ranger had a tarantula and four scorpions )three different types). My son also found a scorpion in the lot next to the demonstration which turned out to be yet another kind of scorpion, a striped scorpion. They saw all kinds of moths and other flying creatures creatures.

The weather was perfect for sleeping Friday night. Saturday the kids played at the playground before heading over to the "Creatures of Cave Creek" program. He had a diamondback rattle snake, a desert tortoise, the tarantula and the scorpions and two king snakes. He also helped us identify an insect that we found crawling on the back of my shirt. My wife suggested leaving it on so the ranger could tell us what it was. It turns out it was called a blister beetle. I had never heard of them or seen them. They do have some toxins in their tails that will leave about a two inch blister on your skin should it make contact with you. I'm glad now that we didn't leave it on my back! They are black and bright orange and there is also a yellow blister beetle which we saw today on our hike. It was in the low 90's so in the afternoon we took a drive to a Denny's about 5 miles away and had some ice cream sundaes. The kids wanted to go to the playground again and when we got back it turns out that my son who was the last one out of the pup didn't shut the door tight and we came back to find a cactus wren inside. It took us a few minutes to chase him out and the kids thought that was pretty funny.

We had a great time around the fire last night. We have on person start a story and everyone takes turns adding to it. My twin boy was in rear form last night and had us all in stitches. The weather last night was gorgeous. I started off on top of the blankets with one flap open before waking, closing the flap and getting under the blanket. During the night the wind picked up big time. The canvas on the pup was really flapping.

We took a hike this morning on the "Clay Mine Trail" that leads past the Clay Mine. It was started as a gold mine though no gold was found. The woman that bought it used the clay that she found to make a "cure all" elixir that she sold. It didn't cure anything but dysentery. The sign said she made a fortune off of it that her descendants still enjoy.

The camp ground was nice, well kept and clean. You park on pavement which was a little disappointing but there was a fire ring with grill and a picnic table to go along with the water and elec. hookups. There is a dump station on site with two lanes. The showers though clean didn't have any electric outlets nor did the bathrooms. I thought that was odd. The cost was $20 a night. All and all it was a great weekend and someplace that I would definitely go back to. I will get some pictures up as soon as I can.

[CajunCamper]

Wow sounds like a great trip. You got me all fired up and ready to make a trip myself. Oh by the way, I'm with you, I hate it when my site has pavment or asphalt, sort of gives you the feel of being in your driveway and then there's that drop off from the pavement to the ground. I like dirt, sand, or gravel.

CajunCamper

[AZsix]

There was one thing I forgot to mention. Saturday as the kids and I were returning from getting our ice creams we were pulling into the cg when a dirt devil made it's way through. It did a direct hit on a tt and tour it's awning partially off. Talking to them later I found out it was only their second trip with the trailer. Not a great way to start with a new tt.

For those that may not know what a dirt devil is (besides the vacuum cleaner) they are quite common here in AZ. They are like mini tornadoes that are whipped up by the heat. They get their name because in the sand of the desert it picks up the dirt and it looks just like a tornado. They can be very strong. I have had one hit my car going down the road and I've had to hold on to keep from being blown out of my lane.

[AZsix]

Here are some pictures from out weekend at Cave Creek Regional Park, AZ.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sixinaz/CaveCreekTrip

[wavery]

Here are some pictures from out weekend at Cave Creek Regional Park, AZ.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sixinaz/CaveCreekTrip

You've got a good looking brood there Gary.

Thanks for sharing.

Wayne

[Shepherd]

Thanks for sharing the trip.  Looks like a nice place to relax.