Did you notice I didn’t blog last week? Poor mom and dad got COVID again, and moms turned into another sinus infection. She wasn’t up for writing for me, so I cut her some slack. I’m such a nice boy. Thankfully this round wasn’t as severe, and they are on the mend.
Everyone felt good enough to head back to the Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. We have been
there just once, but we were impressed enough to visit again. The address is 675 Dead Horse Ranch Road in Cottonwood, AZ. It took us about 1 ½ hours from North Phoenix to arrive in light traffic. My previous blog gives you the history of the park, and don’t forget there is a $7 per car entrance fee. Dogs are welcome on leash.
This time, we parked in the picnic area straight away instead of at the first marsh. This way, we were guaranteed a covered table that would offer extra shade. The park has tons of cottonwood trees, so your chances of getting a nice spot are good. As I mentioned before, this is more of a local spot, so you won’t see the crowds. Human restrooms are in the picnic area.
We saw quite a few folks fishing on the shore and on the lake in kayaks and canoes. Since it was a cloudy day, the fish were biting! We enjoyed watching them for a while and then decided to walk around the lake. I definitely needed to stretch my legs.
The loop around this particular lake is less than a mile, but it is very scenic. Boy, the humidity was up, and for a minute, I swore we were back in Houston. We were glad the path was flat and easy as we all got warm. That humidity changes it up, and mom and I still don’t know how we survived living in Texas. Whew.
I got to say hi to quite a few other pooches out with their humans. About half way around, a fresh water 
stream feeds into the lake, and I took a quick dip. Some dogs were jumping right into the lake and chasing the poor ducks. I was more polite.
When we returned to our spot, mom got our picnic out. She made Dee McBride’s macaroni salad, and it was go-ood! We had some salami and cheese, and of course, I had my own special jerky treat. We looked up to the sky over by Mingus Mountain, and we saw nothing but black. No mountain, just dark clouds. The rumbles began, and we could see the downpour of rain cast over Jerome. Very cool to watch!
The thunder began to get louder, though, and the clouds were coming our way. We thought about staying to weather the storm, but we decided we rather beat it home and not drive in it. Highway 17 is crazy enough without rain. We packed it up, and that storm chased us home, but we made it.
The wind howled and blew our patio furniture all over the place. The clouds were creepy looking and moving incredibly fast. Then came the rain. Mom opened up our new screen doors, and Mowgli and I got to hear the drops and smell the fresh air. Nothing smells better than the desert during a rain storm. Ahhh.
As quickly as the storm came, it left but gave us one heck of a sun set. What a great day! Dead Horse Ranch State Park is easy to get to, very friendly, offers picnicking, hiking, fishing, kayaking and relaxing with the sounds of nature. It’s a great option that isn’t local for us but isn’t as far as say Flagstaff or Payson. I hope you give it a try sometime. Let me know! I hear more rain is coming. My paws are crossed.
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith, is kind enough to help me share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, executive recruiter, business consultant, coach, fitness expert, and author of nine published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Enjoy my blog at https://www.lorrainebosse-smith.com/category/kuma/kumas-great-adventures/
and be sure to follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog/ and Instagram: kumaitothedog
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
ginger stahl says
Love the descriptions, and pictures fill in beautifully!!!