Verde Canyon Railroad, Wilderness Horseback trail rides and Western BBQ

Thursday, May 21st. We headed out to Clarksdale for our noon departure. This 4 hour wilderness train ride passes towering crimson pinacles, near Indian ruins, over fortified trestles, past a monocline fold and through a man made 680 foot tunnel to the Perkinsville ghost ranch. (population 12)

We traveled 1st class, beginning our journey with pours of champagne! We enjoyed sumptuous appetizers on the way out (it was a reverse trip back from Perkinsville) in comfortable seats with the option of walking out onto the next open air cars for 360 degrees photo and viewing opportunities. I spotted 2 mule deer in the distance, and just missed a bald eagle near the river which flowed along the rail trail.

Historically this rail line was tied in with the mining in the area and evolved into the Touring Passenger train it is today. It gave us a good glimpse of the countryside of the past. I sipped on a Prickly Pear Margarita on the way back.

When we returned to our campsite we made a light supper and then enjoyed a spectacular sunset

On Friday the 22nd, we had scheduled a horseback trail ride in the state park with Trail Horse Adventures. We made our way to the corral and joined up with a pair of nice wranglers, Sean and Mark. There was a crew of staff who had readied the horses for our group ride that included about 5 others. Bob was given Hawaii to ride, a lovely painted mustang, and I had Big D a chestnut quarter-horse. We had a terrific hour and a half trail ride through the mesquite and cottonwoods. We crossed the Verde River twice and skirted the edge of an old cowboy cemetery. At about the halfway point the top wrangler noticed the storm clouds in the distance but they didn't head our way. Mark mentioned that the hill we were passing by must have a record for the most lightening strikes and I was glad we were heading back. It was a fine day for a ride. After dismounting we hopped into the truck and headed about a mile outside the park to the Blazing M Ranch. We had reservations for this night's western dinner and show and we were fired up for fun!

We arrived shortly after their gate opened at 5 PM and headed directly to the Old Time Photo shop to dress up in saloon attire as dead-eyed gunslingers! I've been waiting all my life to do this with Bob and the photographer did a great job! She was all by herself without her assistant who just graduated this week and needed the night off. We didn't have to wait long and a long line formed behind us.

Then we headed over to the saloon, you guessed it! Two ice cold mugs of local brews. We were able to take them outside the saloon and walk about the old time shops. At 6:30 PM the dinner bell rang and w e all headed into the large comfortable barn to arranged picnic tables and started a nice conversation with the folks sitting with us. The chow line began and we headed through the door to the left of the stage and passed through the kitchen set up to look like a chuck wagon! It was very efficient and all the shop workers closed their shops to ladle up the tasty grub. BBQ Chicken and Baby Back Ribs, Cowboy Pinto Beans (nice and spicy) Baked Potato with fixin's Prickly Pear Coleslaw and Flyin' Bisuits. Yup extras were tossed your way upon request. Followed by Caramel-Apple Crisp a la Mode! Everything on tin plates or cups. It was pretty much all we could eat! Beverages were included but you could buy alcoholic drinks if you preferred. Then at 7:30 PM the dinner show began. It featured Western Music Association award-winning entertainers that were very talented! There was tomfoolery and surprises too. We enjoyed the show so much I would love to return. Such a beautiful night. When we emerged from the barn the cool might sky was lit up with stars and the light of a first quarter moon. I was humming the tunes in my mind as we headed back to camp and hit the sack. "Going places with smiling faces".