"un-established" secretive campground discovered...

...by our friend pointing us in the general direction for a campsite after our planned spot (and 2 backups) were all found FULL. We had our camping trip planned for this past weekend for almost a month. I use the word planned very loosely, it was just scheduled into that weekend so that we didn't plan anything else. So we chose our spot to go camping last, oh, about Wednesday i guess.

Gabe and I headed up Friday night and the spot we had originally planned on staying at is absolutely gorgeous. We pulled up around 6 pm to discover this campground full, no biggie, our friend had a "secret" backup spot. We went there to check it out - it also was a wonderful location but it was right along the river and it didn't look like we could fit 2 other larger tents down there with us so we had to pass. Although the couch's spadefoot frogs were out in full force calling like they needed a mate NOW. It was spectacular -- i miss the sound of calling frogs from MN.

So we move onto a third location - also full. After having pulled off to the side of the road for dinner and discovering 3 locations that weren't going to work it was around 8:30 and we were sick of this game. We headed toward a trail head for dispersed camping - bummed about being away from water but still happy to be out. We didn't make it to the trail head and just pulled off in one of our first clearing and stayed the night. In the morning we got up to check out the rest of the drive and discover a neon green band of cottonwood trees - water! At the bottom of the road we found an un-established campground - so its still considered dispersed camping - but it has everything an established campground would have except regulations pretty much. Which can be nice at times but not if you don't enjoy heavy metal blaring for a good few hours in the morning.

It was an awesome spot and the weather was great. We had very interesting neighbors surrounding us; some of which we really wonder if they have permanent residency there. Nonetheless, it was a great weekend of weather, camping, company, and welcoming spring to be officially here (and inviting it to stay awhile). I recently had a local Arizonan, weirdly uncommon down here, tell me that no matter how long you live here - you always underestimate the summers heat. I thinks he's right and i'm soaking up spring knowing what's not too far off for us down here.

Happy Spring Everyone!