Ronan

So far we have covered 2600 miles at a brisk pace, and have averaged 19.2 MPG. Will be interesting to contrast the return heavily loaded journey.

SToronto

Awesome trip. Going through Sedona?

Ronan

Its pretty much in my back yard, so skipped it this time.

SToronto

Oh you live down there? Awesome. AZ is amazing, have been going there for past 4 years. Staying primarily in Scottsdale.

Look forward to more pics.

Slide

thanks for the great write up and pics!

Ronan

I do not live in AZ but have been there many times, and currently have a vacation place there.

DRPM

Great journey TFS
I just watched somewhat of the same on a TV Documentary created by Billy Connolly - he had a lot of the same places and an amazing collector of guitars, banjo and the like, unbelievable.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...ike-crash.html

Ronan

I want that documentary!... We will do a few side trips in the next day or two before heading home, and will hit one to two other spots on the way back.

Ronan

We are planning to pack Sunday and head back Monday. in the meantime, a little R&R was on order, so we ran the Apache trail. Its late Spring in the desert, greener and still with some flowers. The Apache Trail does not require any special vehicle, but has amazing switchbacks and gradients in its 37 miles

The landscape made the Cayenne look tiny:






















At the beginning of the trail sits a kitschy recreation of a ghost town where a real one once stood. The vehicles, however, are real:

Ronan

We went through the town of Florence AZ, home to a very large penitentiary, and a singular museum. They have a jolly exhibit of souvenir nooses. Each noose that was used in a hanging is displayed around a photo of the person who was executed, as well as an unusual double execution chair used to treat a pair of brothers for the inaugural trip to the gas chamber in 1914. Bracing people from Florence!

pongobaz

Great stuff Ronan! Amazing how deserted all these places are.

Ronan

The entire Southwest is very lightly populated and a delight to drive in. I can be in complete wilderness 30 minutes from the house

Ronan

Well..there goes the neighbourhood...seen turning into my development this morning....

Steve Martin

love the color of those wheels.

Bahama

Thanks for sharing some amazing pictures and commentary Ronan. Spectacular history. I could swear I saw you traversing around the dirt trails in the Cayenne from about 30,000 feet.