I had scheduled posts while I was gone, but I was out of town from Sunday through Wednesday up at Christopher Creek in Arizona in the tall pines beside the eponymous stream.  We stayed once more at Christopher Creek Lodge.  The last time we went, we were snowed in with a freak storm.  This time, we were rained on by a freak rain storm.  I told them that if they ever need moisture, invite us to come up and stay.  Our house here in North Phoenix received 2.64 inches of rain the first day we were gone and the freeway was shut down due to flooding.  So, it was probably worse rain if we had stayed home.

Arizona has the largest stand of P0nderosa Pine in the world.  Across the state stretches a divide called the Mogollon Rim.  In the pine country, we were over one mile high, just over 5,500 feet where we stayed so it was nice and cool and pretty.  A great break from the ghastly heat of this summer in Phoenix.

We brought the Hounds of the Bradleyvilles with us this time, fierce, ferocious creatures – all three of them.  My wife took the dogs on so many walks, they were actually tired.  Our youngest two dogs are pretty rambunctious, but in this picture, they had gone for walks and ran around the enclosed dog park until they were too tired to even look up at the camera.

Barclay the Shi-tzu left, Peanut the Pekingnese right.

Our older dog is about 17 years old now and she skipped out on some of the running.

Heidi the Papillon

Here is a picture of Christopher Creek by our cabin.  It was running brown with mud from all the rain run-off the first day, but this is the third day when it was clear again.

Thanks to the nice folks at Christopher Creek Lodge!