Odometer: 113,930
6:20 time to get up. 8:00 on Hwy 260 west driving through highland forest and meadows. It’s cool but sunny on this Monday morning.
We turn left into a 50 miles long gravel road along the Mongolian Rim. Two detours to Bear and Knoll Lakes add another 15 miles. It is beautiful up here but unfortunately we don’t see any animals other than some squirrels. Shortly before the end of the gravel road Marco is driving into a smaller side road, and guess what we see – elks, one huge male and a female with two kids. A wonderful sight. A bit further down the same road we spot another group of four.
The sky is overcast on our way back to Phoenix and the temperatures are rising within about an hour driving from comfortable to very hot.
In Chandler we get a nice suite at the Marriott for USD 38 after showing our receipt from two days ago. Today we have dinner at a nice Italian restaurant. And….. a Frappucino for dessert.