Yavapai Reservation

Even before leaving home Vic saw a special opportunity on the internet to drive our Jeep on the Yavapai Reservation or Fort McDowell.  Under normal circumstances the only way to experience their reservation is to take a Yavapai-led tour in their vehicles.  This was sponsored by an adventure group that has an agreement with the Yavapai.  It sounded so much more fun to drive ourselves and sent in our reservation.

Forty-seven Jeeps met at the sponsor's adventure center.

Heading out

View looking toward Fountain Hills, AZ

The water from the fountain is clearly visible from this 3-4 miles distance.

"The eponymous fountain was built in 1970, by Robert P. McCulloch, the year before the reconstruction of the London Bridge in Lake Havasu City, another of McCulloch's projects. The fountain sprays water for about 15 minutes every hour between 9am and 9pm. The plume rises from a concrete water-lily sculpture in the center of a large man-made lake. The fountain, driven by three 600 horsepower (450 kW) turbine pumps, sprays water at a rate of 7000 gallons per minute through an 18-inch nozzle. With all three pumps and under ideal conditions, the fountain reaches 560 feet in height, though in normal operation only two of the pumps are used, with a fountain height of around 300 feet. When built, it was the world's tallest fountain and held that record for over a decade." --- Wikipedia

Through a dry streambed.

While it was interesting to be on typically unaccessible land it wasn't different than the surrounding area and was a totally tame drive. 

Following the 10-mile loop drive we were led to the inaugural Get-Your-Pig-On BBQ Competition.  The local Jeep dealer had this really cute camper to pull behind your Jeep. It's advertised to follow along anywhere that your Jeep will go.  Cute.

Sweet!  BBQ teams from all over the nation came to compete.  The slogans and grills used were often really creative.

The Pork Producers had grills going also (not the one above) with many cuts of "the other white meat", generous samples and recipes.  It was perhaps the best part of the day.