The good ol stand by. It was one of the first trails I did in Arizona over a decade ago and it still is a great one. It's gotten harder then easier and now much of it is a graded road. No matter, mother nature has a way of fixing things back to a happy medium of tough enough to be exciting and easy enough to still get through.
![photo IMG_1184.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1184.jpg)
The skys were threatening, but that's okay. This trip get's even prettier with a little snow or drizzle. Most of the trail is sand or rock so the moisture doesn't cause trucks to ruin the trail.
![photo IMG_1185.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1185.jpg)
This has been the best winter rain season I've seen in Phoenix. The desert is green!
![photo IMG_1186.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1186.jpg)
Future cabin.
![photo IMG_1189.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1189.jpg)
Don't miss this turn.
![photo IMG_1192.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1192.jpg)
Love Brian's truck. It's like watching an Elephant Tip-Toe through a china shop. Big, but amazingly graceful.
![photo IMG_1199.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1199.jpg)
Missed the shot by THAT much. About a second before this shot Brandt's right front tire was about 4.5 to 5 feet in the air and the traction control was working away to get it all to hook up. Hook up it did and the dern camera snapped just a second after that.
![photo IMG_1202.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1202.jpg)
The road behind.
![photo IMG_1203.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1203.jpg)
Some spots that used to have alternates to avoid the "difficult" spot were now the more challenging route. Road maintenance has to get done and it's a necessary thing. That being said, when I saw a dozer up here making it smooth the last time I was here it was sort of sad.
![photo IMG_1213.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1213.jpg)
Darn pumpkins. I swear sometimes they are attracted to rocks.
![photo IMG_1212.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1212.jpg)
Always seems like a Toyota commercial at this very spot.
![photo IMG_1214.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1214.jpg)
Looks like I am looking DOWN at Jon's truck. Nope, he is just that vertical while he was climbing this rock ledge.
![photo IMG_1215.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1215.jpg)
See what I mean!
![photo IMG_1216.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1216.jpg)
Easy peasy.
![photo IMG_1217.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1217.jpg)
Water flowing.
![photo IMG_1222.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1222.jpg)
My favorite sign.
![photo IMG_1231.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1231.jpg)
So many remnants of man made mines, walls, buildings etc.
![photo IMG_1233.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1233.jpg)
Special swiss cheese metal.
![photo IMG_1235.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1235.jpg)
You can see bits of the road behind, down below.
![photo IMG_1236.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1236.jpg)
As you go up, so do the trees in stature.
![photo IMG_1239.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1239.jpg)
Welcome to CK
![photo IMG_1243.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1243.jpg)
Always a welcome site on bicycle, motorcycle or truck.
![photo IMG_1244.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1244.jpg)
Main street.
![photo IMG_1254.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1254.jpg)
Lotsa dogs hanging out.
![photo IMG_1267.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1267.jpg)
Another great stop. This one is on the main "smooth" road into and out of CK.
![photo IMG_1270.jpg](http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i190/soaz/Trips%20and%20Adventures/2-3-13%20Crown%20King%20for%20lunch%20and%20shooting/IMG_1270.jpg)
If you know Cleator from even 5 or 10 years ago, you know that this town is bustling! Many more inhabited old shacks than before. I just hope they don't all go corporate! Well, that was out quickie day trip up to the Bradshaws. Never a bad trip up there and always at least 1 new thing to see.