Relaxing at Roper

Want to find a quiet place to camp for a few days?  If so, Roper Lake State Park fills the bill.  Situated in eastern Arizona, almost to the New Mexico border, this campground is just outside of the town of Safford.  It was our destination this year for our spring camping.  We were third in our little convoy of three trailers, trailing right behind Doris.  A lot of moisture during the winter and spring provided us with views of millions of wildflowers along the way.

 Here we are, in the Cottonwood campground at Roper, like three ducks in a row!

This is a view from the other direction with the Pinaleño Mountains in the background.  The highest point is Mt. Graham, which reaches 10,720 feet.   This year, lots of storms brought an unusual amount of snow to mountains across the state, so we were able to enjoy the snow capped peaks during our visit.  The little shelters at each site were a definite plus.

A small lake attracts waterfowl and people who want to swim, fish or take their small boats out on the water.  

It is also the only place I've found and gotten photos of yellow headed blackbirds!  To say they are in abundance here is an understatement!  Flocks of them fly between the trees and cattails several times each day.  I love the contrast between their black bodies and bright yellow gold heads and breasts.

A coot looks for vegetation in the lake water....

 while the resident roadrunner nests nearby in a tree.  His natural camouflage makes him hard to spot.  We would have never found him without the help of another camper.

 The Vermillion Flycatcher was never in one spot for long.  He's a little fellow, always flitting from one tree to the next. 

The days were in the low 70's, but the cold wind made it hard to sit outside without a jacket at times.  Mornings brought beautiful sunrises like the one below.

And several evenings brought beautiful sunsets that lit up the sky like fire.  

Whatever the weather, we have fun together!