The Journey To The Center of The State

Here's just a quick note "for the record."  Yesterday we learned that The Journey To The Center of The State (JCS) is officially a GO.  It's a very complex story so we will have to write about various aspects of it over the next few weeks.  The story actually begins back in the 1990's.  It's taken numerous twists and turns over the years.  Here's the gist of it:  A few people will launch April 5 from Childs, Arizona, on a five day Verde River trip.  On April 6th, we will venture away from the river into the Mazatzal Wilderness to find a point marking the longitude and latitude of the geographical center of the State of Arizona.  We plan to have a ceremony of some sort at that spot and to place some sort of a marker or register box that's kosher according to Wilderness regulations.

The trip will be an official US Forest Service river trip.  Dexter Allen will be in charge.  Ace Reporter Steve Ayers will be along as Expedition Scribe.  Chip Norton will be de facto Major Domo.  We're going along because everyone blames me for being "The Prime Instigator" of the trip.  That's the only thing they call me these days is "The Prime Instigator."  Maybe can get them to make me Expedition Chaplain. Maybe I could deliver an Invocation at The Center of The State.

Unfortunately, Wayne Ranney can't come.  If he was along, we could rest lot more comfortably knowing we had an official Expedition Geologist.  After dutifully dedicating the Center of The State, we will move on downstream, reaching the far side of Horseshoe Reservoir about lunch on April 9th.  We ought to be back here at 2CR around campfire time that day.

Anyway, there's much to tell about this saga-in-the-making.  The ball is definitely rolling.  The trip is definitely going to happen.  The die is cast.

Have a great day & Many Cheers, jp