Hiking in Saguaro Nat. Park

 Today we got together with my old Cowboy friends, Greg & Terri (Black Canyon Pete & Tucson Tess) who now live here in Tucson.  They took us on a great hike among the Saguaro on the east side of the city in Saguaro National Park.  The hike was fairly level and surrounded by huge Saguaro in every direction.  We did around 5.5 miles.  We even found a bit of WATER in a couple washes.  It didn’t seem that warm but it was the first day I hiked in a T-shirt.

We all stopped at a restaurant on the way back for some burgers.  Skye was very happy to see us and now thinks its time to play and play and play.

Tucson, the museum

 The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a wonderful place.  It is our third visit and we are still seeing new things.  Not sure we have seen it all yet.  We missed several things we have seen before.  Unfortunately we were too late for the “Free Flight” Raptor show where they have several of their big birds out on a free flying exhibit.  It is quite a sight with hawks of various types flying over the people, sometimes very low.  

We saw the mountain lion up very close.  It was sunning on a rock right beside a view window.  Then Grey Wolf, Coyote, Javalina, Ocelot, numerous birds and some snakes.  And tons of cactus & succulents of the Sonora Desert.

That took most of the day.  Didn’t do much else except a couple long walks with Skye.  And of course a long play session with her after supper.

Tucson

 We made a leisurely departure from HVR this morning, then a 4 hour drive to Tucson.  That is a very scenic portion of I-10, lots of flat open desert in NM then rising up to the mountains in Arizona.  Even the Continental Divide at 4585’ looks flat in NM.  The Chiricahua Mountains appear first right after leaving Lordsburg NM.  They are snow capped now.  Then our old friend Mt Graham appears shortly after entering AZ.  It is also snow capped.  Once further into AZ the view starts to see more and more mountains with some corresponding grade changes.  

Once settled into the Pima County Fairgrounds RV Park we set out for some shopping, dog food (we hadn’t found her brand so went to a pet store), got haircuts and bought more groceries for the boondocking coming next.

We have made contact with my old cowboy friends for a hike on Tuesday.  

The Continental Divide on I-10

We met these two guys hauling used cars from MN to AZ, they had been through some snow so they made a snowman at the AZ Welcome Ctr.

The 1947 coupe they were hauling

Some dust in the distance

Texas Canyon just east of Benson AZ

Mt Graham

On our way home from shopping Carlene caught this sunset with the silhouette of an Air Force boneyard in the foreground

Deming 3 & Cowboy

 Cowboy day!  Roy knew of a small shoot back near Las Cruces.  Carlene and Skye went along too. I haven’t shot since October so it was good to get some practice.  I needed it.  11 shooters counting Roy and me. They had it set up similar to some of the more challenging stages that we’ll have next month at EOT, a little longer distance to targets. A few of them are going too. 

Tonight we had quail for dinner.  Tom had 10 from the recent weeks of hunting so Carol cooked them up for Roy and us. Delicious!

Then we are presently in the clubhouse to write this while listening to a couple resident musicians.  They are kind of casual professionals who have a few CDs out. The last item I put on here was a piece with their dog accompanying.

Last night here; we’d stay longer but our site is rented for the next couple nights  On to Tucson  

Deming 2

 We each had a fine day doing different things.  I went on a quail hunt with 4 other guys (and 4 bird dogs). They got 5 birds and I got a bunch of photos.  It was a lot of fun watching the dogs work.  Such energy and enthusiasm.  

Carlene went hiking with Skye all around the ranch. Carlene had fun and Skye is tired. 

Roy has his propane campfire going so I’m going to be brief and go hang out. 

Watering the dogs. Jerry has a camelback (water bag) and runs water for his dogs to drink. 

Deming NM

 Sunny but cold. Sounding familiar now. 

Quick one today. The only signal is in the clubhouse here at Hidden Valley Ranch.  We are about 11 miles out of town on a long gravel road.  Very nicely isolated. 

Met up with my friend Roy and his friend Tom.  Tom lives here full time. Roy is headed to EOT same as I am.  They are going quail hunting tomorrow and we are going along for the fun of it.  Tom has a good bird dog that we want to watch. 

Kansas City Southern

Road to the ranch

Kicking up a little dust

Here we are!

On the road again, Van Horn TX

 Apparently this is day 16.  How time flies!

We had a deliberately slow start today. Did some repacking in the camper garage, got propane etc.  Since we had less than 200 miles to drive we had time for that.  

Very nice drive up to Van Horn TX, it’s a road we have traveled a few times. Some very long straight places, like up to 10 miles where you could tie a rope to the wheel and read a book. Makes for relaxed driving and sightseeing.  And to round it out there are hills and curves going into Alpine TX. Nice town. We have both commented about its size and appeal.

Once in Van Horn we bought a new spare tire and some food & fuel. All set to go again tomorrow.  We’ll spend a couple nights at Hidden Valley Ranch in Deming NM, that’s about 200 miles from here.  

The guy I talked with when buying the tire said they had a half inch of snow here yesterday night.  Nothing to show for it now.

It’s getting more sparse out in west Texas 

If I recall, this is a Border Patrol observation blimp

Downtown Van Horn, big wide roads

The Wild West RV Park

Last hiking day in BBNP

 But it was a fine (chilly!) day for a hike.  The wind was tremendous here at camp in the morning.  Carlene could barely hold the door from ripping out of her hands when she tried to open it.  It was not easy for me either!  But we got packed up and headed for the park.

We went up the Laguna Meadows Trail from Chisos Basin.  OK, now I’ll explain that.  Chisos Basin is a high altitude lodge and campground in Big Bend, like 5400 feet.  The highest developed area in the park.  Many of the best rails originate there, like one to the park’s highest peak.  We did that in 2017.  In 5 visits to BB we have duplicated very few hikes.  Today’s hike took us up a nice smooth footpath with lots of switchbacks to a ridge at 6683’.  6.7 miles round trip.  Along the way we met 3 young guys from Houston with whom we talked for quite a while.  Mostly about hiking.  Met another young woman who had camped out last night.  Must have been kind of cool up there.  There was one other couple who passed us on their way down and another guy who was apparently on his way up to camp out at almost 4 PM.  We thought that was a bit late, but it’s light until almost 7.

Snow!

This big boy lives next to our campground.  I’ve meant to take his photo for a long time.