Two Posts Today.

 

I didn’t get to post yesterdays parody of the area, so it’s two for the price of one, today.  Seriously, I could get to really like this part of the Country during this time of year.  Most of the crowds are gone and other than our gathering area the desert is sparsely populated.  Sally and I headed out this morning to climb part way up Dome Rock and visit some old mines.  We’re heading up there.

Lots of these around to put a hurt on you.

Someone left behind their fireplace.  Lots of work went into it.  Too bad they didn’t burn their garbage.

Abandoned pit.

The real deal.

                              

                         

We didn’t enter as it looked like it would be home to critters that crawled, and bite, and sting.  From there we started the most difficult part of the climb toward a much larger tailings pile.

Taking a breather.

Once there, we found the entrance to that mine had been blown to prevent entry.  There may be some good stuff still in there.

Quite windy today, so it was a wonderful morning for a hike in the desert……jc

Quartzite

 

Here we are camped in the desert of Southern Arizona.  Only 10-15 miles from the California border.  A desolate spot of sand and rock a few miles from the town of Quartzite.  Most of the crowd from a few weeks ago has departed the area, leaving only tire tracks and abandoned fire pits as witness to their being here.

The view from our window.

There are already thirty or so Casita’s, Scamps, and assorted other fiberglass rv’s scattered around us.

Life can be tough here in the shadow of Dome Rock

Some find sleep helps with the feelings of being overwhelmed. Especially by the bright blue skies and almost endless horizons.

Others try and cope by different means.

Whatever it takes to make it through the day is worth it. Especially when the reward is something like this.

More, later….jc

Tucson

we moved on to the Tucson area for a couple of days.  Lots to see and do there but we didn’t make our way around to much.  The Gem and Mineral show, billed the largest in the World, was going on and so we headed for the hills.  First stop was the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Quite a place.

Filled with all kinds of animals in as close to their natural environment as possible.  There were mountain lions, napping.

Mexican wolves pacing their quarters,  Finally got a picture of both standing still for a moment.  Beautiful animals.

 

And Lynx.

Lots of these guys, too.

 

There was an aviary with over 40 local species represented.  I took pictures of a couple of unusual ones.

 

Who would think there would be an aquarium in the desert of Arizona.  Seahorses and eels.

 

From the museum, we traveled on the Western unit of Saguaro National Park.  I love these guys.

Home to many varieties of critters.

                            

Also home to some unique rock art from hundreds of years ago.  They aren’t sure who did it, or what it means, but was an unusual find for the day.

From there, we headed on back to the rv park.  We later made a trip to the grocery store for a weeks supplies.  Heading for the Quartzite area to meet up with other FGRV owners for a few days.  Stay tuned…..jc