Arches National Park

Moab, Utah - April 11, 2018 - Loving Arches National Park!

Way cool place.  Nothing that 150 million years of sculpting won't accomplish!

Outrageous rock walls, fins, flakes, spires, etc...

Balancing Rock

Connie hiking the ledge to Delicate Arch

Native American Petroglyphs

Broken Arch (aka Flat Foot, ha ha "fallen arches")

Pine Tree Arch

It was hard to drive this road, it was all so beautiful.

Snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the background

Double Arch

Skyline Arch

Delicate Arch

On the Road - Petrified Forest National Park

April 9, 2018 - Near Holbrook, AZ - Petrified Forest National Park

At the end of a long drive, we checked into our room in Holbrook, then headed up I-40 to Petrified Forest National Park.  The region features 1,500 sq. miles of Painted Desert and the park has thousands of Petrified tree fragments.  Pretty Cool Stuff!

Gateway to Holbrook

Painted Desert

Scattered tree fragments

Cool colors

A photogenic buddy

Gilbert Ray - End of season Potluck Parties

March 29, 2018 - Gilbert Ray Campground - Tucson Mountain Park, Tucson, AZ

We're finishing up another great season campground hosting here and wanted to share some photos from the recent:  Staff/Host Potluck Lunch (and host send-off for Billy!), and a Sonoran Soiree evening hosted by Tim at his beautiful ramada!

After the pulled pork slider lunch.

Tim's amazing B-day cake!

Tim making music!

Hiking in Sedona!

March 14, 2018 - Tucson Mountain Park, Tucson, Arizona

Took a getaway trip up to Sedona last week.  The hiking and scenery were just wonderful.  Overly crowded, tourist mecca, covered w/resort hotels otherwise.  Home to Spiritual energy vortexes and other stuff.  Here are some snaps from our hike up this wonderful box canyon, Boynton Canyon, home to an energy vortex said to balance Yin and Yang energy.

Enjoying a snack and a drink at the head of the canyon

And other hikes on other days, above and around town.

Overlooking town.

And in a different direction

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Red Rocks Everywhere!

Skeletons in the Desert

February 23, 2018 - Organ Pipe National Monument, near Lukeville, AZ

Even in death these cacti bring beauty to the desert.

Organ Pipe Cactus, still w/skin

Organ Pipe Cactus blown over

Chain Fruit Cholla

Saguaro woody ribs

Saguaro still with arms

Saguaro standing tall

Saguaro trellis

Slumping Saguaro

Nature and the Xmas spirit in the desert

January 1, 2018 - Tucson, AZ

Now that we've landed in our new campsite at Gilbert Ray Campground, Tucson Mountain Park, Tucson, AZ had to share some nature shots from the last week, and a Xmas event at Tumacacori National Historical Park (about an hour south of here).

Parking the R-Pod at Site A-44

Connie in the desert

Senor Dancing Saguaro

Rare Crestate Saguaro off the Yetman trail, Tucson Mountain Park

And if you're really paying attention Baby Saguaro

Cholla on the trail

Black throated sparrows at our water bowl

Took a day to run up to Phoenix for a quick visit with the Cooks

Cool moth!

Weather has been so warm (15 deg above normal) snakes are coming back out.

Wanted to do something on Christmas Eve.  Ended up visiting Tumacacori National Historic Park for a neat Luminaria event, the park, and the historic Mission there were lit up with thousands of Luminaria.  Pretty impressive!  All that and hot chocolate and cookies afterwards!

Waiting in line with 500 of our closest friends!

Luminaria in the Mission