This is a cholla cacti field where we go to find pieces of dead cholla we can bring home and use for the crafts we do. We look like we are dressed for winter but it was early in the day and it can be cool in the desert. I also wasn't over my cold so was making sure it didn't get worse!
This was after we had found enough cholla and we went for a short ride to find a nice sunny spot to stop and have lunch. One of my favorite passtimes is to pack a lunch and go out in the desert for a picnic.
The next week we decided to try a new ride to Bulldog Canyon. This ride is in Tonto National Forest so the fellows had to go to the National Forest headquarters to register and get a 6 month pass to ride in the park.
This was the parking area where we unloaded our rigs to begin our ride. There was also a group of horse people unloading their horses as this area is also popular for horse back riding.
They keep all the trails locked and when you register and get your pass, they give you the code numbers for the locks for each month of the pass and the code changes monthly. Doug is unlocking the gate here.
This was the sign telling us about the trail we are about to go on. We had neen told the trail was easy and the scenery beautiful, so we were hoping.
Doug is helpig Craig unload his rig, our cargo trailer is in the background. We were the first one's there so we were already unloaded and ready to go. It was about a 35 minute ride north of our place to get here.
We are just heading out on the road. It is an absolutely beautiful day but still a bit cool as it is early in the morning.
The scenery is gorgeous, there are a few cacti: saguaro and buckhorn chollo mostly so very different from the desert we often ride in.
Lots of sandstone hills that are carved by the wind and rain
Every corner we went around had an even more interesting hill
You can tell it is a national forest and protected area: the cacti are so healthy here
The mountains in the background were spectacular
Loved this funny shaped butte in the distance
This is the butte from a bit distant, yellow in colour and almost devoid of vegitation. That is Craig and Sharon riding ahead of us
This is the butte up close
We come around the corner and you can see Weaver's Needle in the distance. This is the mountain peak in the distance that is quite pointed in shape. You can usually see it in the distance all over the valley as it is so uniquely shaped.
Came around another corner and there was a large White Breasted hawk sitting on a branch watching us
This rock formation has a hole on the left side near the top and looked neat in person. Not quite so spectacular on film I'm afraid!
A little chipmunk is sitting on the left side of the top of the rock watching us as we set up for lunch. I figure he is hoping we feed him also!
We are sitting enjoying the sun and good food! Notice the two old foggies sitting in the shade. The rest of us are enjoying the sun. Doug says he will never get skin cancer!
Doug and Craig sitting in the shade of Craig's machine
While we were eating lunch, a group of horse back riders went by on three beautiful horses
Doug and I took a little side trip down a back trail after lunch and found a beautiful wash that had a bit of water in it. The other two couples were too lazy sitting in the sun and didn't want to move yet so we went off exploring on our won
It was a beautiful little valley, very green and lush considering we haven't had any rain for a month!
We drove through the wash for a bit and then decided we had better turn around or our group would think we got lost. They all agreed the next time we do Bulldog Canyon, we would explore this trail and see how far it goes
We are heading back to where we left our truck and trailers so the mountain views are different but just as pretty
You can see Weaver's Needle mountain from a different perspective when going in this direction
We all marveled at how lush and green the desert was with no rain for so long. The desert soil is just made for capturing and holding water for everything to be so green and healthy. I think we were on 33 days of no rain at this point. The month of January has been consistantly at least 10 degrees F above normal for this time of year so all the plants are way ahead of themselves to what they normally are. We are all very afraid there won't be as good a show of flowering cacti and wild flowers this spring because they rely on the winter rains for this to happen and we just haven't had the rain
Many people think Arizona deserts are flat and sandy but not so! Lots of beautiful mountains and lush landscapes
On our way back Doug and I convinced everyone to try another side road because we could see metal shining in the distance and thought maybe there was an old mine up the trail to explore. We have just arrived at the end of the trail to see what the sturcture is
You can see the metal fence surrounding the site
Turns out it is an old water catchment system. There is a large surface of sheet metal down the bank with a pipe and the cystern at the bottom to catch the rain. We figure maybe there was a ranch back here at one time and they used the water for cattle or a homestead. Quite ingenious
This is what the scenery looked like as we weaved our way back to the trail head. It was a fun day and a wonderful ride. It indeed was an easy ride with spectacular scenery. One we'll do again for sure!
It is now mid-January and time for our full moon campfire in the desert. The full moon was on Janaury 15th but one of our grou was unable to go out that evening so we actually went out January 16th
This was the sun setting as we are setting up and getting the fire ready. Arizona never fails to give us spectacular sunsets
We have the fire going in Doug's washing machine barrel and everyone is watching the sunset behind us
We did have to laugh at how big the fire looks in this picture, it really wasn't that big but it did provide us with nice warmth.
Of course my camera doesn't take great night pictures but this was the moon just starting to come up over the mountains
You can see it getting higher and almost clear of the Superstition Mountain range
Now it is fully up and looked so beautiful. The coyotes were out in full force howling all around us. I think they were trying to tell us they wanted a roasted weiner also! At one point they were only a few feet from us by the sound of their howls. It was a neat experience although Ann was getting a bit uncomfortable with how close they were. We stayed out till about 8pm and had a fun evening.
This is what we did with 2 of the pices of chollo we brought back. We have to bleach it in a water bleach solution for a couple of days to kill any bugs in the dead cacti, especially termits, then we whave to clean all the dead material from the centre of the cacti, clean out all the holes, wire brush it really well, then back into the bleach solution for another 24 hours. Then we dry it well in the sun and then I usually put two coats of clear varathane on it to protect it from the elements. We had the glass tops from old lamps that Doug took apart. They had a gold metal trim that Doug sprayed bronze so it matched the chollo wood better. My neighbour Rena had a small metal iguana she had for years and didn't know what to do with it so Doug attached it to the side of the base so it looks like it is climbing up the wood.
I just love these tables. Very unique, no one else has them! Doug laughed at me when I told him my ides but he went along with it and now thinks they are great.
This is the last base that we still have to find a glass top for. It is my favorite base by far so we will have to haunt a few more garage sales and I am sure we will find something!
The annual Mesa Rock and Gem show took place in January and Doug and I went to have a look. It was another warm sunny day but I just wasn't feeling too swift yet so we only stayed a couple of hours and by then I was exhausted. We still had enough time to see everything, I just wouldn't let Doug loiter too long at each table
There was lots to see and the prices were right. We bought three slabs of rock, two for clocks and one just for display as it was so interesting
They set up at the Mesa Community College parking lot and there are rows of displays so something for everyone
We were very intrigued by this one fellow who took cut slabs of agate and then painted animals on them. They were so gorgeous. Our friend Sharon is an artist so I wanted her to see these to see if she could do this
You name it and he would paint it. I loved them!
Another beautiful sunset as we sit out in our backyard enjoying the evening. It never fails to impress us
This is my latest aquisition; we bought it at our community garage sales last weekend. I love to plant some flowers at this time of year for their colour but we have an abundance of rabbits running through our park and they were eating them down to stubs even though I had them in planter stands. Thier little bodies must stretch to an incredible lenght for them to be able to reach the pots and eat the plants. Talk about luck: I have deer back in Brown's Bay that try and eat all my plants and rabbits in Apache Junction that try to eat all my palnts. Our frinds Marg and Kerry were visiting us the day of the patio sales and when she saw this metal hanger for hanging pots over a kitchen island, she commented that would work grat to put my flower pots in on my patio. Doug was able to get it for $7 and it works fabulous. One for Sharon - 0 for the rabbits! Yes!!
I had to put my other planter and flowers up on a plastic table to get it high enough so the rabbits won't get them! What lenghts I will go to for flowers!!
Our next ride we just went out back into the foothills to explore a bit and have a picnic
We found a spot with a good view and settled in for our lunch. Such a fun thing to do.
The weather was lovely and warm, the company good and the scenery spectacular.
There were light whispy clouds that just made the mountains look prettier
The wild fairy duster bushes are in full bloom and this is really early, usually early February. They add a nice colour to the desert lanscape.
Again you can see how green the desert is after 35 days of no rain. Quite amazing.
Our next ride we went back to Walnut Canyon. There was just Doug and I and Trent and Ann for this ride. We had done a ride to Walnut Canyon back in late November ands since then we had two monsoon rains in December that really did their work on the trail. Boy was it rougher this time, many of the hills washed out and the washes just full of big boulders. Made the ride more interewsting for sure.
As we were heading down the trail it was amazing to see how full and lush the Teddy Bear chollo cacti were. Lots of new growth so I guess they are liking the warmer than usual weather we are having
This trail is the one where we have to trailer for about an hour east and then south of Superior AZ,
The little bit of clouds just made this view stunning!
Gotta love these giant saguaro's
Doug had us stop in thios one wash to explore this old wreck. They kind of think it might be an old rail car as there are many old mines in this area that used rail cars to get their ore out. Doug is only wearing a jacket to protect his arms from the throny bushes as it is a lovely warm day
Of course the rail roader has to walk the tracks and check things out! This is a modern day rail track used by the Birlington Norther Santa Fe railroad
The Gila river is very low due to no rain or snow accumulations on the mountains s we could easily cross it and ride the other side for a change. We found a lovely spot to stop and have our lunch right on the river
We couldn't get over how low the water was though
I get the job of opening and closing gates as we ride
It is incredibly dusty out on the trails due to the lack of rain so I was diligent about wearing my bandana over my face especially since I still have a pretty brutal cough
This is a panoramic view of the mountain range out near Superior. So interesting to see the formations
We are crossing back over the Gila River. This is Trent and Ann ahead of us. The water was only about 18 inches deep and not very wide, much lower than the last time we were here an unable to cross!
I took this picture as we were in the water crossing
Just some of the neat sandstone rocks that are worn by water and wind
My final picture was of this baby Brama bull. He was so darn cute and he was ready to challenge us if we got any closer. It always amazes me that the cvattle stay so healthy out in the desert with what appears to be minimal water and food for them.
Well that's it for January. It was a good month if I ignore my flu amd persitant cough! We are heading out today for a 5 day camping trip up to the Usery Mountains above Phoenix/Mesa. There is a beautiful Regional campground up there. The weather will be in the high 70's low 80's so beautiful weather for camping and campfires! I'll take pictures and post in February
