Made it to Guadalupe mountain National Park. Super windy. A few minutes after we got to the visitor center, their fire alarm went off. Later we went back and it was due to the wind. We went and set up. We are camping in a parking lot, but the people next to us are sorts protecting us from the wind.
Off to a hike.
Now we are in Texas, admiring the rock formations and pictographs here.
Yesterday we went to White Sands National Park.
Landscape feels like snow. God is so amazing in the diversity of landscape and animals. Many of the animals are light colored to blend into the sand.
People were sledding. Liz had to make an angel.
Today Liz went to Prehistoric Pathways National Monument. A ranger showed fossils they found. Cool little tracks from small amphibians. I looked but couldn’t find any on site.
Yesterday we rode bikes but the wind picked up so getting back was a bit difficult.
Went to dinner with some friends again.
Last night it got below freezing again. We are staying warm( just)
Today was laundry and catching up.
We are in Safford, Az now. We met up with international students from SDSMT and had dinner. They work at a local mine.
We extended our stay in Arizona a few days to avoid the cold blast that will be hitting east of here.
Yesterday we went into the depths of the mountain to see the cave. The room we went into is a bat meter ward during the summer so you can only visit in winter. Lots of Bacon formations and other cool stuff. No phones were allowed so no pictures.
Today we ventured into Tombstone. Did the touristy stuff like watch a shoot out( kinda like a pantomime) and a trolley tour and visited the old courthouse. Ate lunch in a saloon serenaded by western songs.
See one wheel by the cowboys forther down the street. Funny seeing a guy all dressed in old west gear going down the street on the one wheel.
Swung by Sierra Vista to grab some supplies and a passing jeep kicked up a stone and chipped our windshield. Sitting in a Safelite getting it fixed now
More bike riding today! Ross did the Loop again and I rode out east on the Loop.
Hiked in the afternoon in Sabino Canyon. Pretty.
Today we went to Calvary Church with our friends Clare and Brad. I enjoyed the worship and the sermon.
This afternoon we went up to the top of Mt Lemmon. You have to park about 1.5 mile below and hiked up the road. Saw snow. Families were making snowmen and throwing snowballs at each other. Some were trying to sled.
At the top we saw a bobcat in the distance. I got a rough picture of it.
We couldn’t get into the observatories at the top.
But we did stop for a pie at the ski lodge on top. Delicious!
Today we met up with some friends Clare and Brad who used to live in Rapid. Brad and Ross rode bikes including a wild 8 mile loop in Saguaro National Park. Clare and Liz hiked a trail in the park also. Lots of good views. Nice to catch up with them.
Yesterday Ross mountain biked with some friends. Liz hiked, then biked a bit on the Loop. Had dinner with some of friends at an amazing Mexican restaurant.
The day before it rained so we stuck by the camper.
Tucson has awesome biking paths.
Yesterday Ross rode up Mt Lemmon, an epic climb. 64.97 miles long and 7822 feet of elevation gained. It was a big goal and he did it!
Liz went for a bike ride, got her chain all caught up in her derailed, walked to the bike shop, they fixed it( had to take the back wheel off) then she rode another 24 miles.
This morning we hike on the paths in Catalina State Park. Saw a javelina. It didn’t seem to care about us at all. We hiked by the ruins. The people that lived there a thousand years had ball courts in their village. I thought that was pretty cool.
35 years ago Ross and I got married. We celebrated today by a bike ride and dinner out.
We saw some of the biking YouTubers (Keegan, Swenson and Cary Werner). while on the path. We didn’t stop to chat as they were all off on the side of the trail peeing. They passed us later .
Dinner was at the Keg and it was wonderful.
Last night Ross and I joined a Night hike sponsored by the Catalina State Park. Ross borrowed a black light and managed to find a few scorpions. The rangers told us about desert animals. (Rattlesnakes aren’t losing their rattles- they are getting used to people and don’t shake them as much). We also leaned about the stars. (Australians call Orion the cup).
Today we met Andrew at Picacho Peak State Park. Ross and Andrew conquered the cables and made it to the top. I made it halfway up the first set, got dizzy, and came back down. Not sure if it still getting over the cold, or what.
We exchanged Saguaro Cacti and shrubs for grass and trees with actual leaves on them in Catalina State Park.
Ross worked on our bikes and we are settling in.
Still not quite well yet
Yesterday we visited Saguaro National Park western side. Pretty much the same landscape we have been in for the last days.
Today we visited the Desert museum which was a delight. Wish we had our grandchildren with us. Those kinds of museums are better with kids.
Still mending from the cold.
