Adventure 570: Cave Creek Regional Park/Post E

Apple Walnut Pancakes. Yum!

Let me wade through these piles of manure. I saw quite a few along the trail this morning. One lawyer (Dershowitz), in an astonishingly opposite opinion from one he held not so long ago, said it was OK for the President to strong arm a foreign country as a way to help his election possibilities as long as he thought it was in the best interests of the country. Watch out, don't step on that! One key Senator (Alexander) with a career record of working across the aisle said that the Democrats proved beyond doubt that the President was guilty for using taxpayer dollars to extort a foreign government into tilting the 2020 election for his personal gain- and he concluded, "So what?" Watch out, don't step on that! Nearly everyone believes that the Russians co-opted the 2016 election, but so what? Again, let's not step in that. What we should step in is a concern for fair play, for a level field. We should notice the attack on the free press. We should notice the malignant narcissism at play. We should wonder when the President claims, "I'm the chosen one" that he may indeed believe he's King, if not  God. We should notice the dangerous precipice our freedom faces. We should wonder what "fake national narrative" will be used next. Already funds for an ill advised wall have been appropriated. Is it too much to believe that maybe an entire election process will be next? We should notice that the economy, which so many Trump supporters hold dear, is being built on a now Trillion dollar deficit. We should notice that murder at the highest levels are accepted as the normal. We should notice that EPA guidelines are being rolled back or challenged at an alarming rate. We should notice that nearly 25% of Federal judges have been appointed, many without proper qualification or  objective vetting. We should notice the hypocrisy of immigration policies designed at the very least to dehumanize, confuse, and confine not only asylum seekers, but those immigrants seeking legal entry into the country. But maybe we're not noticing these things because we've made the same judgment  Lamar Alexander has: self-interest, earning power after office, and a distaste for offending his like minded friends. Maybe we're not noticing because we've become so numb to the barrage of lies, misinformation, malice filled opinion. Maybe we're just tired. And maybe, if we're among those who claim to hold Christian values that Jesus will eventually overcome the AntiChrist, we should trust all things to God. And to those who are now disparaging me as just another left wing Chicken Little, I say this. We should notice these things because we'll miss America when it's gone. In the meantime, pick up your feet, or better yet, put on your rubber boots.

 Saguaro of the day.

 The Overton trail (5.5 m) led us behind the main peak. Very pretty.

 As is normal, the trails are fairly rocky.

 We retraced part of the Clay Mine trail instead of walking the road. Much more pleasant.

 I look a little like a Saguaro.

The original owner of the Clay Mine made a fortune, which her descendants still benefit from.

Adventure 569: Cave Creek Regional Park/Post D

Cell Development?

We got a fairly late start today. I didn't even get out of bed until 8:15 A.M. The reason, I'm sure didn't have anything to do with the bourbon I drank at the Buffalo Chip last night; rather, it was likely due to the cool morning that we woke up to. Nonetheless, we managed 5 miles of walking, 15 miles on the bike, and at least a few good hours of lounging like gila monsters. Our ride was particularly encouraging because we found roads little traveled, and we covered a distance long enough to get a workout in. On our next ride, we'll double the distance. We also plan to continue our desert hikes tomorrow on a trail called the Overton, on which we will cover a distance of about 5.4 miles. It's been quite cool for the past few days, but this weekend is supposed to warm up to the mid seventies. Regardless, it's not freezing, it's not snowing, and we're suffering no malaise other than the Wiley Cager has been beating me unmercifully. Either my luck must change, or I'll have to resort to some "Republican" tactics. But no worries, life is good, especially today.

 It's a long not so strange road.

 Sadly, the photo didn't come close to capturing this forest of Saguaros.

 Saguaro of the day.

 His two buddies saying, "Hi."

 I found this heart shaped rock on the trail.

 Falcon and his Daddy having a heart felt moment.

 Selfie of the day.

 Cactus closeup #1.

Cactus closeup #2. It's for the birds.

Adventure 568: Cave Creek Regional Park/Post C

Sunrise.

A full day here in the desert. There I was happily slurping my oatmeal, on the verge of sweet victory, when the chilling misery of defeat overcame me. The Cager, needing fifteen to win, pulled a sixteenie right out of somewhere very dark, leaving me moaning like a lonesome cowboy. I was so despondent, I nearly impaled myself on the nearest cholla. I soothed my wounds on our 6.6 mile hike on the Go John trail, which took us up and over gunsight pass (2557 ft) and around the perimeter of the park. Most of the hike covered rugged rock, and there were so many Saguaros vying for cactus of the day, I'm not sure I can pick one. It's quite amazing. They'll be sparse, just two or three, or even just one lonely cactus standing there, and suddenly a near forest of them will sprinkle the hillside. I just love them. On our hike we noticed a pave road in the distance, so after lunch we drove in that direction in hopes of finding a place to ride our bike. We found a good riding road, but the paved road we saw is the beginning of a new high end housing development and currently dead ends. Progress continues for the well healed.. Luckily for the Saguaros, builders are required to replant the cactus they uproot for roads and such. This evening we moseyed on over to Cave Creek to the Buffalo Chip Saloon to hear the Pat James band on the recommendation of "Kel babe", our brother-in-law. As usual, he led us to a good place. We sat outside midst a few old local cowboys, a few Scottsdale cowboys, and the pleasant smell of bull. Life was truly good, especially today.

 Selfie of the day.

 Cactus 1

 Cactus 2

 Cactus 3

 Pat James

 Cactus wren.

 Saguaro of the day.

 Falcon. Wassssup?

 Chuck Back, steel player extraordinaire for the Pat James Band.

 Art shot of the day.

An amazing amount of purple met us on our hike today. We felt like Riders of the Purple Sage. There are seven hikes in this park. Before our time here ends, we'll have covered them all.

Adventure 567: Cave Creek Regional Park/Post B

Hiker Babe.

Well, you know how it turned out. She skunked me last night. Clearly, I'm going to have to improve my burnt offerings to the cribbage gods. But no worries, I pulled a rabbit out of my hat this morning. She landed in the stink hole, and she counted first on the final hand. I was six pegs out. Normally, I would have conceded, but I decided to play it out. I dealt; she cut a jack. Two points for me. I played an Ace, which she didn't match with her eight. I matched her eight. Two more points for me. She played a nine for seventeen. I played a seven for a run of three and the win. Oh, so satisfying to hear the Wiley Cager scream, "Nooooo", like a lost and lonely coyote. Nothing like a win to inflate my ego. Buoyed by the wonderful, if temporary joy of winning, we headed out to meet our relatives for breakfast at the Egg & Joe restaurant in Scottsdale. In attendance were one quarter of the original O'brien children (More than a quarter if you count Judy as a replacement for Anne). At the table were Roger and Peggy Shute who live in Issaquah, but spend their winters in Scottsdale. Peggy is Anne's older sister. Also there was one of their children, son Chuck who lives in South Phoenix. Rita Valentine, Anne's younger sister and one of the triplets was there. She lives in Spokane, but spends her winters in Phoenix. And besides Judy and myself, Larry O'Brien who lives in Prosser, was in town on a golfing excursion. He, too, is Anne's younger sibling. In addition, he and I go way back when we coached basketball together at St. Thomas More. It was a nice morning, and a good way to catch up, since normally we only see each other at weddings or funerals. It was even better because Larry picked up the tab. After returning to the trailer, Judy and I walked the Clay Mine trail, one of several loops we will explore while we're here. We walked 11, 434 steps on the 4.4 mile hike. The air was fresh, the sky clear, and the breeze light. More than a few Saguaros competed for cactus of the day. We saw a few other hikers and one rabbit darting through the brush. Needless to say, life is good here in the desert, especially today.

 Notice the ribs on the dead Saguaro. The Apaches used these ribs to build their shelters.

 This guy wins as cactus of the day because he looks like he's waving hands like clouds.

 They're all so majestic.

 In the next few days, we'll take the Overton loop.

This interesting guy is sprouting arms right from the ground. 

Adventure 566: Cave Creek Regional Park/Post A

Our spot for the next ten days

With flowing tears, a few soulful wails, and the ever so clutching hugs, the Kral's sent us on our way this morning. After four delightful nights at the Kral's, we pointed Fric and Frac northwest to Cave Creek Regional Park, which is nestled in the prettiest part of the Sonoran desert twenty minutes north of Scottsdale, Arizona. The first part of our trip sent us on the old Route 80 (Now 79), which was pleasant and lasted until we reached Apache Junction, a sprawling mass of cramped single wides, flat spaces, and plastic bags gathered by sticker plants along the highway. It was there the freeway started, and just like that our gentle ride turned into a steady six lane flow through Mesa, then up Loop 101 through Scottsdale, and eventually to the base of the mountains outside Cave Creek. Our site is pleasant. The park promises some excellent desert hiking, and my favorites, the Saguaros are prolific. We're safely ensconced, listening to Nora Jones, sipping some fine bourbon, and we just finished two full minutes of wintling just to catch up for the last few days. And as soon as I finish this blog post, I'm going to put a whipping on the Wiley Cager. Even the cribbage gods deny me that pleasure, I'll still think that life is good, especially today.

 Sad good byes from the Kral's

 This place opened in 1992. It seems well maintained.

 My Bunny checking out our first hike.

 Saguaro of the day. No Falcon sighting today, so far.

 Selfie of the day.

Last night in the Kral Cul De Sac: Venus above a crescent moon. Hard to get better.

Adventure 565: Kral Culd De Sac/Post C

Hey, Boomer!

No blog entry yesterday because we went to a movie in the afternoon (Just Mercy, which I highly recommend as well as the book) and of course, the Zag game which didn't begin until 8 P.M. By the time the game ended I was warmly snuggled next to my Bunny, so the mere thought of taking my warm self to the cold confines of the computer keyboard just couldn't pass muster. Nonetheless, yesterday was another good day, but not nearly as wildly successful as today. First, David and Ginny Kral attend an evangelical church called Northwest Bible Church. The lead pastor, Jeff Thune, presents his bible based sermons with such passion, aplomb, and genuine resolve that I just love to listen to him when we're here. Today, he spoke on Mark 10, but as is his way, he weaved several bible passages into a message that can be summed up as Jesus doesn't put out a "Help Wanted" sign; rather, he puts out a "Help Available" sign. All we have to do is accept his service. I'm much less demonstrative in my belief structure than my friends, but I do enjoy and open my heart to this man of belief and passion. But that's not all! I mean "Hey, Boomer." I updated my laptop recently and when I tried to hook it up to the TV in the trailer, the HDMI cable wouldn't talk to the TV. Very frustrating for a man of my age. So, I Googled it. Google sent me to a youtube video where this millennial said, "Never, never, never update, but sure enough, I updated and now I'm facing this shit." He went on to demonstrate a solution that didn't quite work, but led me to look into the display feature. It turns out that all I had to do was enable the mirror display function and BingoBangoBongo, the HDMI could talk to the TV. I can tell you this: This  Boomer was nearly orgasmic when I got the technology to work, and I can tell you, that's no small thing. Needless to day, life is good for this Boomer, especially today.

 Saguaro of the day: David and Ginny's back yard.

 Judy and I rode thirty miles yesterday along the Tucson bike loop.

 In two weeks, we've ridden 110 miles and walked 20. We're off to a good start.

 After our ride yesterday, we had to revisit the El Nene food truck for a taco.

 Falcon checking out Auntie Libby.

Adventure 564: Kral Cul De Sac/Post B

Saguaro of the Day

The amenities at this Kral resort include a hot tub, in which I found myself soaking at six this morning. Despite the spot lights around the pool area, the stars still twinkled above in the cool desert sky. It was a nice start to the day for a dedicated hot tubber like myself. A little later, the four of us enjoyed a nice morning of reflection, a fine egg scramble and fresh grapefruit for breakfast, and the enduring warmth of fellowship. Then we headed West for a hike, which in itself was exhilarating. For lunch as my treat, I suggested we eat at a popular Tucson Taco truck called the El Nene. Each couple shared a delightfully authentic carne asada burrito, which we lathered with condiments from the complimentary salad bar. So satisfied,  afterwards we all decided to take naps. Arising from our slumber, it was of course time for the afternoon hot tub and swim. The Kral's swam. Judy and I remained toasty warm in the bubbling tub. By then it was time for dinner, which consisted of a Mexican style stew Ginny prepared along with a fresh greens salad enhanced with chunks of crisp apple. All the while, Pandora's J.J. Cale channel  serenaded us in the background. Besides, J.J., the channel features artists like Dylan, Delbert McClinton, The Traveling Wilberries, Eric Clapton, and Van Morrison, all of whom soothed our souls. In other words, life is good here in Tucson, especially today.

 Tucson, very progressive in this endeavor, is actively attempting to link bike trails along the river washes. This section in Marana is just over five miles long.

This trailhead, primarily a local horse stable, marked the beginning of our walk today.

 This Taco Truck is a must stop if you're ever in Tucson.

 This carne asada burrito (half) is jam packed with tender seasoned with a rice, smoky base with just enough picante heat to invite the myriad of salsa toppings that can be found at the salad bar.

 Selfie of the day: Protected from the glare of the desert sun.

 Happy 69th birthday, Annie. You're here in our hearts.

 Annie's sister Rose and mine and Annie's very precious children, Steve and Elizabeth Anne  maintaining our family tradition of visiting Annie on her birthday. We had an early visit before Judy and I left, but the real tradition is to visit the grave, go to lunch, and bake a cake.