Adventure 694: Catalina State Park Revisited/Post B

Well, Wiley Cager fans, it's a sad day. The Cager is down $1.24 with one game to go this month. It looks like she'll have to break out the credit card to pay off tomorrow. I'm as confident as the Kansas City Chiefs turning down a field goal, which we all know could turn out disastrously. But not to worry, time will tell. After I skunked the Cager this morning, I was feeling like Cooper Kupp: invincible. I'll let you know, but usually this kind of braggadocio gets severe punishment from the fates. In the meantime, today met us with another warm, sunny, slightly breezy desert day. We got on the bikes and rode twenty miles. Our bums complained a little because we haven't been on the bikes for about two weeks, but at the end we felt fine. We lounged the afternoon away outside under the awning, Judy knitting and me writing. We took our late afternoon stroll for a couple miles around the campground loops to see the new folks that have moved in. We have several Canadians, a few Wisconsonites, some Iowans, some Coloradans, one Texan, one Montanan, and three fellow Washingtonians. This place is constantly full and turns over on a regular basis. By the way, those of you interested should check out the videos of a gal named Abbie Richards. She's a Tiki's Tok sensation. I don't subscribe to Tiki's Tok, but I found several of her videos through Google and You Tube. She's a smart cookie who is trying to do her part in combating misinformation and disinformation, which is important especially in light of a recent rally in Texas. And she's quite funny, which helps. In the meantime remember that life is good, especially today.

Pretty nice afternoon under the awning today.

This little guy peeked out to see what we were doing.

Peace shot of the day.

Art shot of the day.

He must not have been too worried about us. He stood like this for a few minutes before scampering back down his burrow.

Adventure 693: Catalina State Park Revisited/Post A

We're all set up here in Loop A, Site 44, for the next thirteen days, and we've been so busy I haven't had time to write the blog. You'd think a guy would get tired of hiking, biking, and taking photos of cacti, but no. Saturday, I went into town to join a local Tai Chi group for their regular Saturday practice. There were about fifteen in the class, which was taught by Sifu Jordan Misner who is a long time student of renowned Grandmaster, Sam Tam. Jordan is the real thing, but even though they practice the same Yang long form, it's quite different in places from the movements I've studied with my teacher, Sifu Kelly Stewart. Nevertheless, the class was enjoyable. I merely placed myself in the middle of the group and followed along best I could. Today, we hiked six miles on the Fifty Year Trail. The morning was perfect for hiking, and in the afternoon, we invited ourselves to the Kral's to watch football, which isn't too much of a stretch given the fact that David Kral is an avid football fan. Part of the reason I haven't written a blog in two days is because despite what you may think, it's not all vacation out here. The last two days, we've had laundry to do, house cleaning to do, bike maintenance to do, and much ado about nothing in order to keep Fric and Frac in operating shape. I know, "First World Problems". Not to worry, we're ever so grateful that life is good, especially today.

Can you pick the one that's not a saguaro, a ocatillo, or a chain cholla cactus?

Peace shot of the day: The view from our campsite

Like I said, sometimes there are chores.

Fric and Frac nestled in site 44.

This prickly guy really has a big heart.

Art shot of the day.

Put up your dukes, mister.

Sifu Jordan Misner

Adventure 692: Kral Culdesac Overnight

As usual the day before we travel, I was too excited to sleep, so I got up at 4 A.M. quietly so as not to wake Judy. I began working on my life story, which I'm writing in case any of my progeny becomes interested. I know so little of my own heritage. I hopeful they'll want a first person account of what I know. And if they're not interested,  so be it. 

The night air at Lost Dutchman was cool enough to force our furnace to fire three times during the night. I think it got into the low forties. When I went outside to gaze at the stars, I was too late for most of them. Venus hung bright in the sky over the Superstitions, and to the West, the sliver of the new moon smiled. The amazing part was that the rosy fingers of dawn, while still some distance away, still caressed the sky with a gentle yellow. When Judy got up, we had our normal morning breakfast, cribbage, and planning for the day. The good news is that I skunked her this morning, which meant I recovered from her skunking me yesterday. The fickle finger of fate is so cruel (Just ask the loser). After breakfast, we took a last walk around the camp grounds just to stretch our legs. Then we pulled out, headed for Tuscon. We stopped in Florence, AZ for lunch, where we walked the historical downtown. Thanks to an invasion of private prisons, the town has tripled in size since 1997. I'm not allowed to talk about my feelings on the subject of incarceration, so I won't. We arrived in the early afternoon at our good friends, the Kral's where we'll park over night. Tomorrow, we begin a thirteen day stay at Catalina State Park. It's our favorite, so life is good, especially today.

The sliver of the new moon.

The beginnings of a blooming cactus. We're hoping to be in Arizona long enough to see the desert bloom this year.

Catholic church in Florence.

Judy and Ginny.

The court house in Florence.

Fric and Frac in the Kral culdesac.
 

Adventure 691: Lost Dutchman State Park/Post J

Last night in the Superstition Mountains, and sad we are to say, "We didn't find the lost gold mine." We are happy to say we hiked every day trying, but perhaps due to the mythical nature of the legend, all we had to do was look up. Every day the bright golden sun spread its warmth over our shoulders filling us with the wealth of gratitude. If we view it in that light, perhaps we struck it rich. We certainly struck it rich with neighbors. We met a young couple, Tony and Kira, along with their pure white, pure cute bichon frise puppy dog, Oatty. We first watched the couple in awe as Tony backed their gigantic forty foot Solitude trailer into the site behind us. Guided by Kira, who calmly issued directions via the walkie-talkie, Tony deftly twisted his beastly Ford pickup back and forth. He missed us, kept his wheels on the pavement, and left the perfect amount of room needed for his slide outs. Very impressive. In no time they were set up and living life in their home on wheels. Judy was so impressed, she introduced herself with effusive dollops of praise. It turns out that they are full time RVers who sold their home in Los Angeles in favor of the open road. They've been out for a year, and in that year they've made their first lap around the country. One of the best things about traveling is meeting the vast number of wonderful people out here.  We liked these two immediately, and jibber-jabbered for quite awhile this morning. It seems we share the notion that life is meant to be lived. I think we can agree with novelist, Doris Lessing who said, "Whatever you're meant to do, do it now. The conditions are always impossible". We exchanged contact information in the hopes we'll see them again. One never knows. As Robert Frost says...way leads on to way...but whether our paths ever cross again, I know these two helped make our life good, especially today.

Tony, Kira, and Oatty.

Who says a cactus can't express a little vanity. You know, "I may not be good looking, but I'm looking good."

Peace shot of the day.

Giddy up. This group had a little dog with a bell on its collar. I guess to scare away desert critters that might spook the horses.

Simply awesome. Not sorry for another saguaro photo.

Tony, Kira, and Oatty's traveling home.

Even in death, this saguaro raises his arms to the golden sun.

This prickly pear spoke to us today. it said, "Hey, buddy how about a little press for the rest of us? I had to agree. After all, equity should be inclusive.

Adventure 690: Lost Dutchman State Park/Post I

Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh died on January 22 at the age of 95. May his pure love inspire us. Though there are many more just as profound, these two quotes are worth considering.

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before you allow yourself to be happy.

My actions are my only true belongings.

I think composer and organ player, Ethel Smyth approached her life in a way similar to Thich Nhat Hanh. In an interview she said this was her nightly prayer:

Tomorrow I will be easy, strong, quick, supple, accurate, dashing and self-controlled all at once.

Some say that if we believe it we can achieve it. I find that to be true. Today, we believed we could drive into Apache Junction to do the wash. We achieved it. Just kidding. It's true this was housekeeping day, but after we got back from doing laundry and buying groceries, we took a hike on our favorite trail in Lost Dutchman: Quail Loop. We love it because it is a section of terrain that is literally over run with vegetation. I can't think of a more majestic plant in the desert than the saguaro, and surely they provide a fine example of resilience against all odds, which brings us to my prayer for all of us: be resilient, be supple, be dashing, be happy in the face of suffering because life is good, especially today.

The barrel cactus always grows toward the Southwest. Good to know if you're lost in the desert.

The Quail Loop is in the Northwest corner of the park. It houses the thickest and richest variety of flora and fauna found in the park.

Although I'm not a mountain bike rider, the 1.8 mile mountain bike loop is excellent even for superior riders.

Along with Fric, nearly every car in front of the laundromat had an out of state license plate. Wash day for all of us, I guess.

I was surrounded by saguaros in every direction.

Selfie of the day.

This part of the park is also filled with all varieties of cholla. They literally glitter in the sunlight.

Peace shot of the day: Be strong, be supple, be happy.

Adventure 689: Lost Dutchman State Park/Post H

We left the park today and headed up into the Superstition Mountains in search of a place called Massacre Stream. We drove a little ways along the Apache Trail to the trailhead. From there it was 2.5 miles mostly up to a box canyon where a seasonal waterfall often has water, especially after a rain. We found no water, but the ground was damp in places. The first part of the hike took us through a burned area that looked much like a desolate moonscape. I felt sorry for each of the charred remnants of vegetation. After we ascended the first mesa, the flora and fauna became more like what we're used to this year: green and lush. This year has been unusual by our reckoning. The desert seems especially green, the plants seem especially healthy, and there seems to be many more insects out and about. After two and a half miles of climbing we reached the end of the box canyon. If we had wanted to go further, it would have meant a very steep boulder scramble. The story of this box canyon massacre is that miners were in the Superstitions looking for gold. The Apaches considered the mountains sacred. They asked the miners to leave. The miners declined. The Apaches gathered their warriors and drove the miners into this box canyon where they... well, they massacred them. Of course, the story is told with sympathy for the miners since their ancestors wrote the history. Nonetheless, it was easy to see why the miners couldn't defend themselves. Outnumbered and boxed in, they had little choice but to fight it out. I doubt very much the gold concerned the Indians. No miners lived to report their view. For us, there was no sign of bloodshed. It was just another lovely day hiking in the desert affirming our realization that life is good, especially today.

Looking good, Bunny.

We met a couple of young locals who said the desert has been burning regularly in places the last few year.

I wonder how long it takes for the plants to regenerate.

The picture doesn't show it, but these saguaros have scalded trunks.

This poor guy is looking for a ride out of this place.

Selfie of the day.

We chose not to continue or climb up the dry falls.

Travel at your own risk.

Peace shot of the day. A lonely survivor providing hope for the rest of us.
  

Adventure 688: Lost Dutchman State Park/Post G

The Wiley Cager took umbrage with my comments about her moaning and groaning about her cribbage fortunes, rightly noting that I, too, am prone to complaining about our dear dame, fickle fate. It's true. I can complain louder than a Kyrsten Sinema campaign donor, but fortunately I haven't had to. I'm living as large as our dear self-righteous cad, president (that's a small p) Manchin. But I mustn't digress. As turbulent as the winds were yesterday, today's bright sky pushed any thought of distress away. The azure sky, the fresh air, the chirping cactus wrens, and even the site of a lone coyote wandering through camp warmed our hearts and our spirits. We took a long morning hike, finishing the list of labeled trails in the park. We even went off trail and a bit beyond the boundaries of the park to find a trail called the First Water. We'll explore it more fully in the days to come. The highlight of the day may have been walking through a desert wedding ceremony of two ladies who were surrounded by their loving friends and relatives. They looked blissful, and didn't mind too much as we interrupted their "You may kiss your spouse" moment. In a world where equity is uncertain, it's heartwarming to see the idea of true love bravely witnessed. It makes me appreciate that life is good, especially today.

The desert views were simply marvelous today.

This fellow appears to be strutting.

My Bunny says, "Hi."

To quote a friend, "There's poetry in that prickly embrace.

This loop marked the last trail to hike on our list. It led to an out of park experience.

Our Hyacinth likes the view from our front room.

What more proof do you need that though we're individual, we're all connected.

After seeing so many bags of poo left behind, we've taken to carrying a bag with us so we can retrieve them from the desert.

The prickly pear cactus was a staple of the Apache food groups. I'm tempted to pluck an ear to test the taste.

Peace shot of the day. Our world has many quite stunning elements visible for those who see.