A Hike In Beautiful Saguaro National Park--Tucson Arizona

                         I might have mentioned a that a few months back a buddy of mine came to the area to visit.  While he was here we crammed in as much Exploring as possible.  Years ago we used to go on long hikes and than pull the closing shift at work.  Few other people seem to go on hikes with us more than once.  Mainly because one of our hikes seems to involve getting lost, a lot of cussing, falling down hills, and a lot of repeating the phrase "This is stupid!"   We said the this a lot on this hike.   Mostly because we found ourselves high up on a mountain-- trying to climb at about noon.  Never the best idea in the middle of the desert.  We also spend a lot of time wondering what happened to our youth and more importantly all the energy we used to have.   My wife seems to wonder the same thing.   On this day we ventured to Saguaro National Park.

We hit several neat spots on this day around Tucson.

I have a whole list of places in the area I want to visit.

And am slowly working on the list. 

As our personal bank account grows, so will the adventures. 

Across this entire amazing state!

So many trails   So little time!

I am always amazed at the huge variety of plants that thrive in this area.

And try to capture different plants in each post.

On this day -first we visited the information center. 

And than drove around the twisty roads taking in the sights.

At one point -we decided this hill would be a great place to attempt to climb. 

I am still not sure why the best hikes are always greatly up hill!

Before and after cactus style. 

Nearing the ridge. 

Some views from the top.

And some well earned time to catch our breath.

Only to loose it again from the view. 

Greetings!!

So this whole time we kept wondering why we did not see another person on the trail.

As the sun grew higher and higher we deeply started to regret playing mountain goats.  Near the ridge --we did get some cross winds. 

My shorts were covered in tiny cactus points  almost to small to see. 

As we walked on the prickly points would work there way into our skin, not out -and to the ground. 

When a large group or even one of them connected with the skin, we would yelp out in pain and than exclaim again how -not smart this hike might of been. 

I would like to say the way back down was easier,

but time consuming because we had to wind back down the hill attempting not to fall or

touch any more cactus. 

It seemed like the more we walked --the further the car got from us. 

I was sweating so much that all of my sun screen was now in my eyes.

Making navigation even easier of course.

And at this point-- it was high noon, and the sun was just above us.

I had work later that evening and was already thinking of reasons to call in.

Top of the list could have easily been a broken leg. 

Suddenly---minutes away from the car my buddy found a sign facing the other way from us.

He rushed around to read it.

And than started laughing very loudly. .....

This was facing the parking lot, but we had by-passed it some how. 

We had seen no one else the entire time---because we were not actually on a trail.

Sorry park rangers!  

      For many more pictures of mine and Exploring please check out my Washington state page also!  http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/
    And my longest running blog page---    www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

July 4th 2014 Benson Arizona

                     I try to keep these posts as recent as possible but it just does not always happen that way.   That said, yes I realize that it is now August.  For the sake of using the magic of the Internets, you as the reader can pretend it is still July or that this is an old posting that you have just come across.  Last year was our first fourth of July in Benson, Arizona.   We were brand new to the area, and really enjoying all the new residence had to offer.   Small towns have the most amazing -down to earth festivals for sure.  Ones that will make everyone feel welcome.  Read more about last year here:  http://exarizonagobensonbobcats.blogspot.com/2013/09/4th-of-july-blast-benson-arizona-style.html

     This year with my work schedule restricting the festivities I could enjoy and after living in the town for a year--my out look may not be as sunny on everything.  Don't get me wrong it was still an amazing celebration.  Again please ignore the date stamps on all of these pictures.  It really was this year. 
     I grew up in a super small town and every year they had a super amazing fireworks show.  I imagine this is still true, but I have not actually witnessed a show back home since about 1997.  Some years in my travels the lighting put on an amazing show, but than canceled the actual fireworks.  I hear the place I work puts on a very great show also---Casino Del Sol--but I have yet to see this either.  I believe the best fireworks display I have witnessed --was in a very small town in the middle of Nevada several years back.  I do not recall the name of the town, and am sure it is a mere dot on the state map.   My wife and I were traveling cross country near area 51.   I kept seeing these bright flashes in the sky that could not be lightning.   It was messing with my head even more, because my wife never saw any of these for miles and miles.   I was growing more and more un-easy   even after she started to spot the bright flashes in the sky.  At some point in the hills we pulled into a super small town, and witnessed THE best firework shows I have ever seen!  I do not know how this tiny town paid for such a show--maybe from speeding ticket fines of youngsters trying to get out of the town when they turned 18? 

 

Our youngest waiting for the parade to start

and for candy!

 

 

Uncle Sam made quite a few appearances in this parade.

At the moment he is heading the wrong way up the street.

      This year I started work in Tucson at the above mention casino at midnight and got into Benson just in time to quickly park and than enjoy the parade and my amazing family.  I only got to enjoy the parade and than went to bed, because I again had work that night.   It also allowed me to enjoy the big fireworks show that night in the Lions Park.  Of course the huge fireman led water fight and music and such went on in the park all afternoon long. 

 

 

                               The local fire crews have stayed extra busy again this year.  
          And I wish to thank each and every one of them, especially the volunteers!

 

 

 

Every local event I enjoy taking a picture of the drunk wagon.

But I am easily amazed.

This year I will pass on a lame joke about the party being over when they arrive.

I will also apologize now for anyone that appears in my photos that did not come to the parade in the same vehicle as me. 

 

 

 

The old law makers and DUI task force.

 

 

 

R & R Pizza

The most amazing bread sticks around!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I believe this is the first time I have every seen Ronald Mcdonald in a parade before.

In Benson or any town USA.

 

 

 

 

This years parade was almost double as large as last years.

I really liked all of the old tractors

and the equally old drivers. 

 

 

 

Out of all of the shots here of random viewers

I will claim the girl in blue above as one of my kiddos.

At least most of the time I will claim her.

 

 

 

Again this was a great and highly patriotic show.

And I would like to thank everyone that makes this possible

and very enjoyable every year!

 

 

 

Next posts feature my buddy and my Exploring of the area.

He was in town for three days and we tried to see as many sights as possible.

With Tombstone of course on the list. 

 

Two Local Mini Hikes & Search For Water Part I

           Good morning to everyone!  As always I hope that you enjoy this Exploring page even half as much as I enjoy posting and taking the pictures for this page.  This is my third such page, and I would like to hope that with my newest page things are getting close to perfect.  For the most part this blog is about amazing Arizona and will soon take us across the entire state and back.  I hope that you share the link with anyone that lives in the sun filled state, has a special place in there heart for Arizona, or to your family and friends that are not seeing as much sunshine!  Although I try to keep this page very local -sometimes I venture further down the road.  Next week I will be in Palm Springs, so of course several picture filled posts will follow.  Our new home is Benson, Arizona so many of the adventures focus around this part of Arizona at the moment.  For tons of more adventures  and maybe some random rambling please check out my first blog page  at: www.wyomingjack.blogspot.com

I just read an amazing article about how important it is to take your kids on hikes.

From teaching them new skills, to just getting them away from it all.

And most of the time I take one or all of our kids along with me.

On this day though it was just Butch and I.

Sometimes we just need to be alone with our thoughts

sweating out the negatives and enjoying the quiet the desert has to offer.

Like these plants I have been searching for areas of water in the last week of Exploring.

Not an easy task when in the desert in February.

But the next few posts will show I have found some areas in and around Benson!

Most of the places we seem to roam will be filled with gushing water during the mighty monsoon season.

Down by the runoff I found this small rock stack.

I used to find them all of the time while roaming around the bay in Bellingham, Washington.

An area so pretty I also have a picture filled blog page just from the area!

Maybe after coming from an area with so much water--to living here

is the main reason I am looking for an desert oasis.

Maybe I am just bored.

Rock stacking-Expert level.

Clouds kept rolling in and than on by on this day.

This downed barbed wire fence is not protecting much anymore.

 Although we saw many signs that water was lurking just below the sandy surface, we found no standing water once again.  These pictures are once again from the area in Benson just down from the motels, Jack In The Box, and on the way to the city dump.  I have reported on this area several times before and had found no water so we moved on. 

What path will you choose?

In your hikes and in every day life. 

The easy path that is well traveled

or the path that few have ventured. 

Before we venture to the next Exploring location--I must vent a little bit. 

Every time I take a hike through the desert, I find piles of garbage every time I venture out.  Many times when still basically in city limits.  

I realize the above picture is of abandoned palm trees and not really garbage, but it was dumped in the middle of the desert.  

This is the desert NOT your personal/free dump sight.  

My kids are instantly drawn to the garbage to look for something neat or to break. 

And of course our dogs are equally as drawn. 

This takes away from any great adventure -every time. 

If you pack it in--pack it out. 

Please stop!

 OK  I will jump off of my soap box now and continue on with the Exploring.

We jumped in the pickup and headed further down the road.
Still searching for water. 

This time we headed towards St David.

Parking just before the rail road tracks and quickly headed across the highway- down beside the bridge. 

Butch and I had found water. 

Nor much and not the cleanest

but Butch was instantly running back and forth threw the liquid. 

Since we were again greeted by a very sunny day, we ventured on.

This mostly hidden tree fort looks strong still, but also appears to not have been used for a very long time.  

Soon we found a solar powered electric fence.  After stopping Butch from marking the fence- we decided it was time to head back.  

But first I must share this quick story about my buddy I am going to visit next week.

Years ago he and some friends decided to tube a mighty river in the heart of Washington state. 

My buddy got separated from his group and at some point decided to leave the cooling water and walk.  He came to this huge field and noticed many cows just standing in the middle of the field with what appeared to be a string supported by fence posts all around the cows. 

The pasture was in the way of getting to his truck -so he proceeded forward. 

As he again started walking, he pondered why the stupid cows would stay in an area only protected by a thin string. 

He was still processing this, as he approached the string and grabbed it with both hands.

This completed the circuit and shocked the crap out of my buddy.

It seems he really is a city slicker, and was not simply grabbing a cow restraing string, but the wire for an electric fence!

This was just on the other side of the electric fence.   

I am not sure what it is, but it really seemed to need to be protected. 

And I was not about to get shocked to attempt to learn what this was for.  

One last shot of the actual flowing water, before heading back to the truck.

This was Butch as soon as we returned home.