At least that what I thought. I had never seen these large and often contorted plants simply because I had never been quite far enough south. But near Tucson they are abundant and driving in the mountains and across some high desert we saw even more that the national park held. This is from Saguaro National Park's Rincon Mountain District located to the East of Tucson Arizona
Solitude... /
...washes over you standing in the desert as the sun goes down.
Blooms /
This dry, arid land changes occasionally in the spring when the rain or snow is sufficient. This was that kind of spring. Beautiful flowers abound.
"The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture,
and the hillsides blossom with joy." Psalm 65:12 NLT
First Glimpse (two photos) /
You can just see the tops of the protected walls of the "new" fort. The old fort that was actually the second fort is visible on the right. Here the stones are not covered.
Starting the ascent to the fort
Butterfield Stage Station (two photos) /
This was where passengers would rest, horses changed, water containers filled and there was some safety from the Apache. This was also the site of several battles. The stage route begin in 1857 and delivered both mail and passengers across a rather hostile environment.
Wide valley just beyond the stage ruins. We are heading toward the mountain in the center.
A Most Unique Park: Fort Bowie (two photos) /
To begin you must walk 1.5 miles (mostly up) to the visitor center (visitors in 2012 numbered only 7700). That is after driving along a remote gravel road for some distance to get to the wide spot on the road where you park. And the first sign you read says to be very careful of rattlesnakes and mountain lions. Oh goody. It was hot, it is very dry and off we set. The coolest thing about the walk is that you are on the old Butterfield Stage route and a portion of the Pony Express Trail. On the walk you pass the stone foundation of the old stage station, Apache Spring (the reason all this was here) both the old fort and the "new" fort and the scene of many battles and attacks with the Apache and their chief, Cochise. Stages, Pony Express riders, miners, soldiers and travelers were often attacked and the fort was built to offer some protection. The cemetery at the fort held many victims and some indians as well. The spring was the only reliable source of water for a great distance and hence was very valuable.
On the trail.
The sign to the park along a remote road.
White Sands Sunset - and trip report. /
None of the lists of places, no photographs, nothing is better than the memory and the atmosphere of being there. You just need to go where and when you can.
Here are the details of the Southwestern trip from this spring.
We traveled 9425 miles across 19 states in six weeks. We visited 34 National Park Sites:
Washita National Battlefield, OK
White Sands National Monument, NM
Fort Bowie National Historic Site, AZ
Coronado National Memorial, AZ
Tumacacori National Historical Park, AZ
Saguaro National Park, AZ
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ
Cabrillo National Monument, CA
Channel Islands National Park, CA
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
César E. Chávez National Monument, CA
Sand to Snow National Monument, CA
Kings Canyon National Park, CA
Sequoia National Park, CA
Yosemite National Park, CA
Pinnacles National Park, CA
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, CA
Point Reyes National Seashore, CA
Muir Woods National Monument, CA
John Muir National Historic Site, CA
Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park, CA
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, CA
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, CA
Great Basin National Park, NV
Colorado National Monument, CO
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, CO
Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, CO
Fort Larned National Historic, KS
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS
Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site, KS
Harry S Truman National Historic Site, MO
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, IN
River Raisin National Battlefield Park, MI
We also visited 5 National Historic Trails:
Pony Express NHT
Santa Fe NHT
El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro NHT
Juan Bautista De Anza NHT
Old Spanish NHT
We managed two days at Disneyland (Cars Land was excellent), Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in Lansing MI, Peterson Automotive Museum in LA, Point Loma, Old Town San Diego, Big Sur, the Monterey Aquarium, missions, some wonderful restaurants, and a couple of state parks.
We missed three parks that were initially planned. One in S/E New Mexico was difficult to reach because one road was washed out and the distance around was too far for the time we had, Fort Point in San Francisco was closed and road construction meant the walk was way too far and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial is on an active military base and they required two weeks written notice and then you still may not get on. However we went to three we had not planned so, break even!
We stayed in our trailer except for Disneyland all but one night - 46th Anniversary we were in the lodge at Yosemite. Overnights were a mix, some Walmarts, church parking lot, KOA’s, National Parks, State Parks and one commercial independent campground. We had only a couple of trailer issues - still unresolved but we are working on them. Truck worked very well, with two oil changes en route. I ran out of gas one time just before Yuma, AZ. AAA is nice to have as they delivered 3 gallons of gas in about an hour.
CJH and I walked 171.6 miles in the six weeks with the most on week four, 44.2 miles
I also added about 35 new birds species - several with nice photos - so there will be a Bird Week III soon. I can sense the excitement.
Oh, and over 4000 photos.
June Sixth... /
...is a critical day in the history of the free world. But there are reminders everywhere that is is one day of many, one sacrifice of many, one "last full measure of devotion" of many, one strong reminder that freedom is not without significant cost. These are flags representing each fallen soldier at this battle that the US lost in the War of 1812. And I suspect very few heard of Raison River in Michigan. History is important.
Alone /
The beauty of White Sands envelopes you completely at various spots.
Sharp /
Both literally and photographically! One of the reasons at the Saguaro National Monument they have a sign reminding photographers not to back up when taking photos but to turn around first.
The book of Proverbs is a lot like that sort of advice and following them may help keep you un-stuck. "Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;
wisdom is not. found among fools. Proverbs 14:33 NLT
Feels Like Another World /
That is a mesquite tree in the foreground. The gypsum holds lots of water not too far under the surface so certain trees and shrubs thrive.
Ripples in the Wind /
White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, what a lovely place. The sand is actually gypsum, so it is soft and does not hold the heat of the day. A wonder. The wind is a constant but not too bad the day we were here. The edges of the dunes are blurred by the rising sand clouds so they merge into the sky.
Sacred (two photos) /
The trees and some shrubs at Washita have bits of cloth tied on branches and trunks. They are placed there by descendants of the Cheyenne who were in the village and done in order to honor their ancestors. There is one in a tree near where Custer stood to direct the battle after riding through the village. There are many more along the river and others scattered across the battlefield site. It is important that they are left alone and there is great meaning for those who place them among the foliage.
Custer stood on the slight hill just beyond the tree.
This tree is right by the ford of the Washita River.
Washita /
Few know of this battle site located in Western Oklahoma. It occurs about 10 years before Custer leads his troops into the Little Big Horn. At Washita Custer surrounds and brings troopers from three directions on a village of Cheyenne lead by Black Kettle. The chief was leading the effort to make peace in the region but was killed along with his wife as they tried to escape across the river. It was winter and in deep snow. Custer along with taking about 50 prisoners, children and women, killed 800 ponies, the indians lifeline. Not a proud moment in US history. There are two photos here, the first is the site of the village, the other from Custer's perspective on a small mound as he directed the troops. The river is along the tree line.
Simply Could Not Resist /
This is not a very good photograph, taken from a moving trolly in San Francisco in the late day but it is one of the hills where Steve McQueen raced the Mustang chasing the Charger. Bullitt (the detective's name not the projectile or the speed of the cars!) is fifty years old next year. Still an amazing chase scene - even with the green VW appearing too many times. Watch the movie.
Red Oak Victory & Freedom (two photos) /
This flag is flying from the last remaining of the more than 700 Victory ships built during WWII. The Red Oak is docked at the Rosie the Riveter NPS site in Richmond, CA across the bay from San Francisco. This yard built about half of those ships most in a very short time. This ship had many duties during WWII but also served during the Korean Conflict and in the Vietnam era. During Vietnam it ferried high explosive shells across the Pacific.
Delight in Song /
This is one of the many Western Meadowlarks we heard and saw at the Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve in Kansas. Hearing one is nice, hearing dozens is a joyous symphony.
"Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises." Psalm 66:8 NLT
Lone Cypress /
This is the protected signature of the Pebble Beach conglomerate, so you can't sell or use this image for commercial purposes. (There goes my plan for world domination of the single cypress tree photo industry.) Both it and the drive were a bit of a disappointment. The drive was over stunning scenery but it is crowded with homes and you only get brief glimpses of the shore, the roads are public but they are gated so they charge you to take the famed 17 mile drive. The first portion along the shore leading to the pay road is much nicer. The three or four stops are like the "lone" tree, hyped past the reality. We drove south of there on US 1 toward Big Sur and the views were incomparable. So, if I were to eliminate one thing from the trip is would be this 17 mile drive off Monterey.
Quiz Answer /
So if you guessed the school in Topeka that was the case for Brown v Board of Education you got it. This school was chosen out of five possible sites for the case because the school was nice and the education really was pretty equal. They wanted the issue to be only segregation policy and not the "equal" aspect of the laws. The display makes you both depressed by the vitriol from otherwise sane and reasonable people and proud of those who did the right things, courageously, and for the right reasons. The range of our National Parks - after visiting 35 in 6 weeks is really amazing. You need to get out.
Sea of Grass /
The Flint Hills in Kansas are just beautiful. Rolling hills with various shades of green. This shot is from the Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve. Birds were singing everywhere as storm clouds swept through and we had occasional rain on our hike into the bison preserve. Here are a few on a distant hill (preferred distance!) with young calves.
