2018 Soutwest Trip - Start

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

For those who missed that we aborted our trip south on Antares in October - we're in the process of installing a rebuilt engine and looked to find an alternative escape from winter.  Needing to use or lose our out air mile tickets, we opted to tour Arizona and New Mexico, trading sand with water for sand with cactus.

Unlike a number of years ago, Valentines Day 2018 arrived sans blizzard, so we had no glitches with connections and our luggage arrived on the carousel.  If only flying were as much fun as it once was, with seat and foot room, enough space in the overhead bins, and more to eat than .5oz pretzels and a can of soda.  Given how cramped I find it at 5'2" and a tad over 100# - pity the average sized person - Leonard and I jousted over elbow room!

Quilt-like pattern of irrigated circle crops

Wrinkles of approaching mountains as seen from above

The sky had cloud cover most of the trip, with a break as we crossed part of Texas,  offering views of huge wind power fields - some with 100 windmills, oil fields, the characteristic round shape of irrigated crops looking like a fancy quilt, and the wrinkled look of  desert foothills before the cloud cover reappeared.
The pilot reported the weather for our arrival in Phoenix  was showers and rain.  With cloud cover almost to the ground, it was no surprise when his forecast was spot on, it was raining.  So much for the sunny south west, but on the bright side, maybe the showers would bring spring flowers.

By the time we got our car, it was dark, still raining, rush hour, and there was no cell coverage in the garage to get directions to our Airbnb (they don't give out paper maps anymore).  Fortunately we didn't have far to go and the voice on the phone provided directions once we got GPS coverage.  After we arrived, it took half an hour of wandering through a condo complex to locate our particular unit.

By now it was after 2200 EST and it had been a long day.  Our unit was as advertised, with plenty of room to stretch out and relax.  It was surprisingly quiet given we weren't far from a freeway and more comfortable than a motel room.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Knowing there was way more to do than time, we went to the Visitor Center for information and maps.  With showers still in the forecast, we headed to the Desert Botanical Garden opting to wait for better conditions to drive through Apache Pass and the Superstition Mountains.

The Desert Botanical Garden was impressive - started in 1939, it has 140 acres, 21,000 plants including 139 rare and endangered species, a variety of of trails and terrain.  Since our arrival coincided with the start of a docent led tour, we joined a small group to better understand some of what we were seeing.  The docent explained that unlike the desert, the garden is irrigated, allowing the multitude of plants to be 'crowded' as they don't compete for water. 

Photo op with a conveniently placed ledge for timed photos

A variety of different cacti at the entrance of the botanical garden

Barrel cactus flowers

Gila woodpecker on a saguaro cactus

Cactus wren on an organ pipe cactus

Saguaro 'boot' - the cactus has 'healed and hardened' around the hole
made by the woodpecker and can be used by other birds and critters in future years

 Male gambel's quail

Saguaro ribs - wood hard enough to have been used in Pueblos

Bees pollinating an aloe

Antelope Squirrel on top eating new growth

Interesting saguaro

We returned briefly to our Airbnb when the camera indicated it was out of juice and picked up the power pack and our other camera.

The subtle difference of the various cacti shapes and colors was interesting.  I was surprised at the variety of wildlife - lots of birds, squirrels and rabbits - visible as we wandered the trails.

We ended the day with a short hike in Papago Park, a city park adjacent to the gardens.  We'd seen the interesting red rocks from the gardens, and found a well used park with a number of trails giving us a chance to stretch our legs with a short climb after spending much of the day standing.  A great day well spent.

Curved-billed thrasher

Papago Park hike