Patagonia Lake

Corona de Tucson

December 2, 2023  

Patagonia Lake State Park

Last weeks post ended with the mention of an adventure with Jamie and Andra on Saturday.  During coffee that morning several possibilities were discussed for a day trip to near by places that Jamie and Andra had not visited yet.  Patagonia Lake was unanimously chosen...yippee !    

The lake and surrounding area became a state park in 1975 and what makes it especially nice is that it joins the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area...both are named an Audubon important bird area.  

Patagonia Lake was actually formed when Sonoita Creek was dammed back in the 60s.  It's not a big lake at only 265 acres and 2.5 miles long, but it is always busy with boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, birding and camping.  

 

It sure is fun revisiting and sharing favorite places. 

There are a couple of  bird feeding stations at the park.  I was so happy to see a White-breasted Nuthatch.  I read that they get their common name from a habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into tree bark then whacking them with their sharp bill to "hatch" out the seed.  

These small territorial birds move about quickly at odd angles...mostly vertical...along the main branches of large trees which makes snapping a clear photo a bit of a challenge.

I was also delighted to see a male Ladder-backed Woodpecker.  A sweet little female ladder-back visits our  backyard feeders with some regularity, but we have not yet seen a male in the yard...fingers crossed ! 

 I don't think this female Common Grackle was very happy to see us...

And a "new to us" bird...the Inca Dove...with its scaly-looking feathers.  I would love to see one in flight as I read they have a flashing chestnut color underwing and white in its tail.   

There wasn't a variety of ducks waddling or swimming around the lake...just a few Mexican Ducks which are a very close relative of the Mallard...and sometimes called Mexican Mallard.  

The male has a dull yellow bill and the female has the molted orange and black bill.

Male Mexican Duck

Female Mexican Duck

We did have a nice walk along the lake shore just beyond the park campground in the State Natural Area.  There are only peeks of the lake here and there, but the old cottonwood trees are quite magnificent.  There are many of these giants that have lost huge limbs.  I read that these trees are among the largest (more than 100 feet tall) and oldest (130 + years) Freemont cottonwood trees in the country.  Patagonia Lake is one of the few remaining sites in Arizona where these trees still grow.

On the way home we stopped in Patagonia for lunch. We all enjoyed yummy burgers at the Wild Horse Restaurant and Saloon located inside The Stage Stop Inn.  The Inn stands on the site of the original Patagonia Stage Coach stop...part of the Butterfield Trail system.  It was originally built in the 1960s when an avid horse lover, Anne Stradling, moved to the dusty little town and opened an exhibit she named Museum of the Horse.  No one came to the museum to see her amazing collection of anything and everything related to horses which she surmised was due to the lack of lodging.  So, this wealthy East Coast family heiress built the Stage Stop Inn.  The restaurant is named in her honor and the saloon is the former site where Anne stored extra wagons and stage coaches.  

We had no idea that Patagonia was hosting its 21st Annual Patagonia Art Walk until we arrived there.  The event showcases the work of local artisans, authors, and gardeners at a range of sites scattered about in Patagonia.  

We didn't actually do the "art walk", but enjoyed watching the lady who was felting in The Book Nook, the pottery at a local gallery, the colorful little town, and a cookie (You can't leave Patagonia without one!) from Gathering Grounds.

I love browsing in The Book Nook...it is located at the back of the Trading Post.  

A colorful potters workshop and gallery

Brother and sister ferrel cats the owner of Patagonia Plants had altered and now feeds.  I don't think these kitties have plans to go anywhere else.  

Shadows from inside the church...

Old hitching post in the park

Yummy peanutbutter and white chocolate cookie 

A touch of Christmas at Patagonia Plants

Reminders of days gone by...  

Mural at Velvet Elvis 

It was such a delightful day !

We headed to the city this week for a couple of appointments.  After Joe's appointment to get his teeth cleaned on Thursday, we made a stop at BKs for a dog and a side order of guac and chips.  I always forget to mention that I don't want the fries...the guac and chips are a favorite and so, so yummy !

Back at the oasis we enjoyed the rest of our week.  I can hardly believe we turned the calendar again, that it is December already, and 2023 only has a few more days.  

The weather was really nice and mid-morning/afternoon walks were pleasant. 

Late one afternoon we headed out for a short walk.

Sally and I caught November's second full moon setting early Tuesday morning.   

November's Beaver Moon so named because it is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges for the long winter ahead. 

I made banana nut bread.  I grew up with banana nut bread and love it toasted with lots of butter.  

We were both excited to see the neighborhood owl perched in the pine tree that is just outside our fence.  I am always looking for him (her) and see him often on walks, but I don't carry the zoom lens when I walk at home.  He was so close...such a treat...I waited patiently for 70 years to see an owl in the wild.   He perched there for quite awhile watching and waiting before flying away.

 

The Bottlebrush tree is blooming...that was a surprise !

We love watching the birds gather...

We enjoyed some cooler temps and much needed rain Friday.  I made chicken noodle soup.  It smelled so good cooking all day in the crockpot.  We served it with crunchy sourdough cheese toast.  It hit the spot !

That's a wrap on November and our week.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Until next time. 

HAPPY TRAILS !

Ramsey Canyon Preserve - Ramsey Canyon Trail and Hamburg Trail

Corona de Tucson

November  18, 2023

Ramsey Canyon is a deep, wooded ravine on the east side of the Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista in south Arizona...about 70 miles from our home.  The stunning beauty of Ramsey Canyon has attracted folks for centuries.  The canyon namesake is Gardner Ramsey, an early settler looking for gold in the area who built by hand a 2.5 mile road from what is now the preserve headquarters to Hamburg Mine back in the 1880s.  The first documented resident of Ramsey Canyon is William Berner.  Unlike the prospectors, Berner admired the canyon's unique beauty and spent his time planting trees and building cabins.  Dr. Nelson Bledsoe lived in nearby Bisbee and was the company doctor for Arizona Mining Co. who also treated nearby residents.  As it turns out, Dr. Nelson treated William Berner for an illness.  As a form of payment for his medical treatment, Berner willed (upon his death) his land holdings in the canyon to Dr. Bledsoe  and by the mid 1930s, Dr. Nelson was the owner of 280 acres in Ramsey Canyon where he and his wife spent much of their time.  Official recognition of this ecological significant area came in 1965 when the canyon was registered as the first National Natural Landmark.  In 1974, Dr Nelson generously donated his land to The Nature Conservatory fulfilling his wish that the natural values of the canyon be preserved for future generations without any disturbance whatever to habitat, plant, or animal populations.  

Acquisitions have expanded the preserve to 380 acres.

Since buying our home in Feb. '21, we have enjoyed a subscription to Arizona Highways Magazine...a wealth of information with points of interest, off the beaten path destinations, scenic drives, lots of history and gorgeous photography.  I first learned about Ramsey Canyon in the July 2022 issue when Hamburg Trail was the "Trail of the Month". 

A morning at the preserve begins at the Visitor Center/Headquarters...literally as Ramsey Canyon Trail begins just outside the back door.  There are only 27 parking spaces at the preserve and parking along the street is prohibited. An entrance fee of $8.00 is required and children under 13 are free.    

Also just outside the backdoor is a bird viewing area complete with rocking chairs and lots of benches...which we enjoyed at the end of our hike.  As you begin, the trail meanders along Ramsey Creek  

We only heard and saw a trickle of water today...

Along the Ramsey Canyon Trail, there are two optional loops.  Joe and I enjoyed both.  First is Grandview Loop.  The highlights are...

The log cabin was built by John James in 1902.  From the late 1880s to the late 1920s, the canyon was home to almost 100 settlers. 

This 1911 cabin was built by John James after his family outgrew the smaller log cabin.

Beautiful views from the cabin and the creek was just past the grass.

The second loop is Bledsoe Loop.

There wasn't any information about this fireplace,  I loved it and suppose it along with other foundations we saw are from homes William Berner and/or other early settlers built. 

We did notice this plaque on a tree behind the fireplace. 

Mule Deer call the canyon home. Our brochure included a long list of wildlife a visitor might encounter...Ringtail Cats, Arizona Black Bears, Mountain Lions are just a few of those listed.  

At the end of the Bledsoe Loop is a choice...left will return to the Visitor Center and right to the Hamburg Trail. 

We turned right.  It was quite the workout as we climbed 500 feet in a half mile up a series of switchbacks to an overlook on Miller Mountain.  There are 9 benches strategically placed along the way.  We made a stop at bench #6 for water and to catch our breath.  I realized I didn't get any photos going up, but I did turn around once...

and stopped often to check out the views along the way.

It was well worth the effort to get to the overlook.  And kudos to us as it was the hardest hiking we have done in a very long time...short and steep ! 

At 9,465 ', Miller Mountain is the highest mountain in the Huachuca Mountain Range and Miller Peak, is the second highest peak in Cochise County. This is also the most southerly peak and land area to rise above 9,000' in the Continental U.S.  

We hiked to an overlook at 6,200'  and the end of the Hamburg Trail.   

And what goes up...goes down.

After the hike back down, we followed the rest of the Ramsey Creek Trail back to the VC.  All total with Ramsey Creek Trail, both loops and Hamburg Trail we logged 3 miles on this in-out trail.  As written in Arizona Highways...There are better known canyons in Arizona - Canyon de Chelly, Oak Creek Canyon, the Grand Canyon - but Ramsey Canyon belongs on any list of the state's most spectacular chasms.  Unlike the others, Ramsey is not defined by its panoramas.  Rather, it's the intimacy of this wooded wonderland that makes it so special.  What a wonderful, peaceful, and beautiful way to spend a few hours !  

Along Ramsey Creek Trail there are 16 numbered markers and a brochure from the VC gives information about why the marker is there.  The tree rings in this Arizona Sycamore date it to 1760.  

It is explained how its brittle branches are prone to breaking and eventually becoming stumps that provide homes for the birds.  

Ramsey Canyon has been visited by birders for over a century.  It is best known for its diversity of hummingbirds in season, but many other birds are often seen such as the Elegant Trojan, Bridled Titmouse, Spotted Towhee and Painted Redstart. 

We had a couple of appointments this week in Tucson.  On the way home from one of them, we stopped at First Watch for brunch.  It was a first time stop there, but will not be the last.  First Watch is a nautical reference to the first work shift of the day.  The restaurants are open from 7:00am to 2:30 pm and feature breakfast/brunch using fresh, local and seasonal ingredients.  We both ordered the Farmhouse Skillet with roasted potatoes and onions, lots of crispy bacon, avocado, topped with two eggs over easy and served with multi-grain toast.  

Last Sunday, we met Jamie and Andra for lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.  Some one had a birthday...number 50...yikes!  The candle and ice cream were complimentary...we all had cheesecake too !

 Today was the day for a big Tucson event...Tour de Tucson.  It has been an annual event in Tucson for the past 40 years.  There are three different routes varying in miles with the longest ride at 100 miles passing thru Vail and Corona de Tucson.  I read that 7,500 cyclists participate in this renowned and popular event.  

Joe and I were headed to the grocery store and have to give a shout out to Tucson Police and Pima County Sheriffs Departments who kept the vehicle traffic and cyclists all moving safely at a steady pace.  All intersections were manned and directions were clear as to who was to go where.  We knew our regular route to Frys would be closed as the on-off ramps at Houghton Road were closed for the morning so we skirted around the long way down Wentworth Road.  Of course coming home that way meant we rode right past the Dairy Queen...

Back at the oasis, we had clouds all week...every single day !  It was wonderful...I do love the clouds ! 

sunrise 

late afternoon

We changed the routine and enjoyed late afternoon walks this week.

sunset

And we have even had a couple of rain showers...yippee!

A few morning backyard birds...

 

and sweet Sally.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  

Turkey photo taken in September at Madera Canyon

Until next time,

Ramsey Canyon Road

HAPPY TRAILS !