Stormy, Cold, Windy, Sunny Day! and Day 4 Photo Challenge

Distant Drums RV Resort
Camp Verde, AZ
May 8, 2015

OK, OK, enough already! Thursday and Friday turned out to be stormy, rainy, cold, windy, and sunny! One minute the sun is shining and the next thing we know, it is thundering and lightening. Hiking is not something we enjoy on days like that. So what to do? 

It's fun to have a play day!


Day 4 Black and White Photo Challenge

Today's photo was taken at Balboa Park in February, 2015. What a beautiful place in San Diego to visit. We barely scratched the surface as we strolled through the park with friends Ronnie and Carol. 

 The only rules of the challenge are:
1. On five consecutive days create a post using a recent or past photograph in black and white.

2. Invite another blogging friend each day to join the challenge.

Until next time, happy days and happy trails!

Red Rock State Park and Day 3 Photo Challenge

Distant Drums RV Resort
Camp Verde, AZ
May 7, 2015

The weather here in Sedona comes in cycles. Three days of rain and thunder storms, a day of strong gusty winds and then a few days of pleasant sunny weather. 

Yesterday was the sunny day so off we went to explore Red Rock State Park. Red Rock is a Center for Environmental Education located just outside Sedona city limits on Highway 89A. 

The nature preserve is situated on 286 acres surrounded by a ridge. Oak Creek meanders through the park which offers a rich riparian habitat for plants and wildlife. There are miles of trails throughout the park to enjoy. 

Pictures of Oak Creek have been in many of my posts with its very clear running water. Imagine my face when I saw it yesterday.

For a split second we thought we were back in Georgia. It rained so hard Sun., Mon., and Tues. that it flooded and turned red and secondary bridges were washed out on several trails. 





As we approached the main bridge it   was full of birders...my heart skipped a beat! 

What would we see today?

Kisva Trail follows the creek. The trees were tall and made a thick canopy of green. We heard birds, running water, and the breeze. 

 Sycamore and Alder trees love it here!

 Most of the birds stayed hidden. Or, Joe was great at spotting their movement, but I wasn't fast enough to get a focus. 





One bird that stood out in the crowd was the Summer Tanager...what a beauty!

Next, we turned left on Eagle's Nest Trail and headed for the ridge.

Cathedral Rock

Pinon Pines, Arizona Junipers, and Prickly Pear lined Eagle's Nest.

 We went right on Coyote Ridge Trail then left onto Apache Fire Trail before we joined the main path that took us back over the bridge for a little more than 5 miles. 

A mule deer and her 2 babies were the only wildlife for the day. 

 Day 3 Photo Challenge...a picture I took in November 2013 while we were staying at Live Oak Landing RVC Outdoor Destination in Freeport, FL.

The only rules of the challenge are:

1. On five consecutive days create a post using a recent or past photograph in black and white.

2. Invite another blogging friend each day to join the challenge.

Today I invite Amanda (watsonswander.com) to join the challenge. Amanda and her husband Tim travel the country in their renovated Airstream. Currently they are visiting beaches along the east coast. One of those beaches  is one of my favorite places...North Carolina's Outer Banks. Check out the shells they found!

Until next time, happy days and happy trails!