good-times-rollin

Corona de Tucson

April 5, 2024

Saturday morning...

Jamie, Andra, and Ozzie came over to spend Easter week-end with us. We were all up bright and early on Saturday as we had hiking plans in Robles Pass Park. The park is a 1,000 acre parcel purchased by Pima County and located in the Tucson Mountains. The trails are designated multi use trails for hikers and bikers. Ledge Surfer Trail which winds its way up and down and all around connects to Camaro Loop Trail and was our choice for the day making for a scenic hike at a little over 5 miles. It was a gorgeous Saturday with partly blue skies, interesting clouds, and a gentled (much appreciated) breeze.

The trailhead for Ledge Surfer Trail is on the opposite side of the road from where we hike. The 4 lane highway divided by a median is always busy...sooo, the safest way to cross the road is walk thru a culvert under the road. It's kind of spooky...dark and damp and I can barely stand up in a few spots. Some of us had to stoop more than others.

Ledge Surfer Trail was lined with lots of little blooms...

Desert Stars

Phlox

Desert Onion

nice views, and lots of ocotillo and cacti.

We took the short Stone House Spur Trail. I have done more than one search for information on the stone house in the Tucson Mountains, but have not had any luck. I love the rocks and think it must have had a gorgeous view of the mountains back in its day. It's a nice place to stop for water and a snack.

Camaro Loop is my favorite part of this hike.

It twists and curves thru a nice saguaro forest.

The prickly pear and cholla cacti were full of buds.

But the saguaro are not showing any signs that its spring.

The birds however, are keeping busy.

An old, rusted out camaro gives the trail its name.

That is me...March 4, 2017

That is me...March 30, 2024 (I was a little more concerned about snakes on this hike!)

It was such a fun morning. We love it that Jamie and Andra love to hike too. And it is so awesome to share some of our favorites with them.

Ozzie makes himself at home. He has jobs... and keeps a watchful eye.

A stare down between these two....

But his favorite job is sharing the sofa with Grandaddy.

Joe cooked toad in the holes on Easter Sunday.

And before we knew it, it was time for them to get ready for the upcoming work week.

Our second hike this week was a hike about five miles from home. The Sahuarita Trail is a small section of the much longer Arizona Trail. The AZ Trail traverses from our state's southern border to our northern border about 800 miles long. This AZ Scenic National Trail links desert, mountains, canyons, forests, history communities, and diverse peoples. And it is celebrating its 30th year.

Sahuarita Trail is an easy hike. We have a turning around point at a crossroad about 1 1/2 miles in making a nice 3.2 mile walk.

There is a nice variety of desert plants, but no saguaro here. Mesquite trees, Palo Verde trees, ocotillo, yucca, grasses, wildflowers and prickly pear and cholla cacti fill the desert...all very showy without obstructing the view of the mountains and our beautiful deep blue sky.

New leaves on the Mesquite trees...

Orange/red blooms on the Ocotillo...

Yucca

Desert grasses...

Fairy Duster...the most prolific wildflower of the day...

Prickly Pear Cactus...

Back at the oasis, we flipped the calendar...it's April already !

And Edith loved her stickers, but only put the yellow bunnies on her shirt. Yellow is her favorite color...mine too !

Our weather this week started just like last week with a couple of rainy days.

Steady rain showers on Sunday...

Off and on again showers on Monday...

I snapped this photo on the way to an appointment Tuesday morning...snow capped peaks in the Rincon Mountains with low hanging clouds....

Afterwards, we took the long way home...

It never gets old...

The tulips Jamie and Andra brought me for Easter bloomed mid-week.

Our Desert Willows have a few leaves.

And the usual backyard visitors stopped by for a morsel or two.

We are in the midst of a home invasion. The mosquito hawks have taken over. Thank goodness they just aggravate us and do not bite. They line up on the screen at the patio door and just wait till we open the door to fly inside. Lamp shades, ceilings, windows seem to their favorite spots to stay.

Sally had her third injection of Librela this week. It is for pain control for osteoarthritis. The results have changed Sally's life. She is more active and actually hops around the house, her appetite is better, and she can stretch her back legs to clean her feet which she hasn't done in a really long time.