We get to reconnect with people we’ve known and loved all our lives but who happen to live where we don’t. We also get to reconnect with people we’ve met along the way. Case in point, a heartwarming visit today with Judy Hammer, who we only met once before; a fellow traveler we met in Maine. We’ve each gone our separate ways, staying in touch. She has since settled down in Mesa, Arizona, thus today’s opportunity. I’d include a photo if we had remembered to take one. It would have shown us having fun with a kindred spirit.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
Kids, This is the trail your mom hiked down.
In spite of the warning signs at the top of the trail.
It was a good view of the arch bridge from down below.
The passage and caves are filled with swifts and swallows flying in and out.
And an active raven’s nest.
With a waterfall over the entrance.
For scale, there are people standing at the other side of the bridge from another access point. It’s a pretty big bridge.
In spite of the warning signs at the top of the trail. It was a good view of the arch bridge from down below. The passage and caves are filled with swifts and swallows flying in and out. And an active raven’s nest. With a waterfall over the entrance. For scale, there are people standing at the other side of the bridge from another access point. It’s a pretty big bridge. Pool party
Here is a better picture of a palo verde tree.
It doesn’t have to carry leaves through dry spells. Leaves lose too much water to the atmosphere in the desert, so when water is plentiful the tree produces leaves, but when water gets scarce, the leaves drop right off. But it’s a plant; it still needs to photosynthesize; an operation that normally happens in leaves. The palo verde tree has chlorophyll in its bark, so it can carry on photosynthesis even when it doesn’t have its leaves on. Funny thing
We just spent the evening with Matt, Lindsay, and the kids.
Not that it’s unusual to spend time with them, it’s just that we live in Texas and they live in Colorado; it’s unusual that we all happen to be in Phoenix at the same time.
Not that it’s unusual to spend time with them, it’s just that we live in Texas and they live in Colorado; it’s unusual that we all happen to be in Phoenix at the same time. Cave Creek Regional Park
Northwest of Scottsdale. 2016 Summer Trip Map Back to the land of Saguaro cactus.
And ocotillo.
And cholla.
And palo verde trees.
Our campsite.
We’ve been here before. We’ve been in this campsite before.
It’s hard to leave and easy to come back to.
And ocotillo. And cholla. And palo verde trees. Our campsite. We’ve been here before. We’ve been in this campsite before. It’s hard to leave and easy to come back to.