We never got the boat into the water this season and we are now back to land cruising in the RV. If you want to keep up with us, check out my other blog: https://landyachtersextraordinaire.blogspot.com/
It just didn't see right to be posting non-sailing posts here. I'll be back next fall!
Monday, March 19, 2018
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Tombstone, AZ
Tuesday we made a trip up to Tombstone, AZ. The
last home of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Big Nose Kate and numerous other
interesting characters.
It took a bit over an hour to drive from Tucson
and by the time we arrived our stomachs were hollerin’ for some vittles so we
sauntered into the first establishment we came to…the Longhorn Restaurant. The
“Too Tough To Die” Burger was mighty temptin’ but I went for the “Longhorn”
burger instead and an ice cold beer to wash it down. Chris, bein’ the city
slicker that he is, opted for the roast beef sandwich.
After we’d replenished ourselves it was time to
take in the town (such as it was). There was a heap o’ shoppin’ available with
everything from spurs to corsets to gee gaws galore on display. The stagecoach
rumbled into town while we were there so we were careful to stay on the
boardwalk so as to avoid being run down.
As we got close to the end of Main Street it
looked like there was a bit of a ruckus startin’ up between some fellers with
sidearms and a clodhopper out in the middle of the thoroughfare. Sure enough,
it turns out there was some sort o’ disagreement goin’ on and soon enough the
shootin’ commenced out back at the OK Corral.
Purt near everone was kilt or
wounded in the fight. All but Sheriff Wyatt Earp who somehow escaped without a
scratch.
Well, by now we were ready to saddle up and head
back to the bunkhouse but there was one more stop to be made. A visit to
Tombstone wouldn’t be complete without a wander through Boot Hill to pay our
respects to those who are moulderin’ in the ground.
George Johnson - In the wrong place at the wrong time! |
That Ormsby was an ornery cuss. Red River Tom wasn't the only guy he plugged. |
This says it all! |
Guess a six-shooter wasn't enough! |
It soon became apparent
that there was a lot of shootin’, hangin’ and murderin’ goin’ on back in them
days. 1881 seems to have been a p’tickular bad year.
Friday, February 9, 2018
Saguaro National Park
Having never been to Saguaro National Park, and
since one of our goals is to visit as many National Parks as possible, we spent
a few hours on Tuesday at this interesting place.
Mind you, I am more of a water girl than a child
of the desert, and this place is definitely desert. It is hot, dusty, sandy and
plenty prickly. There is a pretty ridge of mountains (the Rincon) on the
eastern edge of the park and looking at them made me wonder how distressed the
pioneers must have been as they came over that ridge to be confronted by miles
of pokey things in their way. Chris tells me that there are actual waterfalls
up high but they sure looked bone dry from my vantage point.
In the visitor’s center we learned about many of
the critters that live here. Deer, Javelina (which look like pigs but aren’t),
Bobcats, Cougars, Gray Foxes, Coyote, Packrats, several types of toads and lizards,
lots of birds and, of course, snakes (shiver!). They clearly don’t actually
stay in the National Park as the stories of finding them in backyards and
neighborhoods are numerous.
After leaving the visitor’s center we drove the
loop through the park and looked at lots and lots of stickery things but didn’t
see a single animal…not even birds. The weather wasn’t that hot (only about 80)
so they must have just been avoiding us.
I can’t even begin to name all the different kinds
of pokey things that grow in this desert but here are some of the more common characters.
Not surprisingly, there are lots & lots of
Saguaro Cacti and they are the most interesting. Each one is an individual and very
different from the others. Some are quite symmetrical. Some are tall and
skinny.
Some are a little into overdoing it.
Overkill and then some. |
Some are just zen-like.
A Couple "Zen" Cacti beside the road. |
They don’t
start getting their arms until they are around 75 years old and because they
grow in such weird shapes and numbers, and are sort of human-like, it’s kind of
fun to make up what they look like they are trying to become.
There are numerous different kinds of Cholla cacti
in this desert place. There is a pretty purple one named a Staghorn.
Purple Staghorn |
There are
two versions that are very fuzzy looking. One is deceptively called a “Teddy
Bear” (Warning: Don’t try to cuddle it.) and one is a “Jumping Cactus” which
comes with the caveat that you only need to get CLOSE to it to find yourself
full of owies.
"I'm a Teddy Bear but don't hug me!" |
We also saw quite a few Chollas that were sort of droopy looking
but I couldn’t find out if they are a specific variety or just really short on
water. Chris tells me that regardless of the type, they all have a deadly aim
when it comes to inflicting pain.
We came across a few Barrel Cacti that were
showing off with some pretty yellow buds.
And there were lots and lots of Prickly Pear Cacti
(self-explanatory) with lethal looking spikes.
In addition to the stickery stuff, there is a
pretty amazing array of flora given the fact that there is a lot of heat and very
little water here.
Mesquite trees are kind of bare right now but many
of them have these bushy looking messes attached that look like bird nests but
are actually Mistletoe (you know, the stuff you stand under to get kissed at
Christmas).
Palo Verde seems to be everywhere. Even though
Palo Verde is Spanish for Green Tree, the plants were all covered in a pretty
yellow foliage this time of year.
Another oddity is Ocotillo. These plants normally
look like just very tall, dead sticks (covered with thorns, of course) but when
it rains, within hours fat little green leaves and a beautiful bouquet of red
flowers pop out all over the sticks.
Even though I am not really into the desolation
and amount of “to be avoided” things in the desert, there are plenty of people
who love it and I’ve been amazed at the plethora of seriously up-scale homes
built around the edges of the Park. I have a lot of trouble understanding the
logic of living in such an inhospitable environment but since I am quite
comfortable on a boat with nothing but water in all directions, I guess it is
just a different personal preference.
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