Day 4 - April 25, 2012 - Saguaro NP

Saguaro NP West

“sah-WAH-row”, located near Tuscon AZ

I got up with the sun and had the most beautiful, awesome sunrise!  Today is my birthday, but it is also the day my sister-in-law Patti is undergoing surgery for a very rare form of cancer located in the lining around her heart. She and her medical team have been lifted up in prayer.

If you’ve never been to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, you just have to go.  It is highly acclaimed.  They open at 7:30 and that’s when we got there. It’s a combination zoo, natural history museum and botanical garden.  Strolling through the grounds is a journey through all of the habitats of the Sonoran Desert. And everything is blooming. Lots of hummingbirds and even able to see them nesting.

After several hours we left and went to the Visitor’s Center at Saguaro NP.  Lots of history here.  The Saguraro is the symbol of the American Southwest. It resembles in many ways human forms which is why they are sacred to the Native Americans. They are just starting to bloom.  Beautiful.

Headed towards Joshua Tree National Park in southern California.  Arrived about 5 and I’m so happy to say that we are off of I-10 (about 1500 miles). The Cottonwood campground here is beautiful. It is breezy and cool.

2012 - Day 3 - Saguaro National Park

Our morning started by sleeping in and having coffee in the cool desert morning.  After making breakfast tacos we went hiking around the north part of the park. We get to look at some rock paintings.  It is still so dry and in such a drought we didn't see many pools of water. Still pretty. There was a bus load of German students from the El Paso German School (military base). Left about 11 for Saguaro NP near Tuscon AZ.  Note:  If you're into archaeology, Hueco Tanks SP would be awesome.  Otherwise, their rules make it hard to enjoy the way we like to enjoy.

Hueco Tanks petroglypics

Ron climbing on the rocks

OK - maybe Texas doesn't have the largest cactus.

We found a campsite at the Gilbert Ray campground in the Tuscon Mountain Park, outside of the national park.  It's hot in the sun, but we have electricity!  We'll explore the park in the morning.

2012 - Day 2 - Hueco Tanks State Park

Guadalupe Mountains National Park - the highest peak in Texas

We left Fentress early - around 5:15 with our destination as Hueco Tanks State Historical Park, near El Paso.  This is an interesting park, but it's like you have to go through hoops to get admitted.  First, you are greeted by some not so happy park personnel.  Then you go to another building to go through a 15 minute orientation to the park.  You have to have a permit to go anywhere.  But this is all done to protect a very historical site, that originally was sorely abused by the public.  There is thousands of years of history here.  Because it has always provided water in the middle of nowhere, it has served as a refuge for plants, animals and people for 10,000 years.  There are thousands of pictographs left from prehistoric and native Americans.  The Butterfield Stage Line also went through here in the 1850's.

We are going to rest and take it easy this evening. It was a long drive. We will hike and check out the part of the park that we will be allowed in in the morning.  Our camping neighbors are delightful.....David and Cindy from Washington state.  We had so much in common. I really think our family trees crossed somewhere (and our relatives did arrive from across the ocean at the same place).  They were headed to Padre Island and then up to Philadelphia. We wish them well on their trip!

Our campsite at Hueco Tanks

Doing some rock climbing

2012 - Day 1, April 22

Today is Sunday.  We will leave when Ron gets off of work.  Can I say - it sure is hard to get packed!  Baby Lucy and Aiden and the garden all need our attention!  But - we left around 5 p.m. and are headed to Fentress, to my cousin Billie Jean's land on the San Marcos river - one of our most beloved places to be.  After getting fuel, stopping at WalMart for a few last minute items and kissing Aiden good-bye, it's 6 p.m.  We get to Fentress around 8.  We were able to enjoy some front porch time watching fire flies and enjoying that "Fentress/San Marcos river smell".  But, the fun started around 10:30 p.m., after we were asleep.  We were aroused by flood lights and door knocks. After Ron grabs his shorts, verifies that it isn't some crazy people but cops (4 to be exact), he opens the door to see what the heck is going on.  Apparently there is an innertube thief on the lose.  And can I say, when he steps out of the camper, all 4 cops put their hands on their pistols, ready to deal with what they think is the thief!  Come to find out, after I call and wake up Billie Jean to verify the address, they are at the wrong spot.  They still check everything out and then they leave.  We just get settled again (reminder that we came here so we could get an early start for our long drive the next day) and there are more lights and knocks on the camper door.  OK, I forget....we are on a county line.  So it's the other "county" cops and they are also looking for the innertube thieves.  Ron goes through the same routine and eventually they leave, after apologizing.  Oh what a first night we have had!

Baby Lucy, Mary, Ron and Aiden getting ready to leave

Sunset on the San Marcos River at Fentress

Souvenirs From the Road 2012

This is our year to do another long trip. Ron's vacation pick is the end of April through the middle of May. Our first thoughts were to head east, where we haven't camped much.  We got all kinds of literature and made plans.  Then diesel prices soared!  So we said - Let's just take 2 weeks and travel Texas and visit State Parks where we haven't been before.  Well, Ron happened upon a travel show on Yosemite National Park and it kept saying that May was the best month to visit.  That's all it took!  We made a pact to not complain about fuel prices, since where we're headed it will be the most expensive in all of the USA. I have to say - we're excited!  We haven't been here since 1996.  So, let the adventure begin!