Crystal crane hot springs

Made good time after leaving Portland in the afternoon. About 8pm we found this great hot springs to stay at.

LEAVING OREGON AGAIN

As we headed out for Vegas(for work) we said adios to our beloved Mt. Hood

ART PHOTOS

As we were driving down the highway I saw this great photo of us mirrored in the back of a truck.

SOUTHWEST STEVE

We have been having such a great time together...exploring and learning. We started building Steve a pair of tall moccasins when we arrived

in Santa Fe. A friend of ours owns Santa Fe leather and let us use his cutting table in the shop. The moccasins have become an art project. We add as we go. Steve hikes in them all of the time and says they are super comfortable.

BURRO CREEK CRITTERS

We found an incredibly beautiful place to camp just south of Wikieup, AZ. If you are a rockhound...this is your place! So many varieties of rocks are available. I found my first Apache Tear here. But there are also many critters. Lizards coming out of their cool dens to warm themselves and heron perched on the sides of cliffs waiting to see the elusive fish in Burro Creek.

FASCIATION

This is probably one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. I had read about it years ago and have been searching for years to see one of these and finally it happen 2 days ago!! I am sure you are all familiar with the Saguaro cactus. These giant sentinels of the desert are so fascinating to me. A saguaro without arms is called a spear and it usually takes up to 75 years to develop a sidearm. The arms are grown to increase the plant's reproductive capacity. However, rarely fasciation takes place. Fasciation (or cresting) is a condition of plant growth in which the apical meristem becomes elongated perpendicularly to the direction of growth, producing flattened, ribbon-like, crested or elaborately contorted tissue. It is caused by mutation in the meristematic cells, bacterial infection, mite or insect attack. I can't begin to tell you how excited I became upon finally seeing one of these. It was truly a gift of a lifetime!

HIKING IN THE RED ROCKS

We drove about 4 miles up Schnebly Rd and pulled off by a wonderful little creek and had lunch. From there we followed that creek up a ways until we reached another draw coming off of the red rocks and decided to see where it would take us. In the process Baylee fell into a Prickly Pear cactus and impaled her arm with numerous spines. After picking them out we kept heading up the draw. We ended up at a awesome overhang fully expecting to find some unexplored ruins. It was not to be! Had a wonderful hike back down with only a minor fall by me and Steve being stuck in the leg by an agave!

RUINS IN THE SEDONA/COTTONWOOD AREA

Wanted Baylee to experience more ruins. She had been to Mesa Verde when she was younger but one can never experience too many ruins. Each has it's own fascination.We drove miles down a dirt road back to Palatki. What a wonderful place for the Sinagua ( without water) to build their homes(1100 to 1400 a.d.) and to plant their crops. You can no longer get to the ruins as there is a crack in the cliff above the pueblos. You may only view them from afar. Then on to Tuzigoot (Apache for crooked water) just out side of Clarkdale, Az. by the Verde river. There are 2 to 3 story pueblos with 110 rooms. These were built from 1125 to 1400 a.d. It sits on top of a hill with a 360 degree view of the valley.
 We did learn there, that if a child died, the parents would bury the child beneath their floor to keep the child close to them

SENORITA CHEETAH

After purchasing a dress for Baylee in Mexico, the vortex in Sedona grabbed her one evening and this is what happened!

WARRIOR OF OAK CREEK CANYON

Traveled to Sedona after leaving the rock formations. It was a glorious sunny day and we camped next to Oak Creek. Went for a walk with the Bee and played in the creek. The rocks warmed the bottoms of our feet and the depths of our hearts.

ROCK FORMATIONS

We are never ceased to be amazed by the beauty of our country. After driving in the dark for numerous hours, we found a park to stay in for the night. In the morning we all went for a walk and found what an incredible area we had chosen in the dark. This is near Prescott Arizona.

MEXICAN SUNSET

We grabbed Baylee at the Phoenix airport and headed for Mexico. Camped just outside the border and

Baylee took this photo of the US flag flying in the evening sunset!

FIRST SUNRISE OF 2012

How can you see the last sunset of the year and not see the first sunrise of the next?  Not a chance! We made a fresh pot of coffee and left the warmth and comfort of our abode's and walked outside to a new dawn. The colors were again magnificent. It was the last sunrise we would experience at this place.

LAST SUNSET OF 2011

We had been camped at Brantley Lake State Park in Southeastern New Mexico just north of Carlsbad caverns. There we met our friends Ken and Mary from Oregon. Had a great time touring the incredible caverns, area museums and bike riding.The afternoon was warm and comforting. Toward sunset, it started clouding up. We knew we were in store for a colorful dusk. We watched the last sunset of 2011 together and wished all of our families and friends could be there with us!

OTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS

Many of the plants in the southwest are amazing. One in particular is the Sotol. It grows clumps of slender evergreen leaf blades with margins bordered by fine hooked teeth that angle toward the leaf tips, making the leaves look much like a double-edged saw. You certainly don't want to fall into one of these plants. But they are beautiful and colorful. You can see these all along the roads. But be sure to watch out for the Gigantus  Roadrunnerous. Run very fast if you happen to meet him on a trail!

VALLEY OF FIRES

This area is in the central part of New Mexico. It is just west of Carrizozo. Around 5000 years ago, Little Black Peak erupted like a volcano. It's childish spewing-fit created a river of lava that flowed 44 miles into the Tularosa Basin. Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett spent much time in this area. At the campsite there was a hill that we walked up where you could see 360 degrees. I am sure Billy spent time here as he could certainly see if anyone was coming for him. We were in awe of the landscape in any direction we looked.

BACKBONE OF THE EARTH

Driving down back roads of the planet is the most wonderful experience one can have. There you will see so many incredible places, roadside attractions and geologic formations. Everyone sees different things of each aspect of life. I saw the spine of the earth here in New Mexico. Then there is the contrast of the behemoth balancing power poles and an old service station within a few hundred yards of each other.