We’re in a windy spell currently with the wind gusting up to
25 mph but the wind has kept the overnight temperatures up. It was 57F this morning at 6 am. We’ve had some nice sunrises and sunsets with
the mixed cloudy and sunny weather this year.
I’ve been leading the club ATV rides Monday’s and Thursday’s. When the other leader arrives for the winter,
I will probably drop one of the days.
We had a busy day last Friday. We went with friends Richard and Judy on a
Costco run but as we got to Apache Junction, Richard suggested we take a drive
out Hwy 88, the Apache Trail, to Tortillo Flats. Well, we’re in! We made it into a photo excursion, stopping
lots and poking about. We got back to
Mesa for a late lunch then did Costco.
As soon as we were done unpacking at home, I grabbed my Canon SX60
camera and walked out into the desert far enough to find some saguaro cactus
for subject matter as I thought there might be a sunset. And there was!
I walked home in the growing darkness then we had a quick
supper. I grabbed my Canon 6D which
works better for shooting in low light and we drove into Florence to catch the
annual light up parade. For a little
town, they put on an impressive event.
By the time we got home, I was too tired to do more than just have a quick
look through my photos.
On Saturday, we went to the far side of Phoenix to an event
of a group Aileen belongs to and that used up most of the day. It was about 300 kms (187 miles) round
trip. I spent my evening editing Friday
photos. On Sunday, I went geocaching
down the highway south of town. I met up
with a young guy, still in college, and we cached together until he headed
home. We met a geocaching couple at one
cache and had a good chat. Later, we met
the cache owners of the set we were working on.
They were out doing maintenance on their geocaches.
Warning Bev, there is a spider in this series
Sunburst in the morning behind Caliente
While leading the ATV group I happened on these
Queen butterflies. They are related to the Monarch but are much smaller and non migratory.
The Queen butterflies were feasting on this Desert Lavender bush
Overloaded!
A couple of us ventured into a mine tunnel but we didn't go beyond this
Wild honeybees
Jammed in tight
Harris' Hawk along the Apache Trail
Along the Apache Trail near Tortillo Flats
Along the Apache Trail near Tortillo Flats
Along the Apache Trail past Tortillo Flats
Mexican Thistle
Tarantula
Moth or butterfly. It took a while to recognize this was actually a living creature. It looked like a dead leaf or nothing.
Friday sunset behind Caliente was a bit on the wild side
Driving on AZ60 near Mesa, AZ Saturday morning. Fog isn't what you think of in the desert. It was a nice sunny day once it lifted.
I think this is some type of mallow. I spotted it while geocaching.
First stop yesterday
Dromedary Peak with Superstition Mtn behind on yesterday's ride
Left over from mining days at Reymert Mine, our destination yesterday
Up the creek at Reymert
Neat patterns in the rock and cactus up the creek at Reymert
Overview of the remains of Reymert
These girls doing a Mexican dance were great entertainment before the parade
It is amazing how many people come out for the parade
