Devil Flower
This nice blossom is currently featured on the new Devil’s Tongue Cactus on the patio. Click image to enlarge.
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Archive for October, 2009
Travel Strategies
Our last vacation to Arizona was the second time this year we rented a trailer. This time, however, we did not rent the trailer until we were over in the Phoenix area. I figured that we could save some time and expense by heading out early to the rental facility in Mesa, Arizona, and camp a few miles from there on our first night at Apache Junction, so that’s what we did.
This image is from the morning after as we were getting ready to break camp and hitch up to head out to a part of Arizona neither of us had ever visited. Click the image to enlarge to full size.
We can report a lesson learned on this trip; driving the six or seven hour trip straight through to Mesa takes a lot out of us. On the way back, Verna had the idea that we should stop at a pet-friendly motel somewhere near the halfway point. I found one just a few hundred yards from the Colorado River along I-10 in Ehrenberg, Arizona. We were able to relax there, “Bear” was welcome (with a modest pet cleaning charge) and we watched Monday Night Football as opposed to going another almost four more hours to get home.
Good choice - next time, we’ll stay there on the way out to Mesa as well.
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Yikes! Spikes!
Wherever we stayed during our recent road trip to the desert, there was always a wonderful variety of local plant life. This cactus (at the KOA, Apache Junction, AZ), in spite of its spikes, was very pretty in its own way. Click image to enlarge.
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The Patton Tank in 3D
The following text may be seen at the WikiPedia article on the Patton Museum:
The General George S. Patton Memorial Museum of Chiriaco Summit, California is a museum erected in tribute to General George S. Patton on the site of the entrance of Camp Young, part of the Desert Training Center of World War II.
Exhibits include a large collection of tanks used in World War II and the Korean War, as well as memorabilia from Patton’s life and career, especially in regards to his service at the Desert Training Center and that of ordinary soldiers who trained there. Development of the Colorado River Aqueduct and natural science exhibits are displayed as well. In addition, a 26-minute video is shown, detailing Patton’s military service and the creation of the Desert Training Center.
Though Patton only spent less than four months at the Desert Training Center, his establishment of the training grounds directly impacted more than one million troops.
The museum is at the Chiriaco Summit exit off Interstate 10, 30 miles/48km east of Indio.
Image: Patton Tank in 3D - click to enlarge. If you don’t have your 3D glasses handy, you can see the 2D version here.
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Red Bird of the Day
Of course, by now you know I just LOVE these. Seen in Palm Desert California on our way to get a Subway sandwich. Click to enlarge . . .
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Buh-Bye
Just before leaving Arizona, heading into California, this saguaro cactus seems to wave goodbye while beckoning us to come back soon.
Well, suffice it to say, we will be back, Mr. saguaro. And soon . . .
Click image to enlarge.
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Casa Grande Ruins in 3D
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, in Coolidge, Arizona, just northeast of the city of Casa Grande, preserves a group of Hohokam structures.
The national monument consists of the ruins of multiple structures surrounded by a compound wall constructed by the Hohokam, who farmed the Gila Valley in the early 1200s.
“Casa Grande” is Spanish for “big house” (Siwan Wa’a Ki: in O’odham); these names refer to the largest structure on the site, which is what remains of a four story structure that may have been abandoned by the mid-1400s. The structure is made of caliche, and has managed to survive the extreme weather conditions for about seven centuries. Graffiti from 19th-century passers-by is scratched into its walls; though this is now illegal. Casa Grande now has a distinctive modern roof covering built in 1932.
Click on the image to enlarge. Just in case you do not have a pair of 3D glasses, you can see the 2D version by clicking here.
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