Our final week at McDowell Mountain Park has been a good one, with some sunny and a bit warmer days so we were able to get in several more bike rides, and a couple of nice hikes. Also spent a day doing laundry, shopping, and picking up Suzanne from Sky Harbor airport in Phoenix. On the way back from the airport we met Debbie at SanTan Brewery in Chandler for a fun dinner and to return her sewing machine. I also trained my replacement at Fearless Kitty and filled in for someone yesterday so I got an extra day of cat time. I will miss that place and will definitely be back to volunteer there again.
These are for Debbie and Suzanne’s mothers
Gayle, Debbie and Suzanne, for those of you who don’t know us. Instead of “say cheese”, Jim says “say penis”, which gets us laughing rather than smiling.
View from Lousley Hill trail as the clouds rolled in.
I just had to add a rock to this huge cairn at the high point of the trail.
The Scenic Trail.
And finally the North trail, which is also very scenic.
Handsome male phainopepla along the trail.
And finally, a striking last sunset, a great end to our three months here.
Today we make our way to Quartzsite.
Beautiful photos. We're heading to QS tomorrow, who knows maybe we'll bump into each other. Are you going to the Blogger Fest? We love to hike too
ReplyDeleteYes, we plan to be at the Blogger Fest. Hope to see you there if not before.
DeleteHappy Birthday Gayle, my birthday twin :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! Same to you! I forgot it was my birthday this morning when I was writing this post. That's what happens when you get old;-)
DeleteWonder how many years it took to make that huge cairn (Jim's looking at the pile and wondering the same)? Lovely picture of the three smiling hikereets enjoying what the West has to offer. Have fun at Quartzite. Happy Birthday Gayle!
ReplyDeleteThat last picture and the one before it are just fantastic. What a spot you have. I really like seeing the picture for the mothers. I had no idea you all were so tall. Probably not as tall as the cactus though. Great pictures there too. I'm going to be tall in my next lifetime.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics from the trail - and very fun one of the three gals :-) So bummed I'm missing another blogfest, but family calls us to New Mexico so we have to leave Q on Thursday :-( Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize it was your birthday, Gayle! Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great day:) We often forget our birthdays since we don't do anything special and rarely remember what the date is.
ReplyDeleteWhenever someone posts photos of saguaro, I find myself scanning for a crest:) There is a gorgeous crested arm on the Scenic Trail in McDowell. Suzanne wrote about last year so we had to do this hike to see it when we were staying in Apache Junction.
Sounds like you had a wonderful time at McDowell:) Enjoy your visit to Quartzsite! One year we will make the Blogger Fest.
You ever see any "dangerous" critters while hiking in the desert?
ReplyDeleteAll we saw this time were a few jack rabbits and coyotes. We've never seen a snake at McDowell. Some of the mountain bikers look pretty dangerous, though!
ReplyDeleteNot a bad place to spend three months! Quartzite will be culture shock...and such a different type of desert!
ReplyDeleteWow, Jim's version of "cheese" sure brought some big smiles and color to your faces :)
ReplyDeleteBox Canyon Mark
Gayle,
ReplyDeleteDid you make those quilts? They are beautiful.
Leslie
You don't know my sewing skills! No quilting for me.
DeleteActually those are tiles on a wall in lovely old town Chandler. I should have said where we were but I was in a hurry when I did that post!
Happy Birthday, Gayle, from the frigid Midwest!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy! It got up to almost 70 here today.
DeleteThanks Mindy! It got up to almost 70 here today.
DeleteNice sunset. They are pretty nice there. I will be curious to hear how Q is for you. Sounds like a good time with friends.
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy Birthday Gayle.
ReplyDeleteThose are great shots on your final days at McDowell! We can see those snow covered peaks where we were at Lost Dutchman SP.
I really like that first sunset picture. Is that Four Peaks and is that snow?!?
ReplyDeleteYes to both.
Delete