Bike Ride

We rode our bikes to The Gyros Place
for lunch today.

Today's Hike

Superstition Mountains as seen from
the Vista Trail in Usery Park.

New Condo

After almost 1 1/2 years of looking and waiting we finally bought a condo here in Mesa. We took our time and waited until prices dropped enough for us get what we wanted at a price we could afford. It's in a "55+" community like Sun Life where we currently live. Here are some of the "before" pictures. We have big plans for this condo.

	Living room view from patio.
	Living room view from kitchen.
	Partial view of the kitchen.
	Partial view of the bathroom.

Ocotillo

They have their leaves again! Probably
due to the recent rains. They can drop
their leaves in very hot weather.

Saguaro Lake

We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the lake
today.

Tempe Town Lake

It's gone! The bladder dam on the west end of the lake broke a couple of days ago and the lake drained away. The dam is scheduled to be replaced and the lake refilled this fall. That's the ASU Sun Devils Stadium on the left.

Bright Angel Trail

As seen from the Rim Trail at the
Grand Canyon.

Cinder Cone

It looks like a paved parking lot but it's
really the floor of the Lenox volcanic
cinder cone just north of Flagstaff, AZ.
It was a short but very steep hike to
the top over a surface of loose cinders.

Lava Fields

You don't have to travel to Hawaii to
see lava fields. These are about 15
miles north of Flagstaff, AZ.

Grand Canyon

We went on a road trip that took us to Lake Havasu, Las Vegas and then Williams, AZ. The Grand Canyon is less than an hour's drive from Williams. This picture show the view of the canyon from the South Kaibab Trail, one of the trails we hiked while visiting he park.

The Cat In The Hat

Willow Lake Granite Dells Hike

We're in Prescott for a few days. Today we went to Willow Lake and hiked through the Granite Dells. We were amazed how much it looked like the granite mountains in Maine! Simply beautiful. Ross got stung by a bee while hiking. We've both been stung now in a very short time. Looks like the bees have something against us.

	Granite hills, water in the background - looks just like Maine!
	Another view of the Dells.
	Hiking through a canyon in the Dells.
	Karen smelling a Ponderosa Pine. They smell like Vanilla!

Twosome

Oh Goody!

Emily has a new trick.

Big Cat, Small Box

Heart Attack Grill

Also a couple of weeks ago we went with Ross's aunt and uncle, Shari and Chuck, to the (somewhat) famous Heart Attack Grill. It's been featured on the Food Network, Sunday Morning and other shows. The concept is cute, the food was good (if a bit pricey) and we had a lot of fun!

In case you haven't heard of it the concept is a medical establishment that serves only food that is VERY bad for you. The waitresses are all dressed as nurses. They put a hospital wrist band and gown on you when you come in. The only things on the menu are "bypass" burgers (single, double, triple and quadruple), an all you can eat "flatliner" fries bar (instead of a salad bar), regular soft drinks (no diet drinks but you can buy bottled water) and unfiltered cigarettes. All the food is cooked in pure lard! Probably not the kind of food you'd want to eat every day but once in a while... tasty!

	(Left to right) Shari, Chuck and Karen enjoying their "single bypass" burgers and "flatliner" fries.
	Karen with her hospital wrist band.

Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

A couple of weeks ago we took a day trip up to Payson and the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. The main attraction of the park is the natural bridge. In order to see it up close you have to hike down a short but very steep trail. Of course the hike back up is the hard part but it's well worth the effort. This thing is HUGE! The bridge stands 183 feet high over a 400-foot long tunnel that measures 150 feet at its widest point. Very impressive!

	This picture doesn't convey just how massive the natural bridge is!
	Looking up at the top of the bridge.

Saguaro In Bloom

Cholla Pieces

We saw this large pile of Cholla pieces
on the Merkle Trail today. What's
strange is that there aren't any Chollas
around this location! The nearest ones
Are at least 100' away.

[5-30-2010 Update] I sent this picture to Ranger B at Usery Park. He wrote back that the pile was created by pack rats. Apparently they can carry the cholla pieces in their teeth without sticking themselves.

Real Time

Right now we're at the top overlook
on the Vista Trail. That's Pass Mt. in
the background.

A Few Days Ago...

At the corner of Crest and Huff and
Puff.

Dead Snake

We found this dead gopher snake on the side of the road yesterday in McDowell Mountain Park after a hike. In spite of its position it was dead. Ross kicked some pebbles at it and it didn't move. The strange thing is that there we no signs of trauma on the snake. We thought maybe it had been hit by a car but that would have left marks. Strange!

Chuckwalla

Seen while hiking Silly Mt. today.

Saguaros

They're in bloom now.

New Jobs

We're working part time at Quiznos
now. MMMMM - Toasty!

Gilbert Tea Party

Today we rode our bikes to the Gilbert Tea Party. They were expecting 2000 people and the organizers think more than that showed up. There were a lot of speeches by politicians, people running for office, political groups and the like. The main speaker was Sheriff Joe Arpiao, "Sheriff Joe." The whole thing lasted 2 hours. It was inspiring!

	Sheriff Joe Arpiao speaking at the Tea Party.
	Some of the extimated more than 2000 people at the Tea Party.
	Some say that people who are in the Tea Party movement are all "racist, right wing extremists." Here are 3 of them!

Gila Monster

Seen while hiking today in Usery Park.

Flowers In Bloom

On Merkle/Vista Trail today.

Flowers In Bloom

On Merkle/Vista Trail today.

Ocotillo In Bloom

On Merkle/Vista Trail today.

Hedgehog In Bloom

On Merkle/Vista Trail today.

Spring Training 2010

Critter

Chuckwalla we saw Monday at the top
of the Vista Trail in Usery Park.

Wildflowers

The wildflowers are in bloom here in
the Sonoran Desert. Not as many as
the last couple of years.

New Addition To Our Family

Emily Ann.

Yesterday's Hike Part 2

On our hike yesterday we went via a different route than we usually hike. This route took us long the south side of both of the cat peaks. On the smaller of the two peaks, on the south side, is a cave that used to be the home to a mountain lion (so we've been told.) Hence the name "cat peaks."

The cave's entrance is visible as a small black area just to the left of the top of the saguaro.

Yesterday's Hike

On the Cat Peaks Trail.

Which Way?

Which way is Phoenix?
(Zoom in on the white lettering on the
mountain in the background.)

Water Fowl

Great blue heron - in Scottsdale - in
the desert.

Peek A Boo