Back on the Oregon Coast

Yes, you read that right! Made a major change in travel plans and am now back in Oregon in one of my favorite coastal areas, the Siltcoos River.

As many of you know, lasy week, Amy flew out to Phoenix for a visit. Sunday she received a text that her flight home was delayed. She checked on the length of the delay and found the flight was cancelled and her airline only fly's a Mesa route on Sunday and Thursday. She started checking on options with other airlines. I thought a bit and said, I can have you home in 48 hours! I was planning on coming home in a month but why not just go now. So we hooked up the RV and took off. Sure enough, we pulled into her place 47 hours and 1300 miles later! Since it is so cold and foggy in the Eugene area, I am now on the coast were it is a little warmer! I love being retired with no schedule!

Cactus Skeletons

Having spent most of my life in Oregon, I have rarely been around cacti like those found here in the Arizona desert. I never gave much thought as to what a dead cactus would look like. Having now seen them, I find them fascinating. The first pics are of a Saguaro cacti and its skeleton.

Above picture shows a live cacti and a partially decayed one standing nearby. The lower picture gives a clearer look at the skeleton.

As you can see it is made up of multiple wood type cards around a hollow center. The next pictures are of another cacti. I am not sure of its name but the first is a live cacti and the second the skeleton.

This third picture is a close up of the woven pattern of the skeletons woody fibers.

As I pondered these interesting designs, I concluded that this structure allows the cacti to soak up and store as much moisture as possible from the infrequent rains! They can swell and not split open! Interestingly, the Barrel cacti are usually oblong shaped but with the large amount of rainfall this year the are as rounds as basketballs! Dangerous prickly green basketballs! I have had the misfortune of brushing against several varieties of cacti this year! I assure you it is a very painful experience that you will want to avoid at all costs!

96 Ranch Road, Florence-AZ

96 Ranch Road is part of the Arizona Land Trust. I purchased a 14 day camping permit for $15 on line. It is primitive camping so no hookups but plenty of spots to camp. I am about 5 miles in at a large area that could easily handle 10 RVs. Luckily, I am the one one here!  It is a beautiful place surrounded by mountains and cacti!

Connectivity comes and goes at least with AT&T! Lots of OHV trails to hike and birding is pretty good. There is a small pond nearby in which a couple of Gadwalls are staying.

There are lots of Curve-billed Thrasher as well.

This will be an excellent site for watching the lunar eclipse on Sunday night!

Gilbert Ray Campground, Tucson-AZ

All set up in a new location at the Gilbert Ray Campground. It is county operated and located in the desert just west of Tucson. RV sites are $20 a night and all have 30 amp electric hookups. There are very well maintained restrooms with flush toilets. No showers available but they have lots of potable water spigots thru out the camp and a waste water dump. Here is a link to their website: Gilbert Ray Campground Some of the campsites are a bit close but there is cacti and brush between each giving a bit of privacy.

The campground is encircled by mountains. Some very close like these and others are in the distance.

All afternoon, airliners flew above the mountains in the lower picture, low enough that I can conclude they were landing nearby. I will venture out to some birding hot spots in Tucson tomorrow and pick up a few groceries!

Desert Wildflowers

This being only my second snowbird trip to the area, I am not familiar with the usual weather. Last year I had no rain days while here but this year I have had about 12! One benefit is that I am getting to see a lot of blossoming wildflowers. I do not know their names but here are some pics of them!

As you can see, a good variety of shapes and colors. Most are small, not more than one inch across. There are also lots of pollinators like bees and butterflies. I'll save those pics for another day!

Painted Rocks Campground, Gila Bend-AZ

Left Yuma area early this morning and am headed to the Tucson area. About the half way point is the Painted Rocks campground that is 12 miles off the interstate. It is a large flat gravel area with 59 campsites. It is very quiet and has great vistas as there are mountains on 3 sides. It is a primitive campground with no power, water or waste dump. It does have two pit toilets that are very well maintained. Cost is $8 per night but only $4 with my Federal senior pass.

The campgrounds is known for the small rocky hill that has hundreds of Petroglyphs.

They claim many of the markings were made by native Americans who lived along the Gila River just a mile north from here. Others were made by early travelers such as the Spanish explorers that worked their way north from Mexico to the San Francisco Bay area. Later the Butterfield Stage line ran thru here taking passengers from Missouri to California in just 23 days! Aren't we spoiled! In the early days the Gila river flowed full and free, offering sheltering trees and game to all who passed. Now the river is a fraction of it original size due to damming and the routing of the water for agricultural purposes. One of the joys of traveling is getting to learn the history of various parts of our great country! I am glad I stopped here!

Mittry Lake

I have been at Mittry Lake for the last week. It is just outside of Yuma near Senator Wash. Camping is free for 10 days per calendar year. There is camping all around the lake. You can camp out in the desert of right beside the lake. There is a pit toilet near the main boat ramp with several dumpsters for trash nearby it. I chose a spot among the trees a bit back from the water.

It is about 15 miles to town with easy access to shopping and gas/propane. There is good birding along the lake and in the adjoining marshes. I have found a place among the reeds that I can sit and watch birds pass by pretty much unnoticed. I spotted this Least Bittern slipping across an opening in the reeds!

I have also seen Sora and rails crossing the same spot. They are very stealthy so I have not been able to get a pic of either species! Today I was able to get a pic of some Cinnamon Teal!

My 10 days are about up so I am trying to decide where to go next. Currently this is the warmest area in the state so I am hesitant to go far!