Sunday, Jan. 12

It would be great if Organ Pipe was a little closer to an interstate, but then it would probably become overcrowded. Pretty and quiet best describes this highly rated park. Organ Pipe was nice enough to provide us good sunset this evening.

Monday, Jan. 13

Today I decided bike around the park and take pictures of comical looking saguaro cacti. Saguaros all seem to have a personality. 

Tuesday, Jan. 14

A trail up a low mountain needed hiking, so I that’s how I spent my afternoon, while Carol and Lois soaked up some sunshine. It was an interpretive trail that educated me about desert plant-life with its plaques. 

Click on this link for the hike. https://photos.app.goo.gl/tH11efEykxLTCYFg7

 Wednesday, Jan. 15

When traveling on I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix, you will see an impressive mountain right off of I-10 from a far distance- Picacho Peak. As we’ve driven by it in the past, I always say to myself, “I want to climb that mountain someday.” Well, tomorrow is going to be that day. First, we have to watch another sunset.

Thursday, Jan. 16

The morning was cool and overcast. There was a possibility of rain in the afternoon. We did our morning dog routine and then had lunch. Afterwards, I rode my bike to the trail head. I didn’t realize that the two mile distance was all uphill. When I arrived at the trail head, my legs were already a little tired. The trail was very steep and continually zig-zagged across the front of the mountain. The views got better and better as I quickly elevated. After an hour of continuous climbing, I started getting tired and bored – the views were all the same, just higher. Between a north rise in the mountain and the peak is a flat section called the saddle. It’s a resting area with great views before making the final climb to the top of the peak. A descending hiker answered my questions about the final ascent. He told me that the rest of trail was like climbing a ladder. You had to pull yourself up the steep rock steps by using steel cables. He said the views were great and it would take another hour to make the climb. I really wanted to make it to the top, but I also wanted to call it a day. Radar showed that we might be getting rain in about a 30 minutes and he told that when it rains, the mountain gets extremely slippery and dangerous. I now had my excuse to stop, so I returned back to the Ham.

Click on this link for the hike.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/QNBYByjcdhNJYT336

Friday, Jan. 17

Before we could stay at Gilbert Ray Campground in Tucson, we had to spend one night at a nearby host that we are a member of. We backed into a very tight spot beside the host’s house. A wire fence, that was only two feet from the Ham, kept two vicious, barking dogs from mauling us when we tried to get out. Carol, the dogs and I were so concerned about the dogs that we crawled across our front seat to use the driver’s door.

Saturday, Jan. 18

We appreciated a free place to spend the night, but were happy to move on. Gilbert Ray is on our favorite’s list and it was time to visit again. The recent rains made the desert green and some the cacti were blooming. We took a couple of short hikes with the girls and enjoyed the day.