Saguaro National Park

We were able to get together again with Chuck and Linda on Sunday night before they headed home to NM early Monday morning. They were staying at Butterfield RV Resort & Observatory here in town, and the original plan was for the four of us to visit the Observatory Sunday night. But it was not meant to be. Clouds had been passing overhead all day and hadn't cleared; therefore the Sunday program was cancelled.

But that was ok, because we got to visit with our friends instead. We will try for later this week to visit the Observatory.

We have been settling in for our 2 1/2 weeks here. I hung out with the knitters on Tuesday afternoon and Bob is working on a small woodworking project for me. More about that when i have some photos to show. And every day we walk around and look at the neat structures here in the park. We even found a miniature train set-up in front of another resident's casita.

The trains have been put away for the season but I can just imagine a little locomotive chugging around those tracks. Maybe the next time we come through the train will be running.

Last year when we spent a month in Tucson I was able to go to the Saguaro National park with friends while Bob and his buddies went to a baseball game in Phoenix. So he missed out on the park. Well, today we decided to go.

I don't know about you, but when I think of the west, I think of a landscape just like this.

This, to me, is the quintessential desert scene. Bob and I drove all through the park and enjoyed the 84 degree temperature, the delightful breeze, and the sound of the birds. What a pretty day.

We saw some blooming prickly pears with yellow flowers...

...and those spikey plants in the foreground with a little tuft of red at the top are ocotillos, also in bloom.

We renewed our Annual National Parks pass today for the next year. Next year we'll qualify for the Senior Pass. Fingers crossed it will still be available when we are finally old enough to get it!