Arizona Desert OR How Green Is The Valley?

Trip Start Feb 05, 2009
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Trip End Mar 05, 2009


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Flag of United States  , Arizona,
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

For years I have heard "Someday I would like to explore the back roads". This week a friend said "To bad you don't have time to come to the desert tomorrow". My response was "You don't have to ask twice" . . I postponed my plans and we headed to the Arizona desert North of Yuma, Arizona. ..

Arizona Desert Run Route
Arizona Desert Run Route
   "Thumb Butte"
"Thumb Butte"
















We drove from Yuma, North on Hwy 95 and then acrose the desert, close enough to Castle Dome to see the motor homes parked at it's base.

Then we drove south along the foothills until we got to Thumb Butte, driving around behind it a ways to an old mine where everyone hiked around for a couple hours.

Castle Dome
Castle Dome
   "Thumb Butte"
"Thumb Butte"








Saguaro in the Arizona Desert
Saguaro in the Arizona Desert
   Teddy Bear Cacuts
Teddy Bear Cacuts











Gnarly Saguaro Cactus
Gnarly Saguaro Cactus











Saguaro Cactus with many arms
Saguaro Cactus with many arms
   Teddy Bear Cholla
Teddy Bear Cholla













Lunch break
Lunch break
  Ocotillo Cactus
Ocotillo Cactus














Being from Alaska, beautiful and green, I have never been impressed with the desert. But as I expected, the views from the back roads were spectacular. Not to mention it had rained recently and the desert came alive with new growth. IT WAS GREEN!

Desert after the rain
Desert after the rain
   Green Desert
Green Desert











Late Afternoon
Late Afternoon
   Cactus
Cactus









Flowers in the garbage dump at the mine
Flowers in the garbage dump at the mine
   Yellow Flowers
Yellow Flowers











Fabulous Texture
Fabulous Texture
   Red barrel cactus
Red barrel cactus











Prickly Pear Cactus
Prickly Pear Cactus
   Saguaro
Saguaro













Saguaro Cactus
Saguaro Cactus
   Petrified Dragon Head
Petrified Dragon Head















Red Barrel Hook Cactus
Red Barrel Hook Cactus
   Gus and I at the end of the road
Gus and I at the end of the road
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