Amy's Rear View Mirror

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ ...
 3/17 - 3/19

 

On Friday evening we arrived at Rogers Ranch RV Park on AZ-86 in Why, AZ. Rogers Ranch is a new campground which is very well kept and quiet ... we would definately recommend it. There were great cool breezes blowing across the desert. For those of you wondering why we didn't stay at the campground in the park ... the campground in the park only allows motorhomes up to 35 feet long.

Why, AZ got its name from the 'Y' that the roads, AZ-85 and AZ-86, make where they intersect. The townspeople wanted to name the town 'Y', but the post office wouldn't let them saying all town names had to be at least 3 letters. So they held a contest to name the town and 'Why' won.

Saturday morning we drove down to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument which is part of the Sonoran Desert. The Monument exhibits an extraordinary collection of plants of the Sonoran Desert,  including the organ pipe cactus, a large cactus rarely found in the United States.  There are several walking trails, but only 2 which the dogs were allowed to go on. We took a hike down the Palo Verde Trail which goes from the visitors center to the campground in the park. We had almost  made it to the campground when we discovered that Lady & Rascal had worn their front paw pads raw from walking on the rocky terrain. While Jim ran back down the trail to get the car, I walked the dogs (with much coaxing, I might add) through the desert, straight line, to the road which we could see from the trail. Jim brought the car to pick us up at the side of the road.

There are two scenic loop roads - the Ajo Mountain Drive (21 miles)  and the Puerto Blanco Drive (53 miles) - winding, up-and-down graded dirt roads. We took the Ajo drive before returning to the campground mid-afternoon. The dogs were very happy to be riding for the afternoon and not walking.

We had our anniversary dinner, Rib-eye Roast and Creamed Spinach, and then relaxed outside to watch the sunset. While waiting for the sunset we saw a coyote walking through the campground just a few sites away from us.

Sunday we just relaxed around the campsite until it was time to return to Phoenix.

3/25 ... The Heard Musem, Phoenix AZ

We went to the Heard Museum while Amy's parents were visiting. The Heard has the history, art, and poetry from Arizona's 21 federally recognized American Indian Tribes. Occasionally they have live performances in the auditorium ... while we were there the Tarahumara Dance Troup performed. The Tarahumara are a tribe in the Copper Canyon area of Mexico who still live in isolated homesteads in the canyons. We got to learn a little about their history and daily way of life.

Images may not be reproduced without permission