Tuesday, March 27, 2012

GILA BOX DAY 2: COATAMUNDIS!

Our awesome camping spot, just us and our friends the Millses
Riding back through the valley



Blue swallowtail


Denny looking for Coatis


We found them!





This guy is walking the water pipeline!




I just love these guys




Look at the one on the bottom of the pic, looking over his shoulder at us!





Denny's devilish grin after scaring Karen half to death going through deep water




beaver dam on the other side: yep, a bit too deep for us

beautiful Gila Valley




Denny and Karen on the road




Gila River


GILA BOX DAY ONE

Part of the pipeline that runs through the mountains to provide Safford with water
Plaques commemorating the workers and organizers of the water pipe project beginning in 1936



Denny on a catwalk overlooking the huge valves






Karen is comfy on the quad





gigantic rock cliff: see how small Paul is at the bottom






Wildflowers in the canyon













A glimpse of our first Coatamundi!










Denny and Karen fording one of the streams in the canyon











ummmm ths one looks a bit too deep!!




beauty on the way home





high on the bluffs looking into the canyon at the cottonwoods that grow there





Prickly pear cacti turn pink as they conserve water





beautiful Gila box area








Karen waiting for Denny to finish his hike




These wild Mexican Poppies were over 3" across




100 FOOT LONG TRUCK

This truck driver parked next to us in Wickenburg. This truck is 100 feet long and 10 feet wide! He backed it in!!!!

yeah Paul, OK.....








Dry camping on the Ramsey Mine road





Love dry camping! so private.









TRISHA AND BELLA

Sleepy girl, using her duckie for a pillow
Trisha exploring the desert



Daddy Paul and Trisha





Block party in Brenda




Life is good!



Cuter than the pillow




Trisha helping Bella with her PT


QUEENS VALLEY ARIZONA







Paul visits his old friend Bruce Bartels





Hummingbird on a wildflower in Bruce's yard







Watch out for that cactus, little hummer!









Flowers blooming in a pasture nearby







The desert here looks like a garden!








Lupine (pronounced loo-pine here grows in a mini version of ours at home










cactus trees!









Hedgehog cactus, creosote bush and a dead cholla cactus








This was taken in a cow pasture!






I should paint this one!





Hedgehog cacti seems to be the only one blossoming so far






dead cholla