Patagonia to Bisbee

Driving through Southeastern Arizona you are struck with amazing grasslands.  Did you know the movie "Oklahoma" was filmed here?  Neither did I.  Unfortunately I didn't take pix.  sigh

We took a backroad to Bisbee from Sonoita which the AAA map said would go through but turned into gravel so we had to unhook, turn around and rehook the toad.  Fortunately, my model railroad operating skills were handy here in figuring out the best way to do it in a narrow road.

Our new "detour then took us, so the sign said, to Fort Huachuca.  We thought the city, but nooooo, the back gate to the military installation.  Gulp.  We smiled at the guards and asked if we could just pass through.  "Show me some ID" she said, upon which we produced our Driver's licenses.  She eyed me again.  I took off my sunglasses and smiled. (Thinking, I am not a terrorist am I?).  The guards allowed us through.  "Just stay on main road and you will find main gate.  Little did they know.....

We drove until we came to a round about and saw the sign to main gate.  But Jeeves, our GPS wanted us to go straight through so we did.  Second big mistake.  (first was trusting the AAA map for back roads).  We kept driving but came to a blocked road.  Some event was being set up for motorcycle jumps so the east gate was closed.  What to do?  Jeeves couldn't find main gate.  do we retrace?  first we have to get turned around.  not easy sometimes.  In process we asked some soldiers.  "Gee we aren't allowed off base so we don't know."  Oh great, then after a little conference he told us some directions which we tried but ended up in a dead end.  another turn around. We thought we saw a frontage road down past the main blocked road so we went back down there.  Picture a big motorhome towing a jeep just driving around the base with impunity.  We kept expecting the MP's to come haul into the brig at any moment.  Never happened though.

We made the frontage road and proudly drove to east gate only to find it closed (again for the aforementioned motorcycle demo). but, as we drove past, we spied a sign that said Main gate to the right.  Another turn around.  Yep, this appears to be the correct route.  following a couple other cars who did the same thing, we finally made it out of the main gate and were on the correct road!  Whew.

We drove 6 miles out of Sierra Vista to San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area along the San Pedro river where we stopped for lunch and explored a little.  After lunch we continued to Bisbee.  What was originally planned as a 2 hour leisurely trip turned into 4.5 hours of wrong turns and turnarounds but still it was fun.

Patagonia Lake State Park

Here in Southern Arizona a few miles north of the Mexico border we are at 3800 ft altitude.  Spring is trying to spring out but not quite yet in most areas.  And the birds are beginning to migrate through.  4 hmmingbird species which will grow to 11 by sometime in April when Spring is really sprung.  We, however will be other places by then.
Among the reasons to visit this area, in addition to its beauty is the birds, the birds, the birds.  Where is Tippi Hedren when you need her?
I have already posted about the main reason to be here, Mr. Elegant Trogan, so I thought to post a few more pix of Patagonia lake park and then will post a few more bird pix even though many of you have seen those pix on Flickr or Picasa.
Driving into Patagonia State Park requires an 11 mile drive out from Nogales, then another 4 miles drive over hill and dale down into the park.


About 85 campsites are filled with families and birders at this time of year.  Later on in spring and summer, we are told, the place turns into party central with the younger generation who are footloose.  We are grateful that we are here now.



 Mondays, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 8 AM, birders convene at the eastern trailhead to head out in search of the elusive Trogan and other birds.  Sraddha went out Wednesday morning on the walk and saw about 60 different species in 3 hours.  The next morning she took me on a walk when we saw the Trogan.  I watched for a bout 20 minutes then had to head back to RV for a conference call while she spent 3 hours following him and came home with a feather. Way cool.
Our campsite is down near the water, however, it happens to be near the waste water treatment plant.  We didn't know when we booked it and it is fine, except in the afternoons/evenings when "eau de waste" wafts up the hill.  Not real bad but just enough, so we stay inside then and eat our dinner instead of enjoying the evenings outside.



Our 10 nights in Tucson area was fun but very packed with activities and great friends. We are here for 5 nights of true R&R, then off east to explore some more.

Location:Patagonia Lake Rd,Nogales,United States

The Elegant Trogon

The Elegant Trogon spends most of its time in Mexico and migrates up to Southern Arizona to breed in the mountain islands near Nogales, and Patagonia, Arizona. Only easy place to spot it is around here at this time of year. It is about the size of a parrot and weights about 2 pounds. Hard bird to find but I really "lucked out" this morning about 1.5 mile from campground.  Had to wade across some shallow muddy streams, however it was worth it to get this photo. Filled my zoom lens easily and we watched it for 10 minutes. Sraddha is really happy to see this bird for her life list.

Latest Picasa web album with all our 2013 Southwest photos here

Ananda Tucson

We visited Ananda Tucson for Sunday service yesterday. Really sweet.


Much has been done with landscaping out front both mear the street (see above) and inside the front yard. See below.





Christine lead Sunday service in the center.


We took Stanley with us. Wonderful to connect with everyone.

- blessings from the road

Location:1002 e prince road, Tucson, AZ

Wandering around Catalina State Park

Most of you, Who have followed this blog for some time, already know that Catalina State Park Is one of our favorite camping grounds and destinations in the southwest.



We arrive Saturday amisdt showers and rains having experienced torrential downpours the night before. Cold weather kept us from exploring. So now as the weather warms up, We are really getting out and enjoying the walks.


Yesterday was spent shopping for some items we needed to get along the way, visiting a good friend, and we finally made it back at the end of the day To hike one of our favorite walks or more like a stroll, the Sutherland Trail.


The golden hour Of sunset greeted us as we walked up the stream bed seeing reflections off of the distant Catalina Mountains.


Hiking up the trail to the plateau we were greeted with the sunset and were able to take this picture of us and you can see It is a blissful experience.

Fortunately we had cell service and on the way back on the hike back I was able to do a FaceTime communications with one of my good friends at back home at the Village.

After all this is 2013.

- blessings from the road

Location:N Oracle Rd,Tucson,United States