Day 11 - On to Phoenix

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We headed for Saguaro National Park opting for the eastern park, Rincon Mountain District. Since we'd be pulling the camper, we thought the park with the paved road would be best for us.
The cacti were amazing, such a variety of types, sizes and shapes. We learned that the Saguaro grow very slowly and don't develop arms until they're around 75 years old. They can live to 150 to 200 years under the right conditions and can get as high as 50 feet tall and weigh 8 tons. We saw barrel cactus blooming with yellow flowers, teddy bear cholla, looking anything but teddy bear cuddly, creosote bush, mesquite, and of course prickly pear. It was amazing to see whole hillsides with forests of cacti.
We then headed to Phoenix to spend time with my brother, Skip, and his lovely wife, Mary. Skip took us to dinner at Fuddruckers then drove us around old Scottsdale and then to a booksigning, our very first. Afterwards we drove up Camelback Mountain to see the lights of the greater Phoenix area. Just gorgeous.

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Photos

Saguaro Natl Park
Teddy Bear Cholla

Saguaro NP
Blooming barrel cactus and purple other?

Comments

[Barbara]

You have some postcards pictures here.

[thatdamndave]

The trip looks awesome so far, sorry I haven't kept a daily eye on your progress. I read the past several days worth of blogs this evening and I must admit I'm a little disapointed.... not even one of kerrdog's famous (or infamous???) dirt roads! What the hell?? Don't tell me ya'll have mellowed out in your years. Bring on the adventure, get off the beaten path, bring on the wash-boards in the sand, bring on the menacing warning signs. I love you both very much. I can't wait to see pictures in response to this. I know you can find some obscure dirt road that is certain to be a 'shortcut' ;-) I'll talk to ya'll soon