We've been doing a bit of exploring our own "backyard" lately. Jesse and Erin are coming for a belated Christmas visit and we'd like to show them some of our beloved desert views. I'm also working on making the What3words app work for me. Janna turned me on to it and I'm having a modicum of success, just recently learning how to "reverse" the directions when we're done! These things don't come easily to me but I'll be da mned if I'll quit - Keeps the brain young, right?
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| oh Dave..... |
We managed to find the "house rock" near Congress with the app. but I wasn't able to turn the directions around to lead us home. Luckily, we've navigated many desert tracks in our lives, without the aid of modern technology, so paying attention to landmarks worked just fine for us once again.
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| lots of morteros surrounding this native american homesite |
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| love this chartreuse colored lichen that covers so much of the rock surfaces |
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| faint petroglyps found all around the house rock area |
Another day we set off to find the popular box canyon. Some folks in the area have fenced off part of the Hassayampa river bed, noting it as "private property" (pretty sure that isn't true, but I can't blame them for not wanting millions of loud dirt bikes racing around in the dusty river bed outside your house....) but we soon found a very easy go around further down Rincon Road and continued our explorations.
In some places, small streams of water raced past us, shining in the sun. In some places we drove along a sandy track, and some spots there were pools of beautiful water, reflecting the blue sky. Lovely drive.
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| walking into the box canyon |
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| I'd love to see the water pouring over ..... |
Some people just can't read signs.....
Friday we drove into Surprise to pick up some Mexican tile tables from Roberto and on our way back we set off Gates Road and into the desert in search of some crested Saguaros (again, using What3words). Unfortunately, it was later in the day than we usually like to start explorations and when the "road" started to get really washed out and wonky, and the sun was starting to drop into our eyes, we called it a day and headed home. Another exploration for the future!
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| here's an arm for you Pam! |
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| this looks like a good spot for lunch, next time! |
Such an awesome backyard you have to enjoy! Crested cactus and native American homesites with ancient graffiti.
ReplyDeletenot bad! We're enjoying ourselves!
DeleteI just can’t get enough! What’s not to love about a backyard like that? Love the box canyon and always enjoy seeing a new crested. I’ve decided one of my upcoming goals is to explore our ( yes that is our as in everyone who calls AZ home!) home state. There is so much we have not seen.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to show you the real cresteds we were after! Stay tuned, we'll get there eventually! So fun to just see what there is to see, right?
ReplyDeletePeople can read signs.....but they just don't care.😟
ReplyDeleteneither can cows....it's a cow plotch next to the sign!
DeleteSo glad that app is working for you! I can't wait to see Geri and let her teach me a bit about What3Words. Your photos make us homesick for that area!
ReplyDeleteThen you can pass along that knowledge, right?
DeleteYou were on the trail to the Massacre Site when you found the House Rock. We did them both with Al. The House Rock was very interesting. Now...find the Massacre site. Very interesting, too. Wasn't the box canyon cute! Love that you found a crested arm. Keep finding these gems for me.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm, I didn't think they were near each other at all! Well, more exploration ahead I guess.
ReplyDeleteSome of the best adventures are right under our noses! Keep exploring!
ReplyDeleteAdventure is always high on my list, and when we find nearby things to explore it's even more fun! Lots more to check out I think!
DeleteExploring our own backyards is a very rewarding pastime, especially when we have so much beauty surrounding us. I just wish our bay and beach and piney woods was next door to your desert and mountains and cacti! That would be just perfect. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt would be absolutely perfect wouldn't it? Everything we love in one spot.....
Delete💕💕
ReplyDeleteWhat fun getting out into the desert under perfect blue skies! Great pics. Love Dave in the box canyon!! Jesse and Erin are going to have such a wonderful time seeing your new neighborhood :-)
ReplyDelete