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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Catalina State Park, Tucson, AZ

Howdee all,

Here we are in one of my favorite Campgrounds…

Catalina State Park…shhhh don't tell anyone about it…

Water and Electric sites..no sewer hookups ..14 day max stay when the park is busy..which it is now.

But look how large the sites are.. catalina _029

No wall to wall neighborscatalina _032breathing room to watch the birds..

Lesser goldfinchcatalina birds and_019

Gila woodpecker catalina birds and_015catalina birds and_009 to look at the mountains… and clouds..catalina _041

as they turn colors …

Evening pinks…catalina _061 catalina _063Ahh… catalina _065 more from around Catalina and Tucson…

Stay tuned….

Saturday, January 30, 2010

BwBTC outing Patagonia Arizona

 Howdee all,

Another Birders who Blog Tweet and Chirp Bird outing…

BWBTC

The date is Saturday, March 13th.

For those who want to bird longer we will also go out again on the 14th.

This is free and open to all..you bring lunch, pay for your own dinner, lodging etc.

The area is one of my favorites..

Patagonia,Arizona

check out the link here.

This should be a blast…wont be peak birding time here..but..there will be birds.and in the past a resident Elegant Trogan.

Haven't set a start time for Saturday yet..but earlier the better.

I thought those of us who wanted to gather early and have breakfast at

The Gathering grounds could arrive any time after seven ..Great coffee ..breakfasts and they can pack a lunch for you.

Then we could go birding..

Read this link….Birding the area SABOs Guide

I am open to suggestions but thought we would start at at

Patagonia State Park

and the “rest area” probably to early for the Rose-throated Becard..but who knows..

Then to Patons if still open..I just sadly read that Marion passed away last year.

more birding?

Dinner at the Velvet Elvis for those who want…

Tom and Sheri will be bringing their 12 person Van…if there are 12 or fewer.

If not we carpool.

Sunday we can continue on..discuss where we would like to bird…lots of great places nearby.

 

 The Cast of Characters so far….

Sheri Williamson and Tom Wood     Sheri’s Homepage which lists the books Sheri has authored and co-authored along with Tom and Sheri's blogs.

Also check out The Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory (SABO) website..Awesome Resource and a must place to visit.

We have birded with Sheri and Tom before and their enthusiasm is contagious.

 

 Donna Simonetti  Birder and Facebook user check out her facebook bird photos

Cynthia White Birder and  Preskitgurl on twitter

Linda Rockwell  Birder LRockwellatty on twitter and Lindas facebook page

Kathie Brown  Facebook page and Kathies blog Sycamore Canyon

Jacqueline Burton Facebook Page

Dawn and Jeff thats us! DawnFine on Twitter DawnSimmonsFine on facebook

 

If anyone would like to join us….give me a holler…will add you to our list. If Spouses or friends are joining..let me know so I can add them as well.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Here are some links…

Lodging

Patagonia RV Park..Jeff and I are staying here..sorta in town location..

Patagonia State Park

Patagonia Casitas..looks lovely here

More info on Patagonia and lodging here

Picacho Peak rainbow

Howdee all,

Took these photos last week…We were staying at Picacho Peak RV resort to weather out the storm that came thru the area…

Had a wonderful Double rainbow…but i couldn't get far enough away from it to capture the whole thing… RAINBOW PICACHO_008 but it was a beautyRAINBOW PICACHO_005I don't know if its because we spend so much outdoors..

or because we are lucky..but we have been seeing several double rainbows a year lately..

Of course, I will never tire of seeing them….

Rain brings such wonderful things…RAINBOW PICACHO_002 We only stayed in the area a few days…needed to get to Tucson for a birthday party…

So Picacho peak will wait for us…want to do some hiking there…… picacho_002 We are now in one of our Favorite Campgrounds..

stay tuned….

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Desert Bar, Parker, AZ

Howdee all,

We spent a few days Boondocking in the Desert of Quartzite on BLM land.

Our first time camping and staying in the big temporary city in the desert.

RVs camped all over the desert…Flea Markets…RV show..Gem Show..

We took a trip to the Desert Bar …with a group of Rvers…

The bar was an hour drive from Quartzite…outside the town of Parker in the middle of what seemed like no where….

Below is the five mile dirt road we took to get to the Bar…

DESERT BAR_050

The "Nellie E Saloon" (DESERT BAR)
is situated in the Buckskin Mountains,
in Parker, Arizona, on land that was
an old mining camp

DESERT BAR_007

“When Ken acquired the land in 1975, there was nothing left of the old mining camp. With the land and a liquor license from an old business on leased river land, Ken decided to give the "bar in the desert" idea a try. In 1983, Ken opened for business in the temporary three-sided structure which is across from the outdoor restroom's. He
operated there for the next five years, until the current saloon was constructed. The name "Nellie E" originates from the old mining claim. They used to mine copper and then take it to the smelter and get gold.”

DESERT BAR_003

Lots of four wheel drive vehicles in the parking lotDESERT BAR_004Along with ATVS   DESERT BAR_005

Below is a Church….a facade 

The church is made of solid steel and the walls and ceiling are made of the same stamped tin used inside the bar and the roof is made of copper. The names inscribed on the plaques in the church are people who donated money to help build the church. The church is a unique place for weddings and a great photo spot. There are no services held in the church and all religions are welcome.DESERT BAR_001

DESERT BAR_009A video of the Desert Bar…Listen to the Band

 

The very limited menu…but then…most people don't come just for the food…and the beer..which is just Domestic beer…

They come for the ambiance…

DESERT BAR_038 Like Bathrooms overlooking mountains…DESERT BAR_033 And the bar in such a rustic setting…

DESERT BAR_049The owners home…Private..no tours...DESERT BAR_048DESERT BAR_075
DESERT BAR_066
            

 

We left Quartzite a week ago…a short stay because of the weather that was expected ..high winds and heavy rains.

it was a good decision to leave early….We ended up staying a few nights at Picacho Peak …and luckily the winds weren't so bad there…

A friend at Quartzite said his motorhome was rocking in the winds all night…and the washes..filled with rock and water and had to be cleared before RVs could leave the boondocking area..

We are now in Tucson …and will be here thru the end of February…

If you are in the area..give me a shout!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Mohave National Preserve….singing sands

Howdee all,

We were told the sands sang…so we went out to find out for ourselves..

The tall dune looked close…MOHAVE_018

but it wasn't as close as it looked..MOHAVE_026

On the way to the tall dune…I saw these plants…all folded into itself..

any ideas??

MOHAVE_028  Lots of tiny tracks..

MOHAVE_020 MOHAVE_019  So our dune..getting closerMOHAVE_023Up and down up and down..seems like it is getting farther away..MOHAVE_017Andrew makes it up first…as usual…  MOHAVE_015  And Jeff follows…MOHAVE_013Testing the sand for sounds…MOHAVE_014  enjoying the fine sand!MOHAVE_011  Hello from Dawn Jeff and AndrewMOHAVE_009  Andrew showing us his technique for making the sand sing….MOHAVE_007     A short video of the singing sand

 

On the way back I spy a heart …

MOHAVE_001A close up view of the heart! MOHAVE_003I ♥ Deserts

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Mohave National Preserve

Howdee all,

We traveled thru Mohave National Preserve on our way to Quartzite…we had intended to do a hike and drive in Death Valley that same day..but the weather turned cold and stormy..so we opted to drive to the Preserve in hopes of warm again.

We drove most of the day and arrived at the Kelso Depot Visitor Center shortly before sundown…

MOHAVE_079 We pop in..and catch a video and get information on where to camp overnight.MOHAVE_074  We caught some nice light…

Which lit up the train and it looked like it was made of gold..

MOHAVE_076 The train station looking east…

MOHAVE_075

And north of the station…sunlit grasses

MOHAVE_073  and the sky starts to get some color…

MOHAVE_072  Depot and mountains lighting up…MOHAVE_071    As we drove to the campsite…

An amazing sunset…….

So…woulda shoulda coulda…

If i woulda listened to Jeff..I shoulda driven in the car with Andrew..then I coulda stopped off the road and taken some awesome shots of this amazing cloud formation and sunset.

MOHAVE_055  Jeff couldn't pull of the road in the Homey…no shoulder…

so blurred foregrounds…

MOHAVE_045 So now we turn onto the road to the camping area..and Jeff was able to pull over for me to take some photos..

but…I shoulda walked forward more to avoid the telephone wires..

And well..what was bright pink..faded to pale pink..

still beautiful.. MOHAVE_041softer pink now…   MOHAVE_038MOHAVE_036 We drive on to the campsite..

and the pink is gone.. MOHAVE_034    And Ballie comes out of Homey to find some grass…

Ballie doesn't like the desert..

he is looking forward to some Green grass to chew…

MOHAVE_029 That night, Jeff, Andrew and I pull up chairs and blankets and stare at the stars…

we saw a few shooters.

Another wonderful day in the Desert!