After a quiet week last week, this week we did some fun things on Monday and Wednesday.
On Monday, we took a long day trip to Chiricahua National Monument, about 1.75 hours from here. This was a fun drive out through small AZ towns and scenery.
Our Route from Sierra Vista
Curvy road
This place is City of Rocks on steroids. There's a nice visitor center, small campground and a hair raising drive up about 6 miles, limited length vehicles. We parked and hiked only about a mile total, but enough to get the gist. It had been snowing when we left Sierra Vista, and the temperature and wind combined to keep us chilly. Elevation is close to 7,000 feet where we were hiking, temps in the mid 40's. Amazing rock formations, incredible views. We saw two animals indigenous to this area - a sub-species of white tail deer called a Coues' deer, and the Goulds Turkey! Steve's photos, of course.
Fire Tower up top 
The Grottoes 
Grottoe
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| Distant snow capped peaks |
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| Goulds Turkey - white butt! |
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| Coues' deer - small like a big dog |
Acorn Woodpecker
On the way home we stopped at Whitewater Draw Natural area, to see thousands of Sandhill Cranes, like 20-25,000 of them! It was snowing on the mountain tops to make for some dramatic skies on the way, and it did start to rain while we were there. I wish I was able to record the sound of these cranes, but it was too windy.
A small section of the thousands of cranes
Then, for our third stop of the day, we stopped at the Old Bisbee Brewing Company for some Mayan Stout and brats and chili for dinner. It was definitely snowing in Bisbee! But the brewery was full of folks enjoying a brew and some local comradery. All in all a very fun day. It was good to have Beth and Aaron at home to let the dogs out when they got home. And it was great to get back to a nice warm house after being outside for most of the day. Thanks to Karen Edelstein and Sheary Clough Suitor for the heads up on these places.
Made from local Juniper berries
Mayan Stout. yum.
Stories of crazy Bisbee
Dramatic Sky
Tuesday night it actually snowed overnight. It was colder in Sierra Vista than in Ithaca for once.
Wednesday (today) we met up with Nard and Sheary in Tucson. They have been touring around the area, and we have been near each other but not exactly in the same place at the same time. If you want to read about their travels, you can follow them at Sheary's Polarsteps page. They find more off the beaten path locations than we do. Super interesting (you will have to create an account in Polarsteps, fyi).
We met them at the Fourth street historic district, and walked to the Barrio Viejo district where we had an excellent lunch at El Minuto. Then walked back. It was sunny and near 50. Perfect walking temps. We had such a good day spending time with them. Some of our sights of the day.
The Locks thing 
The Hut
Mural
Koi
Historic Fox Theatre
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Historic marker 
The Wishing Shrine
Beer can art
St Augustine's Church
El Minuto with Steve and Nard
Street Owl
We head to Patagonia Lakes Sate Park tomorrow. Nard and Sheary are heading to Organ Pipe where we just were. Maybe we will catch up with them again before they head back to Colorado Springs. Good Friends!
Finally, here's a video of the local Gambel's quail. They live in the shrubbery and front yards of Beth and Aaron's neighborhood and they are a riot. Enjoy.
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