Organ Pipe National Monument

We had a long weekend last winter so we took the opportunity to drive over to Organ Pipe for the first time.  It required some planning to make sure we had enough Tug-E energy to get there and back (with one minor detour to charge up closer to the park) but it was worth it.  Fun trails, nice scenery.

Yay for organ pipe cacti!  I think the name is self-explanatory:

Except sometimes when they get all wacky-doodle:

A clan of teddy bears (never, ever touch!) guarded this organ pipe:

Starting up the trail toward an arch - one of my favorite geological oddities:

The lower part of the trail (shown here) was easy enough, and higher up it was a bit of a scramble, good training for steep climbing:

Big and stark scenery below us:

Another hole in the back area of the ridge:

Dark rock and signs of old volcanic activity:

And organ pipes that seem to be waving at us:

On our way up to the top of Mount Ajo.  We heard about it in the Visitor Center and decided to make it our quest for the afternoon:

A big, dry agave plant leaning over the trail:

Checking out the solid ammo can at the summit:

John would like to present... the solar array at the top of the mountain:

I'm guessing he would have enjoyed helping install this one!

More views into the distance, and Mexico might be over there somewhere:

Possibly a giant head staring at its phone?

I was a bit slow making my way down the steep trail, so John had plenty of time to take a picture of the process:

Escaping from the gates of Mordor:

Sunset lighting up the cactus:

A look back at where we were (it was an excellent hike):

The campfire at our campsite:

Another wonderful National Monument!

Tucson murals and things

Mostly Tucson, anyway!

We finally returned to Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.  I remember years ago we were driving through Arizona and I had the road atlas on my lap (back when we were navigating by paper maps).  I noticed a National Monument and we decided to make a detour to see it - and it was unexpectedly interesting and different.  Since then, anything "National Park" or "National Monument" will always be on our radar.  You never know what you might find there.

In this case, a giant building from hundreds of years ago, "one of the largest prehistoric structures ever built in North America."  During a tour last time we learned that the roof covering it is now also a protected object.  Well worth another visit:

We're definitely back in saguaro country...

WHHHAT?

Returning to Tucson, where I did some "mural tour" runs.  This one is particularly fun, with a javelina, a turtle, and even a mythical jackalope!

Star Trek-inspired art:

One of many large faces around downtown:

Joe Pagac is a well-known muralist around these parts - but I'm not quite sure why there are whales in the sky:

Almost a selfie, except with more hair...

Roadrunner (beep beep)!

A few hippies on 4th Avenue:

And a giant head at The Hut:

I'm guessing this is a box turtle?

Lovely colors:

Desert monarchs:

This sign always makes me laugh:

Maybe people won't pick these flowers, since they have faces:

Solar covered parking (yay!) and more monarchs (and saguaros and prickly pears):

It took me a couple tries to find this display of analog math tools at the university but eventually I found it:

The book tree says, "The more you read, the more you know.  The more you know, the more you grow.  The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind, or making your choice"

A huge mural by Jessica Gonzales - this one is so wide, it's difficult to include the whole thing in one picture, and it's impossible to grasp just how massive it is:

Another horizontally-lengthy mural by the same artist, this one above and below The Loop bike path, and even more difficult to photograph:

One piece of it, an adorable desert rat:

Probably not intended to be Star Trek Voyager-related, but I can hear Robbie Duncan McNeill's voice:

Switching gears back to "old buildings", I trekked out to find the Bowen Homestead Ruins in the Tucson Mountain Park, built in the 1930's:

Impressive how much is still standing:

These saguaros might be older than the homestead:

A super creative golf cart - I think this means I'm still approximately 6 months behind on the blogging:

Holiday skating rink in downtown Tucson:

One more mural for good measure:

And a beautiful winter sunset:

Goodnight y'all!