Betatakin

From Tuba City we drove to the Navajo National Monument where we took a tour/hike with a park ranger down about 900 feet of sheer bluff - over 700+ steps along with parts of it being a trail. Another mile across the valley floor to the ruins of Betatakin.

It was difficult to find driving instructions to the Visitor Center at the NNM on the internet or on maps.  We called the Visitor Center and asked directions. The road is just past a big conveyor belt and close to the Black County Trading Post. Turn left and go about 9 miles - reminds me of directions out in the country where I grew up!

The alcove is quite large and allowed many families to make their homes here.

Betatakin, or house on a ledge in Navajo, was only lived in for about 30 years in the late 1200s. Except for the center section which was wiped out when rocks fell some time ago the ruins are in excellent condition and part of the reason is the protection from the elements.

It is thought that it might have been continuing droughts that caused the people to move on as they were farmers and hunters and needed the rain to grow their crops and to attract wildlife.

Up until this year you were allowed to walk in the ruins but because of rock falls you are no longer allowed entry in to the ruins. We didn't learn that until we were at the ruins themselves! They were still interesting but we were a little disappointed at the new rule.

Petroglyphs which have various and sundry interpretations by different tribes -  notably the Hopi and the Navajo

The two story building with the small building on the right is the typical home with storage unit, cooking and living areas.

People who know me will know I like photos of textures and this is the top of the alcove. You can see in the lower right corner a small portion of their gallery area which is, if you wish, one floor higher than their living spaces.

Then back up those 700+ steps and trail to go to Kayenta, Arizona, for the night before driving up to Monument Valley.

Delightful Tuba City and Coal Mine Mesa

Our friends remember seeing this
sign when they were moving to
Tuba City - not a tree in sight!

We finally managed to leave Tucson to head back to our boat. Our route this time was planned to allow us to use the 4Runner as much as possible.

Very interesting architecture but a typical souvenir shop now.

Our first stop was in Flagstaff for a night of rest before heading on to Tuba City, Arizona.

Our friends Ed & Joanne encouraged us to visit Tuba City and wanted us to see the Tuba Trading Post in its original building. They gave us wonderful advice about the area and we thoroughly enjoyed visiting and exploring the area.  




We found the home that Ed & Joanne lived in during the  mid 60's with their family while he practiced at the hospital across the street. The home was at Pine St. and Elm St.

They also suggested that we should drive out to Coal Mine Mesa which is about 30 miles or so south.


Coal Mine Mesa is almost a miniature Bryce Canyon with no people. Very interesting. The area is unimproved and full of 4 wheel/high clearance dirt roads with many vistas of the Canyon.

We did not find a trail down as we did in Bryce Canyon but it was beautiful

This was a pretty easy stretch of the road but we had no problems anywhere.

A few wildflowers were blooming and added a lot of color to the mesa.

Note:  Please remember that you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Hiking in the Catalinas

Not long ago we hiked a new trail (to us) in the Catalinas. We had a great day but none of us agree with the guidebooks that told us this trail was classified as 'easy'. We all classify it as moderate because of the switchbacks and the change in elevation.

It was gorgeous, though, and the views were amazing! Part of the hike was through and area where the 'Aspen Fire' did a lot of damage in the Catalinas.







We saw several Horned Lizards and a couple of deer along the trail.

We ended the day with Happy Hour at Zona 78 with wine and appetizers.

On a mission from God (mv)

Our Casita at Sunglow Ranch

Michael & I went to Sunglow Ranch, a dude ranch in the Chiricahua Mountains in Southeastern Arizona for one night.


Part of the offer was a wine tasting at the Keeling Schaefer winery in Wilcox which gave us the idea that we should try to find Dick Erath's vineyard which was supposed to be in the general area.

We had tried a couple of years ago when Michael & Sue were visiting and had been totally unsuccessful.

With a lot of assistance from Michael V. in Tacoma, we found the 'town' - Kansas Settlement - where his vineyard was supposed to be and after inquiring of a man who was working on his engine we obtained directions to the only vineyard in town.




Now, Kansas Settlement is not a town as we all imagine. There was one business still in operation - see the sign - where the man was working on his car. The gas station/store was long gone. There were only farms and pistachio orchards around.


We followed the young man's directions down a dirt road, behind the pistachio farm - way behind - in the distance it looked like there might be vineyards so we continued on the washboard road amid large dust clouds and sure enough we found the vineyards.


There are many acres in the vineyard, a manufactured home, an airstream trailer and a larger outbuilding. Trucks with Oregon plates sitting in the yard but no one other than a couple of dogs were to be found.


Of course, it was Good Friday.









We found a large wooden crate on a platform that actually said "ERATH" and since it is the only vineyard in Kansas Settlement we believe we had the right place.

There were several sections to the vineyards - it looks like they were planted over several years with some sections looking brand new and others established.

A week later we went out to dinner with friends and lo and behold Dick Erath's wine was on the wine list so we tasted it. 2008 Cimarron Monsoon Red - I enjoyed it - some tannins, a bit dry, earthy and pleasant - not full bodied. The wine is a blend of several grape varieties including Barbera, Sangiovese, Zinfandel and Primitivo.


I would order it again or buy it if I found it for sale.

 We still find it amazing that one can grow grapes and produce good wine in Arizona!


We would really like to meet Dick Erath in person one day but so far our quest has been unsuccessful.

As an aside we had to wash our car after this adventure. We anticipate that our employer and mentor, The Wine Economist, will find it in his heart to reimburse us for the cleaning of our car. If not, we will have to bring this up at the time of our yearly contract renewal talks.

The Sonoran Desert with Hanif and Patti

Bobcat at the museum-we see these fairly often at our home!

Friends from Tacoma, Hanif and Patti, came to visit us last month and of course we took them to the Desert Museum to learn and see more of the desert fauna and flora.

We rushed to get to the morning Raptor Show and we think it was the best yet!

We spent an entire day walking around the museum before heading back home for a dinner on the barbie.

Harris Hawk about to land

Great Horned Owl eyeing that piece of food on the branch as he lands

Amazing wings on the Great Horned Owl

Then we walked swiftly across the museum to an indoor show (mostly for children but we all loved it) with a pelican, a skunk, a porcupine, a coatimundi, a Gambel quail and more!

Mr. Fox sunning himself

After the show we walked the rest of the museum to see the animals and the plants.

You are now in MY world, the mountain lion says.

Mountain lion on the move - we have these in our neighborhood also but haven't seen one yet although we have received warnings that they are around.

Watching hummingbirds

Can't resist taking photos of the hummingbirds

Smart Prairie Dog Lookout in the shade

Worshiping the sun

Although we didn't take pictures Hanif and Patti are both very interested in gardening and wanted to spend some time in our yard learning about cactus and other plants. I put them both to work until it got a bit too warm to do much more. We did accomplish quite a bit though! It reminds us of Huckleberry Finn and we didn't even  have to pay them to work.

What a great visit - it was hard to say good-bye at the airport.

Reid Park Zoo

Our friend, Cara, who worked at the zoo was leaving her job to move back to Columbus, Ohio, and she had been inviting us to the zoo for a couple of years now.










We finally made it during her last three days there and we were both very impressed with the zoo. Although it is pretty small the animals are in areas where you can be quite close to them.








We had a great time and had lunch at the zoo restaurant that Cara was managing.

Thank you, Cara.

Sabino Canyon's Phone Line Trail with friends

You can probably guess who is who!

Our friends, Bonnie and Dennis, suggested we hike the Phone Line Trail in Sabino Canyon.

What is this Agave growing in?

So earlier this month we rode the tram to the top then hiked up switchbacks to the trail.













A great trail - about 4 miles in length - and with gorgeous views everywhere.



















It did get a bit warm toward the end but I guess that is what happens in the desert.

We had a great day!

That night I went to Bunco here in the neighborhood and it wasn't all that easy to stay awake but it was fun.