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.

Our friend Timmy finally came to visit

After three years we finally convinced our friend Timmy to come and visit us here in Tucson.

Harris Hawk climbing during the Raptor Show

Besides digging holes to plant three citrus trees, setting up our new Network Media Player, helping us decide on how to put up our outdoor weather stations we visited the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum.

















A mature Harris Hawk returning to a trainer for food during the Desert Musuem's Raptor Show which never fails to impress us and this one was the best ever!

We also went on a tour of Tohono Chul with our friend, Bonnie, who is in the final throes of studying to be a docent there.

Bonnie did a great job and we all learned things about the desert and her plants.

Bonnie taught us about irrigation, history of the park, the plants and also pointed out a hummingbird sitting on her nest.

Tree Pruning

Not only did we go to the Gem Show with my sister, Beverly, and my brother in law, Cliff, but he brought his chain saw with him to help us prune some large branches around the property.

My sister took the photos.