On the Road Again: Picacho Peak State Park Arizona

Nov. 20th----Leaving Mesa we are struggling with the decision of where to spend Christmas. We are hoping that Cayce and Jen will be able to fly down and spend the holiday with us. So finding somewhere warm is a must. Different people we have talked to suggested the gulf coast of Texas, between Corpus Cristy and Brownsville, as a good place to winter. We have decided to take a drive down there and have a look--a distance of about a thousand miles. If we don't like the area we still have time to return to Arizona before the holidays. On route to the gulf coast our first stop is Picacho State Park located halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the Sonoran Desert and abundant with the Saguaro [sa-war-o] cactus an amazing plant it takes 20 to 25 years to reach a height of 4-6 inches and seventy years before they grow arms. At maturity they will have lived some 200 years with a height of up to 20 feet and weigh up to 2000 Lbs. The trunk of the cactus is pleated like a accordion and expands to hold up to a ton of water. Truly amazing!

Saguaro Cactus--Protected species

Alvina being watched by the mountain

Sunset--spectacular

After the week in Cattail Park we are once again on our way back to Mesa. When the hot water tank was replaced they tested the electric motor on the large slide-out and found it needed replacing. The motor and the requisite parts required to fix the slide-out were now in stock thus explaining our return to Mesa.

A portrait of our backyard