RV Trip'N

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Rain Rain then more Rain

It has been raining, heavy at times, since 03:00 this morning and it is now 8:00 pm and it’s still coming down. This is the same storm system that hit California yesterday. Arizona desperately needs the rain and this should really make things bloom here. I’m sure by the time we get up in the morning the sun will be out and things will warm up again

Skies beginning to threaten

Kept everyone out of the pool

Skies are getting worse

Almost time for the down pour

Streets are flooding

Mountains, Ruins, Lakes and Valleys

Because the forecast called for nasty weather we decided to take the opportunity to do some sightseeing before the rains come. We headed off to the Tonto National Monument where some of the remains from the Salado people are still available in the cliffs overlooking Roosevelt Lake. The Salado people occupied these dwellings 700 years ago. The dwellings are located in the Salt Valley along Theodore Roosevelt Lake in central Arizona.

The drive to the dwellings was fantastic; the scenery was beautiful as we went from the desert floor to mountain tops and lush green valleys. Once we arrived at the visitor center we had a one mile round trip hike to the dwellings. The views from the dwellings were spectacular with views of mountain covered saguaro cactus to the beautiful shores of Roosevelt Lake.

We made it back to Florence in time to check the post office for mail and make happy hour with the neighbors.

The ride to the dwelling's crossed this awesome bridge

A view of Theodore Roosevelt Lake

Looking out toward Salt River Valley

Along our ascent to the dwelling"s

The Salado dwelling's

Along the path to the dwelling's

Saguaro along the hillside to the dwelling's

View from the dwelling's

Inside the dwelling

Another room inside the dwelling

Bridge over the Salt River

Theodore Roosevelt Lake

Roosevelt Dam

Another view of the Salt River Bridge

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Parkh

No sun at all today not really a bad thing because it did not get as hot as it would have if the sun were out. Our plan today was to visit the arboretum and it was very pleasant. I have included a description of the Arboretum from Wikipedia. I do not have all the descriptions of the trees and cactus that I photographed but I’ll try and muddle through it.

Information from Wikipedia

Boyce Thompson Arboretum is the largest and oldest botanical garden in the state of Arizona. It is, in fact, the fourth oldest botanical institution west of the Mississippi. Founded in 1924 as a desert plant research facility and “living museum”, the Arboretum is located in the Sonoran Desert on 392 acres along Queen Creek and beneath the towering volcanic remnant, Picketpost Mountain. Boyce Thompson Arboretum is on U.S. Highway 60, an hour’s drive east from Phoenix and 3 miles west of Superior, Arizona

The exhibits include a cactus garden, palm and eucalyptus groves, an Australian exhibit, South American exhibit, aloe garden and an herb garden to name a few

Over 2600 species of arid land plants from around the world grow at the Arboretum. Agaves, aloes, boojum trees, cork oak, jujube trees, legume trees, and, in the eucalyptus grove, one of the largest red gumeucalyptus trees (“Mr. Big”) in the United States. Cacti and succulents grow extensively throughout the Arboretum.