Thursday, December 26, 2019
Indiana Dunes State Park
Hiked trails 10 and 8 for seven miles with calm skies and 64F. It is rare to see Hoosiers wearing just sweatshirts and shorts in December. Finished the day with a visit to the Chesterton Brewery, the final stop on the South Shore Brewery tour which I began this past summer.
Winter will return tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Driving to Chicagoland
I finally left at 10:34 am with Zeke. I knew I had to drive long days to get to Crown Point, IN by Christmas. Weather looked good for the entire route.
The drive was uneventful. I stopped in Truth or Consequences (formally Indian Springs, NM) at the brewery by the same name and had a 5oz goblet of their Christmas Ale. I enjoyed the spacious taproom and the friendly service, but with a long drive ahead of me, knew I couldn't drink much else. The only hiking I did while on the 2.5-day drive was in and around rest areas.
I don't like driving on Christmas Eve and Christmas as only travel centers are open. Restaurants and fast-food joints were all closed by 6pm. I was driving on Route 66 through Marshfield, MO when the only place open at night was a Taco Mayo. The only hike of any significance was two miles along the Meremec Greenway west of St Louis, a trail so lovely that I was determined to explore it some more on my return drive. I discovered this trail on my Alltrails app. It just happened to be three miles from the QT gas station I had stopped at off MO109. (It turns out there are plenty of short trails in the St Louis region; I will explore others on future road trips.)
I had above-average temperatures all through the drive, which made car camping very pleasant as I woke up to sunrises in the low 40s. It was 66F at 11:30am when I finished the Meremec hike.
The drive was uneventful. I stopped in Truth or Consequences (formally Indian Springs, NM) at the brewery by the same name and had a 5oz goblet of their Christmas Ale. I enjoyed the spacious taproom and the friendly service, but with a long drive ahead of me, knew I couldn't drink much else. The only hiking I did while on the 2.5-day drive was in and around rest areas.
I don't like driving on Christmas Eve and Christmas as only travel centers are open. Restaurants and fast-food joints were all closed by 6pm. I was driving on Route 66 through Marshfield, MO when the only place open at night was a Taco Mayo. The only hike of any significance was two miles along the Meremec Greenway west of St Louis, a trail so lovely that I was determined to explore it some more on my return drive. I discovered this trail on my Alltrails app. It just happened to be three miles from the QT gas station I had stopped at off MO109. (It turns out there are plenty of short trails in the St Louis region; I will explore others on future road trips.)
I had above-average temperatures all through the drive, which made car camping very pleasant as I woke up to sunrises in the low 40s. It was 66F at 11:30am when I finished the Meremec hike.
Saturday, December 14, 2019
Tucson pubcrawl
This was the quarterly 4th Avenue arts festival weekend in Tucson. I hadn't been to one in ten years, when I last went with Sammy and then ended up walking around the historic Presidio neighborhood. I recruited Steve and his dog and off we went, leaving at 10:30am for a noon arrival.
But I failed to do my homework to see if dogs were still allowed to walk down 4th Avenue during this event. We parked by the Crooked Tooth brewery and walked two blocks east, when a guard stopped us because dogs were not allowed. Sure enough, the official website now does say "no pets allowed," a change that took place last year. We were both temporarily crestfallen. I immediately thought of all the vicious chihuahuas carried in shoulder bags that lunge at unsuspecting passers-by and tear out bits of human arm muscle that most likely caused this anti-pet policy. But I digress...
"Why not do a pubcrawl?" I asked Steve. There are two breweries in the area that we hadn't been to yet. We were safely parked in a $10 lot and could walk down to Congress Street in just under a mile. We could try beer and get some exercise. Steve seemed OK with that. Weather was beautiful, peaking at 74F midday. I wore my favorite white Royal Robbins hiking shirt with a cotton t-shirt underneath. I never needed a jacket.
Our first stop was the Corbett Brewing company, just a block south from the Crooked Tooth Brewing company we had tried two weeks ago. The main entrance is on 7th Street and a half block west of 4th Avenue. We were not stopped from entering here, although the loud banger music inside was a turn-off. Luckily dogs are allowed on the more quiet patio. We ended up sampling four beers between us. I had the pumpkin ale and then the VMO, a Vanilla-Mandarin Orange hefeweizen that is perhaps one of the top three hefes made in Tucson. Steve had the porter and then the IPA. We sat outside in the shade on a comfy wicker couch while the dogs rested. We were the only ones there, besides an employee setting up the stage for a later engagement. It was very peaceful, but I can imagine the place getting rowdy at night. It was much busier when we left an hour later to walk south toward downtown. Our next destination was the Iron John's Brewery on Congress Street.
The arts festival on 4th Avenue, a north-south street, was busy for the entire walk. No one stopped us here as we were heading away from the festival. To get to downtown via 4th Avenue, one must walk what locals call "the tunnel," a dark underpass that on the south side merges with Congress street. It feels like walking down a metro tunnel, with people walking past street musicians and sound echoing off the walks. The dark coolness was refreshing, as on the other end of the tunnel is busy Congress Street.
I've always enjoyed downtown Tucson. It's very walkable, meaning it's also a pain for drivers and its many one-way streets, bike paths and trolleys that one must be careful of. We found Iron John's rather quickly and was quite surprised at how small the taproom is. We both sat at the counter and each ordered one beer. There was no wheat beer here, so I had their standard ale, which was OK but not as good as Corbett's Hefe. I was hungry by now (I had saved my appetite for some street fair food, but knew now we couldn't get any with the dogs) so I went west down the street and got chicken burritos at the first eatery I saw, the even tinier Iguana Cafe. I took the food back with me to Iron John's where we both finished them off.
We had been enjoying our last-minute pubcrawl but now we each had three pints in two hours. With full bellies we could venture out to one more brewpub on our way back to our cars. Our last stop was at Puebla Vida, a brewery we had already been to earlier in the year and that also makes a mean Hefe.
Congress Avenue was alive with people! I just love the vibes of this town. We passed the famed Rialto Theatre, saw some colorful murals, and stopped for one final beer before heading out to the Honda.
Puebla Vida is another dog-friendly brewery and it was busy today. We were lucky to get two adjoining seats at the counter for our usual Hefe and Porter combinations.
Our last stop before heading back to Cochise County was a stop at the big beer and wine store, Total Wine and More, where we looked around and each picked up some craft beer. I found my Shriner's Holiday Ale. By now it was dark and we had to make our way back home, but we were both content that despite not being able to attend the street fair, we both got to enjoy some really good craft beer. I haven't been to a brewery in Tucson that isn't good! Tucsonans take pride in their beer.
But I failed to do my homework to see if dogs were still allowed to walk down 4th Avenue during this event. We parked by the Crooked Tooth brewery and walked two blocks east, when a guard stopped us because dogs were not allowed. Sure enough, the official website now does say "no pets allowed," a change that took place last year. We were both temporarily crestfallen. I immediately thought of all the vicious chihuahuas carried in shoulder bags that lunge at unsuspecting passers-by and tear out bits of human arm muscle that most likely caused this anti-pet policy. But I digress...
"Why not do a pubcrawl?" I asked Steve. There are two breweries in the area that we hadn't been to yet. We were safely parked in a $10 lot and could walk down to Congress Street in just under a mile. We could try beer and get some exercise. Steve seemed OK with that. Weather was beautiful, peaking at 74F midday. I wore my favorite white Royal Robbins hiking shirt with a cotton t-shirt underneath. I never needed a jacket.
Our first stop was the Corbett Brewing company, just a block south from the Crooked Tooth Brewing company we had tried two weeks ago. The main entrance is on 7th Street and a half block west of 4th Avenue. We were not stopped from entering here, although the loud banger music inside was a turn-off. Luckily dogs are allowed on the more quiet patio. We ended up sampling four beers between us. I had the pumpkin ale and then the VMO, a Vanilla-Mandarin Orange hefeweizen that is perhaps one of the top three hefes made in Tucson. Steve had the porter and then the IPA. We sat outside in the shade on a comfy wicker couch while the dogs rested. We were the only ones there, besides an employee setting up the stage for a later engagement. It was very peaceful, but I can imagine the place getting rowdy at night. It was much busier when we left an hour later to walk south toward downtown. Our next destination was the Iron John's Brewery on Congress Street.
The arts festival on 4th Avenue, a north-south street, was busy for the entire walk. No one stopped us here as we were heading away from the festival. To get to downtown via 4th Avenue, one must walk what locals call "the tunnel," a dark underpass that on the south side merges with Congress street. It feels like walking down a metro tunnel, with people walking past street musicians and sound echoing off the walks. The dark coolness was refreshing, as on the other end of the tunnel is busy Congress Street.
I've always enjoyed downtown Tucson. It's very walkable, meaning it's also a pain for drivers and its many one-way streets, bike paths and trolleys that one must be careful of. We found Iron John's rather quickly and was quite surprised at how small the taproom is. We both sat at the counter and each ordered one beer. There was no wheat beer here, so I had their standard ale, which was OK but not as good as Corbett's Hefe. I was hungry by now (I had saved my appetite for some street fair food, but knew now we couldn't get any with the dogs) so I went west down the street and got chicken burritos at the first eatery I saw, the even tinier Iguana Cafe. I took the food back with me to Iron John's where we both finished them off.
We had been enjoying our last-minute pubcrawl but now we each had three pints in two hours. With full bellies we could venture out to one more brewpub on our way back to our cars. Our last stop was at Puebla Vida, a brewery we had already been to earlier in the year and that also makes a mean Hefe.
Congress Avenue was alive with people! I just love the vibes of this town. We passed the famed Rialto Theatre, saw some colorful murals, and stopped for one final beer before heading out to the Honda.
Puebla Vida is another dog-friendly brewery and it was busy today. We were lucky to get two adjoining seats at the counter for our usual Hefe and Porter combinations.
Our last stop before heading back to Cochise County was a stop at the big beer and wine store, Total Wine and More, where we looked around and each picked up some craft beer. I found my Shriner's Holiday Ale. By now it was dark and we had to make our way back home, but we were both content that despite not being able to attend the street fair, we both got to enjoy some really good craft beer. I haven't been to a brewery in Tucson that isn't good! Tucsonans take pride in their beer.
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Fiery sky and a full moon
The sky was alive this morning, and I didn't notice that until I got the dogs ready for the three-minute drive to the maintenance road. And of all days, the windshield was frosted over! I was cussing and screaming (as if that makes the frost melt faster), but I probably just caused the crack in the windshield to spread further.
But what a sunrise it was! It started out with a bright red, pink and then orange at dawn. I got to the road at 6:44am, 25 minutes before sunrise, and saw the sky break out into a myriad of pastels. I thought of Sean Y from yesterday, who missed a colorful view. He ended up driving in ten minutes later, but by then the sky's hues had changed. Once the sun was above the horizon, the colors faded to shades of grey again.
These are the mornings I look forward to. My work schedule allowed me to experience this as I had a half day today. Invigorated by the morning (and the chill, brr!), I walked a three-mile course that took us back along Carr Creek that normally doesn't flow this far east of the highway. I turned around when I met up with the creek again. While the creek here isn't very wide, the flow was deep. I made this my turn-around point.
The creek was gushing here, too, and the dogs enjoyed the water while I bushwhacked with them back to the dirt road. Parts of the banks were freshly eroded. In other areas, the soil near the banks heavily saturated.
The terrain here is flat, but the many hidden rocks under the grass make this a slow-moving walk. In summer months I worry about rattlers under these rocks. Even the dogs got some of their paws stuck in gopher holes that then collapsed under their weight and the saturated soil.
It was a chilly morning. The day never warmed up. That didn't keep the dogs from enjoying their romp. Even Minnie continued to want to fetch sticks and annoy Sadie with them. Sadie barks at Minnie when Minnie has a stick, but then never actively fetches sticks. She just wants to take them from Minnie.
It was an active morning and a great start to the day. My time in school was just as productive, but it never warmed up past 60F and I kept my heavy jacket on. The sky remained overcast, too. I was worried the overcast sky would diffuse the moon rise later.
Once back home, Susan and I had agreed to meet for a quick full moon hike along the same course I had done this morning at 3:50pm. She had never been along the course. She is the first person to see the course I walk and she enjoyed it too. Even her dog Allie had fun with all the water.
Once that sun set behind the mountains, the chill from earlier returned. My face and hands turned cold. It didn't seem to bother the dogs, even when the coyotes began to howl.
Moon rise was at 5:10pm but we didn't see the moon until 5:13pm; it was hidden by the Belt of Venus, that atmospheric band around the horizon at sunset that resembles reddish-brown smog.
And once the sun set at 5:20pm, the colors of the sky became prominent, from deep orange and red, to purple and then deep blue.
We made it back to our cars at 5:40pm, before it got too dark. Susan and I both agreed that skies like today are what we look forward to, living here in the desert. You don't get skies like this in Chicago or New York City. And Minnie was a real champ today, staying with us for six miles total. All dogs slept soundly, too, once we settled in for the night. Even Sadie refrained from whining.
But what a sunrise it was! It started out with a bright red, pink and then orange at dawn. I got to the road at 6:44am, 25 minutes before sunrise, and saw the sky break out into a myriad of pastels. I thought of Sean Y from yesterday, who missed a colorful view. He ended up driving in ten minutes later, but by then the sky's hues had changed. Once the sun was above the horizon, the colors faded to shades of grey again.
These are the mornings I look forward to. My work schedule allowed me to experience this as I had a half day today. Invigorated by the morning (and the chill, brr!), I walked a three-mile course that took us back along Carr Creek that normally doesn't flow this far east of the highway. I turned around when I met up with the creek again. While the creek here isn't very wide, the flow was deep. I made this my turn-around point.
The creek was gushing here, too, and the dogs enjoyed the water while I bushwhacked with them back to the dirt road. Parts of the banks were freshly eroded. In other areas, the soil near the banks heavily saturated.
The terrain here is flat, but the many hidden rocks under the grass make this a slow-moving walk. In summer months I worry about rattlers under these rocks. Even the dogs got some of their paws stuck in gopher holes that then collapsed under their weight and the saturated soil.
It was a chilly morning. The day never warmed up. That didn't keep the dogs from enjoying their romp. Even Minnie continued to want to fetch sticks and annoy Sadie with them. Sadie barks at Minnie when Minnie has a stick, but then never actively fetches sticks. She just wants to take them from Minnie.
It was an active morning and a great start to the day. My time in school was just as productive, but it never warmed up past 60F and I kept my heavy jacket on. The sky remained overcast, too. I was worried the overcast sky would diffuse the moon rise later.
Once back home, Susan and I had agreed to meet for a quick full moon hike along the same course I had done this morning at 3:50pm. She had never been along the course. She is the first person to see the course I walk and she enjoyed it too. Even her dog Allie had fun with all the water.
Once that sun set behind the mountains, the chill from earlier returned. My face and hands turned cold. It didn't seem to bother the dogs, even when the coyotes began to howl.
Moon rise was at 5:10pm but we didn't see the moon until 5:13pm; it was hidden by the Belt of Venus, that atmospheric band around the horizon at sunset that resembles reddish-brown smog.
And once the sun set at 5:20pm, the colors of the sky became prominent, from deep orange and red, to purple and then deep blue.
We made it back to our cars at 5:40pm, before it got too dark. Susan and I both agreed that skies like today are what we look forward to, living here in the desert. You don't get skies like this in Chicago or New York City. And Minnie was a real champ today, staying with us for six miles total. All dogs slept soundly, too, once we settled in for the night. Even Sadie refrained from whining.
Monday, December 9, 2019
Lower Miller Creek
It continued to rain today, a steady rain overnight that stopped before sunrise. The heavy clouds continued, though, making the sunrise nondescript but emphasizing hues of grey (fifty shades of grey?). I walked the dogs briefly on the maintenance road, but had to turn around at Carr Creek because the flow was too strong and too deep to cross, making the walk a mere 1.44 miles. That is a short distance even for the dogs, but that is better than staying in the back yard and barking at the neighbor's dog Angel, a GSDX.
The stock pond is now replenished and the grass around it is saturated. It's the most water I've seen there since last winter. This is good for wildlife and for the dogs. The pond seems to encourage Minnie to walk. She tends to walk faster and last longer when there is water along the way she can walk into.
By 10am the skies started to clear up and I contacted Susan about hiking the Tinker Pond Loop. She responded that heavy thunderstorms were predicted for 1pm, and that she'd rather walk up Miller Canyon instead. I'm so glad I agreed to that, as that is what happened.
We met at noon at the lower Miller canyon parking lot. We were the only cars there. Most people who hike this area don't come until around 3pm. We had the trail all to ourselves, and what splendor it was. The sky was cloudy but blue, but I could see the beginnings of rain on the western side of the mountains. The creek was gushing, and the water seemed to accentuate the green and yellows. Normally winter scenes are drab, but this walk seemed so colorful.
The dogs enjoyed the water. The loud gushing reminded me of hiking the John Muir trail in canyons overflowing with snowmelt. It was so loud near the water that we could barely hear each other. The smells of dead leaves and wet grass were prominent. Red berries stood out. This short walk was a feast for the senses.
We made this a 2.25 mile walk, turning around just before the upper parking lot by Beatty's Orchard. We walked back the way we came, then cut across to the road in the last half mile. We started feeling rain drops at 12:54. The forecast for rain at 1pm was accurate!
It even began to hail. Susan noticed it first. I thought it was just heavy rain drops, but then she showed me a hail corn. By god, hail! And when we got back to the cars at 1:20pm, the rain became more steady. She drove off first, but I stayed parked, waiting for the downpour to subside.
The rain then continued for most of the afternoon. I was just glad to get out with the dogs on the trail before the rain. Once the rain fell, temperatures dropped again. Even the house was cold and I was back to cold hands again.
The stock pond is now replenished and the grass around it is saturated. It's the most water I've seen there since last winter. This is good for wildlife and for the dogs. The pond seems to encourage Minnie to walk. She tends to walk faster and last longer when there is water along the way she can walk into.
By 10am the skies started to clear up and I contacted Susan about hiking the Tinker Pond Loop. She responded that heavy thunderstorms were predicted for 1pm, and that she'd rather walk up Miller Canyon instead. I'm so glad I agreed to that, as that is what happened.
We met at noon at the lower Miller canyon parking lot. We were the only cars there. Most people who hike this area don't come until around 3pm. We had the trail all to ourselves, and what splendor it was. The sky was cloudy but blue, but I could see the beginnings of rain on the western side of the mountains. The creek was gushing, and the water seemed to accentuate the green and yellows. Normally winter scenes are drab, but this walk seemed so colorful.
The dogs enjoyed the water. The loud gushing reminded me of hiking the John Muir trail in canyons overflowing with snowmelt. It was so loud near the water that we could barely hear each other. The smells of dead leaves and wet grass were prominent. Red berries stood out. This short walk was a feast for the senses.
It even began to hail. Susan noticed it first. I thought it was just heavy rain drops, but then she showed me a hail corn. By god, hail! And when we got back to the cars at 1:20pm, the rain became more steady. She drove off first, but I stayed parked, waiting for the downpour to subside.
The rain then continued for most of the afternoon. I was just glad to get out with the dogs on the trail before the rain. Once the rain fell, temperatures dropped again. Even the house was cold and I was back to cold hands again.
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Tinker Pond Loop (Ft Huachuca, AZ) 4.2 miles
Sunrise was an undramatic, deep overcast sky. Weather forecast called for rain for 8 and 9am, but that the sky would clear up after that. I made a mistake by believing that, instead of reading all other 50 variants to weather forecasts for our region.
The mountains were shrouded in deep clouds, so that meant no peak bagging today. I wanted to hike somewhere though, and somehow thought of Tinker Pond. I hadn't been up that way this year. It's a comfortable distance, scenic, and secluded. The dogs would have plenty of water.
I was able to get in touch with Steve at the last minute. He was willing to hike with me and was able to meet me at 10:30am at the Fort Huachuca main gate. I had all four dogs with me, so we drove in separate cars to the trailhead at the Tinker Pond Land Navigation parking lot. A lone deer pranced right in front of me as we drove into Garden Canyon, getting all the dogs excited, but no other wildlife showed itself today. No antelope, no wild turkeys.
The parking lot to this path is line-of-sight from the aerostat. The aerostat was hunkered down because of the weather, and its big front looked like it was aimed right at us.
The first half mile starts out level, following grassy fields along the northern boundary of the land navigation course. The oaks appear closer to the hillsides. Recent flooding has cut crevices in the path, and the higher we got, the deeper these crevices became. Some even filled with water. This was good for the dogs, who used the water to keep themselves hydrated.
There was more erosion the higher we got up the first firebreak. The path at times is eroded down to the bedrock, and is slick in parts because of the decomposed granite. I would not want to be here in a downpour. I also noted how many of the deciduous trees still had their autumn leaves.
This was the first time I saw so much water in the drainages. There was water everywhere! I never noticed so many depressions in which water could accumulate. The gallon of water I carried in my backpack was superfluous at this point.
Sweetie was ahead of the pack. Minnie, Sadie and Zeke stayed by my side. Trace kept wanting to mount Sadie, at times pulling her hind legs down with him holding on. She seemed annoyed, but didn't fight him off. I also watched Minnie, making sure she would handle the mileage. The cool, rainy weather worked in her favor.
We got to Tinker Pond in an hour, just as it began to drizzle. We sat under some oak trees while the dog splashed around in the water (only Minnie and Trace swam and fetched sticks). The drizzle stopped, but then rain began in earnest on our return hike, with just a mile to go.
We didn't stay too long at the pond. I'm glad we left when we did, as now rain clouds were getting denser. The dogs didn't mind, but my green jacket was getting wet, and the cotton shirt I had on was getting damp.
We looped around the navigation course on our return hike, forming a loop that totalled 4.2 miles. Minnie was slowing down in the end, panting hard but still walking forward. Once she realized we were on our return to the car, she relaxed. All four dogs refused to get out of the Honda once they were inside the cab, even during a short stop at the Middle Garden Canyon Pond. The pond's water level is high, but I'll explore that another day.
We finished off the day with a stop at the Popeye's Chicken store on post. I tried the Spicy Chicken sandwich with a side of rice and beans. I must admit, that is one very juicy, thick chicken breast sandwich! It tastes all natural, unlike the chicken at McD's that rubberizes once it cools off. The garnish includes two crispy pickles and a spicy 1000 Island dressing. No wonder so many young people are raving about Popeye's chicken sandwiches. I would eat these more often, but the only Popeye's is on Fort Huachuca and I'm not going to drive 28 miles roundtrip and then stand in line for 30 minutes to have one.
The mountains were shrouded in deep clouds, so that meant no peak bagging today. I wanted to hike somewhere though, and somehow thought of Tinker Pond. I hadn't been up that way this year. It's a comfortable distance, scenic, and secluded. The dogs would have plenty of water.
I was able to get in touch with Steve at the last minute. He was willing to hike with me and was able to meet me at 10:30am at the Fort Huachuca main gate. I had all four dogs with me, so we drove in separate cars to the trailhead at the Tinker Pond Land Navigation parking lot. A lone deer pranced right in front of me as we drove into Garden Canyon, getting all the dogs excited, but no other wildlife showed itself today. No antelope, no wild turkeys.
The parking lot to this path is line-of-sight from the aerostat. The aerostat was hunkered down because of the weather, and its big front looked like it was aimed right at us.
The first half mile starts out level, following grassy fields along the northern boundary of the land navigation course. The oaks appear closer to the hillsides. Recent flooding has cut crevices in the path, and the higher we got, the deeper these crevices became. Some even filled with water. This was good for the dogs, who used the water to keep themselves hydrated.
There was more erosion the higher we got up the first firebreak. The path at times is eroded down to the bedrock, and is slick in parts because of the decomposed granite. I would not want to be here in a downpour. I also noted how many of the deciduous trees still had their autumn leaves.
This was the first time I saw so much water in the drainages. There was water everywhere! I never noticed so many depressions in which water could accumulate. The gallon of water I carried in my backpack was superfluous at this point.
Sweetie was ahead of the pack. Minnie, Sadie and Zeke stayed by my side. Trace kept wanting to mount Sadie, at times pulling her hind legs down with him holding on. She seemed annoyed, but didn't fight him off. I also watched Minnie, making sure she would handle the mileage. The cool, rainy weather worked in her favor.
We got to Tinker Pond in an hour, just as it began to drizzle. We sat under some oak trees while the dog splashed around in the water (only Minnie and Trace swam and fetched sticks). The drizzle stopped, but then rain began in earnest on our return hike, with just a mile to go.
We didn't stay too long at the pond. I'm glad we left when we did, as now rain clouds were getting denser. The dogs didn't mind, but my green jacket was getting wet, and the cotton shirt I had on was getting damp.
We looped around the navigation course on our return hike, forming a loop that totalled 4.2 miles. Minnie was slowing down in the end, panting hard but still walking forward. Once she realized we were on our return to the car, she relaxed. All four dogs refused to get out of the Honda once they were inside the cab, even during a short stop at the Middle Garden Canyon Pond. The pond's water level is high, but I'll explore that another day.
We finished off the day with a stop at the Popeye's Chicken store on post. I tried the Spicy Chicken sandwich with a side of rice and beans. I must admit, that is one very juicy, thick chicken breast sandwich! It tastes all natural, unlike the chicken at McD's that rubberizes once it cools off. The garnish includes two crispy pickles and a spicy 1000 Island dressing. No wonder so many young people are raving about Popeye's chicken sandwiches. I would eat these more often, but the only Popeye's is on Fort Huachuca and I'm not going to drive 28 miles roundtrip and then stand in line for 30 minutes to have one.
Saturday, December 7, 2019
San Pedro River after the flood
The only productive thing I did today was meet Susan at 11:45am to walk the dogs by the river. This was my first walk along the river since coming back from Texas. I was curious to see how the mud from last Sunday has dried up. The walk turned out to be a discovery of erosion and natural change in a river's flow.
I got to the parking lot first and walked the dog out and back along the "hidden trail" while waiting on Susan. This gives the dogs a chance to poop and pee away from the official trail near the B&B where visitors tend to walk.
There are some changes now to the river. While the water still flows from south to north (starting in Sonora ten miles into Mexico), the smaller nuances are obvious. The snake curves all took serious damage, knocking down several mature cottonwoods from their roots. Lots of downed snags now dot the path. But most noticeably was the erosion along the trail, with several collapsed bluffs that are now part of the river's banks. Parts of the bluffs have survived, but now contain cracks in the soil. Further flooding will collapse them. We had to call the dogs back from the bluffs to prevent them from causing the bluffs to collapse with them on them, tumbling down into the river with sand and soil on top of them.
Water that collected in the depression on the banks has dried up, but the area around those depressions remains soft mud.
The grass that was bent from the force of the water 100 yards away is now drying up, but still remains bent. The path is still muddy, but more viscous as it was a week ago. The area will need perhaps another week to dry up.
The dogs were all oblivious to this. They ran in and out of the water and romped around with each other. Minnie especially was happy to jump in and move around. The rain from two weeks ago has refilled the deeper parts of the river, allowing her to swim a bit.
The walk today was just under two miles and took us 90 minutes. Walks with Susan are therapeutic for me because she and I talk about life while the dogs run around. These walks are not power walks, but more like relaxing strolls. When I got home at 1pm, I went back to bed to stay warm under the blankets while I did my daily news readings. Weather was nice enough for a hike up a peak, but I had no motivation for that. The mountains will still be there tomorrow.
I got to the parking lot first and walked the dog out and back along the "hidden trail" while waiting on Susan. This gives the dogs a chance to poop and pee away from the official trail near the B&B where visitors tend to walk.
There are some changes now to the river. While the water still flows from south to north (starting in Sonora ten miles into Mexico), the smaller nuances are obvious. The snake curves all took serious damage, knocking down several mature cottonwoods from their roots. Lots of downed snags now dot the path. But most noticeably was the erosion along the trail, with several collapsed bluffs that are now part of the river's banks. Parts of the bluffs have survived, but now contain cracks in the soil. Further flooding will collapse them. We had to call the dogs back from the bluffs to prevent them from causing the bluffs to collapse with them on them, tumbling down into the river with sand and soil on top of them.
Water that collected in the depression on the banks has dried up, but the area around those depressions remains soft mud.
The grass that was bent from the force of the water 100 yards away is now drying up, but still remains bent. The path is still muddy, but more viscous as it was a week ago. The area will need perhaps another week to dry up.
The dogs were all oblivious to this. They ran in and out of the water and romped around with each other. Minnie especially was happy to jump in and move around. The rain from two weeks ago has refilled the deeper parts of the river, allowing her to swim a bit.
The walk today was just under two miles and took us 90 minutes. Walks with Susan are therapeutic for me because she and I talk about life while the dogs run around. These walks are not power walks, but more like relaxing strolls. When I got home at 1pm, I went back to bed to stay warm under the blankets while I did my daily news readings. Weather was nice enough for a hike up a peak, but I had no motivation for that. The mountains will still be there tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Santa Cruz River Trail (Tucson) and some really good Chicago-style pizza
It was a non work day for me and that meant another excuse to head up to Tucson. The annual Coronado National Forest pass goes up from $20 to $40 on the 9th and I wanted to get another pass before the price increase, even though I only use it about four times a year. Going to Tucson also means trying out new beer and some good food. I took Zeke and invited SteveT. It was a fun day full of discovery.
I had read about how good Rocco's Little Chicago Pizza is (and how quirky its marquee can get.) I didn't even realize, despite 15 years of living in the area, that we had a Chicago-style pizza in town! Reviews were nearly all five stars. Before we hit the food, though, I needed to get my new forest pass.
Steve diverted me to Costco off the Kino Parkway in Tucson. He wanted to check on some eye glasses. This gave me an excuse to get an annual membership and then compare the prices to Sams Club. We walked in at noon and the lines were out the door, but we managed and I ended up buying $167 worth of dogfood, coffee, and cream, beer, organic sugar, birdseed. Then I made it downtown to the National Forest office on 300 W Congress, where an elderly staffer, George Mortimer, told me some stories about his former black enlistees at Fort Huachuca. He seemed happy to have a customer to talk to, but I didn't want to hold Steve and the dogs up, who were waiting in the car.
I wanted to explore the Santa Cruz River trail near Sentinel Peak. I had seen the trail from the summit two weeks ago on my last Tucson trip. It looked like a nice trail to walk on, and let the dogs run down to the river for refreshment. We parked off Silverlake Road at a trailhead parking lot and walked north, toward Sentinel Peak. The high rises of downtown Tucson are visible from here. There was some water in the wash, but most came from a culvert as reclaimed waiter.
While leash laws are strictly enforced on the multi-use trail, dogs are allowed offleash in the washes, under supervision. The trouble was getting down to the wash safely. We didn't come up to an access trail until we had walked a mile north. Congress Avenue was still 1.6 miles away. When we got down into the wash, what looked like water ahead was merely very soft mud. Even the dogs were getting stuck in it. That's when we turned around to get back to the car. We had walked a short 2.5 miles. Zeke's fur was warm. He was glad for the break. I will have to explore the river another day, when it's cooler and overcast and there is more water available. The trail itself is level, soft, well-marked. Surely I could use part of it while walking around Tucson and exploring historic sites?
Tucson is a top-rated bike-friendly town. The 153 miles of multi-use trails in and around the city attest to this. When one looks at how the Santa Cruz river feeds into town from the west, the Pantano river from the south, and the Rillito river from the north, one sees on a map how the ancient peoples settled in what became Tucson, using the low foothills of the area we walked as their agricultural base.
With shopping, walking and getting my forest pass done, the last thing on our to-do list was to visit Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria on East Broadway. The building is not very big and can be easily overlooked, if it weren't for the large marquee up front. The slogans are popular with locals as it changes often.
The shaded outdoor seating is as large as the indoor seating. When we walked in, we felt the place has been an established eatery for quite a while., with every available wall space taken up. The bar is small, and there are chairs outside for people on a wait list. It does look like something I'd find in a Chicago pizzeria. The owner, Rocco DiGrazia, came to Tuscon 30 years ago to study and ended up falling in love and staying, making very authentic deep-dish pizza instead. We were barely seated and our server brought us a bucket of water for the dogs. While small, the restaurant has a very inviting feel to it. I could sit outside on a summer night and just chill.
We had a beer each and some chicken wings, and the large veggie lovers pizza soon followed. I should have skipped the beer and gotten something lighter to drink.
The place wasn't very busy for a Wednesday afternoon. We didn't have to wait long for service, for food, for refills. We both enjoyed the meal. The crust is crispy and buttery and the toppings plentiful.
The outside heaters were turned on as we left, just as the sun set behind the building and a cold air appeared. We both agreed we will be back to Rocco's. The business is scheduled to relocate to a larger building a half-mile west while Broadway will be widened to support more vehicular traffic.
Our last stop was a quick trip to Crooked Tooth Brewery on 6th Street, an area that's considered north downtown. I had never been up here. Buildings are warehouses and modern lowrises. It feels very artisan. Crooked Tooth is an old factory front that is easy to miss at dusk. The inside, however, is very inviting, dog-friendly, and spacious. We each had one beer. I had the 4.4% Golden Ale, a beer that would have gone well with the pizza.
While we could have tried one more brewery, we agreed it was best to just head back home. There will be plenty of other opportunities to try other brewpubs. Tuscon has 26 brewpubs and they are all very good.
It was a fun day, mixed with walking, exploring, food tasting and beer sipping. I always enjoy my time in Tucson. I wish the city weren't so far away, so that I can take in its culture, its food and beer, more often.
I had read about how good Rocco's Little Chicago Pizza is (and how quirky its marquee can get.) I didn't even realize, despite 15 years of living in the area, that we had a Chicago-style pizza in town! Reviews were nearly all five stars. Before we hit the food, though, I needed to get my new forest pass.
Steve diverted me to Costco off the Kino Parkway in Tucson. He wanted to check on some eye glasses. This gave me an excuse to get an annual membership and then compare the prices to Sams Club. We walked in at noon and the lines were out the door, but we managed and I ended up buying $167 worth of dogfood, coffee, and cream, beer, organic sugar, birdseed. Then I made it downtown to the National Forest office on 300 W Congress, where an elderly staffer, George Mortimer, told me some stories about his former black enlistees at Fort Huachuca. He seemed happy to have a customer to talk to, but I didn't want to hold Steve and the dogs up, who were waiting in the car.
I wanted to explore the Santa Cruz River trail near Sentinel Peak. I had seen the trail from the summit two weeks ago on my last Tucson trip. It looked like a nice trail to walk on, and let the dogs run down to the river for refreshment. We parked off Silverlake Road at a trailhead parking lot and walked north, toward Sentinel Peak. The high rises of downtown Tucson are visible from here. There was some water in the wash, but most came from a culvert as reclaimed waiter.
While leash laws are strictly enforced on the multi-use trail, dogs are allowed offleash in the washes, under supervision. The trouble was getting down to the wash safely. We didn't come up to an access trail until we had walked a mile north. Congress Avenue was still 1.6 miles away. When we got down into the wash, what looked like water ahead was merely very soft mud. Even the dogs were getting stuck in it. That's when we turned around to get back to the car. We had walked a short 2.5 miles. Zeke's fur was warm. He was glad for the break. I will have to explore the river another day, when it's cooler and overcast and there is more water available. The trail itself is level, soft, well-marked. Surely I could use part of it while walking around Tucson and exploring historic sites?
Tucson is a top-rated bike-friendly town. The 153 miles of multi-use trails in and around the city attest to this. When one looks at how the Santa Cruz river feeds into town from the west, the Pantano river from the south, and the Rillito river from the north, one sees on a map how the ancient peoples settled in what became Tucson, using the low foothills of the area we walked as their agricultural base.
With shopping, walking and getting my forest pass done, the last thing on our to-do list was to visit Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria on East Broadway. The building is not very big and can be easily overlooked, if it weren't for the large marquee up front. The slogans are popular with locals as it changes often.
The shaded outdoor seating is as large as the indoor seating. When we walked in, we felt the place has been an established eatery for quite a while., with every available wall space taken up. The bar is small, and there are chairs outside for people on a wait list. It does look like something I'd find in a Chicago pizzeria. The owner, Rocco DiGrazia, came to Tuscon 30 years ago to study and ended up falling in love and staying, making very authentic deep-dish pizza instead. We were barely seated and our server brought us a bucket of water for the dogs. While small, the restaurant has a very inviting feel to it. I could sit outside on a summer night and just chill.
We had a beer each and some chicken wings, and the large veggie lovers pizza soon followed. I should have skipped the beer and gotten something lighter to drink.
The place wasn't very busy for a Wednesday afternoon. We didn't have to wait long for service, for food, for refills. We both enjoyed the meal. The crust is crispy and buttery and the toppings plentiful.
The outside heaters were turned on as we left, just as the sun set behind the building and a cold air appeared. We both agreed we will be back to Rocco's. The business is scheduled to relocate to a larger building a half-mile west while Broadway will be widened to support more vehicular traffic.
Our last stop was a quick trip to Crooked Tooth Brewery on 6th Street, an area that's considered north downtown. I had never been up here. Buildings are warehouses and modern lowrises. It feels very artisan. Crooked Tooth is an old factory front that is easy to miss at dusk. The inside, however, is very inviting, dog-friendly, and spacious. We each had one beer. I had the 4.4% Golden Ale, a beer that would have gone well with the pizza.
While we could have tried one more brewery, we agreed it was best to just head back home. There will be plenty of other opportunities to try other brewpubs. Tuscon has 26 brewpubs and they are all very good.
It was a fun day, mixed with walking, exploring, food tasting and beer sipping. I always enjoy my time in Tucson. I wish the city weren't so far away, so that I can take in its culture, its food and beer, more often.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Back home
I didn't quite make it back last night. I ended up stopping in Lordsburg, NM. It was a very cold night. I made it to the Chiricahua mountainss at sunrise but the sunrise was rather nondescript.
There was evidence south on AZ80 of flooding from the storm that blew over the area Wednesday-Friday. Puddles were along the road and in patches in the desert. When I stopped at the San Pedro River to walk the dogs by the Hereford bridge for a quick leg stretcher, I had to divert to the standard trail Susan and I take, but even that trail was muddy. I missed a massive flooding here! Grass was still bent over a good 100 yards from the water's edge. Minnie was glad to be at the river, but even she was smart enough not to dive in for fast-moving sticks, stumps and snags. It's going to take a good week of sunshine to dry up the mud, and more rain is forecasted for Wednesday.
I finally made it home at 9:30am. I had driven 2152 miles. I was glad to be back. Kevin was also relieved, and Sadie and Sweetie were insistent that I walk them, too. I finally did another walk at 4pm, along the maintenance road, where the roadside stockpond is filled up again. Who knows for how long that water will last, but for now it's a much-enjoyed dip for the dogs on our morning walks.
Gasoline prices dropped from $2.56 to $2.48 in the week I was gone. There's still snow on the peaks, but the trees in the front yard still have yellow leaves and my potted tomato plant is still alive. Each year the leaves take longer to drop off the trees.
Another "wicked" storm is heading toward Boston now. California is getting another one, too. I'm glad I didn't have to deal with heavy rains while on the road. Now I need to ask myself if I should risk driving to Indiana for Christmas. Both Carol and Erin are wanting me there. I really don't want to drive in that blustery, icy region for the holidays, but I'd feel guilty if something were to happen to Carol before I get the chance to see her again next summer.
https://weather.com/news/weather/video/brief-warm-up-will-give-way-to-brutal-cold
There was evidence south on AZ80 of flooding from the storm that blew over the area Wednesday-Friday. Puddles were along the road and in patches in the desert. When I stopped at the San Pedro River to walk the dogs by the Hereford bridge for a quick leg stretcher, I had to divert to the standard trail Susan and I take, but even that trail was muddy. I missed a massive flooding here! Grass was still bent over a good 100 yards from the water's edge. Minnie was glad to be at the river, but even she was smart enough not to dive in for fast-moving sticks, stumps and snags. It's going to take a good week of sunshine to dry up the mud, and more rain is forecasted for Wednesday.
I finally made it home at 9:30am. I had driven 2152 miles. I was glad to be back. Kevin was also relieved, and Sadie and Sweetie were insistent that I walk them, too. I finally did another walk at 4pm, along the maintenance road, where the roadside stockpond is filled up again. Who knows for how long that water will last, but for now it's a much-enjoyed dip for the dogs on our morning walks.
Gasoline prices dropped from $2.56 to $2.48 in the week I was gone. There's still snow on the peaks, but the trees in the front yard still have yellow leaves and my potted tomato plant is still alive. Each year the leaves take longer to drop off the trees.
Another "wicked" storm is heading toward Boston now. California is getting another one, too. I'm glad I didn't have to deal with heavy rains while on the road. Now I need to ask myself if I should risk driving to Indiana for Christmas. Both Carol and Erin are wanting me there. I really don't want to drive in that blustery, icy region for the holidays, but I'd feel guilty if something were to happen to Carol before I get the chance to see her again next summer.
https://weather.com/news/weather/video/brief-warm-up-will-give-way-to-brutal-cold
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Franklin Mountain State Park (El Paso, TX)
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/franklin-mountains/map
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4501_124d.pdf
Franklin Mountain State Park (FMSP) is the largest urban park within city limits, according to its website, but it doesn't feel urban. The Tom May unit of the park is on the outskirts of the city along the Woodrow Bean TransMountain Drive, (aka the TransMountain Freeway; TX375). The mountain range north of ElPaso is part of the FMSP, and there are trails off the Freeway one can access, but hikers must still pay the $5 day use fee.
I hadn't been to this park in over ten years, when Sadie was a pup. Weather was breezy and overcast, ideal for trekking on these mostly treeless, rocky peaks. What held me back was having Minnie with me. What to do? My only option was to hike a few short trails, with breaks inbetween to check in on Minnie. She spends most of her time sleeping and snoring now, so staying in a warm car is ideal for her.
The park opens at 8am and closes at 5pm in the winter. And when the park says it closes, the rangers aren't kidding. "Closes" means the front gate is locked and any late returness are S.O.L. Anyone still in the park after hours will be locked in, including those in the campground. There are signs all over the park reminding visitors that the "Park closes at 5pm. " The signs should also mention that the gates lock as well.
I entered the park at 9am. There was a line of cars, rather surprising for how cold it was. I was bundled in both my thick Hoosier sweater and my Marmot rain coat. I wasn't sure which trails I would explore. I just wanted to check things out first and then make a decision.
My first stop was along the Upper Sunset Trail. The trail lives up to its name, with expansive views of the valley to the west. The trail follows the ridgeline for a mile, making for a nice two-mile exposed hike. The only trouble is, the sun sets after park closure. Walking in from the TransMountain Highway is the only option, but there are better options for views. Just chose a trail that goes higher into the peaks! https://www.theoutbound.com/texas/hiking/hike-the-upper-sunset-trail-at-franklin-mountains-sp
The dogs sniffed around and Minnie seemed very curious about the smells. But both dogs were offleash at that moment, and I didn't want to fall wrath of any pissed off Texas park ranger. Minnie was limping anyway, another sign to give her a break and rest in the warm car. It was only 50F and grey overcast.
I saw a line of people hike up a steep trail a few miles away. Curious to what trail that was, I drove over to that trailhead. These people were hiking up the even shorter Aztec Cave Trail, a 0.70-mile rocky path to three holes in the rock. I wouldn't call them caves, but they did a good job keeping the wind out. This is a popular trail for both dogs and humans, and all dogs were obediently on leash. One dog and dog owner I met and chatted to was Johnny and his Malinoi-GSD dog "Bugs." Bugs was in training for a service dog
Elevation gain is only 400'. I didn't find this "moderate" rated trail hard at all. What was annoying were the many large rocks at the start. These large rocks seem to be at all the trailheads, as if they were blasted from the mountainside and rolled downhill to prevent further erosion. This mountain range was once heavily mined for tin, the only dedicated tin mines in the country, so the many rocks make sense.
Hiking up to the caves took a half hour. Then I rested in the caves to get away from the wind, and to chat with several others coming up. People of all ages were coming up this morning, from young children to elderly parents. I rested some more to give the slower people descending some space, and then it was our turn to scramble downhill. I met Johnny and Bugs going up for a second time. "I lost one of my gloves!" said Johnny, but his second climb to the caves proved futile; he never found his lost glove.
Minnie was resting comfortably in the back of the Homda, taking up as usual half the area. That dog loves to stretch out while she sleeps. I guess stretching out helps her snore louder. She didn't seem bothered by our absence.
Not wanting to leave the park just yet, I opted for more exploring at the West Cottonwood Trailhead. This is one hike I did with Sadie back in 2009 and a great summer hike. From this parking lot one can access multiple trails, including Mundy's Gap and the Tin Mines hike. The parking lot was getting crowded. I knew I couldn't hike all the way to Mundy's Gap, that prominent switchback up the mountain. Instead, I chose the much shorter (and more gentler) Agave Loop trail, a two-mile loop with decent views of the valley. If the first half mile hadn't been slowed down by the rocks on the trail, this would have been a very enjoyable loop. the only people I encountered on this loop were rock climbers scaling Sneed's Cory
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Texas/West_Texas/Franklin_Mountains_State_Park/
Today's visit to FMSP was only a taste of what the park has to offer. I could have explored some more, but I also wanted to get more mileage on my drive home. I will have to come back for a dedicated weekend of hiking to hike the higher, longer trails. Perhaps I will come back over the three-day MLK weekend in January and bag Franklin Mountain (7192'), a seven-mile out-and-back trail with expansive views of Juarez (and then finish off a day's hiking at a local brewpub!).
The rest of the day was anticlimactic. I stopped at the Spotted Dog Brewpub in Las Cruces, 27 miles from the FMSP, and had some very good beers. This brewpub is one of the three top breweries I probed on this mini-roadtrip. The other good one was a few miles from the Spotted Dog, the Ice Brewing Company.
http://www.spotteddogbrewery.com/about-us
The Spotted Dog is in an old gas station/garage at 2920 Avenida de Mesilla. It has a front patio and a side patio, both dog friendly. It was cold out, 58F, so both dogs rested in the Honda in the back parking lot, under the shade of a large mesquite tree. I walked in and was immediately impressed with the line-up of wheat beers, ales, and stouts. All four beers in my flight were well-rounded, and in the end I ordered a Cerveza (5.4% ABV) with my massive chicken grande burrito. That burrito, served over double-fried fries, is enough for two meals, the server warned me, and she was not joking! I would rate this meal as one of my top three on this road trip. Nevermind the endless buckets of peanuts!
I chatted with a local older man, Alan, who stood at the counter the entire time I was there. He told me some stories about the owners and brewers. The brewery has been opened since 2014. One of the first brewers is now brewing for Ice Brewing, another very good brewery three miles away that I visited next. This brewery has a much bigger and spacious tap room and also offers varied beers. Both breweries are rated as the top two best breweries in Las Cruces, and I will concur with that rating. I will definitely be back!
https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/media/park_maps/pwd_mp_p4501_124d.pdf
Franklin Mountain State Park (FMSP) is the largest urban park within city limits, according to its website, but it doesn't feel urban. The Tom May unit of the park is on the outskirts of the city along the Woodrow Bean TransMountain Drive, (aka the TransMountain Freeway; TX375). The mountain range north of ElPaso is part of the FMSP, and there are trails off the Freeway one can access, but hikers must still pay the $5 day use fee.
I hadn't been to this park in over ten years, when Sadie was a pup. Weather was breezy and overcast, ideal for trekking on these mostly treeless, rocky peaks. What held me back was having Minnie with me. What to do? My only option was to hike a few short trails, with breaks inbetween to check in on Minnie. She spends most of her time sleeping and snoring now, so staying in a warm car is ideal for her.
The park opens at 8am and closes at 5pm in the winter. And when the park says it closes, the rangers aren't kidding. "Closes" means the front gate is locked and any late returness are S.O.L. Anyone still in the park after hours will be locked in, including those in the campground. There are signs all over the park reminding visitors that the "Park closes at 5pm. " The signs should also mention that the gates lock as well.
I entered the park at 9am. There was a line of cars, rather surprising for how cold it was. I was bundled in both my thick Hoosier sweater and my Marmot rain coat. I wasn't sure which trails I would explore. I just wanted to check things out first and then make a decision.
My first stop was along the Upper Sunset Trail. The trail lives up to its name, with expansive views of the valley to the west. The trail follows the ridgeline for a mile, making for a nice two-mile exposed hike. The only trouble is, the sun sets after park closure. Walking in from the TransMountain Highway is the only option, but there are better options for views. Just chose a trail that goes higher into the peaks! https://www.theoutbound.com/texas/hiking/hike-the-upper-sunset-trail-at-franklin-mountains-sp
The dogs sniffed around and Minnie seemed very curious about the smells. But both dogs were offleash at that moment, and I didn't want to fall wrath of any pissed off Texas park ranger. Minnie was limping anyway, another sign to give her a break and rest in the warm car. It was only 50F and grey overcast.
I saw a line of people hike up a steep trail a few miles away. Curious to what trail that was, I drove over to that trailhead. These people were hiking up the even shorter Aztec Cave Trail, a 0.70-mile rocky path to three holes in the rock. I wouldn't call them caves, but they did a good job keeping the wind out. This is a popular trail for both dogs and humans, and all dogs were obediently on leash. One dog and dog owner I met and chatted to was Johnny and his Malinoi-GSD dog "Bugs." Bugs was in training for a service dog
Elevation gain is only 400'. I didn't find this "moderate" rated trail hard at all. What was annoying were the many large rocks at the start. These large rocks seem to be at all the trailheads, as if they were blasted from the mountainside and rolled downhill to prevent further erosion. This mountain range was once heavily mined for tin, the only dedicated tin mines in the country, so the many rocks make sense.
Hiking up to the caves took a half hour. Then I rested in the caves to get away from the wind, and to chat with several others coming up. People of all ages were coming up this morning, from young children to elderly parents. I rested some more to give the slower people descending some space, and then it was our turn to scramble downhill. I met Johnny and Bugs going up for a second time. "I lost one of my gloves!" said Johnny, but his second climb to the caves proved futile; he never found his lost glove.
Minnie was resting comfortably in the back of the Homda, taking up as usual half the area. That dog loves to stretch out while she sleeps. I guess stretching out helps her snore louder. She didn't seem bothered by our absence.
Not wanting to leave the park just yet, I opted for more exploring at the West Cottonwood Trailhead. This is one hike I did with Sadie back in 2009 and a great summer hike. From this parking lot one can access multiple trails, including Mundy's Gap and the Tin Mines hike. The parking lot was getting crowded. I knew I couldn't hike all the way to Mundy's Gap, that prominent switchback up the mountain. Instead, I chose the much shorter (and more gentler) Agave Loop trail, a two-mile loop with decent views of the valley. If the first half mile hadn't been slowed down by the rocks on the trail, this would have been a very enjoyable loop. the only people I encountered on this loop were rock climbers scaling Sneed's Cory
http://www.rockclimbing.com/routes/North_America/United_States/Texas/West_Texas/Franklin_Mountains_State_Park/
Today's visit to FMSP was only a taste of what the park has to offer. I could have explored some more, but I also wanted to get more mileage on my drive home. I will have to come back for a dedicated weekend of hiking to hike the higher, longer trails. Perhaps I will come back over the three-day MLK weekend in January and bag Franklin Mountain (7192'), a seven-mile out-and-back trail with expansive views of Juarez (and then finish off a day's hiking at a local brewpub!).
The rest of the day was anticlimactic. I stopped at the Spotted Dog Brewpub in Las Cruces, 27 miles from the FMSP, and had some very good beers. This brewpub is one of the three top breweries I probed on this mini-roadtrip. The other good one was a few miles from the Spotted Dog, the Ice Brewing Company.
http://www.spotteddogbrewery.com/about-us
The Spotted Dog is in an old gas station/garage at 2920 Avenida de Mesilla. It has a front patio and a side patio, both dog friendly. It was cold out, 58F, so both dogs rested in the Honda in the back parking lot, under the shade of a large mesquite tree. I walked in and was immediately impressed with the line-up of wheat beers, ales, and stouts. All four beers in my flight were well-rounded, and in the end I ordered a Cerveza (5.4% ABV) with my massive chicken grande burrito. That burrito, served over double-fried fries, is enough for two meals, the server warned me, and she was not joking! I would rate this meal as one of my top three on this road trip. Nevermind the endless buckets of peanuts!
I chatted with a local older man, Alan, who stood at the counter the entire time I was there. He told me some stories about the owners and brewers. The brewery has been opened since 2014. One of the first brewers is now brewing for Ice Brewing, another very good brewery three miles away that I visited next. This brewery has a much bigger and spacious tap room and also offers varied beers. Both breweries are rated as the top two best breweries in Las Cruces, and I will concur with that rating. I will definitely be back!
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