Full moon over Carr Canyon

The sun set at 5:17pm and the Beaver Moon rose at 5:42 pm.

We were six people this time:  Ellen, RobL, KarenB. HollyW, Theresa and I with Zeke and Gretel.  I got there right at 5pm.  We were  all bundled up, as the winds this morning during my shortened two-mile walk with the dogs was quite cold.

The sun was already behind the mountains when we started, casting a darkening shadow over the eastern foothills. We noticed a bright light just north of the border, a light that turned out to be a large house fire south of Hereford Road and South Vista Road.  Brown Smoke slowly drifted in a south easterly direction.

It was rather calm tonight, with the waning warmth of the day still lingering.  It was only during our short break watching the moon rise over the Mule Mountains that  we were calm and sitting on rocks looking east that we weren't moving. 

The moon rose, as expected, behind a layer of dust from the day's wind, but it rose fast and full.  I like the view of the full moon over the valley, with lights of homes dotting the landscape and the grey silhouette of the mountains lining the horizon.  Only the cold and deepening darkness got us back on the return walk.

We were back at the cars in 90 minutes.  This was a fast group!  We all went home as I was in no mood to go out for a beer with cold hands.  Zeke and Gretel raided the water bucket as I left my backpack in the car.

***

Global cases: 63,798,600

Global deathss: 1,484,489

US cases: 13920,052 (+161,859)

US death: 274,331 (+1106)

AZ cases: 326,817 (+822)

AZ deaths: 6639 (+5)

CA cases: 1234,232 (+14,528)

CA deaths: 19,210 (+42)

IN cases: 338,977 (+5665)

IN deaths: 5723 (+38)

The dogs on Juniper Flats

It was a quiet day. Susan's daughter and granddaughter are here for the week and I wanted to give her her privacy. I have met her daughter Andrea and granddaughter Isabelle and get along with them. They are both dog lovers like Susan, but not necessarily outdoor people. They live on Long Island and have that New York accent, which I always find refreshing. 

Andrea, however, injured her foot last year when her patio collapsed. The foot has never healed and still remains in a flexicast, making her disabled and unable to walk much. Isabelle has a minor heart issue that prevents her from exerting herself much.

Susan wanted me to come over for a visit. I last met her family in February when they were here for spring break. I agreed, after taking all dogs minus Sadie for a walk down the river. 

The river has been calm these last few days. The last few days have been in the upper 30s, low 40s and too chilly to wade in the water anymore, but I still take the dogs down the trail where they can opt down into the water. Fallen leaves cover the gently-flowing water, covering the river in golds and yellows..

It was a very quiet morning along the river. There was barely any breeze. I didn't even hear any birds. I am used to Allie's barking when she is with my pack, but my dogs were quiet today. The pups chased after birds, Sweetie went on her own, and Zeke stayed by my side while only Minnie seemed untouched by the chilly water.  She is the reason I take the dogs down to the river.  The water provides her some therapeutic exercise.

The two miles took me an hour.  I was done by 10:20am, giving me plenty of time to drive back home, relax a bit, before going to Susan's place shortly after noon.  I brought the pups, Sweetie and Zeke.

Allie loves hosting her dog pals and seemed to enjoy a game of chase in the garden with the pups.  This made Susan happy, as Allie has few friends to interact with.  This is the first time we witnessed Allie playing with both pups.  

Zeke and Sweetie were inside with us as we chatted over some pumpkin pie and whipped cream (in my case, whipped cream flavored with some pumpkin pie) when Andrea got the idea to treat the dogs to whipped cream straight out of the can.  That was a big hit with the dogs!  Watching Hansel lick the cream off his snout was as funny as watching a dog eat peanut butter

Susan wanted to show Isabelle Juniper Flats and the side canyon we were on briefly on that McEntee hike.  I agreed to go along in my own car.  I forgot the walk down to the side canyon from the parking area is 0.8 miles, almost too much for cityslicker Isabelle, dressed in flat sneakers and torn jeans and a black puffer jacket.  She brought her Canon camera and was busy taking photos while the dogs explored the rocks.  We didn't go far as the mid-afternoon sun was already low and the canyon walls shaded and cool, but it was a pleasure to see the dogs enjoying being dogs with no one else around.  This was another two-mile exploration,  giving the dogs four miles total of exercise today.

.   

***

Global cases: 62,949,933   

Global deaths: 1,472,648

US cases: 13, 612,064 (+166,359)

US deaths: 272,269 (+1308)

AZ cases: 322,774 (+4136)

AZ deaths: 6624 (+36)

CA cases: 1,201,784 (+14,534)

CA deaths: 19,131 (+41)

IN cases: 329,008 (+4471)

IN deaths: 5663 (+69)

IN deaths

Wakefield Canyon Trail

Distance: 5.7 miles

Elevation gain: 1444'

Significance: remote and abandoned trails, isolation, views

This was a hike Ellen led.  The goal was to reach Copper Glance Mine as the trail looped around Lonesome Mountain.  We never quite made it.

I walked Sweetie and Hansel for two miles before meeting the others at 8am.

We were a group of five:  Ellen, HollyW, RobL, Sibylle (Ellen's friend from work) and I.  I brought Zeke and Gretel. This was Gretel's first group hike and she did fine.  She proved to me that she can handle meeting new people and staying nearby.  She didn't bark at anyone.

We met at Hunter Canyon and then carpooled.  I stayed alone with the dogs as they take up the entire back seat.  Gretel even likes to ride shotgun.  We stopped briefly at Montezuma's Pass for a bathroom break.  We saw no new wall construction on the west side of Montezuma. 

My Honda CR-V managed the few ruts in the road to where we parked, by an old cattle trough.  I had been here before with Kevin, Sara and Sammy years ago, and then a few years ago when Zeke chased cattle that were drinking from the water.  What memories.

It was a nippy 44F at the start.  I didn't bring hat or gloves but my grey hoodie kept me warm.

Today's hike allowed us to explore old mining shacks, the lower mine, and the steep ravine to the upper mines. There was water in the lower mines. Gretel followed Ellen to the mine opening.

The trail begins as a blocked off old mining road that is heavily bouldered in parts, exposed in other parts, and overgrown with new pine growth in smaller sections. The old road then disappears (washed away in floods or landslides?) so we took the steep ravine up. 

 Ellen's Garmin said this was the official trail.  A thick layer of dead leaves, steep, loose terrain and metal Jumex cans made this a treacherous section that required us to use whatever trees were nearby for support.

At the three-mile mark we rested by a pipe dripping water, ideal for the 0.  The higher we got in elevation along this steep and dry ravine, the more trash from border crossers we encountered.  Most of the trash looked old.  This was a nice resting spot for a snack and a break for the dogs, who were fascinated with Rob's salmon treats

The majority in the group elected to turn around at this point, so we did, but I told Ellen that had it just been her and I, we would have continued to the destination.  That will be for another time

We carefully descended, at times crab-walking or sliding on the leaves.  The dogs were also cautious.  Or perhaps they were just tired, as they quickly lay down in the back of the Honda and had an extra can each of Blue Buffalo chicken pate.  It had only warmed up to 54F when we left for the drive back home.

ATVers were now coming into the canyon.  I was the last vehicle to leave and all the ATVs were parked off the road to let me get by.  I'm sure Rob or Ellen had told them there was one slow car coming down the bumpy road. 

Kevin had just come home when I got in.  I wanted to sit out on the patio with him, but it was too cold for me.

I thought I had been on this trail before, but later I learned I was wrong.  I had confused this with the Eurelka Mine-Sunnyside Canyon from five years ago, a trail I'd do again.

***

Global cases: 62,077,202

Global deaths: 1,457,656

US cases: 13,452,839 (+193,384)

US deaths: 271,027 (+1428)

AZ cases: 318,638 (+4312) 

AZ deaths: 6588 (+20)

CA cases: 1,190,665 (+12,883)

CA deaths: 19,099 (+56)

IN cases: 324,537 (+5643)

IN deaths: 5594 (+33)

A quiet Thanksgiving

The covid-19 pandemic certainly curtailed any plans to travel and spend time with friends and family.  Eric had surgery on his jaw to correct a slight overbite and was on heavy medication all week, Erin told me not to come for Christmas because too many people she hangs out with have contracted the coronavirus, and I was not about to go anywhere anyway because of just wanting to stay home with Kevin and enjoy my time with him.  His health is not the best and I'm just grateful that he is still alive.  His health also makes him more vulnerable to catching the disease and I don't want to be a carrier.

Thus, this year the meal was a plain turkey breast with the mashed potatoes and gravy I picked up at Costco last week. Kevin added corn and stuffing, but we both forgot the cranberries. I love the tartness that cranberries add to any meal.

I took the pack out for a walk down the river at noon, just to let them get their exercise.  I had slept in and skipped the sunrise.  The simple birding trail was long enough for Minnie and I was on track to get back home at 1:30pm when an older couple spooked the dogs and they began barking.  I quickly got the pups on leashes but they pulled nonetheless.

I dropped my cellphone in the ruckus and then couldn't find my phone.  The couple walked on, the pups calmed down, and here I was cursing myself for dropping the phone in a thick layer of yellow leaves.  I swept the ground with my feet, but wasn't sure where exactly I had dropped the phone; I had walked several feet before realizing that I had dropped it.  I was running out of time to get back home by 2pm when Kevin wanted to start the meal. 

Here I was, sweeping the ground of leaves and finding nothing but sticks and rocks.  The dogs were now getting restless wondering why were were standing in one place and not moving forward when another woman came by the trail.  Again the pups started barking and running over to her.  The woman recognized me right away because she follows me on Facebook and sees the dog photos I post.  I looked up at her and then recognized her, too.  It was JanetH, taking a solo walk on this holiday after having spent the earlier part of the week with her son in Phoenix.

Janet's husband is a defense contractor who was transferred to Ogden, Utah last year.  Her son and daughter and grandchildren live in the Phoenix area (she has one more daughter in Albuquerque) and she had spent some time with them earlier this week.  She came down here to check on their permanent home, the home she has with her husband that they will move back into when he retires in a few years.  

She came to the river because I had told her about this part of the river trail and she wanted to explore it! As we chatted about our families and I shared with her my lost cell phone dilemma, she reached down near where Minnie was sitting and picked up my phone.  "Is this it?" she asked.  Minnie most likely sat by the phone because she recognized my scent on the partially-hidden phone.

I was so happy to have my phone back I almost hugged her, but was careful not to get too close to her as she, like me, is careful not to be too close to people during this pandemic. We walked back to our cars via the trail, wished eachother a thankful holiday, and then went our separate ways.  Why didn't I see it?

My delay in finding my phone caused me to be late for the Thanksgiving meal.  I got back home at 2:15pm.  Kevin had already eaten.  He had prepared the entire meal himself and had left the meal on the stove for me to serve myself when I got home.  I apologized for my lateness but I know the excuse sounded lame.  Still, I am thankful for spending today with him, albeit quietly, and that we still have each other while the rest of the country seems to be suffering from a pandemic and a president who continues to refuse that he lost the election.  

 

Little Boquillas Ranch, San Pedro River

Distance: 7.8 miles

Elevation: 3870'-3933'

Signifance: Historic ranch site, water

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5024707780

It was my second time to this old ranch area.  My first time was seven years ago with a photoshoot group. I've been wanting to explore the trail more for a potential hike with a group.

This was a last-minute hike on my drive back home from Phoenix. Instead of a second hike in South Mountain Park as originally planned, I walked here instead with the dogs, where my seclusion allowed me to let them walk off leash with no one else around.  This is so much easier on the dogs than being kept onleash and around other dogs.  With no working phone, I wouldn't have been able to find my way back to South Mountain Park for another early hike.

It was still a cool 54F when I began my walk at 8:30am.  I was the only one in the parking area as I began on the dirt road (Old Fairbank Road), but then took the old railroad bed that parallels the road going south.  The old bed is well-used by the USBP and mostly easy to walk on.  I stayed on this old bed for two miles before getting to the dried river bed via a gulch for more shade for the dogs. We spooked an owl that flew away.  Gretel took off after it.  Was she really hoping to catch it? 

This is my first time walking the river bed going south from Fairbank.  The riverbed is mostly firm, but gets soft where horses have walked through.  It's definitely one of the more remote sections of the trail. I never came across any trash.

The Little Boquillas Ranch is 2.5 miles from the trail head on the dirt path but is not visible from the river bed.  I ended up walking a whole mile south of the ranch because of this, but I ended up discovering a carcass and an old dam by backtracking on a road that was not the official San Pedro trail. This unmarked trail led to the dam.  The river makes a wide bend here.  It's a pretty part of the river.  The things one discovers when off trail!  I turned around here and walked the official trail back and this led me to the old ranch. 

Right now the cottonwoods are still yellow, but have lost some of their leaves.  The road here is at the highest part along this hike, at 3933' and offers a nice view of the poky shrub-dotted gullies before hitting the ranch area.

I explored the ranch a bit, walking around the abandoned buildings, but didn't stay long. There is much more overgrowth around the buildings than what I remember.  The buildings all looked neglected. I was now six miles into this walk and was getting tired.  I ended up taking the river back, walking through thick shrubbery before hitting the water.  I stayed on the river bed until it took another wide bend to the west.  I finished off on Old Fairbank Road and returned to my car.  It was 78F and  three hours later.  Time to get home and rest.  The dogs were tired and were grateful for the soft bed to nap on.   on the drive home.  

I would do this section again, but cut out the railroad bed and hike the Old Fairbank Road to the dam.

Once home, I learned about the death of Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona.  He was 60 years old and had a massive heart attack, most likely from his cocaine use.  He was the star player in the 1986 World Cup when Argentina defeated England in the quarter final, in a goal that should have been a foul but which Maradona called "the hand from god."  Argentina then defeated Germany in the final game. My sister Iris had such a crush on him.  Maradona certainly was a talented player, but fell into drug and alcohol addiction early in life, yet he never seemed to have lost the admiration of Argentines.

***

Global cases: 60,817,812

Global deaths: 1,435,329

US cases: 13,138,152  (+173,741)

US deaths: 268,221 (+2213)

AZ cases: 310,850 (+3982)

AZ deaths: 6524 (+51)

CA cases: 1164,574 (+10,226)

CA deaths: 18,980 (+63)

IN cases: 312,521 (+5983)

IN deaths:5498 (+63)

The Mormon Trail and Fat Man's Pass, South Mountain Park, Phoenix

Distance: 4 miles

Elevation:

Signifance: hiking around boulders and tall saguaros at sunrise, views of city lights.

Trailhead is at the south end of 24th Street and East Valley View Drive.  Parking lot holds 25 vehicles.  Two spots are for handicapped. Lot fills up fast!

http://www.arizonahikersguide.com/all-hikes/mormon-loop-to-fat-mans-pass

I'm on Thanksgiving break this week and took advanrage of a cool front in the area by driving up here Monday afternoon.  My intent to hike and try several brewpubs in two days was achieved. I took Zeke and Gretel.

I left home at 2:30pm Monday and got to my first brewpub, Arizona Wilderness Brewing in Gilbert, at 6:30pm.  This is a big place with a large patio. (The other location in DTPHX (Downtown Phoenix), even has a beer garden)  Everyone was masked.  I kept the dogs in the car while I ate two chicken street tacos and had an oatmeal stout.  The meal and beer were fine, but the coffee oatmeal stout was the only beer on tap that was under 6%  that I had a taste for, so I only had that one beer.  This brewery specializes in DIPA and sours, neither of which I like. https://azwbeer.com/about/

My big surprise Monday was stopping at the famous OHSO brewery next, a short drive from the first brewery. That stands for Outrageous Homebrewer's Social Outpost and there are four locations in the Greater Phoenix area. This place is as large as the Wilderness brewery and has a separate entrance for dog owners.  Here I had two more beers, a Handlebar Hefeweizen and a Popcycle Ale, both beers I've had at taphouses elsewhere in the past.  I sat at a picnic table away from the more crowded outdoor bar so that the dogs wouldn't bother anyone.  Both dogs did great and Gretel stole the show.  This is a place I'd come back to.

The big event was on Tuesday at sunrise as I got to the Mormon trail parking lot at 5am.  There were already people hiking up the trail in the dark, as their bright flashlights shone and marked their presence via swaying light trails.  I didn't get started until 6:30, with sunrise at 7:04am.  The trail is too rocky for me to hike in the dark so I waited until dawn to get going.  It's a well-marked trail with signs at every intersection.

This is a popular trail with Phoenicians and I can see why.  The 25-car parking lot is known to fill up quickly and it did this morning, with cars waiting in line to get in when I got back to my car. The city enforces a no-overnight camping rule here, with tire spikes put up at night. I was the third car in when I got started. I had the dogs on leash, although there were a few steep areas where this was hard to do.

I made it to the first hilltop at sunrise, then continued south on the trail to Fat Man's Pass and the Tunnel, both geological formations made by giant boulders.  Parts of the boulders are shiny from oil left behind by millions of human hands.

  This pass lives up to its name.  I had to slide through sideways with my backpack off.  The dogs had no trouble getting through. Minnie would have gotten stuck and whimpered.

From the pass on this section was a rock hopper. I enjoyed the challenge but some people would have trouble climbing up these slick boulders.  I watched my footing as my Teva sandals, despite being only eight months old, are losing their treading.Again the dogs didn't mind the rocks.  I was still in the cool shade as I made my way through the area.  No one was near me and I let the dogs off leash here for my safety, although Gretel did take off after a rabbit and barked.  Luckily there were no witnesses to this indiscretion!

It got more crowded on the return hike.  Most people seem to just hike to the first hill and go back down.  Many were masked due to the city's requirement, but I didn't wear mine on this hike.One man I met on the hill at sunrise did the Fat Man's Pass going in the opposite direction.  We met again as we both headed downhill.  This was slo-go for me with the dogs onleash. I had to restrain Gretel whenever we passed other dogs.

rs

The hike was a little over four miles. I could have gone farther but I didn't want to tire out Gretel.  I still had a sunset hike planned for later today in Piestewa Peak Park to the north.  But now I needed lunch and a few beers to refuel.

Lunch was a chicken caesar wrap from Walmart, where I went to get new reading glasses because the glasses I had fell out of my shirt pocket during the hike. I also got the dogs raw chicken breast for their post-hike meal but only Gretel was the one eating.

I had time to spare.  The first brewery on Tuesday's list was State48 Brewery in DTPHX at 345 Van Buren.  I sat outside on the dog-friendly patio, in the cool shade for the dogs.  While the location was a bit dubious, with homeless men pulling their belongings behind them as they walked past me, the beer and service I got here was excellent!  I was the first customer for the day right at opening and I got stellar service.  My server even praised the dogs for being so well behaved.  https://www.state48brewery.com/

This place is a co-op of several brewers, with over 40 beers on tap.  I had never had any of their beers before.  I chose this place because it's listed as one of Phoenix's top ten best breweries on Yelp and other review sites. I started out with a Mango Wheat, the right kind of beer after my hike.  It's one of the brewery's year-round beers.  The other three I had, the pineapple pilsner, bluebeery ale and orange blossom ale, were all 5-ounce tasters.  All were very good!  The place was a bit busy by the time I left 90 minutes later.  I was the only person in the shaded patio that entire time. The dogs appreciated the break.

My next stop was Wren Brewing on 24th Street, but that place is a small nano brewery and is currently open to take-out only.  I will try the place another time when this pandemic is over.

My last stop was at Huss Brewing in the Uptown Plaza, another fine stop to just sit and chill.  I had time to spare before sunset.  It's another small place but has an outdoor area friendly to dogs.  I sat at a picnic table and had people on either side of me, spread out for safety.  I took my time as I sipped on a sweet milk stout (it won second place in the 2019 Great American Brew Festival) and later the Orange Blossom ale while middle school girls sat on the fake grass nearby counting money they collected from their chocolate bar fundraiser for school. It was warm out now but we kept cool in the shade.

I made it to the Piestewa Peak area by 5pm.  This is in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.  All four parking areas going up the mountain were full.  I found a spot at the highest lot, but that meant I had farther to go for the peak trail.  Trails here have numbers, not names.

I didn't realize until I got to the official trailhead for the peak that dogs are not allowed on that trail.  They can hike other trails, just not this one, so I hiked back to my car and left.  I should have done my homework!  Lookout Mountain Summit on the north side of this park does allow dogs and is only a mile o/b. This was a short two-miler and just enough for me.  The dogs were tired and I was getting tired, too.  No more beer for me! 

I had planned to spend a second night in the area, but my Google phone stopped working.  It wouldn't let me sign in.  I am lost without a Map tracker to get me around unknown cities, let alone have no phone contact with Kevin, so I decided at 10:30pm to just drive back home.

I enjoyed my little hike-and-beer adventure and will do this again soon.  There are over 60 breweries in the greater Phoenix area and I knocked out four in two days.  They are all worth visiting again.  Visiting OHSO is a must, but State 48 was a nice surprise.  Now that I know that Gretel can go the distance, I will chose a longer hike with peaks next time I visit South Mountain Park. I'm thinking of making another trip to PHX over the MLK three-day weekend in January.

The Arizona Trail through Colossal Cave Mountain State Park

Distance: O/B 4.7 miles 

Elevation: 3200'-3565'

Significance: Scenic hill trail among saguaros

https://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/5011120354

This hike was led by Tucson Hiking Club member Heddi via Meetup.  This was only my second time in nine years hiking with this group.  Eighteen (!!!) people showed up at the Posta Quemodo Ranch trailhead  (by the cowboy statue) and hiked north from one end of the park to the northern end at La Selvilla trailhead.  This was my first time in the park and I hope I can come back and explore some more.  I had arrived here early in case I got lost driving here.  The entrance is at the end of Old Spanish trail outside of Vail.

It's a very scenic single-track trail in Sonoran desert as the trail meanders in a northeast direction.  The elevation of the ranch is at 3200' and there is minimal gain here. This stretch is along a wash area once populated by ancient Americans.  The trail travels along the side of the low mountains, some formed via folds of rock, and at times shaded by mesquite.  It's a popular section for mountain bikers, too.  This section would be beautiful after heavy monsoonal rains.

I was the only one with a dog.  I had Zeke on his leash as we started out, in a mild 60F and clear skies at the start.  This was warm enough for him.  I gave him water at the turn-around point at the Selvilla picnic area,  an old campground with a badly-potholed road.  We sat at concrete picnic tables before resuming our hike back, taking a mile short cut through the ranch where an old caboose is on display from the mining days.

I got to meet some of the hikers.  All were friendly.  The vast majority of the hikers were women; only three men dared to show up to this slow-to-moderate paced group. One tall woman, Laurie, even hiked in sandals. There were two Amys and two Connies in this group. One gal, Amy Y, told me she hikes with Heddi quite often in the area, and that today's hike was a mild hike compared to what Heddi normally does.  She and I were the photographers in the group and hiked in the rear, so that our many stops would not annoy others.

The ranch is an active ranch, but Heddi said all the cattle have been relocated during this covid pandemic.  There was no one at the ranch but us hikers, but the coral looked like it had recent horse hoof marks.

It was 80F when we got back to our cars two hours later.  Heddi invited anyone to join her at the visitor's center by the cave and I went along, but dogs were not allowed at the overlook so I didn't stay long.  The views from the building looking southeast, though, were impressive.

After the hike I drove another 20 miles to drop off aluminum cans at the recycling center, then stopped at Costco.  I didn't stay in Tucson this time, though, and instead drove home, getting back home an hour before sunset.  Kevin had made a pot of his famed chicken noodle soup and I had kept my appetite for it.

***

Global cases: 58,512,319

Global deaths: 1,386,778

US cases: 12,450,614 (+174,845)

US deaths: 261,790 (+1582)

AZ cases: 295,334 (+3638) 3079 in Cochise County

AZ deaths: 6457 (+30) 78 in Cochise County

CA cases: 1,107,361 (+6121)

CA deaths 18,678 (+78)

IN cases: 289,183 (+6872)

IN deaths: 5246 (+40)

PA cases : 307,247 (+5874)

PA deaths: 9879 (+109)

 

It's too warm for November!

The online school is keeping me busy during the week.  I have to be online for classes from 7:20am through 2:45pm (I make myself available for contact until 3:15pm).  Every day this week I have walked the four younger dogs  by 5:30am in two-dog shifts for two miles each, which adds up to four miles for me.  Yesterday I even totaled 7.15 miles, after walking with Gretel after school for another two miles sola.

I've gotten used to the routine, getting the dogs started in the dark with the light of my cellphone guiding me through the darkest hours.  I am not the only dedicated dog walker this early in the morning, though.  I'm starting to recognize other neighbors who walk that early along the dirt roads, with the smell of horse and chicken urine wafting through the chilly morning air.  We wave silently at each other, with our eyes watching the actions of the other dog.

I enjoy these morning walks.  Not only do I get the dogs exercised, I also get my four-mile daily quota in early.  But what concerns me lately is how mild the weather has been these last two weeks.  It's still getting into the 80s during the mid day, but even in that hour before sunrise, temperatures are a mild mid 50s.  I get by wearing a thin sweatjacket over my t-shirt; no need for hat or gloves.   Yes, we had a three-day cold front come through in late October that brought temperatures down into the 30s overnight that numbed my hands and ears.  Even that cold front was unseasonably early, too.  But once that cold front blew out, it's been back into the more spring-like weather.  I hope this isn't a precusor to what the winter will be like.   We haven't had those cold winds, either, that help denude the trees in the area by this time.  Our two deciduous trees still have all their leaves, even with the yellows are only at 90% right now.

I must give credit to Sweetie during these leash walks.  She is my wild child, but I enjoy walking her on leash now.  She is quick to react to small animals and still has a high prey drive.  She is easily reactive to the other dogs who may want to play with her in a manner she doesn't agree with.  Do not piss off Sweetie.  But despite all this, she has learned to walk well onleash and taps her front legs with joy whenever she sees a leash.  She doesn't bark at other dogs or even lunge at rabbits frozen in fear in the early light.  Walking her on leash has been a pleasure this past month.  I'm thinking of taking her on a hike up Carr Peak next week for my monthly peak bagging hike. 

Where Sweetie is calm and quiet, though, Hansel takes over.  I know I should get him neutered as his testicles are getting huge.  I don't want them to explode and have GSD semen all over the neighborhood.  He has gotten very strong and pulls hard on the leash.  Only loud "STOP IT!" calms him down...for a few seconds, before he pulls again.  The only thing that calms him down is walking him with Zeke, my devoted mellowman.  He is going to be one very strong boy once he reaches adulthood.  He is gentle with Kevin and me, but a klutz when he jumps on the bed (landing mostly on Kevin) and then literally walks all over us to get to our faces so he can lick us. 

***

Global cases: 57,535,341

Global deaths: 1,377,567

US cases: 12,082,395 (+195,444)

US deaths: 258,482 (+2077)

AZ cases: 287,225 (+4123), ranked #14 in US; 2942 in Cochise County

AZ deaths: 6384 (+19); 77 in Cochise County

CA cases: 1,080,261 (+6989), ranked #2 in US after TX

CA deaths: 18,565 (+47)

IN cases: 275,503 (+7281), ranked #15 in US

IN deaths: 5143 (+59)

OH cases: 326,615 (+14,172), ranked #9 in US

OH deaths: 5890 (+114)

Save the Bisbee Animal Shelter

Volunteers of the Friends of the Bisbee Animal Shelter held a rally in Grassy Park in Bisbee at 3pm.  Susan first told me about this as it was advertised on Facebook.  I took Zeke, who I adopted from that shelter in 2011, to attend with me.  This rally was to show the city mayor, David Smith (who was not in attendance) that citizens in the area oppose his defunding the animal shelter after November 30, 2020 and firing most of the employees at the shelter.  After November 30, the shelter will turn into a pound where all animals have 72 hours to be adopted or rescued or else they are killed.

How could this happen to Bisbee, the town with the reputation of being a caring town?  When I volunteered at the shelter back in 2011 (has it been that long ago?) we ran a no-kill shelter.  There was one Animal Control Officer, Hector, main volunteer Judy, then Ken and I.  I put a lot of time and money into caring for those animals, often at the cost of my own animal's welfare. The non-profit Friends of the Bisbee Animal Shelter, or FBAS, was formed after I left and worked with the City Council for budgeting and funding.

Mayor Smith claims that Bisbee can no longer afford an animal shelter.  Its budget can no longer afford it.  Since the Bisbee shelter is not a county shelter and receives no defunding from the county, it must rely on private donations through the FBAS and fundraisers.  The closing of many restaurants and thus the loss of tourist dollars means the town has been hurting financially this year.  The covid pandemic has not been easy on the town. 

Turn-out was minimal, but the few hundred people who did show up were dressed up, held signs, chanted "SOS-Save our Shelter!" and many people brought their dogs along.  The costumes and signs were the interesting part. I met Isabella and Denise, two women I met during my shelter volunteer days, but generally stayed by myself thanks to covid.  I wore my mask when near people.  A local artist handed out home-made signs with "No Kill Shelter" that he made using plain construction paper and yard signs. I even chatted with an freelance reporter from Cool FM Online, which posts its news via Facebook, but in the end I did not go on record to chat with him as he was busy with other people.

Zeke did not loook happy.  He was shaking when we sat on the steps of the old mining museum.  Was he shaking out of fear, or from the cold shade?  Normally his thick fur protects him.  He never left my side.

The rally didn't last long.  Two locals, Christine Levine from the Friends of the Bisbee Animal Shelter and comedian Doug Stanhope, got on stage separately and ranted about the mayor.  I didn't find either of them very funny, but their passion for the shelter was obvious.  When the second man finished talking, we all walked around Old Bisbee for three blocks, chanting "SOS, Save our Shelter" and held up traffic on the main street.  When the group returned to the grassy park, people lingered for a bit, but I now left to put Zeke at ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLoxGJgdCwA&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0Smm5TLW0e8aBYjLJwQZTzYn_Y9_ezCrTbD0UNyKvQe7s_usX126QfZA8

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Judy ran me off with her bi-polar mood swings after only six months and shortly after leaving the Bisbee shelter I began volunteering at the Huachuca City shelter where I lasted over a year before buring out.  Volunteering at any shelter is emotionally draining as it pains me to see healthy animals killed off because too many people want pure breds but then don't spend the money on training them or keeping them healthy. 

Global cases: 54,942,596

Global deaths: 1,333,593

US cases: 11,367,162 (+133,877)

US deaths: 251,901 (+577)

AZ cases: 275,436 (+2383)

AZ deaths: 6302 (+2)

IN cases: 251,597 (+6710)

IN deaths: 4910 (+22)

TX cases: 1,094,356 (+7369)

TX deaths 20,140 (+76)